Takoma Park MD
6-27-2026 9:01pm

Sidewalk Stories: Takoma Park's Poet Laureate and The Power of Words

David Alberto Fernández (in the middle) with City Council members. Image: https://takomaparkmd.gov/

The story of a librarian-poet who has spent decades building bridges between languages, cultures, and communities — and why his role as Takoma Park's official literary ambassador matters.

You have probably walked past a poem without knowing it. On Larch Avenue, stamped into the concrete, a bilingual poem waits for anyone who looks down. The poet who wrote those words is David Alberto Fernández, and on October 15, 2025, the Takoma Park City Council appointed him as the city's Poet Laureate for a three-year term. "It's truly an honor to be selected for this role because of the immense creativity in Takoma Park and the inclusive values manifested on a daily basis on our streets," Fernández said.

The Librarian-Poet

Born in Miami to Cuban parents in 1972, Fernández grew up surrounded by Caribbean and Latin American cultures. He has spent nearly 30 years as a librarian — 15 of them at the Library of Congress. His first chapbook, Flowers beyond here, was published in 2020. His bilingual collection, Mundo se consume / World consumes itself, was published in 2025. He is also the associate editor of Beltway Poetry Quarterly and co-founder of the Beltway Café reading series.

"I consider myself a local poet, grounded in our unique region, but purposely, consciously reaching out across the globe to forge new connections through poetry," he said.

A Tradition of Verse

Takoma Park established its Poet Laureate program in 2005. The laureate serves a three-year term, receives a $2,000 annual honorarium, and must live in Takoma Park, have published work, and be comfortable leading workshops and public readings.

Past laureates include Donald Berger (2005–2007), who set the standard; Kathleen O'Toole (2018–2022), who guided the community through societal transitions; and Taylor Johnson (2022–2025), who earned an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship.

The Sidewalk Poetry Program

Takoma Park has the only sidewalk poetry program in the D.C. area. More than 150 residents submitted poems in a 2021 contest. Winners had their work stamped into local sidewalks, creating a six-mile route through the city. Fernández himself had a bilingual poem stamped on Larch Avenue.

"There is something both pleasant and unexpected in having words greet you on the ground," he said. "With sidewalk poetry, concrete is the page."

What Comes Next

Fernández plans to expand outreach to local Spanish and Amharic-speaking communities and to young people. On March 4, 2026, he organized "Sanctuary," a free evening of poetry, spoken word, and music in the Takoma Park Arts performance series.

"I think I can help spread the word about poetry and creativity in our community and perhaps help a new generation of poets seek opportunities for growth," he said. "There's no question that we are facing unprecedented societal challenges now, and we need to find ways not only to fight back but also to celebrate who we are."

Raise Your Voice with Vocal Takoma

If reading about poetry made you want to share some of your own, there is a place for you.

Vocal Takoma is a weekly open mic event in downtown Takoma Park, brainchild of Poet Laureate David Alberto Fernández and local musician and photographer Bill Crandall. It started informally last year at the clock tower on Laurel Avenue. Now it has found a home.

When: Sundays, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Where: Outside People's Book, 7014 Westmoreland Avenue, Takoma Park, MD
What to expect: Music, poetry, thoughts, and community — all welcome, all free.

Come share your voice. Or just come and listen. Either way, you will be part of something that started with a poem on a sidewalk and grew into a weekly gathering of neighbors.

#TakomaPark #PoetLaureate #BilingualPoetry #DavidAlbertoFernandez #SidewalkPoetry

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