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The Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series will present a reading by Jaki Shelton Green, North Carolina’s esteemed poet laureate, at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head. This special event will take place on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, with donations accepted to support the continuation of cultural programs in the Outer Banks.

“Appointed as North Carolina’s Poet Laureate in 2018, Jaki Shelton Green is the first African American and only the third woman to hold this prestigious position. Her impact as a poet and her deep engagement with communities across the state have earned her recognition on a national level,” stated a Bryan Cultural Series news release. “Governor Roy Cooper reappointed her in 2021, marking her continued dedication to enriching the literary landscape of North Carolina.”

In addition to serving as poet laureate, Green’s achievements include induction into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame in 2014 and receiving the North Carolina Award for Literature in 2003, the highest civilian honor for literature in the state. In 2019, she was named an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow, a significant national recognition. Green’s work has been honored for its depth, addressing themes of personal loss, cultural identity, and resilience. She has also received numerous accolades such as the 2020 Shaw University Ella Baker Women Who Lead Award and the 2016 Kathryn H. Wallace Award for Artists in Community Service.

The reading at Jennette’s Pier will offer attendees a unique opportunity to hear Green share her evocative and powerful work in a beautiful coastal setting. “Jennette’s Pier, located in Nags Head, has long been a venue for connecting the community with cultural experiences, and this event promises to be an enriching evening of literary art,” noted the release.

As poet laureate, Green has made it her mission to elevate the voices of marginalized communities and to celebrate North Carolina’s rich diversity. “There are amazing stories that I want to help people excavate, tell, write, and celebrate,” she said, highlighting her dedication to the state’s literary community.

“The Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series is dedicated to providing opportunities for residents and visitors of the Outer Banks to experience and appreciate the fine arts and humanities. This event is part of a continuing effort to bring diverse and enriching cultural experiences to the region,” stated the release.

For more information about Green, go to jakisheltongreen.com.

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