Adams County Poet Laureate
An exciting collaboration between:
Aerik Francis
2nd Adams County Poet Laureate, Sept. 2025 – June 2027
Aerik Francis (they/he) is a Queer Black & Latinx poet & teaching artist based in Denver, Colorado, USA. Francis is the author of the chapbooks BODYPOLITIC, MISEDUCATION (May 2023, New Delta Review), and BODYELECTRONIC (April 2022, Trouble Department). They have received poetry fellowship support from SAFTA, the Chrysalis Institute, CantoMundo, and The Watering Hole. They are also a poetry reader for Underblong poetry journal and has poetry published widely. Learn more at phaentompoet.com.
The Adams County Poet Laureate residency is a collaboration between Adams County Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts and Anythink Libraries.
Aiming to make poetry accessible to all in our communities, the vision of Adams County Poet Laureate Residency is to spark civic dialogue, amplify voices we do not often hear, break down barriers between our community and poetry as an art form, and enrich the lives of Adams County residents.
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Former Poets Laureate
Kerrie Joy
1st Adams County Poet Laureate, Aug. 2023 – 2025
Kerrie Joy (she/her/hers) is a poet, singer/songwriter, storyteller, educator, and revolutionary. She channels her creativity through poetry, hip-hop, song, graphic design, and fashion. She is an organizer of ideas and a facilitator of critical thinking through her art. Kerrie Joy has performed at Red Rocks, TEDx Mile High, City Winery DC, Atlanta, & Charlotte, the Denver Womxn’s March, Dazzle Denver, The Soiled Dove Underground, and much more. In 2022, Kerrie Joy was named the Creative-in-Residence at the Denver Art Museum and continues to challenge herself as a master creator. She recently released her very first EP “Preachin’ To Myself” and is working on her next project, focused on love.