Richard Blanco, a poet who gained recognition after reading his poem “One Today” at the second inauguration of former President Barack Obama in 2013, will present his work at Emory University late next month.

According to an Emory press release, Blanco was the youngest and first Latino, immigrant and gay poet to perform at a presidential inauguration. Additionally, he has visited Emory twice as a guest speaker of the Spanish and Portuguese department, in October 2016 and February 2017, and he placed his papers with Emory’s Stuart A. Rose Library last year.

A native of Spain and immigrant to New York, Blanco’s poetry explores immigration, racism, gun violence and LGBTQ issues, the release said.

“We are honored that Richard Blanco will return to Emory to share his poetry,” Jennifer Gunter King, Rose Library director, said. “His strong voice and clarity of vision resonate deeply with the Rose Library’s literature and poetry collections, and provide inspiration and insight for the University and the Atlanta community.”

The reading will take place on Saturday, Feb. 23, at 4 p.m. at Emory University’s Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, located at 1700 N. Decatur Rd. in Atlanta.

The event is open to the public at no charge. Tickets are not required, but seating will be limited. Books and a limited-edition broadside will be for sale at the reading, with a signing immediately after. Click here to add this event to your calendar and receive event updates.

The reading is part of the Raymond Danowski Poetry Library Reading Series, now in its 14th season.

[adsanity id=”54573″ align=”alignleft” /] [adsanity id=”47595″ align=”alignright” /]

[adsanity id=”52477″ align=”alignleft” /] [adsanity id=”54594″ align=”alignright” /]

[adsanity id=”38887″ align=”aligncenter” /]

[adsanity id=”33719″ align=”aligncenter” /]