Past Milwaukee Poets Laureate

2022-2024 Poet Laureate: Mario "The Poet" Willis

Press Release Announcement

Mario “The Poet” Willis is a poet, podcaster and spoken word artist. A Milwaukee native, Mario has been featured throughout the city and the Midwest as a spoken word artist, writing guide, and performance coach. He is a two-time member of Milwaukee's National Poetry Slam Team; a Poetry Unplugged All-Star; a mainstay community member of one of the longest-running open mic venues in the city, Poet’s Monday at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn; and a curator of numerous open mic and writing series, to include “New Word Document” with Riverwest Public House and "PenGame Writing Workshops" with various cafes and venues.  Mario is the co-creator and host of “Pancakes & Poetry,” a community celebration during Milwaukee's annual Bronzeville Week Festival.

Having come to poetry later in his life, Mario does not have a formal education in poetry (rather, he pursued secondary courses in computer science); Mario's understanding of craft and canon are largely autodidactic. For more than 16 years, he has studied regularly and extensively with several nationally recognized spoken word artists and award-winning poets, including Dasha Kelly Hamilton, Buddy Wakefield and Patricia Smith.  Mario has published three chapbooks (“Love More Coffee, and Dreams” “Size Matters,” and “A Limited Engagement”)  and produced two spoken word CDs (“Forgiveness” and “Don’t Panic, Be Awesome”).  He also maintains a blog about poetry, performance and personal truth called “Don’t Panic, Be Awesome” (www.mariothepoet.wordpress.com)

Mario is a passionate Milwaukee native and father of three. He's a Brewers' fan, community activist, volunteer with Hunger Task Force, and a member of Autism Speaks (being the father of an autistic child). Mario ascribes to the philosophy that love is the only thing that can truly save you and forgiveness makes love that much easier. He has found that poetry could be the conduit to both. Mario’s motto “Don’t Panic, Be Awesome” has become his life’s work.

As part of "Lift Every Voice: Celebrating African American Poetry," Mario "The Poet " Willis reads Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “The Paradox” and “Theology,” and shares his own original poetry. Photos of the Poet Laureate Inaugural Event.

2019-2021 Poet Laureate: Dasha Kelly Hamilton

Dasha Kelly Hamilton is a writer, performance artist and creative change agent.  Through responsive and respectful intentionality, Dasha leverages the creative process to facilitate critical dialogues around human and social wellness. Dasha delivers her engagement sessions to campuses, classrooms, correctional institutions, association conferences, social service agencies, municipal departments and team retreats.

Her nonprofit, Still Waters Collective, has curated poetry programming and spoken word events in the region for almost 20 years. The work has impacted more than 13,000 youth, provided professional development to more than 100 young people and created platforms for thousands of voices to be honored and heard.

Dasha has written for national, regional and local magazines; produced three collections of poetry; recorded four spoken word CDs; and published two novels. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has taught writing courses at Mount Mary University, Alverno College and UW-Milwaukee. Dasha served as an Arts Envoy for the U.S. Embassy to teach, perform and facilitate community building initiatives in Botswana and the island of Mauritius.  

Milwaukee Poet Laureate Dasha Kelly Hamilton wrote an original poem celebrating the library which she debuted at the 2020 Benjamin Franklin Award Celebration organized by the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation.

Dasha Kelly Hamilton Named Wisconsin Poet Laureate

Dasha Kelly Hamilton was named Wisconsin Poet Laureate for 2021-2022 by the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission. She will continue to serve as Milwaukee Poet Laureate through September 2021. Kelly Hamilton joins Marilyn L. Taylor as the only poet to have held both positions.

“It's beyond my dreams to represent poetry in my home city and for the state at the same time,” said Kelly Hamilton. “I’m looking forward to extending my poetic work as a community builder and change agent.”

The Wisconsin Poet Laureate plays a crucial role in keeping the arts accessible and vital to all age groups, and acts as a statewide emissary for poetry and creativity. As part of her personal project Kelly Hamilton will establish a poetry exchange between Wisconsin residents and poets in Wisconsin prisons, and encourage program partnerships between writing groups and penal institutions.

Photo credit: Andrew Feller Photography