Rochester’s Poet Laureate was established to promote appreciation for poetry and the language arts. The Poet Laureate works with cultural, educational and other organizations to encourage the public to enjoy and express poetic and literary creativity. These goals are accomplished via public appearances, readings, workshops, and other public displays of poetry. Additionally, the Poet Laureate will participate in an inaugural reading and will help organize at least four additional community events during the term.
Rochester's current Poet Laureate is Jean Prokott. She is a local high school English teacher who encourages her students to write and participate in the poetry community. She is known as an excellent and award-winning writer, as well as an engaging poetry reader who incorporates sharp wit and humor into her work. Jean frequently writes about our community, including poems about geese, the Corn Tower, and works of art at Mayo Clinic – as examples. Jean’s work “Prose Aubade Ending with Lipstick” was included in Bright Light: Stories in the Night – a collection of poetry and artwork from Southeast Minnesota Poets through a grant funded by the Southeast Minnesota Arts Council.
