Welcome to Benicia First Tuesday Poets and Johanna Ely, Benicia's 6th Poet Laureate, 2016-2018 :

Notes on Johanna –

Johanna Ely loves Benicia, and is

passionate about poetry. She has

lived in Benicia for 30 years, but

has been writing poetry since the fourth grade. After graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in English, she earned her teaching credential from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, and taught elementary school in Pittsburg, California for twenty-five years.

Now retired, Johanna is an active member of the Benicia First Tuesday Poets group, and has been the chairperson of the Benicia Love Poetry Contest for the past two years. She has been published in several anthologies and online journals. Recently, she published a small collection of her poems titled, “Transformation”, and enjoys reading her poetry at different venues around the Bay Area.
 
Johanna is honored and excited to serve as Benicia’s sixth Poet Laureate. Her goal is to have poets and poetry pop up all over Benicia; at the library, in the schools, and in the art galleries, restaurants, and coffee shops around town.

She believes that poetry should be made accessible to everyone!

It will be official July 5th, 2016! 

Calling All Poets and Lovers of Poetry!

I would be honored if you could join me at

Benicia City Hall on Tuesday, July 5th at 7pm, when I am officially introduced as Benicia’s 6th Poet Laureate!
As poet laureate, I represent the poetry community, but I don’t want to do it alone. I’d love to have your support, and together, we could show the city council and the people of Benicia that poetry is alive and well!
Have a wonderful July 4th, and I hope to see you on the 5th!

Sincerely, Johanna Ely