Rockland County, N.Y. has appointed Juan Pablo Mobili as its new poet laureate, marking a fresh chapter for the county’s arts community.
Mobili, a widely published poet from Argentina who has lived in Rockland since 1988, will work to promote poetry and literature throughout the county. His role as poet laureate is to serve as an ambassador for the literary arts and inspire others to explore the power of the written word.
The appointment was made by Rockland County Executive Ed Day, who praised Mobili’s journey to the role. “Juan’s journey to this role is both inspiring and reflective of the values we hold dear here in Rockland County,” Day said.
Mobili, an executive coach, believes poetry is a vital expression of the human spirit. He emphasized the importance of poetry in uniting people. “Poetry can remind us of our shared humanity, guide us to know one another, and learn to live together,” he said.
With 20% of Rockland’s population being foreign-born, Mobili’s background reflects the county’s diversity. As poet laureate, he plans to inspire residents to engage more with literature. Research from the National Endowment for the Arts shows a decline in reading for pleasure, with the percentage of Americans reading dropping by more than 30% since 2004.
Mobili will also write poems for significant events, including Rockland’s annual 9/11 commemoration. Dorothy Atzl of the Arts Council of Rockland praised Mobili’s work, saying, “It connects people. And it also educates people about different perspectives and views that maybe they weren’t aware of. It can bring people closer together.”
Mobili’s first poetry reading, titled “Echoes of the Heart: Life’s Joys & Sorrows,” is scheduled for February 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Valley Cottage Library.
