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August 13, 2024
LANSING – Michigan poet laureate Nandi Comer has been awarded $50,000 from a national group to launch a statewide billboard campaign celebrating contemporary Michigan poetry.
The billboards will feature excerpts of the works of contemporary Michigan poets.
Comer is one of 22 poets laureate in communities across the country to receive fellowships from the Academy of American Poets, which is funded by the Mellon Foundation.
“Ms. Comer has brought diverse poetry to schoolchildren and adults in our state, which has helped us make progress toward Goal 2 of Michigan’s Strategic Top 10 Education Plan, to improve early literacy achievement,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “I look forward to seeing her bring attention to other great Michigan poets through the Academy of American Poets fellowship.”
The billboard campaign is expected to begin in the fall. The fellowship will help Comer with her Poet Laureate Program capstone project to highlight Michigan poets and poetry on billboards.
She is working with King Media to create graphics with three poets, Ms. Brittany Rogers of Detroit, Mr. Jonah Mixon-Webster of Flint, and Mr. M. Bartley Seigel of Houghton. An excerpt from one of their poems will be highlighted on billboards in highly trafficked pedestrian areas in the Upper Peninsula, the Flint area, and Detroit.
On the billboard there will be a QR code that will take readers to the poem that will be housed on www.Michigan.gov/PoetLaureate, along with a biography and photo of the poet.
“Ms. Comer continues to elevate the voice of Michigan poetry, spoken word, and the literary arts,” said State Librarian Mr. Randy Riley. “Seeing her recognized on the national level is a testament to both her incredible skills and the value of Michigan poets.”
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) selected Comer, an award-winning poet, as the Michigan poet laureate in 2023. Over the years, Comer has been dedicated to youth development by serving as a writer-in-residence in Detroit Public Schools Community Districtand community centers. She has also worked in collaboration with organizations, including Y Arts at YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit and InsideOut Literary Arts Projects. Comer served as a curriculum developer and youth curriculum consultant for various arts organizations and in 2018 received the William Wiggins Award for Outstanding Teaching at Indiana University.
She is the author of “American Family: A Syndrome” and “Tapping Out.”
“It is an incredible honor to be recognized among this list of such talented and accomplished poets laureate,” Comer said. “I am proud to be included in this group that represents some of the creative and passionate advocates of poetry in the field. The Academy of American Poets Award will support my goal of highlighting the great work of our poets around the state. I can't wait to see their beautiful words on display.”
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