Janice Mirikitani (February 4, 1941 – July 29, 2021) was recognized as a visionary, community activist, leader, poet, and editor. She was the founding president of the Glide Foundation, and has developed programs that empower San Francisco’s poor and marginalized communities to make meaningful changes in their lives.
Janice Mirikitani was named San Francisco Poet Laureate in 2000 and has authored four books of poetry, including Love Works (San Francisco Poet Laureate Series) and edited nine anthologies. She also served as a commissioner at the San Francisco Arts Commission.
In this interview, Mirikitani talks intimately about the development of her social consciousness, the role writing and storytelling play in personal empowerment, and her experience as a survivor of incest.