Read Bianca’s praisesong: to the owner of the tamale place across from my tia’s house

A project by Texas Poet Laureate Amanda Johnston, Praisesong for the People: Poems from the Heart and Soul of Texas will commission 70 poets across 7 Texas regions to write original praise poems celebrating everyday people in the state we call home. This project seeks to uplift our diverse and intersecting population across age, gender, and BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, differently-abled, and immigrant communities.

​

With support from the Writers' League of Texas, readings will be scheduled across the state to celebrate the vibrant communities we live in for Fall 2024. For Spring 2025, writing projects will be shared with educators and all K-12 schools in Texas to encourage students to read and write praise poems for people who have positively impacted their lives.  

​

This project is made possible by the Academy of American Poets and the Mellon Foundation.