Samuel Green is Washington State's First Poet Laureate - Governor Christine Gregoire's announcement of the appointment is the culmination of a collaborative effort by Humanities Washington, the Washington State Arts Commission and the Washington Poets Association to create the Poet Laureate post. A distinguished poet and author of ten poetry collections, including The Grace of Necessity, Green began his two-year term by opening both Houses of the State Legislature in January and will be speaking in Seattle and Olympia in February. - Photo of Gov. Gregoire with Samuel Green by Weldon Wilson

Washington Students Vote in the Mock Presidential Primary - From February 11 to 15, students have a chance to participate in the democratic process by voting in the Mock Presidential Primary. Students can register to vote and cast their ballot for a presidential candidate. All Democratic and Republican candidates appearing in the 2008 Presidential Primary will be on the 2008 Mock Primary ballot. The Mock Primary is hosted by the Washington Office of the Secretary of State and is part of the Voter Outreach Through Education (VOTE) program.

Deadlines for Spring Project Grant Round - We invite organizations throughout the State to submit applications for our Spring Grant round. Letters of Intent are due February 15 and full applications are due March 14. Grant guidelines and application materials are available at humanities.org.

"Asphalt, Automobiles, and America: Can We Live Better by Driving Less" in Vancouver Hugo Literary Series: "Love is the Drug" in Seattle Whatcom Poetry Series: "The Poet As Art" in Bellingham Poet Robert Hass in the Gonzaga Visiting Writers Series in Spokane Community Study of the Classics in Walla Walla