Mendocino County poet laureate Devreaux Baker in Boonville, Calif. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Baker, who has been writing poetry for decades, has published five books and won several awards, including the Steve Kowit Poetry Prize and the Willie Morris Award for Southern Poetry. She has served as the county’s first poet laureate since June 16, 2024. (Amy Scharmann/Sidekick Photography via Bay City News)

MENDOCINO CO., 3/12/25 — Devreaux Baker, Mendocino County’s first poet laureate, was about 19 years old when she left her home in Texas with her partner and began exploring the coast of Mendocino County. 

When she arrived in the town of Mendocino, she knew she had found the place that would become her new home. She explained that those first glimpses of the coastal town are what made her fall in love with this region of Northern California. 

Continue reading for free

Sign in to keep reading and receive the weekly roundup in your inbox.

Or

Privacy Policy

Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in.
Please visit My Account to manage your account.

Sydney Fishman is a UC Berkeley California Local News Fellow and lives full time in Ukiah. Reach her at sydney@mendovoice.com or through her Signal username @sydannfish.67.