ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced Truth Thomas has been re-appointed for a second term as Howard County’s inaugural Poet Laureate. Thomas has been serving as the Howard County Poet Laureate since April 2024. The term was a two-year appointment, due to expire in March 2026. Thomas will serve another two-year term that will end in March 2028.
For the past two years, Truth has exemplified what it means for art and community to converge. Through his inspirational writing and participation in civic events, Truth has left a remarkable impact on our community through the power of his words. I want to thank Truth for his dedicated service, and I look forward to the new creative ways he will continue to amplify the arts.
A singer-songwriter, poet and photographer born in Knoxville, Tennessee and raised in Washington, D.C., Thomas studied creative writing at Howard University and earned his Master of Fine Arts in poetry from New England College. The founder of Cherry Castle Publishing and creator of the "Skinny" poetry form, his collections include Party of Black, A Day of Presence, Bottle of Life, Speak Water and My TV is Not the Boss of Me. Winner of the 2013 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Poetry, his poems have appeared in more than 150 publications including: Callaloo, The Newtowner, New York Quarterly, The Emerson Review, The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South and The 100 Best African American Poems. His work focuses largely on matters of race and social justice, both nationally and worldwide. A former writer-in-residence for the HoCoPoLitSo, Thomas is currently a member of the Society’s Advisory Group.
Over the course of my first appointment as Inaugural Poet Laureate of Howard County, it strikes me that the journey was something like a relay race. The first leg was full of excitement, enthusiasm, and the winged steps of great hope in my stride. To represent this county has been a tremendous honor—and to get to know it more deeply was—and still is—an equal joy. In my second appointment as laureate, I find myself once again deeply indebted to Dr. Ball, and to all the members of his enlightened staff. I’ve witnessed the love they practice—even in difficult times—as they transform listening into understanding, and that understanding into positive action. That’s what God created me to do: Pray up, speak up, and act up—lovingly—to be a poetic voice of clarity in days that feel like an Olympic event of confusion. And my pencils, pads, and paper are already committed to the task.
Ball first announced the launch of the County’s inaugural Poet Laureate program in partnership with the Howard County Arts Council and HoCoPoLitSo in 2023. As the Howard County Poet Laureate, Thomas will serve as an ambassador for poetry, literature and the arts and contribute to Howard County’s poetic and literary legacy through public readings and participation in civic events.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Truth Thomas's reappointment as Howard County Poet Laureate, a testament to his extraordinary contributions to our literary community,” said Ryna May, EdD, Co-Chair, HoCoPoLitSo. “The Poet Laureate serves as a vital cultural ambassador, bringing the transformative power of poetry to diverse audiences, fostering creative expression, and giving voice to the experiences that unite us as a community. HoCoPoLitSo is honored to continue our partnership with the Howard County Executive and the Howard County Arts Council in championing the Poet Laureate program and ensuring that poetry remains a vibrant and essential part of the arts in Howard County.”
“Through his poetry, Truth reflects on current, everyday life – celebrating life’s joyful moments and addressing larger societal issues such as social justice, violence, equality and more,” said Coleen West, Executive Director, Howard County Arts Council. “His words speak to what is happening in the world around us in a respectful, caring – yet – powerful way. As our inaugural ambassador of poetry and expression for the past two years, Truth has set the tone and vision for the Howard County Poet Laureate program. It is a high bar and I am excited that he will continue to share his gift and love of poetry with the community for a second term.”
HoCoPoLitSo
Founded in 1974 by National Book Award finalist Ellen Conroy Kennedy, Prudence Barry and Jean Moon, HoCoPoLitSo engages the community with the literary arts by hosting events, offering literary workshops and producing local readings, lectures and presentations with critically acclaimed writers, including Nobel Laureates, U.S. Poets Laureate, and Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners.
HoCoPoLitSo also produces literary workshops for college and public school students, teachers, emerging writers and others. With support from Howard Community College's Dragon Digital TV, HoCoPoLitSo produces The Writing Life, an award-winning writer-to-writer interview show available on YouTube and Maryland community college stations. This year marks the 50th Anniversary celebration of the organization.
Howard County Arts Council
The Howard County Arts Council was created in 1981 to serve the residents of Howard County by fostering the arts. The Arts Council is devoted to nurturing local artists and arts organizations, furthering the public’s appreciation of the arts and ensuring that the arts are accessible to all, regardless of age, ability, or economic status.
In his proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget, Ball has included approximately $1.35 million in funding for the Arts Council to support its operations and its administration of local artist grant programs. In October, during his 2023 State of the County address, Ball announced that the Arts Council would be relocating its headquarters to the historic Circuit Courthouse located atop Historic Ellicott City. Following a full renovation and restoration of the historic building, it has been reopened as the new Capitoline Center in Historic Ellicott City.