Birmingham’s Salaam Green Earns Esteemed Poetry Awards: A Literary Of Excellence

Birmingham’s poet laureate, Salaam Green, has been honored with the esteemed Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship, which will fuel her initiative designed for teens in correctional facilities. Alongside 22 other fellows, Green will receive $50,000 to enhance their community-driven poetry endeavors. Collaborating with the Magic City Poetry Festival and Radical Reversal, her program, Lyrics for Life Birmingham, comprises a 10-week workshop in poetry and hip-hop. Through sessions at the Jefferson Youth Detention Center, Green will guide teens in self-expression, growth, and healing. “This fellowship is an extraordinary honor,” Green remarked. “Poetry allows us to confront grief, joy, and injustice.” Her work, deeply rooted in themes of racial healing and Southern narrative, will also feature excerpts from her upcoming collection, The Other Revival. Recognized as a Kellogg Foundation Racial Healing Facilitator, Green has significantly impacted her community, ensuring the voices of the marginalized resonate powerfully. The Academy celebrates the vital role of poetry in fostering understanding and civic engagement nationwide.