Meeting: Darryl Lorenzo Wellington, Poet

Darryl Lorenzo Wellington is an acclaimed poet, syndicated columnist, playwright, and performance artist who served as the sixth Poet Laureate of Santa Fe from 2021 to 2023. Originally from Savannah, Georgia, he has called Santa Fe home for over a decade.

Wellington has spent more than twenty years working as an independent journalist and culture critic. His essays and commentary focusing on poverty, economic justice, race relations, and civil rights have been featured nationally in prominent publications including The Nation, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and The Progressive. He is also a long-time Writing Fellow with the Center for Community Change based in Washington, D.C.

As a poet, Wellington's work is celebrated for its eclectic, broad-minded approach. He frequently uses the spoken word to address historical memory, community identity, and social issues. During his tenure as Poet Laureate, he focused on expanding the presence of literary arts in local public and charter schools, helping young students find their own personal language through verse.

Wellington will discuss the role of the literary arts in shaping community dialogue, share insights from his time as Poet Laureate, and read selections of his work that capture the unique cultural intersections of Northern New Mexico.