Oceanside Cultural Arts District

The Oceanside Library & Cultural Arts Department and Oceanside Arts Commission are excited to announce that Karla Cordero has been selected as the inaugural 2026–2028 O’Arts: Oceanside Poet Laureate!

She was selected for this two-year appointment to produce engaging and conceptually rich original works inspired by, and in response to Oceanside as a diverse community with many untold stories and new ones made each day. Karla will work throughout the City to elevate the literary arts while making poetry accessible for all.

Karla is the author of the debut poetry collection How to Pull Apart the Earth, winner of a San Diego Book Award and a Bronze Medal Finalist in the International Latino Book Awards. Her work has appeared in Poem-a-Day from the Academy of American Poets, The Los Angeles Times, NPR, O, The Oprah Magazine, and among other publications. She serves as Executive Director of the nonprofit arts organization Glassless Minds and teaches creative writing and composition at MiraCosta College and San Diego City College.

Congratulations to Karla on this achievement! Learn more about her work at karlacordero.com, or follow her @karlaflaka13

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