Cortland Gilliam Named Chapel Hill's Second Poet Laureate

Gilliam was inspired to pursue this position by CJ Suitt, the town’s first poet laureate, whom he admired while an undergraduate. Gilliam commented on the influence Suitt had on his journey into spoken word poetry, calling his selection a fulfilling full-circle moment.

Gilliam’s passion for language began in childhood, where he created playful rhymes and composed his first collection of poems with the help of a teacher in elementary school. He described this experience as the inception of his identity as a poet, which further evolved during his college years influenced by hip-hop and structured poetry.

His commitment to poetry and community activism emerged through his experiences as a Black student at a predominantly white university. Gilliam found community support in Carolina’s spoken word scene, stating that Carolina helped him take writing seriously and introduced him to slam poetry.

He graduated from UNC in 2014 with a degree in economics and is now pursuing a Ph.D. focusing on school discipline and Black youth’s political contributions in the late 20th century. Outside academia, he co-curated the #BlackOutLoudUNC exhibition, which showcased the work of Black students and alumni.

Gilliam believes that poetry transcends just writing; it reflects one's interactions with spaces and communities. As poet laureate, he aims to foster youth programming, organize writer meet-ups at local venues, and enhance community connections through poetry. He will also perform at town-sponsored events.

The selection team praised Gilliam’s talent in spoken word and dedication to community engagement. Melissa Bartoletta, Chapel Hill’s community arts and culture coordinator, expressed excitement about working with Gilliam to bring his vision to fruition. For more information on Gilliam’s activities and the poet laureate program, visit chapelhillarts.org/poetlaureate.