Full Circle Microgrants | by Melinda Rizzo

Full Circle Microgrants | by Melinda Rizzo

  David Gaines knows it’s hard to explore your creative voice when you’re worried about paying the bills. That’s why the Montgomery County Poet Laureate supports his community outreach project to help other poets and writers pay their bills. “This idea came about...
MCPL Resources | by Melinda Rizzo

MCPL Resources | by Melinda Rizzo

As refuge, protest, or a way to figure out and make sense of the world poets are compelled to make poetry. Poetry as barometer – as oral history keeper, or as a forum for social and cultural change. After all, maverick poets are known throughout time for...
An interview with David Gaines | by Melinda Rizzo

An interview with David Gaines | by Melinda Rizzo

  Home is more than four walls and a roof for David Gaines. When Gaines won this year’s 21st annual Montgomery County Poet Laureate competition he knew it was something big – a validation of his voice, his work and his aspiration to serve others. The 24-year-old...
2020 Poet Laureate – David Gaines

2020 Poet Laureate – David Gaines

Poet Laureate 2020 David Gaines David Gaines is a writer, actor and educator born and raised in uptown Philadelphia. As a product of a traditional baptist household and a child of hip-hop culture, Dave uses his poetry to analyze and unpack how the performance of...
An interview with Chad Frame | Cathy Cohen

An interview with Chad Frame | Cathy Cohen

This fall it was a delight to spend time with Chad Frame, MCPL’s 2017 poet laureate, on a ride to Northern Virginia Community College to share poetry with poet laureates from other counties and states at a biennial program In the Company of Laureates.   Chad gave an...