Antonio López Is the New San Mateo County Poet Laureate

San Mateo County's new Poet Laureate, Antonio De Jesús López, cites his upbringing in East Palo Alto as his inspiration.

"I was immersed in Spanish and Spanglish, which shaped my understanding of English as something malleable - like gum, stretching and adhering, collecting the 'lint' of other tongues," López said. "My peers, those other brown and black voices, and the cultural richness within the Ravenswood City School District were pivotal, too. They provided the bedrock for my creative expression."

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors voted to appoint Lópezas County's fifth Poet Laureate, a position with the mission of "promoting awareness and heightening appreciation of poetry and the spoken word throughout San Mateo County."

López is an award-winning poet and author of "Gentefication," a collection of poems called "tender and ironic, earnest and outraged" by Gregory Pardlo, who won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. He is also a former councilmember and mayor of East Palo Alto who is pursuing a doctoratein Modern Thought and Literature at Stanford University.

Supervisor Lisa Gauthier praised López as "such a talented and moving poet."

"I'm so proud that Antonio has been selected as our next San Mateo County Poet Laureate," Gauthier said. "The fact that he was born and raised in (Supervisorial) District 4and served with me on the East Palo Alto City Council makes this all the more special."

Supervisors established the post of Poet Laureate in 2013 "to elevate and celebrate the literary arts and their roles in public life." López succeeds Daly City's Jorge Argueta.

Supervisor Noelia Corzo, who along with Gauthier served on a committee that recommended the appointment to the full Board, said she is drawn to López's work because of the way he blends local experiences and observations with powerful themes.

"Antonio is a gifted poet and community leader whose voice as Poet Laureate is one we need in this moment," Corzo said. "I'm so excited that he will be sharing his gifts in our county to uplift the many voices and lived experiences here through the art of poetry."

The appointment coincides with the Board's declaration of April as National Poetry Month, as well as California Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month.

López blends his personal narrative and observations with themes of immigration, racism and gentrification, all forces he sees at work in East Palo Alto. Asked what inspires his work, he responds (this is a sample):

"Mom's walks down Embarcadero Road and through the freeway to get us groceries…. Dad migrating from Michoacán on his 18^th birthday…. A classroom full of brown babies and black with their hands raised."

His work has been published in PEN/America, Palette Poetry, The New Republic, Tin House, and Poetry Northwest, among other publications.

Drawing from his time as a student at Ronald Edison McNair Academy in East Palo Alto, his forthcoming second collection of poetry, "The Right to Remain Violets," offers a powerful and poignant exploration of the challenges faced by youth, while also highlighting their resilience and the enduring spirit of their community. The collection uses personal narrative to shed light on systemic issues, aiming to foster awareness and appreciation for the diverse experiences within San Mateo County.

Media Contact

Michelle Durand
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