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Photo by Kit Sechler. Lucie Sechler is Westwood's first Youth Poet Laureate.
Thanks to Lynne Viti, Westwood's Poet Laureate, for contributing this news to Westwood Minute.
On Monday evening, May 8, 2023, Westwood joined the ranks of just a few trailblazing towns with a special distinction when its Select Board appointed Lucie Sechler, Westwood High School (WHS) Class of 2024, to the position of Westwood’s first Youth Poet Laureate, by a unanimous vote.
According to Westwood Poet Laureate Lynne Viti, in Massachusetts, only Boston, Worcester, Brockton, Northampton, and Springfield also have a Youth Poet Laureate. Ms. Sechler's term will run for one year, beginning June 1, 2023.
A selection committee composed of Dr. Viti along with Westwood Public Library Director Lizzy McGovern, and Friends of the Library Member Karen Michaelson (who is also a poet), reviewed applications and interviewed several applicants before formally recommending Ms. Sechler to the Select Board.
The selection committee chose Ms. Sechler as Youth Poet Laureate based on what it found to be the fine quality of her poetry in her writing sample, her well thought out ideas for bringing more poetry to the town, especially to elementary school students, and strong support from her references.
Poetry is just one of many forms of communication practiced by Ms. Sechler. She also sings, reads, practices rhetoric, and is involved in the performing arts. Ms. Sechler is a member of the WHS chorus, the Cover to Cover Book Club, Model U.N., and WHS theater productions. She is especially interested in working with elementary school age children in poetry workshops and other poetry-centric events.
In her application letter, Ms. Sechler wrote, "Growing up in Westwood, I have been fortunate to witness the unifying force of poetry that lies in the way it highlights the power of small details and fleeting moments. I have been thinking recently about how small things go a long way to strengthen a community because of the Public Speaking and Community Action course I just completed at school, and poetry is the perfect example of this."
The community will have a chance to hear Ms. Sechler's poetic compositions at Westwood Day in September, where she will be reading her poetry. She will also be reading her poetry at other important public events in the town, and for national and local events on holidays such as Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Town Founding Day.
