Dallas Names New Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate

The City of Dallas named Kristoddie Woods, known professionally as Black Ceasar Poetry, as its third poet laureate during a special ceremony on Wednesday at City Hall.

The city noted the appointment in a Wednesday press release. Mayor Eric L. Johnson announced Woods as the city's third-ever poet laureate. Booker T. Washington High School student Cadence Diggs was named youth poet laureate.

Woods will serve a two-year term as an ambassador for the literary arts, presenting original works at community events, and developing outreach initiatives that inspire Dallas residents to read, write, and perform poetry. He will also host regular artist-in-residence office hours at the Central Library.

An Emmy-winning performer, Woods will bring a dynamic background in performance arts to the role. In addition to poetry, Woods is an author, teacher, and filmmaker.

Diggs will serve a one-year term in the position, working alongside Woods to create poetry among young people across the city. An 11th grader at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Diggs is the founder and president of the Pegasi Poetry Society, which is a creative writing an literary organization for students.

The Dallas Poet Laureate program was created in the summer of 2021 to help recognize exemplary Dallas poets and elevate the role of poetry in the community. It is funded by the Friends of the Dallas Public Library, Inc., and the Joe M. and Doris R. Dealey Family Foundation.

"April is National Poetry Month, as well as Dallas Arts Month," Johnson said during the presentation. "This month, I call upon civic leaders, educators, librarians, and all the people of Dallas to celebrate the cultural riches of our community, including our new Dallas poet laureates."