Dallas Mayor announces City's new Poet Laureate, Youth Poet Laureate

Just in time for National Poetry Month and Dallas Arts Month, the City of Dallas has welcomed two new Poet Laureates.

Mayor Eric L. Johnson announced Kristoddie Woods, professionally known as Black Ceasar, as the City of Dallas’ third Poet Laureate during a morning ceremony on Wednesday, April 8, at Dallas City Hall. Booker T. Washington High School student Cadence Diggs was named Youth Poet Laureate.

According to a press release, Woods will serve as an ambassador for the literary arts, presenting original works at community events and developing outreach initiatives inspiring residents to read, write, and perform poetry during his two-year term. He will also host regular artist-in-residence office hours at the Central Library.

“April is National Poetry Month, as well as Dallas Arts Month,” said Mayor Johnson during the presentation. “This month, I call upon civic leaders, educators, librarians and all the people of Dallas to celebrate the cultural riches of our community, including our new Dallas Poet Laureates.”

A Mississippi native now based in Dallas, Woods is widely recognized for his Emmy Award-winning performances with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. In addition to poetry, Woods is also an author, teacher, and filmmaker, with a passion for uplifting underrepresented voices through creative expression.

Woods is taking on the role until 2028, which was previously held by Mag Gabbert, an essayist who was Poet Laureate from 2024-2026.

Cadence Diggs will serve a one-year term as Youth Poet Laureate, working alongside the Dallas Poet Laureate to promote poetry among young people across the city.

An 11th-grader at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Diggs is the founder and president of the Pegasi Poetry Society, a creative writing and literary organization for her peers. She is passionate about cultivating spaces where young people can grow into their fullest potential.

The Dallas Poet Laureate program was launched in June 2021 by Dallas Public Library, the Office of Arts and Culture and Deep Vellum to recognize exemplary poets and elevate the role of poetry in the community. The program is funded in part by the Friends of the Dallas Public Library, Inc. and the Joe M. and Doris R. Dealey Family Foundation.