Georges ’86 named poet laureate of Boston

Emerson alumna Danielle Legros Georges ’86 has been named poet laureate of Boston.

The announcement was made on December 15 at Emerson’s Paramount Center Mainstage during a public discussion forum with Julie Burros, who was recently named chief of arts and culture for the city of Boston.

Georges is a faculty member at Lesley University, where she teaches American and African American poetry, Caribbean literature, and arts education.

She moved to the United States from Haiti with her parents at age 6, and the family settled in Boston’s Mattapan section.

In an interview this week with the Dorchester Reporter, Georges spoke about her recent work that focused on the Haitian diaspora, which included a poem dedicated to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.

“I was listening to news and so often I would hear about Haiti always referred to as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere,” Georges told the Dorchester Reporter. “I found it troublesome, so I wanted to add to the voices as a person in the diaspora and a person who cares about Haiti.”

As poet laureate, Georges will receive an annual combined stipend and budget of about $5,000 to program events in the city that promote poetry and literature, the Dorchester Reporter reported.

Burros began her position as chief of arts this fall. Mayor Marty Walsh appointed her to the position, which had been vacant for two decades.

Burros formerly served in Chicago as director of cultural planning in the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.