Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, Luis J. Rodriguez, Visits KPCC Radio

This September, Luis J. Rodriguez became Poet Laureate of the City of Los Angeles. Now, after first discovering his love for books at Los Angeles's Downtown Central Library years ago, Rodriguez plans to lead a series of public workshops and events about poetry at the city library. More from KPCC.

Los Angeles is a city filled with wordsmiths. But only one of them holds the title of poet laureate: Luis J. Rodriguez.

"I felt humbled, I also felt very responsible," says Rodriguez, upon getting the news of his appointment from Mayor Eric Garcetti in September. "I knew now my voice would have to be connected to the communities that I'm from."

Rodriguez is the author of numerous books, including the memoir "Always Running, La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A." His most recent book is "It Calls You Back: An Odyssey Through Love, Addiction, Revolutions, and Healing."

Rodriguez will lead a series of public workshops and events on poetry in the city in his new role. He'll also have an office at L.A.'s downtown central library, a site that was crucial to his own transformation as a young man when he discovered his love of books, he says.

Today, he describes his mission as "helping poetry come alive in the city, connecting it with people who may not know about poetry, who may not know about its importance, especially in uncertain and crisis-filled times." [...]

Learn more and listen to Rodriguez read a new poem at KPCC. And if you want to read more Rodriguez's journey to becoming a poet, read his contribution (page 57) to Blueprints.