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Photo courtesy of Lynne Viti. Westwood resident Beth Swinning has been named the second poet laureate for the Town of Westwood. Her duties will begin on June 1, 2025.
By Lynne Viti, Contributor
A unanimous Westwood Select Board on February 24th has accepted the recommendation of the Westwood Poet Laureate Selection Committee and appointed Beth Swinning as Westwood’s second Poet Laureate, for a two-year term to begin June 1. Swinning brings a wealth of talents and skills to this honorary position—as a teacher/librarian at Martha Jones Elementary School in Westwood, a performance/spoken word poet and a community advocate for poetry.
After the Select Board 's vote this Monday confirming her appointment, Swinning stated, "I am thrilled and honored to serve as Westwood's Poet Laureate. Poetry has been a lifelong passion, and I look forward to sharing the joy it’s brought to me, with our community.”
During her term, Swinning will endeavor - in her words - “to bring poetry out from the bookshelves and into the town of Westwood.” In her application letter, she emphasized her view that poetry can and should be accessible for all: "My goal is to show that poetry is for everyone. It can be serious or playful, and it meets you wherever you are. Through workshops and events, we'll explore its many forms." She also acknowledged the role poetry can play in healing, comforting and supporting its practitioners and audiences: "I want to create a safe space for people to express themselves through poetry, a place where everyone feels they belong and are heard."
Swinning plans to present poetry workshops for every age group up to adulthood, partnering with the library and the schools. She also will initiate a program of regular open mics for both traditional and spoken word poets, and will partner with local businesses to expand awareness and love of poetry. Another component of her mission will be selecting and mentoring the next two youth poet laureates, a one-year position established by the Select Board in 2023.
Library director Elizabeth McGovern, the selection committee co-chair, has high praise for the next poet laureate: “Beth Swinning is a creative dynamo, passionate about teaching, performance poetry, and Westwood. I can't wait to see all the amazing programs and initiatives that Beth will bring to the community. I’m delighted that Beth will be Westwood’s next poet laureate.”
Swinning earned her Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology and her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from University of Massachusetts Boston, and her Masters of Education in Library Media from Salem State University. She has served as school librarian at Martha Jones since 2015, and lives in Westwood with her family.
The poet laureate selection process spanned three months. A panel of seven, all of whom live or work in Westwood, reviewed each applicant’s credentials and stated plans for public service in the role, their history of promoting poetry, and poetic merit as demonstrated in their writing samples. Committee members were Lynne Viti, co -chair and current Westwood Poet Laureate; Maria Ryan, library trustee and Westwood Cultural Councilor; Julia Horvitz, librarian; Karen Michelson, poet; Mike Dwyer, poet; and Lisa Spollen, Westwood High School teacher.
The position of Westwood Town Poet Laureate, established in 2022 by the Select Board and the Westwood Library, is supported by the Library by a stipend of five hundred dollars a year from the Westwood Library’s 21st Century Fund. Westwood is one of 18 Massachusetts cities and towns with the position.
Earlier this month, Governor Maura Healy signed an executive order creating the position of Massachusetts state poet laureate and an advisory Poet Laureate Nominating Committee to review applications for the role and submit recommendations to the governor. The selected candidate for Massachusetts state poet laureate will be eligible for a stipend provided by the Mass. Cultural Council.
Thanks to Lynne Viti, current Poet Laureate of Westwood, for contributing this news to Westwood Minute.
