In 2013, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved the establishment of the post of San Mateo County Poet Laureate to elevate and celebrate the literary arts and their roles in public life. The Poet Laureate serves a two-year term and acts as an ambassador and advocate for poetry, literature and the arts; contributes to San Mateo County’s poetry and literary legacy through public readings and participation in civic events; and leads a community project to make poetry more accessible to people in their everyday lives.
Upon recommendation of the San Mateo County Poet Laureate Advisory Committee, co-chaired by San Mateo County Supervisors Warren Slocum and Carole Groom, the Board of Supervisors appointed Caroline Goodwin as its first Poet Laureate in October 2013. The Poet Laureate program is staffed by the San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture.