St. Louis Poet Laureate Task Force Meeting

On Monday, September 8, 2025, at 4:05 PM, the St. Louis Poet Laureate Task Force convened under new Chair Nikki Smith. Members present: Ann Hilbert, Dan Gunther, Pam Garvey, and city liaison Christine. The meeting focused on filling vacant seats, updates on St. Louis County's interest in a poet laureate program, improving communications with the current Poet Laureate (Pacia), and addressing funding and support needs.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The task force unanimously approved the minutes from April 7, April 21, and May 12, 2025, after a motion and second.

Discussion Items

• Filling Vacant Seats: Chair Nikki Smith reported meeting with Aaron Quick, Executive Director of the St. Louis Poetry Center, who expressed interest in joining the task force. Quick is already supporting Poet Laureate Pacia and will discuss the commitment with her board on September 15. Smith also noted a recommendation for Brandon Michael Lewis, a young poet, and Pam Garvey suggested India Golladay, a former student and active poet with corporate experience. Smith will follow up with all potential candidates, noting the ordinance calls for a business community representative (which Golladay could fulfill).

• St. Louis County Poet Laureate Interest: Leah LaFleur met with Councilwoman Lisa Clancy about establishing a St. Louis County poet laureate. The county wishes to align its ordinance with the city's. Christine offered to meet with county officials to share lessons learned. Members discussed the possibility of a single regional poet laureate for both city and county, and agreed more conversation is needed.

• Calendar of Events & Communication: The task force discussed ensuring the Poet Laureate regularly shares her event calendar. Christine requested that events be shared with the chair for distribution and cross-promotion via city channels. Pacia was unable to attend, but Ann Hilbert noted upcoming events: two readings at Music at the Intersection and a workshop at LifeWise in late September. The Poet Laureate will email a full list.

• Poet Laureate Updates (via Chair): Smith relayed Pacia's concerns:

  • Funding: Pacia needs support for events she hosts herself, not just those she is invited to. Christine noted the city can partner via an MOU with outside funders and mentioned potentially updating the ordinance to address funding.
  • Official City Events: Pacia wants to be included in more mayor's office and city events. Dan Gunther was asked to help connect her.
  • Policy Committees: Pacia seeks involvement in committees influencing arts policy beyond the Regional Arts Commission.
  • Email Address: Christine will send a city email use policy for Pacia to sign; IT will then assign an address.
  • Social Media Access: Pacia is working to recover passwords for the official poet laureate social media accounts (likely Instagram and Facebook) from previous administration.

Key Outcomes

• • Approved the minutes from three prior meetings.
  • Chair Nikki Smith will reconvene with Aaron Quick after her board meeting and contact India Golladay for potential appointment.
  • Christine will coordinate a meeting with St. Louis County officials to discuss poet laureate ordinances.
  • The Poet Laureate will send an event calendar to the chair for distribution to the task force and city communications.
  • The task force will place funding and potential ordinance updates on the agenda for the next meeting.
  • Ann Hilbert reported that the Academy of American Poets, with support from the Mellon Foundation, offers annual fellowships of up to $5,000 for community poet laureates. The task force will monitor the grant portal (typically open December–February) to apply in partnership with Pacia.
  • Meeting adjourned.