Poet laureate to visit Merced library
A California poet laureate plans a visit to the Merced County Library, where he will share his book “Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes” with children, as well as give 35 copies away.
California Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera’s visit is sponsored by the UC Merced Center for the Humanities and Merced County Library. The same event will feature local artist Edelweiss Pfister at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 10 in the county library’s Little Theatre, 2100 O St. in Merced.
A copy of “Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes” will also be given to the first 35 families who register for the event at http://bit.ly/MercedCountyHeroes, or register in person at the O Street location in Merced, according to a news release.
The children’s book showcases 20 Hispanic and Latino American men and women who made outstanding contributions to the arts, politics, science, humanitarianism and athletics.
Christina Lux, assistant director for the UC Merced center, said the program is designed to help children recognize the everyday acts of heroism done among their friends, in their family and in their community. “We often think of heroism as being exceptional or extraordinary, requiring special powers,” Lux said, in a press release. “But kids in our community make heroic choices every day.”
The son of migrant farmworkers, Herrera went to UCLA and Stanford University and received his master of fine arts from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
Herrera, who is originally from Fowler, is a creative writing professor at the University of California, Riverside. His work has received wide critical acclaim including numerous national and international awards. Gov. Jerry Brown appointed him as the state’s poet laureate in 2012.
Merced County Librarian Amy Taylor said the children’s book is inspiring. “Being a hero is when you put someone else or your community first without thinking of the benefits or costs for yourself,” she said in a news release. “It is a split-second decision when you jump into action to do what is right.”
For more information on the event, send an email to humanities@ucmerced.edu.
This story was originally published October 26, 2014 at 4:51 PM with the headline "Poet laureate to visit Merced library."