Kim Shuck's Poem Jam Celebrates Pat Parker

San Francisco Poet Laureate emerita Kim Shuck invites poets and special guests to celebrate Essential Poems by Pat Parker, a new publication by the multicultural lesbian literary & art journal Sinister Wisdom. This in-person reading event celebrates Parker’s poetry in San Francisco, where her life and work has been especially influential. Featured readers include Judy Grahn, Avotcja, Jewelle Gomez, Yeva Johnson, Martha Dunham, Elena Gross, and Ajuan Mance. NOTE: This program takes place in the Latino Room on the Lower Level.

Kim Shuck was San Francisco’s seventh Poet Laureate. Her poetry draws on her multiethnic background which includes Polish and Cherokee heritage, and her experiences as a lifelong resident of San Francisco. Her most recent book of poetry, Pick a Garnet to Sleep In, was published in 2024, and her book of essays, Noodle, Rant, Tangent, was published in 2022. In her term as Poet Laureate, she hosted scores of free poetry and art workshops for all ages at neighborhood libraries and schools and worked closely with San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco Arts Commission to launch major citywide initiatives to honor Native American Indigenous Peoples' heritage. 

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher The General Collections & Humanities Center