City of Orlando Poet Laureate

Mayor Dyer and Sean Welcome

Shawn Welcome is a long time Orlando resident and University of Central Florida graduate. He has been highly involved in the Orlando community, including facilitating poetic expression since 2006 through "Diverse Word," a weekly poetry night he launched that features local literary artists from across Central Florida. He has traveled the country sharing his gift of poetry, written NBA commercials for the Orlando Magic, and served youth and fellow poets through local nonprofits like Page 15, where he presented a “Slam Camp”.

As the City’s official storyteller, Welcome will present original poems at City events and youth activities to inspire emerging generations of literary artists and poets. He will continue and expand the city’s “Words and Wonders” Poetry Contest initiated by Orlando’s first poet laureate, Susan Lilley. The contest encourages and rewards residents who share their poetic voices.

Reasons Why

When we say or you see, “My City Beautiful…”

Have you ever asked why?

 

Because visitors might say palm trees have voices of their own…

Speak for themselves amidst a cotton candy day sky… And a rainbow lit night sky. Is it also true for you who reside?

 

Betwixt the magical water rides.

In the cool shadow of the Orlando Eye, Caribbean roots plant well in this soil.

 

They say “My City Beautiful,” but why?

 

Because date night at the Robinson. Cocktail vibes.

 

Goff’s ice-cream still survives… Jeremiah’s, I got to have…

Because Lechonera and Mi Banderas and Reyes on Orange Ave.

 

At Mamak, I like to meet…

Or maybe it’s me. I like to eat

Roti shops to Seafood Station or Sister Honey’s for a treat.

 

We welcome the retirees from the North and from the West…

Celebrate arts in the street from Immerse to Fusion Fest…

 

Because the world comes to us… We don’t seek validity…

Orlando’s way to cool to complain about humidity…

 

Wet n’ Wild, we’ll never forget ya’

Slide down Bomb Bay, they loosed ya’

We don’t forget

We honor the past while still embracin’ the future

 

Because innovation is in our veins…

Because Magic…

Because Lions…

Because growth comes with the sound of the SunRail over the iron!

 

An electrifying city!

Resilience could be a tagline…

Because the long lines to give…

Because our pulse never flatlined!

 

Because beauty’s beyond visual…

When you feel it, you can’t deny…

 

So when we say or you see “My City Beautiful…”

 

Just remember the reasons why. 

If you are interested in contacting Orlando Poet Laureate, Shawn Welcome, please provide details here on the Poet Laureate Request Form. The form will be sent to Shawn for review, and he will be in touch soon to confirm if he can honor your request or if adjustments need to be made. Please note that Shawn may not be able to accept all requests. Thank you for your interest in the Orlando Poet Laureate Program.

Please follow the Orlando Poet Laureate on Facebook and Instagram to learn about future appearances and events. If you have questions, please contact Marcia Hope Goodwin, Chief Service Officer and Director Office of Community Affairs at communityaffairs@orlando.gov.

 

The process to select the Poet Laureate was developed through a partnership with United Arts of Central Florida. A Poet Laureate Search Committee consisting of distinguished local poets, scholars and literary experts will review applications based on artistic merit of literary work samples, experience and background. Applications were collected from April 26 - June 18, 2021 on unitedarts.cc/poet-laureate.