The Santa Monica City Council has confirmed Jay Baldwin as the city’s second poet laureate, approving a two-year appointment during its most recent meeting.
Baldwin, who was born and raised in Santa Monica, currently works as a school librarian at a Santa Monica elementary school and is completing a master’s degree in library science. A longtime participant in the region’s spoken-word scene, Baldwin has competed in slam poetry events across the West Coast and performed in storytelling shows including The Moth. Baldwin is also active with Pride Poets, a collective of LGBTQ+ poets who create custom typewriter-written poems in public spaces for community members.
Identifying as queer and nonbinary, Baldwin has described their work as rooted in the intersection of poetry, libraries and community activism.
Next looked for examples of Baldwin’s work online, and found the below video where they participate in a Pride Poets event in 2021. Baldwin discusses the value of Pride Poets in shaping their work, and gives examples that could be useful to other aspiring poets.
Baldwin succeeds Anne Carmack, who became Santa Monica’s inaugural poet laureate in 2024.
As poet laureate, Baldwin will write an annual original poem celebrating Santa Monica and host at least two writing workshops or readings each year at local schools, libraries or community events. The role also includes organizing a poetry-related event each April as part of the city’s observance of National Poetry Month and Arts, Culture and Creativity Month.
Residents will have several opportunities to meet Baldwin during April events around the city. The first will take place April 11 at the Santa Monica Main Library, where Baldwin will help attendees create a collaborative community poem. Baldwin will also read a proclamation recognizing National Poetry Month during an April 14 City Council meeting and appear at the April 25 Arts and Literacy Festival at Virginia Avenue Park.
Mayor Caroline Torosis said welcoming the city’s second poet laureate reflects Santa Monica’s commitment to supporting arts and culture. Library officials added that the program highlights the role of the Santa Monica Public Library as a civic space for storytelling and community connection.
The poet laureate receives a $10,000 honorarium for the two-year appointment, selected by a review panel of community members and city staff before final confirmation by the council.
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