Clark County Poet Laureate

 

Ashley "Ms.AyeVee" Vargas is an award-winning Afro-Latina Literary Artist from Las Vegas, Nevada. She is a woman of many hats with a passion for Poetry. Her work has been featured by The legendary All Def Poetry, Write About Now & Button Poetry. She has also been recognized by the Las Vegas Book Festival, Nevada Public Radio, & The US Congress for advancing the cause of literacy & extraordinary literary achievement. In 2022, Ms. AyeVee was selected as an official TEDx speaker for Las Vegas. She also runs a Las Vegas-based poetry organization, Beyond the Neon (@btnpoetry), focusing on poetry-exclusive events and community outreach.

Follow her poetic journey at https://linktr.ee/Msayevee

About the Poet Laureate position

The Poet Laureate program celebrates Clark County's literary community and aims to strengthen literary arts by engaging diverse communities. Ms.AyeVee will serve as a cultural ambassador for poetry, conducting public events County-wide, and representing Southern Nevada's rich literary history and diversity. She will participate in ceremonial, educational, and cultural activities and promote a love for literary arts through workshops, readings, panels, festivals, and public appearances. Additionally, she will provide a commissioned poem related to her body of work while in the position.

The CCPL program was established in 2015, and past poets include:

• 2015 – 2017 Bruce Isaacson
• 2017 – 2019 Vogue M. Robinson
• 2019 – 2021 Heather Lang-Cassera
• 2022 – 2024 Angela M. Brommel
• 2024 – 2026 Ashley "Ms.AyeVee" Vargas

Goals

The Poet Laureate program celebrates Clark County’s vibrant literary community and aims to strengthen the future of literary arts in our city by engaging a broad range of communities. The CCPL post will serve as a cultural ambassador for the poetic artform, written and/or spoken, and conduct engaging public events for constituents County-wide.

As both a local resident and a distinguished poet, the CCPL will represent and celebrate the rich literary history and the diversity of Southern Nevada. As a spokesperson for the area’s literary community, the CCPL will help reinforce the role of literature and the arts in civic life and will actively participate in ceremonial, educational and cultural activities in the community during the term of service.

 

Return to home page