Seattle's new Poet Populist: Mike Hickey

Mike Hickey has been named the new Poet Populist of Seattle. He wins a $500 cash prize and, according to the Poet Populist Web site (www.poetpopulist.org), will be "encouraged to pursue a program of public appearances throughout the city in the coming year." He will also be commissioned to write a poem for the people of the city.

Hickey is a creative-writing teacher at South Seattle Community College and has taught at-risk youth and prisoners. He was nominated by the It's About Time Writers Reading Series, an organization dedicated to "an end of racism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, homelessness and war."

Poet Populist program director Bob Redmond noted that the Poet Populist Program has made great progress on the education front this year. Redmond added that Hickey is eager "to do something with the [Poet Populist] position, and I'm really happy about that."

Hickey will read with his fellow finalists at 7 p.m. Friday at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., Seattle; free (206-322-7030 or www.hugohouse.org).

Michael Upchurch: mupchurch@seattletimes.com