Richmond Anthology of Poetry: 62 Voices from California's City of Pride and Purpose

Close in to the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area, sitting on the western corner of largely rural Contra Costa county, Richmond, California is a unique mix of influences and histories. "Rosie the Riveter," thousands of her, worked here in the battleship-building boom of the 1940s. Noted as the largest U.S. city served by a Green Party mayor (Gayle McLaughlin, 2007-2015), Richmond is also the home of Chevron since 1901. In the crosscurrents of its multiple cultures and varied neighborhoods, Richmond fosters a creative vibrancy with multiple performing arts centers, burgeoning theatrical and literary scenes and the 80-year-old Richmond Art Center. This book is a first attempt to represent the range of poetic voices here, to celebrate our differences and our pride, and to honor the city and its astonishing cultural range. In addition to the poets who submitted work, and the people who spread the word about this project, and those who have helped with design and creation, thanks are due to The Richmond Arts and Culture Commission for awarding the grant to poet and curator Daniel Ari.