New Poet Laureate to Lead Prince George’s County Office of Poet Laureate and Continue Efforts to Advance Poetry and Literary Arts in Prince George’s County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT

Kisha Mason    
Director of Marketing Communications
kmason@pgahc.org 
301-772-8943


April 26, 2023––Largo, MD–– The Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC) is proud to announce the appointment of Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman, Ed.D. as the new Prince George’s County Poet Laureate. This esteemed honor recognizes Dr. Ali-Coleman’s exceptional contributions to the literary arts and her commitment to promoting poetry in Prince George’s County.

A highly respected poet and educator, Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman, Ed.D. brings a wealth of experience and talent to the position. She is a cultural curator, community organizer, nationally recognized speaker, and writer based out of Fort Washington, MD. She is the author of the children’s book Mariah’s Maracas and co-editor of the book Homeschooling Black Children in the US: Theory, Practice and Popular Culture. Her collection of poetry is featured in the first and second volumes of the anthology series The Fire Inside: Collected Stories and Poems from Zora’s Den and featured in over a dozen recordings and broadcast presentations. She has edited three volumes of poetry and short fiction for Liberated Muse, including Volume I: How I Freed My Soul, Volume II: Betrayal Wears a Pretty Face and Volume III: Creases Expelled from the Fold.  Additionally, Dr. Ali-Coleman has been an active participant in the local literary community, organizing readings, workshops, and other events to promote poetry and support emerging writers.

“I am thrilled to be selected as the 2023 Prince George's County Poet Laureate. It is an extreme honor to be recognized for my work as a literary artist with a history of implementing rich programming that revolves around literacy and the arts,” said Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman, Ed.D.  “I follow in the footsteps of J. "Sistah Joy" Alford, who has left behind a remarkable legacy as the inaugural Poet Laureate. I will strive to continue the impressive visibility and connectivity to the community that the Office of the Poet Laureate has fostered.”

As Poet Laureate, Dr. Ali-Coleman will serve as an ambassador for poetry and the literary arts in Prince George’ County. In this role, she will work closely with the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council to promote, support, and highlight literary arts and culture by promoting a countywide appreciation of poetry through engaging programs and services for county residents and youth, and to partner with and celebrate the contributions of local writers.

“Dr. Ali-Coleman’s exceptional talent and dedication to the literary arts make her an ideal choice for the County’s next Poet Laureate,” said Rhonda Dallas, CEO and Chief Curator of PGAHC. “We are thrilled to have her serve in this important role and look forward to their contributions to our community.”

Khadijah’s Z. Ali-Coleman, Ed.D. holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (African American Studies and Mass Media) and a minor in Writing from the University of Maryland Baltimore, County; a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Towson University and a doctorate in education from Morgan State University. Her term as Poet Laureate will begin on May 1, 2023, and will run for three years.

About PGAHC 

As the legislated local arts agency for Prince George’s County, PGAHC fosters and expands art opportunities for all County citizens and visitors to create a world-class cultural environment where high-quality arts and humanities programs are diverse, equitable, and inclusive. PGAHC leverages its partnerships to support and provide various arts and cultural programming opportunities, art-centered economic development programs, grants as well as advocacy initiatives for legislative support of the arts on the County and State levels.