Adams County Poet Laureate Program
In collaboration with Anythink Libraries, the Adams County Poet Laureate residency is breaking down barriers to poetry in our community and amplifying voices that too often go unheard.
Through performances, workshops and events, and original works inspired by their residency, this program is bringing poetry and the literary and performance arts to the Adams County community.
The current Poet Laureate, Aerik Francis, is a celebrated poet, teaching artist, and literary organizer deeply connected to Colorado’s creative community. Aerik’s vision for their residency is simple: Conversations.
Call for Poetry
Adams County Poet Laureate Aerik Francis invites poets to submit their works for a chance to be included in Chromatic Conversations, the second official Adams County Poet Laureate community anthology. Click here to learn more.
Submissions are due by August 30.
Upcoming Events
Open Mic at Reunion Coffee House
Join Adams County Poet Laureate Aerik Francis for their quarterly open mic.
Poets of all ages, abilities, and experience levels are invited to share original work in this supportive community space at Reunion Coffee House.
- Thursday, August 13
- 6-8 p.m.
- 10601 Reunion Pkwy., Commerce City
The Exchange
Save the date! The Exchange returns with an exciting new lineup of artists in conversation. Stay tuned for more information!
- Friday, Nov. 13
- 5:30-8 p.m.
- Anythink Pearl Mack |7611 Hilltop Cir., Denver
About Aerik Francis
Aerik Francis (they/he) is a Queer Black and Latinx poet & teaching artist based in Denver, Colorado, USA. Francis is the author of the chapbooks BODYPOLITIC (forthcoming Spring 2026 with Abode Press), 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 have poetry published widely.
Former Adams County Poets Laureate
Kerrie Joy, Aug. 2023-Aug. 2025
Kerrie Joy is a poet, singer/songwriter, storyteller, educator, and revolutionary. She was the inaugural Adams County Poet Laureate from 2023-2025. She channels her creativity through poetry and artistic curation. As an organizer of ideas and a facilitator of critical thinking through her art, Kerrie hosted writing and performance workshops, open mics, and poetry slams, creating new pathways for Adams County artists to hone their craft and find community, from the urban fringe to our rural prairies. Beyond this residency, Kerrie continues to write, perform, and challenge herself as a master creator. She is currently pursuing her MFA at Randolph College.
For Those Who Dream By Day, A Community Anthology from Adams County, Colorado will be published late spring 2026.
Learn more about what Kerrie Joy is up to now at kerriejoy.com.
The Adams County Poet Laureate Residency is a collaboration between Adams County and Anythink Libraries. Aiming to make poetry accessible to all in our communities, the vision of the 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.
Contact the Adams County Poet Laureate
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