The City of Philadelphia Poet Laureate program is administered by the Free Library of Philadelphia and guided by a governing committee composed of poets, educators, and arts-organization professionals from around the city.

The Poet Laureate is a civic position that recognizes an exceptional poet who also demonstrates a commitment to the power of poetry to engage and inspire people throughout Philadelphia's neighborhoods. In addition to the two-year Poet Laureate position, the program also supports a new Youth Poet Laureate each year. The Poet Laureate mentors the Youth Poet Laureate, who represents the voice of Philadelphia's young poets. Both poets engage with Philadelphia citizens through readings, events, and a special project of their choosing.

2024-2025 Philadelphia Poet Laureate

Kai Davis

Photo by Shawn Theodore

Kai Davis is a Black Queer writer, performer, and teaching artist from Philadelphia. Her work explores Blackness, Queerness, womanhood, and the ways these identities converge, as well as examining how power structures function on a global, national, interpersonal, and internal level. Among the topics she discusses are structural racism, misogyny, Black womanhood, ancestral trauma, mental health, intersectionality, and Queer love.

Davis spends most of her time working as Poetry Editor for Apiary Magazine and as Co-Host and Artistic Director for Philadelphia-based poetry performance collective The Philly Pigeon. Davis also visits high schools and local non-profit organizations, teaching poetry to marginalized and under-served youth. She performs her work across the country and hosts writing workshops at colleges and universities when not in Philadelphia.

Davis has published four chapbooks: Music & Marrow (2013), The Falling Action (2014), Black Chronicle (2016), and Ain't I? (2019). Her work has been published in The Offing (2018), The Shade Journal (2019), and Mouths of Rain: An Anthology of Black Lesbian Thought (2021).

2025-2026 Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureate

Rashawn Dorsey

Rashawn Dorsey is a senior at Academy at Palumbo High School! He is a two-time slam poetry champion of the Philly Slam League. He has hosted and performed for numerous events, including City Hall, Alpha Phi Alpha's Voter Registration Drive, and the Mental Health Fair Fest.

"I am beyond thankful for the opportunity of being Youth Poet Laureate and getting to be a voice for other young people who aren't always given the chance to speak for themselves. I want to make sure my peers know they are not alone. I am hopeful I will get to use my platform to host open mics and other events so that other young people can express themselves. I am also grateful for the opportunity to learn under the mentorship of Kai Davis, who I know I will learn a lot from."

During his Laureate year, Rashawn will serve as an ambassador for poetry throughout the city through readings and workshops.

For more information, including requests for appearances by the Philadelphia Poet Laureate or Youth Poet Laureate, contact poetlaureate@freelibrary.org. Please note that we may not be able to attend all requests out of respect for the time of the two poets.