LLCC hosts Illinois Poet Laureate

SPRINGFIELD — The Lincoln Land Community College English and Humanities Department and Writing Center, in partnership with the Springfield Area Arts Council and Poetry Out Loud, will host Illinois’ Poet Laureate in residence, Angela Jackson, on March 20 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the LLCC Writing Center, lower level of the library, Sangamon Hall, 5250 Shepherd Rd., Springfield.
 
As part of her visit, Jackson will facilitate a poetry writing workshop and speak about her life, her inspirations and her experiences as Illinois Poet Laureate. Additionally, she will read from her collections including, “It Seems Like a Mighty Long Time.”
 
"We are honored to host Ms. Jackson here at Lincoln Land Community College," said Corrine Hinton, dean of English and humanities, "I'm excited for our students, campus and community to have the opportunity to learn from her and engage with a someone who is a fierce advocate for the future of the literary arts in Illinois." 
 
Jackson, Illinois’ 5th Poet Laureate, is an award-winning poet, novelist and playwright. She has written three chapbooks and four volumes of poetry. She is a native of Chicago’s southside and was educated at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. She is the recipient of the 2022 Black Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award from the Black Ensemble Theater and a Poetry Foundation 2022 Ruth Lilly Lifetime Achievement award for poetry. 
 
LLCC is one of five stops on Jackson’s Springfield tour in honor of the 20^th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud. The event is free and open to the public.
 
Funding to support the poet laureate’s residency comes from the Duane and Bobette Gerlach Bequest and Illinois Humanities.