The Board of Supervisors of the San Mateo County named Jorge Argueta of Daly City as the County's Poet Laureate, citing his ability to use poetry to build bridges between diverse communities.
Argueta's work reflects his heritage as a native of El Salvador with several bilingual books and poems. She teaches creative writing at elementary schools, high schools, and universities and works with youth in homeless shelters, hospitals, and other challenging settings.
Argueta's works include children's books such as the bilingual "The Fiesta of the Tortillas/La Fiesta De Las Tortillas" and "A Movie in My Pillow/Una Pelicula en mi Almohada," about a boy with two homelands.
As Poet Laureate, Argueta will propose and lead a community project, be present at select county-sponsored events, and open a Board of Supervisors meeting each quarter for the two-year period.
Notably, Argueta is the county's first poet laureate of Hispanic descent. Unanimously appointed, he was recommended for the honorary position by an advisory committee.
The Board of Supervisors in 2013 established the honorary position of San Mateo County Poet Laureate to promote awareness and increase appreciation of poetry and the spoken word.
To qualify for Poet Laureate, candidates must be a resident of San Mateo County for five years or more, demonstrate a commitment to reading and writing poetry, take advantage of the opportunity to engage in civic discourse, and commit to serving a term of two years.
Argueta is the fourth poet laureate, after Aileen Cassinetto, Lisa Rosenberg and Caroline Goodwin.
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