Congratulations to the new Worcester Poet Laureate!

Worcester has appointed Nicole “Nic” Jean Turner as the new Worcester Poet Laureate. She will serve from January 2026 to December 2028. Samara Tang-Rainwater, a freshman at Doherty Memorial High School, will serve as the Youth Poet Laureate from January 2026 to December 2027.

Turner and Tang-Rainwater will be presented with ceremonial medals created by local metal artist Pam Farren and will deliver their first official readings during the City of Worcester’s Inaugural Exercises and Celebration on Friday, Jan. 2, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Doherty Memorial High School.

Deeply embedded in the poetry community, Turner has become a standout in not only Worcester’s poetry scene but also New England. As an organizer and participant of the longest running independent poetry series, The Dirty Gerund Poetry Show, Turner has been uplifting emerging voices through performance, mentorship, and innovative programming. Her leadership and impact have earned formal recognition, including an Iron Poet Championship title, a gold medal in the Massachusetts Poetry Olympics, and a nomination for the City of Worcester 2025 Woman of Consequence. In 2024, Turner founded The Roadshow, a rotating poetry team designed to break down barriers to participate in competitive poetry.