Soul of the City: Poet Laureate Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
5/1/09, Urban Grace Church


At a poetry event held at UPS on April 30th, Antonio Edwards was announced by Mayor Bill Baarsma as the next Urban Grace Poet Laureate of Tacoma, the winner of Urban Grace's Soul of the City Competition.

The Soul of the City Poetry Competition is sponsored and funded by Urban Grace in a community partnership with the city of Tacoma. Tacoma is the first mid-sized municipality north of San Francisco and west of Denver to recognize its own poet laureate, and the only city except San Francisco to base its poet laureate in residence at one of the city’s congregations.

The Poet Laureate of Tacoma will be charged with raising the status of poetry in our city, facilitating poetry workshops within the community, and giving a series of readings at public venues and at Urban Grace.

Edwards is a regular performer in the Tacoma poetry scene, providing listeners with personal, powerful, and entertaining poetry. A Free Ya Mind featured poet, Edwards uses his unique style to address local issues, our human legacy, and matters of faith. He is committed to building a strong community.

Antonio Edwards, along with Bill Kupinse, the 2008-2009 Tacoma Poet Laureate, will be a part of Sunday morning services at Urban Grace on Sunday, May 17th at 10:30am.