Manteca will soon have its first official Poet Laureate in the city’s 105-year history.

Details on how the person who will ultimately serve in that capacity will be selected haven’t been released yet, but the City Council Tuesday took the first step toward making it happen by accepting a $15,000 grant.

The Poet Laureate program, according to Recreation & Community Services Manager Brandy Clark, will:

*Be responsible for creating and presenting poetry at City Council meetings, community events, schools, and other public venues.

*Serve as a resource for local poets and literacy organizations.

*Provide guidance and support for the development of literary arts in the community.

*Work with the Manteca Library staff to encourage children to write poetry

*Present an annual official City of Manteca poem to the City Council.

“(The Poet Laureate will) promote and celebrate the arts, support local poets, and enhance the cultural vibrancy of the community,” Clark said.

The three-year endeavor is being funded with a grant from the Library & Literacy Foundation for San Joaquin County.

The non-profit founded in 1990 does exactly what its name implies through community outreach.

It’s highest profile event has been the annual Trivia Bee that in recent years has been conducted at the Stockton Arena.

Over the years the foundation has raised funds for adult literacy efforts  plus summer and family reading programs as well as other programs promoting literacy and reading such as Training Wheels, Family Day in the Park, Big Read, One Book One San Joaquin. Reach Out and Read, and Cultural Crossroads.

They also have donated funds for books and materials for local libraries.

Manteca Mayor Gary Singh after Tuesday’s meeting said he was hopeful the poet laureate  endeavor will be the first of many more steps the city will take to promote cultural arts in the city.

Tracy is also in the position of selecting a poet laureate.

Lodi in January named Nancy Gonzalez St. Clair as that city’s first poet laureate. Stockton’s poet laureate is Tama Brisbane.

Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Lee Herrick of Fresno as California’s official poet laureate while  Ada Limon is the United States’ current poet laureate.

Though the concept is old school given it harkens back to 1616 when England’s King James I granted a pension to poet Ben Jonson, poetry to share culture and literacy has been a staple of the American landscape for generations as well as part of the cultural fabric across the globe.

In recent years, poetry slams have gained traction among teens and young people. They involve competition, complete with elimination rounds, for the reading and/or performance of poetry that is almost always original.

That said, poetry and music — from folk and cowboy songs  to the Great American Songbook to rap — have been intertwined for thousands of years.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com