Prince George’s County Office of the Poet Laureate
The Prince George's County Office of the Poet Laureate serves as a platform to celebrate and promote the literary arts within the community. It aims to elevate the role of poetry and literature in the cultural landscape of the county, fostering creativity, expression, and connection among residents.
What’s New
The Impact
The Office of the Poet Laureate orchestrates a diverse array of literary and cultural initiatives, fostering dynamic dialogues through programs, forums, and engaging conversations. These events feature poets, spoken word artists, and artisans spanning various disciplines, inviting the community to participate in rich and extended discussions.
Through a blend of live and virtual interactive sessions, our programming cultivates connections across generations, offering both artists and residents avenues for cultural exploration and bridge-building opportunities. Join us in nurturing artistic growth and enhancing the quality of life for all Prince George’s County residents.
Meet Our Poet Laureates
Tatiana Figueroa Ramirez
Poet Laureate
May 2026 - April 2028
Osaze Murray
2026 Youth Poet Laureate
Prince George’s County Poet Laureate - Tatiana Figueroa Ramírez
Born in Puerto Rico, Tatiana Figueroa Ramírez graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from UMBC and an M.A. in Public Management with a focus on Nonprofit Management and Leadership at UMD. She has received fellowships from VONA Voices, Anaphora Arts, and Letras Boricuas, having worked with Willie Perdomo and Danez Smith. Tatiana has previously been featured at local, national, and international events as a poet, panelist, host, and keynote speaker. She currently performs, facilitates workshops, and hosts events in the DC area, having previously done so across the United States and the Dominican Republic at venues including The Kennedy Center and New York University.
She serves as the Senior Program Director of Poetry & Community Arts at DC SCORES and as a teaching artist for organizations, such as Shout Mouse Press with much of her community and poetic efforts being dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and empowering young women of color. Tatiana was the 2020 Burns Whiskey Poetry Slam Champion and is the inaugural 2023 CFA Practitioner Award Winner. Her work has been featured in MSNBC’s “Leguizamo Does America” andThe Acentos Review, among other publications. Tatiana is the author ofCoconut Curls y Café con Leche (2019) Despojo (2020), andExhume (forthcoming).
Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate -
Osaze Murray
Osaze Murray is a 15 year old poet based out of Bowie Maryland. After being spurred on to write poetry by his 8th grade reading teacher, Osaze continued to perform. He has performed at the Beats vs Booms poetry slam, The comcast Juneteenth poetry slam, the Pgati conference at the Kennedy center, the opening of the James Baldwin exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery, the Kaitz dinner in New York, and the Maryland Stories Tapestry Gala. If Osaze were to be elected as the youth poet laureate, he would like to implement awareness about food deserts or Alzheimer's disease as his grandfather was recently diagnosed with the disease. In terms of community service, he has served as an assistant for a preschool summer camp, a teacher's assistant, and on the advisory council for the Student Member of the Board putting on county wide events. Osaze Murray continues to feel blessed for every moment he can perform and he feels joy for being considered for this prestigious group.
The Prince George's County Youth Poet Laureate Program is a joint venture of Urban Word of NYC, DIALECT of Prince George’s, and Lyrikal Storm, with support from the Prince George’s Arts & Humanities Council, M-NCPPC Department of Parks & Recreation, the Prince George’s County Office of Community Relations, and generous support from county residents.
