Jason Magabo Perez, the second-ever poet laureate for the city of San Diego, has received yet another high-ranking recognition.
The Academy of American Poets announced on Tuesday that Perez is among its 23 newest fellows in states and cities across the United States.
Perez is a poet, essayist and author of a 2017 collection of poetry and prose titled “This is for the Mostless.” He has been with Cal State San Marcos for five years, currently serving as an associate professor and director of ethnic studies, and he is also a community arts fellow for the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at UC Davis.
“I am grateful for the affirmation and honored by the support and encouragement from the Academy of American Poets in helping us continue to build upon the empowering histories and brilliant communities of poetry and art in San Diego,” Perez said. “I look forward to dreaming up possibilities for such work in San Diego, at CSUSM, and beyond.”
The Academy is a nonprofit organization that has existed since 1934 to help poets in every stage of their careers and to promote appreciation of the art. The fellowship program was founded in 2019, to expand on its mission and to push poets to engage in meaningful civic projects to help their communities.
Each fellow will be awarded $50,000 to establish their own public poetry program related to their work as a city or state laureate. Perez has chosen to create a program to mentor youths on poetry, filmmaking, video art and more, in collaboration with the Pacific Arts Movement and local educators.
“The hope is that poetry opens up a space of empowerment for students and students start to reclaim their languages and develop their voices,” Perez said.
As the San Diego Poet Laureate, he serves as an ambassador for the literary arts and in his two-year term, is expected to participate in public events as well as carry out his own poetry project.
San Diego, CA – January 19: Jason Magabo Perez walks on the corner of Genesee Avenue and Clairmont Mesa Boulevard in San Diego on Thursday, January 19 in San Diego, CA. Magabo Perez mentions this corner of the street in some of his poems.
(Brittany Cruz-Fejeran)
Collaborations will also come from local high school ethnic studies and English teachers to help create a poetry curriculum in schools, grassroots publishing initiatives and a youth poetry summit in San Diego. Perez encourages any English or ethnic studies teacher who is interested in collaborating with him to reach out.
“This [is] not just for young folks but anyone who is interested at local libraries and local bookshops. The goal is to continue to support a culture of poetry writing and making,” Perez emphasized.
The project is projected to begin by the end of September 2023.