Jason Magabo Perez is wrapping up his term as San Diego's Poet Laureate with a forward-thinking approach to poetry and community engagement. The Poetry Futures 2024 Coda event, held at the UC San Diego Cross-Cultural Center, marked both the end of his tenure and the beginning of new artistic endeavors. As an ambassador for poetry, spoken word, and literary arts on behalf of the city, Perez has spent the last two years nurturing diverse voices and creating inclusive spaces. According to the Times of San Diego, more than 30 poets, including California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, celebrated the infinite possibilities of poetry at the festival.
In reflecting on his time in service, Perez has acknowledged that while "not all of his lofty ambitions came to fruition," according to the Times of San Diego, the projects initiated under his leadership have laid a solid foundation for future growth. Workshops have taken place in settings ranging from schools and libraries to cultural centers, focusing on leveraging poetry for empowerment. Perez utilized his time as a laureate to launch the San Diego Poetry Futures 2024, fostering workshops that addressed topics such as undocumented migration and holding youth-focused poetry sessions along the trolley system.
Perez's work has developed a strong connection between poetry and the San Diego community. For instance, the recently held poetry festival is more than a swan song; it's a launchpad for continuous inspiration and connection among poets and organizers. "I want us to dream up new possibilities," Perez told ABC10 News. This sentiment underscores his drive to share his work and "hype up the people" he has served.
The outgoing laureate looks towards a sabbatical from his "day job" as a professor of ethnic studies at Cal State San Marcos, but his commitment to local arts seems to remain unfazed. Perez draws from a rich background of activism and a personal history as the child of Filipino immigrants to channel his energy into meaningful community contributions. He intends to push forward with the San Diego Youth Poet Laureate program and other collaborations inspired during his term. With connections to both young and old, Perez feels validated, especially in the small, quiet moments of affirmation, "It’s the connection and opportunity for folks to feel seen," he emphasized via the Times of San Diego.
As Perez turns the page on this chapter, he carries the many narratives, experiences, and lessons from his tenure. With future programming prospects around film and poetry on his agenda, it is clear Perez's dedication to literature and community is far from diminishing—instead, it's evolving into his next venture. His parting message, as much an inspiration as a farewell, invites the city to partake in this evolution: "I was doing this work before I became poet laureate and I’ll continue doing it after," Perez said via Times of San Diego.
