New poet laureate

San Jose resident Tshaka Campbell was named Santa

Clara County poet laureate Jan. 11 for a two-year term ending Dec. 31, 2023.

Campbell is the curator of “Beautiful Black Books” as part of Poetry Center San Jose. He also conducts lectures and workshops in creative writing, spiritual verse and other related topics. He has written four books— “Tarman,” “Muted Whispers,” “Tunnel Vision” and “Stuff”—and released three music albums: “One,” “Bloodlines” and “Skin vol.1.”

Campbell was recommended to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, who appointed him to the honorary position following a call for applications and a two-step review process organized by the county, Silicon Valley Creates, and the Santa Clara County Library District. He is the county’s seventh poet laureate.

Campbell will be formally installed at the Feb. 8 board of supervisors meeting, where he will read a selection of his work as part of the invocation.