Incoming poet laureate Black Ceasar (left) and incoming youth poet laureate Cadence Diggs (right) pose for a photo with Mayor Eric Johnson at Dallas City Hall in Dallas, Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas has named its next poetic ambassadors, two writers tasked with representing the city in verse.
Kristoddie Woods, 33, who goes by Black Ceasar, is Dallas’ new poet laureate, and Cadence Diggs, 17, a student at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, is the youth poet laureate.
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Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced both poets during a reception at City Hall on Wednesday morning. Family and friends of the poets attended the event.
“Our poet laureate will represent the city as an ambassador of the literary arts,” said Johnson. “Bringing residents together around a shared appreciation of poetry, both written and spoken.”
The Dallas Public Library, the Office of Arts and Culture and Deep Vellum, a local independent literary press, launched the Dallas poet laureate program in June 2021. The Friends of the Dallas Public Library and the Dealey Family Foundation are also financial supporters of the program.
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“The work of our poets laureate matters so deeply,” said Dallas Public Library Director Manya Shorr during the event. “They don’t just write, they help us see one another more clearly.”
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Dallas third poet laureate
Black Ceasar, a poet, author, teacher, filmmaker and artist, will serve a two-year term from April 2026 to March 2028. He will appear at community events and schools. The laureate will receive a $20,000 honorarium and will also host literary workshops and produce two annual reports.
Black Ceasar, a Mississippi native who has made Dallas his creative home, got started in poetry in 2018 and during the COVID-19 pandemic, he wrote his first book. In 2022, Black Ceasar worked with the Dallas Cowboys on a project to highlight Black History Month.
“This is so heartwarming and life-changing and I am just so moved,” Black Ceasar said. “I had a lot of things I wanted to say, but my God is good and I know that he has plans. I’m gonna put my heart and soul into the city and give you guys everything I can.”
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At the end of the term, the poet’s works will be published by Deep Vellum. William Evans, founder and CEO of the literary press, said it works closely with the city to secure judges for the contests, coordinate events and promote the published books.
Joaquín Zihuatanejo was Dallas’ inaugural poet laureate. His book, Occupy Whiteness, was published in 2024. Mag Gabbert, a clinical assistant professor at Southern Methodist University, is the outgoing poet laureate. Her book is in the works; no publishing date has been announced.
Incoming youth poet laureate Cadence Diggs (center) chats with former poet laureates Joaquin Zihuatanejo (left) and Mag Gabbert at Dallas City Hall in Dallas, Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Black Ceasar said he is eager to work with Diggs and continue expanding on the city’s programs for young folks.
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“On this role, I want to give people an opportunity to enjoy and learn more about the arts,” Black Ceasar said. “I hope people enjoy poetry and then become poets themselves.”
Dallas youth poet laureate
Diggs, an 11th grader who is a debater and performer, wants to encourage younger folks to get involved in creative writing.
“This recognition motivates me to continue striving for excellence in my writing and to use this title to inspire other young writers and creatives out there,” Diggs said.
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Diggs and her family moved to Dallas from Kentucky about four years ago. She said her family has been supportive of her career and dreams. Diggs said that at school, she was encouraged to get into creative writing.
Later, she founded and became president of her school’s poetry club. The outgoing youth poet laureate is Naisha Randhar.
Cadence Diggs recites a poem after being announced as the next youth poet laureate at Dallas City Hall in Dallas, Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
The youth poet laureate program, which provides a $1,000 scholarship, aims to amplify the voices of young poets and encourage civic engagement through writing. Diggs plans to host events and workshops for elementary and middle schoolers.
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“I want to inspire others to do creative writing, express themselves through literacy, because I believe literacy is a strong foundation that our community needs.”
Both poets recited their verse to the audience at the ceremony.
April is Dallas Arts Month. For more events and information, visit the city’s arts website at www.dallasculture.org.