Mayor Kenneth T. Welch Selects Denzel Johnson-Green as City's Next Poet Laureate

St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch Selects Denzel Johnson-Green as City's Next Poet Laureate

Feb. 4, 2026 - Mayor Kenneth T. Welch has appointed Denzel Johnson-Green as St. Petersburg's poet laureate. Johnson-Green is the City's first Black poet laureate and will serve as a prominent fixture in the City's cultural and literary arts communities, promoting poetry and literature among residents and visitors.

"I'm proud to appoint Denzel Johnson-Green as the City's poet laureate - his impactful and thoughtful work truly represents the vibrant spirit of our community," said Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. "Support for the arts is more important now than ever and the City is proud to continue this meaningful tradition of having a poet laureate. I look forward to Denzel expanding his work and continuing to engage with our residents and the community in this new role."

Poet Laureate Denzel Johnson-Green expressed, "Thank you, Mayor Ken Welch, and everyone out there who believes in something. Poetry believes in us; teaches us that we all have rich, inner worlds waiting for dazzling articulation, and that we are all worthy of this. With our poems, let us move each other out of fear and anxiety. May we see each other with multi-dimensional empathy, writing poems of friends, big laughs, evening walks, as well as the truth telling poems that inspire the world to be kinder. May our curiosity never be satiated, and our hearts open like the best late night food joint. May wonder always be within our reach, and may we have the courage to grasp it."

As the City's official poet, Johnson-Green will present his works at City events and youth activities to inspire emerging generations of literary artists and poets. Johnson-Green will present his first poem as St. Pete's Poet Laureate at the flag raising at City Hall to celebrate Black History Month on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026.

Traditionally, St. Pete's poet laureate serves for the Mayor's term. The previous poets laureate for St. Petersburg are Peter Meinke, Helen Wallace, and Gloria Muñoz.

About Denzel Johnson-Green

Denzel Johnson-Green is the creator and editor of 17 poetry journals called "Neptune," which were nominated best literary journal in Creative Loafing. He is the recipient of the Roy Peter Clark Literary Prize and he is the creator of the free, weekly workshop/open mic, Community Poetry, founded in 2019. Denzel is the creator of several poetry readings including The Cavern of Dancing Lights, Moonflower, Slam Sandwich, and Bonfire Poems. His light poetry can be found in Saw Palm, Oddball Magazine, The Artisan, Art Coast Journal, and The Fantastic Other. Denzel can be seen making pancakes for friends and writing poems downtown.