[Crwt-undergrad-info] Alumnus Ching-In Chen is the new poet laureate of Redmond Washington!

[Allison Hedge Coke]

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*January 4, 2024

*MEDIA CONTACT*
Christina Wilner, Communications and Marketing Project Administrator
cwilner at redmond.gov, 425-556-2457


*Redmond Appoints Ching-In Chen as New Poet Laureate*

REDMOND, WA - Redmond City Council appointed Ching-In Chen as Redmond’s new
poet laureate for 2024-25. Chen was selected through a robust process that
included applying to an open call, a selection panel of poets and Arts and
Culture commissioners, and individual interviews by the selection panel,
Mayor Angela Birney, and the City Council.

Chen is a lifelong educator, community organizer, poet, and the author of
The Heart's Traffic (Arktoi/Red Hen Press, 2009) and recombinant (Kelsey
Street Press, 2017). They are an assistant professor teaching creative
writing and performance classes at the University of Washington - Bothell
and the current Poet-in-Residence at Hugo House. They are also a community
organizer, specifically in Asian American communities, in coalition with
other communities of color and LGBTQIA+ communities.

“Poetry evokes emotion, creates outlets for self-expression, and connects
people through words and ideas,” said Mayor Angela Birney. “We are excited
to see how Ching-In Chen connects with our Redmond community through
poetry.”

The Redmond Poet Laureate Program builds a more literate and understanding
community through poetry and the literary arts by broadening the awareness
of poetry and expressing the spirit of Redmond culture. Established in
2008, the Poet Laureate Program produces a variety of programming and
community engagement opportunities offered to Redmond residents and
visitors. Along with commissioned poetry, poetry talks, readings, exhibits,
and workshops, previous poets’ work has appeared on bridges, signature
events, and temporary art installations.

For more information on Redmond’s Arts program, visit redmond.gov/Arts
<http://www.redmond.gov/Arts>.


-- 
*Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, **Distinguished Professor of **Creative Writing*
**She/her & Surname is Hedge Coke, no hyphen**

*     Weird Times, Be Kind*

Allison Adelle Hedge Coke
<https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/allisonh>

*Director, Writers Week 2021, 2022 <http://writersweek.ucr.edu/>,
Co-Director in Spring 2023 Director, Medical Health and Humanities DE, UCR
School of Medicine*
*Director, **Along the Chaparral, Sandhill Crane Fest*
*Department of Society, Environment, and Health Equity (SEHE), affiliated
faculty*
*Summer sessions are anticipated, check Banner classes for offerings*

*author/editor of 18 books–m**ost recent release, a National Book Award
Finalist, winner of an Emory Elliot Book Award, Finalist for
the Firecracker Award and ASLE Book Award*
*Look at This Blue
<https://coffeehousepress.org/collections/shop/products/look-at-this-blue>*

allisonh at ucr.edu
allisonh at medsch.ucr.edu
(909) 848-3803 messages - VM/text
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