Event

January 29, 2026

5 p.m.–7 p.m.

Poets Building Community: A Gathering of Poets Laureate

Join us for an evening of poetry, conversation, and civic imagination as The Loft hosts Poets Building Community, a special gathering of Poets Laureate from across Minnesota. This event is the culminating public program of Minneapolis Poet Laureate Junauda Petrus’s 2025–2026 laureate year.

Guided by Petrus’s central question—“What does community look like for you?”—Poets Laureate will share original poems and reflect on the civic and cultural work they carry into their communities. The evening will weave together art, storytelling, and public purpose, offering a rare glimpse into how poets help shape the places we call home.

Featured poets will include:

* Junauda Petrus, Minneapolis Poet Laureate
* Gwen Westerman, Minnesota State Poet Laureate
* Jean Prokott, Rochester Poet Laureate
* Donte Collins, former St. Paul Youth Poet Laureate
* Heid E. Erdrich, inaugural Minneapolis Poet Laureate
* Joyce Sutphen, former Minnesota State Poet Laureate

The conversation will be moderated by Cristeta Boarini, Partnerships Manager at the Loft.

We will also take a moment to recognize Andrea Jenkins for her contributions as a poet and her pivotal role in establishing the Minneapolis Poet Laureate position – (City Council Member 2017-2025)

This event is free and open to all.
Come celebrate the power of poetry to build connection, spark change, and imagine new futures together.