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...
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...
An interview with Cathy Cohen | Melinda Rizzo

An interview with Cathy Cohen | Melinda Rizzo

Cathleen “Cathy” Cohen has had a very good year. As the 2019 Montgomery County Poet Laureate the long-time educator, painter and poet said winning the highly regarded contest, now in its 20th year, had opened doors. “My community was Philadelphia, even though I live...