During their term, the poet laureate seeks to raise the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry.

[1] On October 3, 1985, the U.S. Congress passed legislation authored by Senator Spark M. Matsunaga of Hawaii changing the title of the position to Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry.

This annual series of public poetry and fiction readings, lectures, symposia, and occasional dramatic performances began in the 1940s.

Rita Dove, considered the first activist poet laureate, brought together writers to explore the African diaspora through the eyes of its artists, championed children's poetry and jazz with poetry events and read at the White House during Bill Clinton's first state dinner.

Robert Hass organized a watershed conference that brought together popular novelists, poets, and storytellers to talk about writing, nature, and community, and co-founded the River of Words K–12 international children's poetry and art contest.