SANTA FE, NM – Celebrated poet and cultural advocate Manuel González has been named the third New Mexico State Poet Laureate, a recognition that affirms his profound contributions to the literary arts and his enduring impact on New Mexico’s communities. Appointed by New Mexico Arts and the New Mexico State Library, divisions of the Department of Cultural Affairs, González will begin his three-year term effective immediately.
González’s appointment marks the continuation of a powerful legacy rooted in poetry as a vehicle for healing, empowerment, and cultural memory. A former Albuquerque Poet Laureate (2016–2018), González is widely respected not only for his artistry on the page and stage, but also for his unwavering commitment to community and justice.
'I’m honored and humbled to be named the next New Mexico State Poet Laureate. Poetry has been medicine in my life, helping me heal, remember, and reconnect with my family, my community, and my ancestors,' says González. 'As laureate, I want to carry that medicine across our state: to schools, libraries, pueblos, and plazas. I hope to create spaces where all voices, especially underrepresented voices, can rise, be heard, and be celebrated. This is about poetry as healing, as storytelling, and as a way to keep our collective spirit alive.'
For more than two decades, González has worked at the intersections of poetry, education, and social change. His leadership has reached detention centers, classrooms, and community spaces throughout New Mexico. As a teacher at the Native American Community Academy, he uses trauma-informed, culturally grounded curricula to empower Indigenous and Chicano youth. He mentors young poets through Brave New Voices and co-founded Low Writing at El Chante: Casa de Cultura, a beloved community workshop that brings intergenerational groups together to write, heal, and build solidarity.
'Manuel González is not only a poet of great skill, he is a steward of New Mexico’s living culture,” said Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Cultural Affairs. “His work reveals the soul of our communities, and his leadership as Poet Laureate will inspire New Mexicans of all ages to find their voice and share their stories.'
As State Poet Laureate, González will lead statewide poetry initiatives, create educational outreach programs, and serve as an ambassador for New Mexico’s rich literary traditions. Through public readings, workshops, and creative projects, he will support literacy while championing poetry as a living, breathing force and a means of connection, resilience, and joy.
About New Mexico Arts New Mexico Arts, the state’s federally recognized arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, administers the One Percent for Public Art program, awards grants to nonprofit organizations for arts and cultural programs in their communities, and provides technical assistance and educational opportunities for organizations, artists, and arts educators throughout the state. Learn more at www.nmarts.org.
About New Mexico State
Library
The New Mexico State Library, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, provides services that support public libraries, as well as direct library services to rural populations, state agencies, the visually impaired and physically disabled, and students and citizens conducting research. For more information about New Mexico State Library visit nmstatelibrary. org.