The Center for Literary Arts, directed by SJSU professor Selena Anderson, brings a star poet to town this week to celebrate National Poetry Month: Leila Mottley. Born and raised in Oakland, Mottley is nothing short of a literary phenomenon at only 22 years old. Her debut novel, Nightcrawling, made her a New York Times Best Seller in 2022, and her first poetry collection, woke up no light: poems, is slated for release just before the reading. As the Youth Poet Laureate of Oakland, Mottley confronts the challenge of growing up in the public eye. She recently told Bazaar that her “priority right now is to experience being young.” In-person tickets are sold out, but there is a livestream option.
Thu, 7pm, Free
Hammer4 Studio, San Jose
