The City of Ripon is looking to move forward with the Poet Laureate program. 

Elected leaders took that first step in September by directing staff to work with the Ripon Arts League, which expressed an interest in assisting the city in administering the program while coordinating efforts with the Ripon Unified School District and Ripon Christian Schools.

The Library & Literacy Foundation of San Joaquin County and its board of director, since 2020, pre-approved funding to all cities in SJC to provide grant funding – $15,000 over the next three years – to establish City Poet Laureate programs.

The City of Manteca, City of Lodi, and, currently in the works, the City of Tracy, are doing just that.

The City of Ripon is looking to join those cities.

The Ripon City Council is scheduled to go forward with those plans at today’s 6 p.m. meeting (Jan. 9) in the Council Chamber, 259 N. Wilma Ave., by entering into a Grant Agreement for the City of Ripon Poet Laureate program, and to direct staff to draft a Memorandum of Understanding with Ripon Arts League to administer the program.

The Grant Agreement for $15,000 would be related to the expenses incurred from this month and through Dec, 31, 2026.

The program’s objective would include producing at least one poem per year dedicated to the City of Ripon, and would consist of a partnership with the Ripon Memorial Library to host teen events; RUSD and / or RC Schools in holding literacy events; early childhood literacy programs; free poetry workshops; and public readings of original poetry.

If all goes accordingly, the City of Ripon would maintain financial records showing that grant funds along with associated expenses with an end of the grant period report, summarizing that all objectives were met and completed.

Cost to administer the program is estimated at less than $2,000, and would be paid via the General Fund.