Seattle City of Literature received Mayoral Proclamation for their tireless work on behalf of Seattle’s literary community 

On Saturday, March 11, Mayor Harrell proclaimed it both City of Literature and Civic Poet Day. Both proclamations were presented by royal alley-barnes, Interim Director, Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) at the reading of SEISMIC: Seattle City of Literature (which was a finalist for the 2021 Washington State Book Award for Creative Nonfiction) and the release of the Seattle Literary Map. Former Seattle Civic Poets Anastacia Reneé, Claudia Castro Luna, and Jourdan Imani Keith joined SEISMIC editor Kristen Millares Young for the reading, which was hosted at Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum.  Folio is a nonprofit library and cultural center in Pike Place Market. Folio offers cultural and civic programs, author events, book discussions, a lending library, intimate concerts, and access to beautiful and affordable reading and workspaces. 

The reading was held in conjunction with the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference (AWP), (hosted in Seattle, March 8-11) which estimated over 8,000 attendees, over 150 free or low-cost offsite literary events — including at least over 50 sponsored by Seattle-area organizations — and a giant book fair with over 500 literary organizations and presses. It is also estimated that the AWP Conference generated $15M during the conference.