WORCESTER—Poetry in Worcester has always lived beyond the page — in classrooms, coffeehouses, community halls and street-corner performances. Starting next year, two new voices will help carry that tradition forward.
City Manager Eric D. Batista announced Monday that Nicole “Nic” Jean Turner has been appointed Worcester’s next poet laureate, while Doherty Memorial High School freshman Samara Tang-Rainwater will serve as the city’s youth poet laureate.
Turner will hold the Poet Laureate post from January 2026 through December 2028. Tang-Rainwater will serve a two-year term as Youth Poet Laureate from January 2026 through December 2027. Both roles position the poets as official ambassadors for Worcester’s literary and spoken-word culture.
The appointments follow a competitive selection process and come as the city continues to expand its investment in arts and cultural programming.
Turner is a well-known figure in Worcester’s poetry community and across New England, recognized both for her writing and her commitment to building inclusive creative spaces. She has long been involved with The Dirty Gerund Poetry Show, the region’s longest-running independent poetry series, where she has worked as both an organizer and performer, mentoring emerging poets and helping shape innovative programming.
In 2024, Turner founded The Roadshow, a rotating poetry team designed to lower barriers to participation in competitive poetry. Her work has earned an Iron Poet Championship title, a gold medal in the Massachusetts Poetry Olympics, and a nomination for the City of Worcester’s 2025 Woman of Consequence.
Turner holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, fine art, and creative writing from Le Moyne College and a master’s degree in professional writing from Regis College. She is the author of “With Only Which She Could Carry (2020)” and has been published consistently since 2012 in newspapers, literary journals and anthologies.
“I’m passionate about building sustainable, inclusive spaces where poets can grow,” Turner said. “My mission is to study the mechanics of community and to offer mentorship to poets of all ages, ensuring that everyone has a place to discover their voice.”
Tang-Rainwater, a Worcester native, brings a multidisciplinary artistic background to her new role. She began exploring the arts through drawing and music before discovering a love for writing. Today, she writes poems, stories, and songs, and plays the trombone, cymbals and piano.
“I love the diversity in Worcester,” Tang-Rainwater said. “Hearing different perspectives and experiences has kept me deeply connected to this city.”
Looking ahead to her term, she said she hopes to “grow as a person, grow in integrity and intelligence, and connect with people across the community.”
Turner and Tang-Rainwater will be formally recognized during the City of Worcester’s Inaugural Exercises and Celebration on Friday, Jan. 2, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Doherty Memorial High School. Each will receive a ceremonial medal created by local metal artist Pam Farren and deliver their first official readings.
Batista also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing Poet Laureate Oliver de la Paz and Youth Poet Laureate Serenity Jackson.
“Throughout their terms, they have both brought poetry to life across the community performing at schools, libraries, festivals and civic events creating meaningful connections with residents of all ages,” Batista said. “Their performances and workshops elevated local voices, inspired emerging writers and fostered a greater appreciation for the literary arts throughout Worcester.”
The poet laureate and youth poet laureate programs aim to broaden access to poetry and literary arts, celebrate Worcester’s identity, and support emerging writers across the city. The laureates participate in public readings workshops, and collaborative arts projects, and are available for bookings through the city’s Cultural Development Office.
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