Oregon Cultural Trust News and Updates May 2020 ******* Anis Mojgani named Oregon’s 10th Poet Laureate
Governor Kate Brown has named Anis Mojgani (AH-neess Mozh-GAH-nee), a two-time individual champion of the National Poetry Slam and an International World Cup Poetry Slam winner, to a two-year appointment as Poet Laureate of Oregon. Anis succeeds Kim Stafford, who has held the post since 2018, to become Oregon’s 10th Poet Laureate.
“Anis is the pragmatic optimist Oregon needs in these unprecedented times,” says Governor Brown. “His words breathe fresh air into the anxiety and negativity that we all feel. He urges us to resolutely reflect in the moment and with each grounding breath, our hearts ‘come closer and come into this.’”
Born in New Orleans to Black and Iranian parents, Anis first called Oregon home in 2004. He is the author of five books of poetry including his latest, “In the Pockets