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City of Des Moines

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH; AND

WHEREAS, CARMEN HAS LIVED IN DES MOINES FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS; AND

WHEREAS, POETRY IS A POWERFUL AND POSITIVE FORCE IN THE LIFE AND CULTURE OF OUR CHILDREN, OUR CITY AND OURSELVES; AND

WHEREAS, CARMEN HAS ENCOURAGED READING, WRITING AND MEMORIZATION OF POETRY BY CHILDREN FOR 20 YEARS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY URBAN MOVEMENT; AND

WHEREAS, CARMEN HAS HOSTED A POETRY SALON IN HER HOME EVERY MONTH FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS; AND

WHEREAS, CARMEN HAS SUPPLIED POETRY BOOKS FOR HER LITTLE FREE LIBRARY ACROSS THE STREET FROM CALLANAN MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS; AND 

WHEREAS, CARMEN HAS MET EVERY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN HER FRIENDS’ LIVES WITH BOUQUETS OF AMAZINGLY APPROPRIATE POETRY; AND

WHEREAS, CARMEN IS A SUPPORTER OF THE POETRY PALOOZA AND MY FAVORITE POEM,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CONNIE BOSEN, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE RESIDENTS OF DES MOINES, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM 

CARMEN LAMPE ZEITLER, FOR 2025-2026, AS:

“POET LAUREATE OF THE CITY OF DES MOINES”

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF DES MOINES, IOWA TO BE AFFIXED THIS TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF APRIL TWENTY-TWENTY-FIVE.

CONNIE BOESEN, MAYOR

CITY OF DES MOINES