STOCKTON, Calif. — Through written and spoken word, Stockton's poet laureate, Jazmarie LaTour, is finding her voice while helping uplift the voices of others.
"With poetry, it doesn't work if it's not real, if it's not true, if it's not you," said LaTour.
LaTour started writing poetry when she was 15.
"I tried listening to other poets, and thinking I needed to change my style. It just felt like a shirt that was too tight or too baggy; you have to be yourself," she said.
A poet laureate is someone who commemorates events with poetry, promotes literacy and advocates for the arts. LaTour is the second poet laureate, taking over from her mentor and friend Tama Brisbane.
It was a rigorous application and interview process that LaTour said she nearly missed.
"I think in that second guessing period, I slipped the deadline and so I missed it. And then a couple days later, I saw the deadline was extended, so it was like I couldn't run away from it if I tried," said LaTour.
The 30-year-old Stockton native and University of the Pacific graduate is very involved in her community. Through her fulltime job at "Little Manila," she helps neighbors dealing with environmental and health issues.
However, she also uses her voice and her words to encourage others to find theirs.
"Slow down, give yourself grace," said LaTour.
She wants to use her position and platform responsibly, advocating for the arts and for locals as well.
"Stockton gets a bad wrap. Despite whatever the outside of the city looks like, what it looks like politically or economically, the people of Stockton are consistent, and just really loving and kind at the heart of it," LaTour said.
LaTour has various published works, and she has a new e-book available online. She's also preparing for an upcoming slam poetry competition next month.
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