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How Poems Tell the Story of Our Time: A Conversation with Amanda Gorman
Poet AMANDA GORMAN rose to international prominence when she performed “The Hills We Climb” at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration. Heralded as the voice of her generation, renowned wordsmith and change-maker Gorman shares her profound and uplifting perspective in this talk, revealing the power of poetry to shape our experience and redefine our future.
Amanda Gorman thrills the Carnegie Hall audience with her poetry set to Bach’s cello suites
Celebrated poet and bestselling author AMANDA GORMAN thrilled a Carnegie Hall audience with her poetry set to Bach’s cello suites, played by Jan Vogler. Gorman’s spoken word, combined with Vogler’s cello music, sent a message of humanity and hope that resonated beyond the applause. The pair performed a selection on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, bringing their duet to a wider audience. After rehearsing and performing alongside her, Vogler told NPR: "What I admire about Amanda is her optimism that is really visionary, and we need that, I think, in our time." Gorman was incandescent on the historic Carnegie Hall stage and brings her moving poetry and perspective to every event.
Watch Amanda Gorman’s performance with Jan Vogler on Colbert >>
Amanda Gorman empowers her audiences with an undeniable message about the power of using your voice to make a difference
For history-making inaugural poet AMANDA GORMAN, using her voice to make a difference has cemented her place as a leader, a literary luminary, and a global change-maker. On the anniversary of her stunning inauguration performance, Amanda wrote a profound New York Times op-ed about just how terrified she was, and how she faced her fear not by overpowering it – but by listening to it. She writes, “… the words waiting in my mouth were aflame. It seemed that the world stood still. I looked out and spoke to it. I haven’t looked back.”
Since her debut on the world’s stage, Gorman has graced the cover of TIME including an interview by Former First Lady Michelle Obama, and shared how she fostered her confidence, performed her empowering poem “We Rise” at Variety’s Power of Women event, and ignited the Forbes Women’s Summit. In her viral TED Talk “Using your voice is a political choice,” which has over 23M views, Gorman shares her vision for a world united by poetry. An unparalleled speaker, Amanda’s sought-after events resonate with impact – inspired by her favorite word to use in her poems, hope.
Speaker Spotlight: Poet Amanda Gorman is a global change-maker who makes history and inspires hope with each event
Award-winning poet, author, and activist AMANDA GORMAN has made history with each new venture, as she inspires hope with each speaking event. While she was still in college at Harvard, Amanda was named the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate by Urban World. A few years later, she went on to become the youngest poet in the country’s history to perform during an inauguration – stunning audiences worldwide with her visionary poem, “The Hill We Climb.” Amanda went on to become the first poet to perform at the Super Bowl, reading her “Chorus of the Captains” poem, and then became the first poet to be featured on the cover of Vogue.
A consummate storyteller, weaving her singular perspective together with uplifting poetry, Gorman has also published numerous successful books. Her poetry collection Call Us What We Carry debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and her first children’s book Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem is an Editor’s Pick on Amazon. Gorman will publish her next children’s book Something, Someday in the Fall of 2023. Sought after for events including the U.N. General Assembly, TED, and more, Amanda has also been named Estée Lauder’s first-ever Global Changemaker, helping curate the company’s Writing Change program, a $3M initiative to support grassroots organizations that advance literacy. In all she does, Gorman seeks to offer a message of hope about the ability to make a difference in a troubled world.
Amanda Gorman’s poems and perspective have graced the world’s most important stages, uplifting and empowering audiences everywhere
History-making young poet AMANDA GORMAN rose to international attention at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with her visionary inauguration poem, “The Hill We Climb.” The youngest-ever inaugural poet, Gorman joined the esteemed company of literary luminaries such as Robert Frost and Maya Angelou.
Since her stunning performance – which has continued to resonate far and wide – the award-winning poet and author has shared her poetry and perspective on some of the world’s most important stages. Gorman opened the 2022 U.N. General Assembly week with a poem about the climate crisis and shared her vision for a world united by poetry in her viral TED Talk “Using your voice is a political choice,” which has over 23M views. She has also performed her empowering poem “We Rise” at Variety’s Power of Women event, ignited the Forbes Women’s Summit, and teaches a popular MasterClass on writing and performing poetry. A profound and compelling speaker, Gorman’s events uplift and empower – creating an unforgettable experience for any audience.
Watch Amanda Gorman recite her inauguration poem for TIME >>
Amanda Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. She is a committed advocate for the environment, racial equality, and gender justice. Amanda’s activism and poetry have been featured on the Today Show, PBS Kids, and CBS This Morning, and in the New York Times, Vogue, and Essence. After graduating cum laude from Harvard University, she now lives in her hometown of Los Angeles. In 2017, Amanda Gorman was appointed the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate by Urban Word – a program that supports Youth Poets Laureate in more than 60 cities, regions and states nationally. Gorman’s groundbreaking performance of her poem, “The Hill We Climb”, at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration received international critical acclaim, inspiring millions of viewers with her message of hope, resilience, and healing.
Amanda appeared on the cover of TIME magazine in February 2021 and was the first poet to grace the cover of Vogue in their May 2021 issue. She was Porter Magazine's July 2021 cover star and received The Artist Impact Award at the 2021 Backstage at the Geffen Awards. Amanda was one of 5 Variety Power of Women honorees and cover star, as well one of 3 cover stars for Glamour's Women of the Year. Amanda signed a three-year long partnership with Estee Lauder, becoming their very first Global Changemaker. The partnership inspired Writing Change, an initiative to support grassroots organizations dedicated to advancing literacy as a pathway to equality, access, and social change, through the power of young voices. She also was featured in Prada’s fine jewelry ‘Eternal Gold’ campaign featuring accessories made out of 100% certified recycled gold as an extension of the house’s commitment to sustainability. The special edition of her inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb,” her debut picture book, Change Sings, and her poetry collection Call Us What We Carry, were published in 2021 and all debuted at #1 on New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Her latest children’s book, Something, Someday, was released in September 2023 and was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Please visit https://amandagormanbooks.com/ for more information.
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