Mayor Nutter Names Sonia Sanchez As Philadelphia's First Poet Laureate
By Michelle Durham
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia's Mayor has appointed a West Philadelphia resident as the City's first official Poet Laureate.
Mayor Michael Nutter believes arts and culture is crucial to the growth of the City, "without great art, without great individual artists, we would be a city of empty theaters, silence. But, I also think we would be lesser. Please welcome the Poet Laureate for the City of Philadelphia, Sonia Sanchez."
Sanchez is a renowned poet, who travels the world, taught at many universities, authored over a 18 books and plans to use this position to spread the message of peace, including a Peace Mural.
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"My life -- it's about peace now. And every place I do I enter a room and I say to everyone 'My brothers and sisters...' And we all must begin to call each other brothers and sisters in this world."
Sanchez will begin her two-year term January 2nd.
