Germantown native Kai Davis has been selected as Philadelphia’s new poet laureate, writes Rosa Cartagena for The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

She succeeds Airea D. Matthews, Philadelphia’s poet laureate from 2022 to 2024. 

As poet laureate, Davis will be an ambassador for poetry throughout the city. She will be tasked with amplifying literacy efforts, participating in community service, speaking at events, and mentoring the Youth Poet Laureate, Oyewumi Oyeniyi.

Davis is highly complimentary of how valuable the spoken word is in Philly.

“Philly is filled with people who have that ability to use lyricism creatively, to connect with one another to build communities with one another,” said Davis. “As poet laureate, my job is to give all these people their flowers while they’re still here, and to draw attention to the work that’s happening.”

Davis began writing poetry as a teenager, and was struck by the power of spoken word performances at the Germantown Poetry Festival.

She eventually started participating in slam poetry competitions and joined the Philly Youth Poetry Movement. 

Currently, Davis is a co-organizer of the Philly Pigeon, a local poetry performance event that blends poetry and other performing arts. 

The poet laureate is a two-year position that comes with a $5,000 stipend.

Read more about Kai Davis’ poetic background at The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

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