Regie Gibson Brings the Fire and Power of Poetry to Westwood High

Poetry isn’t just a bunch of words on a page when Regie Gibson takes the stage — it’s a full-throttle performance, a heartbeat, a rallying cry. On February 13, in celebration of Black History Month, Westwood High School students will have front-row seats as Gibson, inaugural Poet Laureate of Massachusetts, returns to inspire and inform. Current Youth Poet Laureate Charles Goodman, Westwood Class of 2026,  will introduce the State Poet Laureate.

Gibson’s visit comes after a whirlwind year: on May 30, 2025, Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll inaugurated him at the Peabody Essex Museum as the first-ever Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Chosen from more than 100 applicants, the award-winning poet and educator has embarked on a two-year mission to elevate poetry, advance literacy, and spark creative expression across Massachusetts — from the Berkshires to the Cape.

Theresa Fisher, teacher/librarian and organizer of the Westwood High event,  enthuses, “When Regie performed here four years ago, the students were wowed by his rhythm, energy, and wisdom. He breathes life into poetry. Our students will not only meet Massachusetts’ first Poet Laureate, they’ll feel the power of spoken word in their bones.”

Gibson is no stranger to using poetry as a force for community connection. Whether reading his poetry at public events, acting in one of his theater pieces or teaching students at Berklee College of Music and Clark University, he makes complex social and historical themes accessible — often with humor, always with heart. As Co-Artistic Director of Pedagogy at Arts for Social Change, he channels poetry into social cohesion.

At his swearing-in as Poet Laureate, Gibson read from his powerful poem “Massachusetts: A Song of Itself, Revolution, and Resilience,” setting the tone for his tenure: poetry that challenges, uplifts, and unites.

This Westwood High Black History Month celebration, organized by Ms. Fisher and local poet Lynne Viti, is funded through  the school and a grant from the Westwood and Massachusetts Cultural Councils. Regie Gibson’s return visit to Westwood High promises to be more than just a performance — it’s a chance to witness poetry’s ability to move, provoke, and ignite imagination.