Ideas Exchange with Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman in conversation with Tracy. K Smith

Please note this event was recorded on June 10, 2021. This virtual Ideas Exchange event with inaugural poet Amanda Gorman in conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy K. Smith, hosted by L.A. Times columnist Erika D. Smith streams starting at 5:30 PM PST on June 30th and will only be available for viewing until July 14th.

On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the sixth and youngest poet to deliver a poetry reading at a presidential inauguration joining such remarkable poets as Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Alexander, Richard Blanco, and Robert Frost. Taking the stage after the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, Gorman captivated the nation and brought hope to viewers around the globe with her call for unity and healing. Her poem “The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country” can now be cherished in a special gift edition, perfect for any reader looking for some inspiration.

Amanda will be in conversation with the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and former U.S. Poet Laureate, Tracy K. Smith. They will discuss her uplifting poem and the power of language to reinvigorate and reimagine the promise of America. LA Times columnist Erika D. Smith will moderate the conversation.
Thank you to our event partner WriteGirl, a community of women writers that promotes creativity and self-expression to empower girls. Amanda says: “WriteGirl has been pivotal in my life. It’s been thanks to their support that I’ve been able to chase my dreams as a writer.”