About me
Jesse James Ziegler is Poet Laureate Emeritus for the City of Reno (5th-Jan/24-Dec/25). He is the Vice President of Spoken Views Collective and the Creative Director for Monday Night Poetry (Voted 2024 and 2025 Best Open Mic - Reno News & Review), True Colors Poetry and Collective Breath Poetry Book Club. He is a member of the Sierra Literary Cooperative, Sierra Arts Literary Community and the Tahoe Poetry Collective. He is the newly appointed President of the Nevada Poetry Society within the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. He is also the Spoken Word/Poetry contributor to Reno Arts News. He was the first ever Poet in Residence for the Bruka Theatre and held that position for three consecutive seasons (27,28,29). His first collection of poetry FIVE (2019) was published and brought to life through their annual New Works Festival. In addition to the Bruka Theatre of the Sierra, his work has been published by Nevada Humanities, The Mill Valley Literary Review, Strophes, Black Rock Press, PBS Reno, KUNR KNCJ and KWNK Radio, Metro Gallery Reno NV, Kelsay Books, The Nevada Poetry Society and Multnomah University Press. Jesse opened and hosted the world premieres of Brandon Leake’s original spoken word play ‘Insomnia’ (Winner of Season 15 AGT) and has been a performance artist at the annual Utah Arts Festival. He has served as a host, judge, promoter and now MC for the Nevada chapter of the national Poetry Out Loud organization.
