Current Poet Laureate

Term: 1/1/23- 12/31/24

Jorge Argueta of Daly City is San Mateo County’s 2023-2024 Poet Laureate and their first poet laureate of Hispanic descent. He cites his ability to use poetry to create bridges among diverse communities. Argueta’s work reflects his heritage as a native of El Salvador with a number of bilingual books and poems. He teaches creative writing at elementary schools, high schools and colleges and works with young people in homeless shelters, hospitals and other challenging environments.

Argueta’s works include children’s books such as the bilingual “The Fiesta of the Tortillas/La Fiesta De Las Tortillas” and “A Movie in My Pillow/Una Pelicula en mi Almohada,” about a child with two homelands.

Argueta is the fourth poet laureate, following Aileen Cassinetto, Lisa Rosenberg and Caroline Goodwin.