Campus members are invited to join President Feinstein and Tobias Guzmán, vice president of Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at UNC, to a special virtual presentation featuring sitting U.S. poet laureate, Joy Harjo. The presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6, beginning at 3 p.m. via Zoom, register here.

Harjo, a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, became the first Native American appointed U.S. poet laureate in 2019. She will present from her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sharing her poetry and speaking about social justice, as well answering questions from the audience.

Harjo, a two-time poet laureate, is author of nine books of poetry, including the highly acclaimed  ”An American Sunrise,” several plays and children’s books and two memoirs. Among her many honors, Harjo earned the Ruth Lily Prize for Lifetime Achievement from the Poetry Foundation, the Academy of American Poets Wallace Stevens Award, two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships and a Guggenheim Fellowship. As a musician and performer, Harjo has produced six award-winning albums including her newest,  ”I Pray for My Enemies.” She was first appointed U.S. poet laureate by the Library of Congress in 2019 and is currently serving her second term as the nation’s official poet. Much of her writing is about coming together and understanding various perspectives.

This event is sponsored by “We Stand Together,” a national coalition of presidents and chancellors from 14 universities, of which President Feinstein is a member. The group has been working together to bring forward a message of unity to eradicate discrimination and racism.

For additional knowledge and personal growth relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion, please find other sources located under DDEI Education and Resources on the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion site, UNC Libraries under DEI & Antiracism Resources, or the Colorado Department of Higher Education Equity Toolkit.