The New Haven Poet Laureate selected in partnership with KulturallyLIT acts as an advocate for poetry, culture, and the arts that represent the City. The Poet Laureate serves a term of two years and is encouraged to nurture appreciation of poetry and literature by conducting public readings, workshops, lectures and presentations in neighborhoods, schools, institutions of higher learning, and other public settings in geographically diverse areas of the city. The Poet Laureate receives an annual honorarium.

2023-2025 Poet Laureate

Sharmont (Influence) Little

Sharmont (Influence) Little is a poet, activist and actor. He utilizes spoken word poetry to deliver Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s message “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Influence is an educator and advocate for inner-city youth and has performed at Yale, Virginia State and Boston Universities, as well as a host of other colleges and public schools across the nation. 

He has performed at historic poetry venues such as the Nuyorican Poets Café and the Lizard Lounge. He is a six-time member of the Connecticut poetry slam team, Verbal Slap; Coach of the 2017 Verbal Slap and 2021 Yale university poetry slam teams. He has utilized poetry to speak on behalf of workers for Yale New Haven Hospital 1199 union in 2007, and in Washington DC to members of Congress for the Free Labor Choice Act.  He is the creator of Influence A Life LLC, a curriculum based program teaching coping skills, social skills, and conflict resolution. He lives by his motto: Influence a Life every day; it’s just a way of living.