Declaring April 2025 as National Poetry Month in the City of Philadelphia and recognizing the profound impact of poetry on Philadelphia's cultural, educational, and social landscape.

Declaring April 2025 as National Poetry Month in the City of Philadelphia and recognizing the profound impact of poetry on Philadelphia’s cultural, educational, and social landscape. WHEREAS, National Poetry Month was established by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996 and is celebrated annually in April to encourage individuals of all ages to write, read, and share poetry in an effort to remind us of poetry’s significance to our culture; and WHEREAS, The Academy of American Poets, founded in 1934 is a national, member supported organization that champions American poetry and poets and fosters appreciation for the art form through various initiatives including National Poetry Month, Teach This Poem, Poetry Coalition, American Poets magazine, Poets.org, Poem-a-Day, and numerous poetry awards; and WHEREAS, Declaring April to be National Poetry Month honors the Ccity of Philadelphia’s rich poetic heritage, celebrates contemporary contributions, and acknowledges the transformative work of local poets and organizations. Poetry and poets have had a profound impact on Philadelphia, shaping its cultural identity, activism and artistic movements over the years through artistic and literary innovation; and WHEREAS, Philadelphia has a storied history of poetic excellence, serving as home and inspiration to many influential poets, including Edgar Allan Poe, Ursula Rucker, Major Jackson, Yolanda Wisher, Sonia Sanchez and Trapeta B. Mayson who have contributed to the City’s poetic v…