City of Belmont
Home MenuMonica Korde Appointed as Next Poet Laureate
Belmont Mayor Charles Stone announced today the appointment of Monica Korde to the position of Poet Laureate for the City of Belmont. The honorary role is a three-year appointment by the City of Belmont and the Belmont Library. The Poet Laureate acts as an ambassador and advocate for poetry, literature and the arts.
Monica Korde was introduced to the Belmont City Council as its new Poet Laureate at the City Council meeting on Tuesday evening. She read a poem titled ‘To Rise’ and shared a preview of the poetry projects she has planned for Belmont.
Monica Korde is a poet and former educator, born and raised in the city of Ahmedabad, India. She has a Master’s degree in English and a Diploma in French language. Her poems have been published in various online literary journals and anthologies. Her poems have received recognition and prizes in county held poetry events. She was also a co-judge for the first Annual WordSlam Youth Poetry Contest and has worked with local poets to organize events that amplify youth voices. She has been working as a community volunteer for her local library for many years and has been co-hosting Poets Night, a bi-monthly open mic. She has resided in Belmont for 7 years.
In 2015, the Belmont City Council revived the honorary post of Poet Laureate and appointed Tanu Wakefield as its second Poet Laureate. Jacki Rigoni followed as Poet Laureate from through 2021. During her tenure, Jacki helped bring poetry out of the library and into Belmont’s public spaces at Belameda Park and Emmett Plaza. In response to the Covid pandemic, Jacki transitioned the monthly poetry nights to a virtual format with great success. James McLaughlin was the city’s first Poet Laureate. His poem, “Belmont,” written in 1962 and adopted as the official poem of Belmont, is displayed in City Hall.
“Poetry helps us connect,” said Ms. Korde. “My goal is to break free from the stereotypes around poetry, to demystify it, and make it approachable for everyone.” She further added, “Belmont is a mountain carrying many cultures and a multitude of voices with myriad stories to tell. My vision is to unify these diverse voices through poetry by offering creative spaces to celebrate the written & the spoken word, especially to harness the talents of the youth and build out a new canon of poets within the city of Belmont.”
Anna Koch, Belmont’s recently appointed Library Manager also looks forward to collaborating with Ms. Korde. “We are truly grateful to have Monica as our newest Poet Laureate. She is a huge fan of libraries and the Belmont Library in particular. Her mission using poetry to connect is similar to our mission to connect communities with libraries and all that they offer.”
“The City of Belmont is pleased to continue encourage the art of poetry in its programs and its parks. Monica’s vision for bringing poetry to everyone’s attention will do just that,” said Brigitte Shearer, the City’s new Parks and Recreation Director.
The Belmont Library and Belmont Parks and Recreation Department will work with and support the Poet Laureate as she introduces her poetry projects to the community.
More information on Belmont's Poet Laureate program can be found here.
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