Meet The New Poet Laureate Of Santa Clara County

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — There's a new poet in town.

Santa Clara County named its new poet laureate this month: Janice Lobo Sapigao, of San Jose, who will hold the honorary position through 2021.

Sapigao has written two books of poetry and numerous chapbooks — small poetry collections. She is a poetry editor at Angel City Review, and was named one of the Bay Area's "2017 Women to Watch" by KQED Arts. She works as an Assistant Professor of English at Skyline College in San Bruno.

"I am honored to be appointed as the next Santa Clara County Poet Laureate and develop my project to start a youth poet laureate program," Sapigao said in a news release. “I hope to visit elementary, middle, and high schools in the county to promote the power of poetry as a source for connection, community, and critical conversations.”

hi, i’m the new santa clara county poet laureate for 2020-2021.

here i am reading a poem to confirm my appointment in this honorary civic position.

i’m nervous but also soooo ready. pic.twitter.com/xQLrKBy0rZ
— janiceforwhat (@janicesap) February 11, 2020

The role of the poet laureate is to "elevate Santa Clara County residents’ awareness of the arts, and help inspire all readers and fans of poetry including the next generation of poets," County Librarian Nancy Howe said in the release.

Sapigao, the daughter of Filipino immigrants, has explored immigration and the exploitation of women as themes in her work, including "microchips for millions" — her first poetry book, about immigrant women workers in Silicon Valley.

She was recommended to the Board of Supervisors after a call for applications and a two-step review organized by the county, Silicon Valley Creates and the Santa Clara County Library District.

Sapigao replaces Mike McGee, who had served as poet laureate since 2018. She is the sixth to hold the title since Nils Peterson became the first in 2009.