NW Author Series — Kim Stafford, Oregon’s Poet Laureate

Kim Stafford, Oregon’s ninth Poet Laureate, will be reading from his work, especially works related to the Oregon coast.  The role of the Poet Laureate is to foster the art of poetry and encourage literacy and learning.  Kim Stafford hopes to fulfill that role by focusing on poetry on local themes; he finds poetry to be “our native language” and, believes that, “in a society of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, poetry builds community.” Kim Stafford is the director of Lewis & Clark College’s Northwest Writing Institute, and has published a dozen books of poetry and prose.