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Belmont proclaims April 2025 National Poetry Month, extends poet laureate term
Summary
Belmont City Council adopted a proclamation recognizing April 2025 as National Poetry Month and acknowledged Belmont Poet Laureate Monica Corday’s fourth year in the role, highlighting ongoing community programs and events.
Belmont City Council on April 8 adopted a proclamation recognizing April 1–30, 2025, as National Poetry Month and honored Belmont’s poet laureate, Monica Corday, for continuing outreach and programming.
The proclamation cites the Academy of American Poets’ designation of April as National Poetry Month and notes Corday’s work with the Belmont Library and Parks & Recreation to host readings, youth programs and community collaborations. Corday, Belmont’s poet laureate since 2021, summarized recent activities and upcoming events, including a Belmont Poetry Contest celebration and a virtual poetry night featuring California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick on April 10.
Why this matters: the proclamation formally recognizes the city’s cultural programming and draws public attention to free and low-cost events that the proclamation and Corday said aim to broaden participation in the arts.
During brief remarks after receiving the proclamation, Monica Corday described her initiatives and thanked city staff and library partners. “I’m proud to remain committed to nurturing a culture where poetry is accessible to all,” Corday said as she listed programs such as Belmont Poetry Night, Fireside Poetry at the Manor, and intergenerational community projects run under her Project Poetry 3 60 initiative.
The mayor and council members praised Corday’s outreach. The proclamation text, read at the meeting, invites the people of Belmont to observe the month with “appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.” The city said details and registration for the April 10 virtual event are available at belmont.gov/poetry360.
The council took no other formal action tied to the proclamation. Council and staff posed no policy questions; the segment functioned as a ceremonial recognition and informational update about upcoming events.
Looking ahead, the proclamation highlights the April 29 Belmont Poetry Contest celebration at Twin Pines Lodge and Corday’s continuing collaboration with the library and Parks & Rec for youth and community programming.
