WILMINGTON - As part of the City of Wilmington’s upcoming semiquincentennial celebrations, Mayor John Carney announced a partnership with The Delaware Poets Almanac, bringing a dynamic slate of literary programming to the city’s commemorative events. The collaboration will highlight the voices, stories, and creative spirit of Wilmington through a series of public poetry initiatives designed to engage residents and visitors during this historic milestone.

“These programs ensure that Wilmington is celebrating not only our past, but are a reflection of who we are today,” said Mayor John Carney. “Through poetry and storytelling, we are creating meaningful opportunities for residents to share their voices and leave a lasting mark on this historic moment.”

The partnership outlines a series of programs that reflect Wilmington’s cultural richness and community pride, while inviting broad public participation:

• Delaware Poets Almanac Mobile Poetry Pop-Up: A traveling poetry experience at the July 4th celebration at the Wilmington Riverfront, featuring live readings, interactive elements, and opportunities for community engagement.

• Voices of Wilmington: A Community Reading Series: A series of open-mic style events hosted in Wilmington libraries, featuring poems selected from a special time capsule chapbook, creating a lasting literary record of Wilmington’s voices during the Wilmington celebrates DE 250.

• Delaware Poets Almanac Chapbook Publication: The creation and printing of a 50-page commemorative chapbook of poetry, featuring selected works that capture the spirit, history, and lived experiences of Wilmington residents. The chapbook will serve as both a keepsake and a time capsule, preserving community voices for future generations.

Event details will be made available online at inwilmde.com [wilmingtonde.us9.list-manage.com].