Jaiden Dokken

Jaiden Dokken

Jaiden Dokken served as the first Clallam County Poet Laureate from April 2023 through March 2025.

Jaiden Dokken (they/them) is a local writer, printmaker, ceramicist, cidermaker, and self-described highly persistent penpal. Dokken’s work has been published in Fiction International, Algorithm, Muses and Vices, SpeakEasy, Superfroot Magazine, and Pile Press. They are an editor and reader for Perennial Press.

Experiences unique to the North Olympic Peninsula resonate in poems by Jaiden, who grew up in Sequim and returned to live there as an adult. As Poet Laureate, they will bring poetry to residents across Clallam County by participating in events, leading workshops, and championing the community power of the written and spoken word.

Jaiden Dokken
Past Events with the Clallam County Poet Laureate

Poetry Book Swap
Monday, March 17, The Pine and Eight, Port Angeles
Participants could bring a poetry book, zine, or broadside to swap, or just come and take home their next good read.

Love/Rage/Us Solo Exhibition & Poetry Reading
Friday, February 28, Port Angeles Main Library
At this Art in the Library opening reception, Jaiden read their poems followed by live music by Whump. Jaiden’s multimedia solo show includes poetry, acrylic paintings, ceramic sculptures, and fiber art on view through May 31, 2025.

Poetry Reading by ćićayx̣mu Rachel Sullivan-Owens and Alyssa Parker
Thursday, February 20, Sunshine Cafe & Bar, Sequim
Attendees enjoyed food, drinks, and a poetry panel reading.

Poetry Reading by Sam Slupski
Sunday, January 26, at Hurricane Coffee Co., Sequim
Attendees sipped coffee, listened to Sam recite poems, and engaged with the Take-A-Poem/Leave-A-Poem wall. Sam had copies of their book, Until Tender, available for purchase.

Poetry Gift Swap and Reading
Tuesday, December 17, at Gentle House, Port Angeles
Clallam County Poet Laureate Jaiden Dokken and Director at Tupelo Press Kirsten Miles hosted an evening of poetry gift swapping. Risa Denenberg, Co-Founder of Headmistress Press, performed a reading of her work.

Sonnets Don’t Suck: A Generative Workshop
Tuesday, November 5, on Zoom
Hosted by Aishvarya Arora and Jaiden Dokken

Poetry Book Swap
Tuesday, October 22, at PNWonderland Wine, Port Angeles

Poetry Picnic
Friday, September 27, at Webster’s Woods Sculpture Park, Port Angeles Fine Art Center

Art, Angst & Acoustic: Open Mic
September 17, 2024, Forks Branch Library
Jaiden is the emcee for this welcoming and supportive community event.

Rootbeer Floats and Revisions
Tuesday, August 27, at Hollywood Beach, Port Angeles

Improv Poetry
Saturday, August 10, 2024, Hurricane Coffee Co., Sequim
Fabulist Fables teamed up with Jaiden to show participants how incorporating improv techniques can enrich their poetic expression.

Permanent Poetry
Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Coastal Lines Tattoo Emporium, Sequim
Participants enjoyed poetry readings, a book swap, Sour Baby Bakery cake by the slice, and book/botanical-inspired tattoo flash by Molly Troxler.

Art, Angst & Acoustic: Open Mic
July 16, 2024, Forks Branch Library
Jaiden is the emcee for this welcoming and supportive community event.

Poems with Plants
Wednesday, July 10, 2024, New Dungeness Nursery, Sequim
Find inspiration among the plants or follow prompts to write poetry, or bring some to share.

SisterLand Farms Annual Pride Picnic
Saturday, June 1, 2024, B&B Family Lavender Farm, Sequim
This evening event included performances, poetry, clothing swaps, resource information, food, and community building.

Poetry Book Swap
Sunday, May 19, 2024, Peninsula Taproom, Sequim
Participants could bring a poetry book, zine or broadside to swap, or just come and take home their next good read.

Spring Poetry Night
Friday, April 26, 2024, Aldrich’s Market, Port Townsend
An evening of live music and poetry, hosted by Port Townsend Poet Laureate Conner Bouchard-Roberts of Winter texts. Performances from Jaiden Dokken, Finn Wilcox, Quenton Baker, Christina Vega, Kat Murphy, Amber Huntsman, Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe, Cass Curl, and live music by Marit Olivia.

Poetry Panel Reading
Thursday, April 11, 2024, Locally Known Cowork, Sequim
S. Salazar and Jaiden hosted a panel of local poets, a Q&A, and a chance to mingle and purchase the poet’s work.

Cozy Poetry Open Mic
Monday, April 8, 2024, virtually on Zoom
Participants were encouraged to get in their pajamas, steep some tea, enjoy local poetry with Jaiden, poet S. Drew Bloyer, and an open mic. Poems by Palestinian poets were also shared, and there was an opportunity to write poetry with prompts provided.

Art, Angst & Acoustic: Open Mic
March 19, 2024, Forks Branch Library
Jaiden is the emcee for this welcoming and supportive community event.

Clallam Bay Classroom Visit
March 2024
Jaiden taught students how to make haiku zines.

Poetry Reading & Workshop
Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Community Hall in Neah Bay
Jaiden provided a special poetry reading, open mic, and workshop for students and community members, co-sponsored by the Neah Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Poetry Reading at First Friday Art Walk
March 1, 2024, Pacific Most Books

Outdoor Poetry Reading
Wednesday, February 28, 2024, Carrie Blake Park, Sequim
Jaiden hosted an outdoor poetry reading at the Carrie Blake Park picnic shelter. Participants brought poetry to share.

Acrostic Poetry Writing Challenge
February 2024, Poetry submitted via email
Community members were invited to write a “February” acrostic poem for this challenge. A prize winner was randomly drawn from all poetry submissions.

Art, Angst & Acoustic: Open Mic
January 16, 2024, Forks Branch Library
Jaiden is the emcee for this welcoming and supportive community event.

Proxy Reader, World AIDS Day
December 2023, Port Angeles Main Library
Art in the Library exhibition opening reception.

Poetry Write-In with Ginny Holladay
December 2023, Olympic Cellars

Poetry Write-In
November 28, 2023, Sekiu Community Center
Alongside many Sekiu community members, Jaiden cohosted a gathering to write poetry and listen to live music. Participants were invited to enjoy refreshments provided or bring a snack to share.

Ekphrastic Poetry Reading
November 9, 2023, Field Arts & Events Hall, Port Angeles
During the opening reception for the art exhibition, Impressions, Jaiden shared an ekphrastic poem they created in response to the artwork. Following the reading, artists provided introductions to their work.

Ink-tober
Throughout October 2023
Participants wrote (or drew) using a daily prompt created by Jaiden for inspiration during this fun month-long challenge. Tagging Jaiden on social media provided a chance to have their work featured.

Poetry Write-In
October 15, 2023, Olympic Cellars, Port Angeles
Hosted by Jaiden, with live music by Ginny Holladay, this event offered a chance to sip wine, listen to music, and write poetry alongside others working on their craft.

Poetry Reading and Open Mic
September 18, 2023, Port Angeles Senior Center
Jaiden read poetry and invited people to bring poetry to share. Attendees could read their own work, or a poem by their favorite poet, at an open mic.

Graphic Poetry Workshop with Nhatt Nichols & Jaiden Dokken
Thursday, September 14, Port Angeles Main Library
Attendees learned how to write and draw graphic poetry in this workshop for adults and teens.

Poetry Open Mic, First Friday Art Walk
September 1, 2023, Pacific Pantry, Sequim
Attendees enjoyed pizza and drinks while reading and listening to poetry at this outdoor open mic hosted by Jaiden.

Poetry Reading & Zine Giveaway at Sequim Library
August 2023

Olympic Peninsula Authors featured reading at KSQM
August 2023

Poetry Reading & Zine Giveaway at Forks Library
August 2023

Poetry Reading at Port Williams Beach
July 18, 2023
A poetry reading and community open mic at Port Williams Beach, complete with a book swap.

Poetry with KSQM Radio
July 2023

Poetry Zine and Giveaway
July 2023, Field Arts & Events Hall Grand Opening

Sequim Pride
June 17, 2023, Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market
A poetry reading to kick off Pride Market Day.

Poetry in the Park
June 17, 2023, Summertide Solstice Art Festival
A poetry reading in the courtyard of the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center to celebrate Summertide Poets.

SisterLand Farms Presents: Coming Out! A Pride Picnic
June 3, 2023, B&B Lavender Farm, Sequim
The potluck picnic included a clothing swap, story slam, craft tables, health and wellness resources, and more. Jaiden Dokken closed out the story slam with a poetry reading.

Poetry Zines
May 28, 2023, Juan de Fuca Festival, Port Angeles
Participants learned how to create their own zines at this free activity in the Community Tent.

Open Mic Poetry Night
May 9, 2023, Sekiu Community Center
Community members shared their own poetry or favorite works by other poets.

Grow Your Poetry Workshop
April 27, 2023, Locally Known Cowork, Sequim
Participants wrote poetry on wildflower seed paper to plant and watch their words bloom!

Poetry Reading Challenge and Prize Raffle
April 2023

Clallam County Poet Laureate Inauguration
April 18, 2023, Port Angeles Main Library
At this public celebration, Jaiden Dokken was inaugurated as the first Clallam County Poet Laureate and gave a reading of their poetry.

About the Poet Laureate Position

The Poet Laureate will serve a two-year term, bringing poetry to residents of the county by participating in events, leading workshops, and championing the community power of the written and spoken word throughout Clallam County.

A major goal of the Clallam County Poet Laureate program is to use poetry to bring a variety of voices and perspectives to culturally diverse audiences throughout the county, and to bring communities together through poetry. Poetry helps us to see, understand and think about our community and our world through a different lens and challenges us to reconsider the common ties that bind us together.

This position comes with an annual stipend of $5,000 ($10,000 total) in recognition of the appointed poet’s time and energy in participating in or hosting events as well as to support the poet’s craft and practice.

Nellie Bridge will serve as the second Clallam County Poet Laureate (April 2025 through March 2027). The position is generously funded by the North Olympic Library Foundation and Clallam County.

Jaiden Dokken served as the first Clallam County Poet Laureate (April 2023 through March 2025).

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