Present and Past Poets Laureate

Pacia Anderson

Guided by deeply spiritual elder women, Pacia Elaine Anderson learned early that a purposeful life is one that is lived creatively, communally, and in the humble service of others. Her early experiences with poetry were born from her love of reading and were fostered through the encouragement of loving mentors who provided opportunities to explore her poetic gifts.

Ms. Anderson collaborates as a poet, visual and teaching artist, creative consultant, arts administrator, and community engagement coordinator, both locally and nationally. She currently serves as the program lead of the Community Arts Training (CAT) institute and as a master teaching artist with several arts-learning organizations. In 2020 she was named Community Impact Artist by the St. Louis Visionary awards, and currently sits on the boards of The Saint Louis Poetry Center and St. Louis Art Place, an artist housing initiative.

Poetry is infused in nearly every aspect of Ms. Anderson's lived experience, and serves as a vehicle that drives much of her creative and community-based work. A mentee of past  St. Louis Poets Laureate, Ms. Anderson holds a deep knowledge of the history of the art form here in St. Louis, and its impact across the world. Her work has appeared in Crossing the Divide, Humans of St. Louis, All the Art, and Drumvoices Revue, among others publications. 

Previous Poets Laureate

• Jane Ellen Ibur (2019—2021)
• Shirley Bradley Price LeFlore (2018—2019)
• Michael Castro (2015—2017)