Reno Welcomes Elisa Garcia as the New Poet Laureate
In an exciting development for the arts community, the City of Reno has announced Elisa Garcia as the Poet Laureate for the 2026-2027 term. Her appointment, decided by the Reno Arts & Culture Advisory Board, marks a significant step in highlighting diverse artistic talents in the city.
Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “Congratulations to Elisa on her appointment as Reno Poet Laureate through 2027. We’re so excited to highlight various artistic mediums at the City, and we can’t wait to see the inspiring work Elisa will create through the written word.”
Garcia’s role as Poet Laureate will involve engaging with the community and sharing her poetic insights on life in Reno. She remarked, “I’m deeply honored and excited to serve as the City of Reno’s next Poet Laureate, and as a Mexican American woman and the first female in this role since Gailmarie Pahmeier, I’m proud to represent both my culture and my community. Reno has shaped so much of who I am, and I look forward to celebrating its diversity and creativity.”
Elisa Garcia, a Los Angeles-born Mexican American writer and spoken word artist, has been a pivotal figure in the Reno poetry landscape since 2009. As a member of the Spoken Views Collective, she has mentored young poets at Brave New Voices and was part of Reno’s first team to compete at the National Poetry Slam.
Her poetry, which explores themes of family, identity, and self-acceptance, serves both as a form of resistance and a means for healing. Garcia continues to influence the local arts scene by leading workshops, organizing events, and occasionally returning to her roots as a competitive poet.
The role of the Poet Laureate was established by the Reno City Council in 2014, recognizing local poets who have demonstrated excellence in poetry and a commitment to bringing poetry into the public domain.
For more information about the current and past Poets Laureate, visit the City of Reno’s Reno Poet Laureate page.
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