The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) hosted an evening of poetry, read by a variety of Santa Fe and Albuquerque community leaders, including Santa Fe Mayor Javier M. Gonzales — on April 21, 2016 on the IAIA Campus. Pamela Pierce, CEO of Silver Bullet Productions was among the readers.
The My Favorite Poem Project is hosted by the UNM English Department and IAIA. The events are organized by Luci Tapahonso, professor and inaugural Navajo Nation Poet Laureate, who also directs the Creative Writing Program at UNM.
My Favorite Poem Project is based on former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky’s 1998 initiative; it continues to be held in various cities to this day. The project features community members – business owners, civic leaders, teachers, students, spiritual leaders, non-profit leaders, and media personalities – who read their favorite poems in five minutes or less.