Nellie Bridge, Clallam County Poet Laureate, 2025-27
Nellie recently returned to Sequim, where she was raised, after spending six years working with teens in international schools, including four years in Sofia, Bulgaria, and two in Lima, Peru. She currently works with fourth, fifth and sixth graders at Five Acre School in Dungeness.
She attended The Evergreen State College for her BA and NYU’s MFA program for poetry as a New York Times Fellow. She also apprenticed with letterpress printers including The Yolla Bolly Press, Copper Canyon Press and the Wells College Book Arts Center.
Her poems have appeared in journals such as Press Pause Press, Volume, Tethered Literary, Painted Bride Quarterly, Festival Internacional de Poesía, Vagabond, New Delta Review, EcoTheo Review, Pleiades, and Rattapallax. She has published two small-run chapbooks, Plea for Tearing with the Running Hours and Loose Poems (Poemas Sueltos). Her debut collection Holes in the Ship of Theseus was awarded the Best of the Bottom Drawer Global Writing Prize by Black Spring Press and will be released in late 2026.
Northwest Passages: Nellie joined host and producer Douglas Furr on KSQM 91.5 FM in May 2025. Play the poetry readings: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3.
Living on the Peninsula: The Winter 2025 supplement produced by Peninsula Daily News and Sequim Gazette highlighted Nellie’s work as the Poet Laureate and included 10 poems by area residents inspired by her workshops.
Where I’m From: Through April 2026, Nellie collected poems by local residents for potential inclusion in a printed anthology. Additional details will be shared soon.
Email poetlaureate@nols.org to share your ideas about how you’d like to bring poetry to your community in Clallam County and to collaborate on events like poetry readings, workshops and interactive experiences. Events with the Poet Laureate should be free and open to the public, with the exception of school or corrections facility visits.
Please allow time for the Poet Laureate to review and respond to your email request, typically within two weeks. Demand for the Poet Laureate can be high, and they will balance requests across the county.
For general questions about the Poet Laureate program, please email discover@nols.org. To contact the Poet Laureate directly, email poetlaureate@nols.org.
2026 Past Events – Poet Laureate
January 6, 2026 – Poetry Writing at Park View Villas, Port Angeles
A drop-in writing event with residents.
January 28, 2026 – “Where I’m From” Workshop at The Hub, Port Angeles
A guided activity and writing event for all ages to write or revise a “Where I’m From” poem.
February 7, 2026 – Remembrance Ceremony, Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County, Sequim
Nellie contributed a poetry reading at the ceremony held by Volunteer Hospice at Trinity United Methodist Church.
March 6, 2026 – Three Strange Angels at Sunshine Cafe, Sequim
Nellie hosted poetry readings by Jaiden Dokken, Lyss Parker, and Jenson, followed by an open mic for sharing weird poems.
April 3, 2026 – Poetry Fest at Port Angeles Main Library
Readings by Nellie, Chilean poet, translator, and educator Rodrigo Rojas, and local poets. Attendees participated in beginner-friendly poetry activities.
April 4, 2026 – Poetry Reading with Rodrigo Rojas and Nellie Bridge, Forks Branch Library
An afternoon of poetry during a vibrant bilingual celebration to enjoy the beauty of words across languages.
April 10, 2026 – Poem in Your Pocket Day and Poetry Reading at The Pine and Eight, Port Angeles
Attendees were encouraged to share a favorite poem with others and enjoy a reading from Seattle poet J. Baugher.
April 13, 2026 – “Where I’m From” Poetry Workshop at Five Acre School, Sequim
Adults and teens joined Nellie in her classroom for a writing workshop.
2025 Past Events – Poet Laureate
April 4, 2025 – Poetry Fest & Poet Laureate Inauguration, Port Angeles Main Library
Community celebration of poetry featuring interactive stations and a limited edition souvenir broadside collaboration between Jaiden Dokken and Nellie Bridge. Readings from Jaiden Dokken, Nellie Bridge, Esther Saniiguaq Kugruz, June VanDenBurg, and Lucian Parker.
April 10, 2025 – Poem in Your Pocket Day at the Pine and Eight
A celebration of Poem In Your Pocket Day, where participants dropped in, shared poems with one another, and socialized.
April 25, 2025 – Poetry Fest & Poet Laureate Welcoming, Forks Branch Library
Community celebration of poetry featuring interactive stations and a limited edition souvenir broadside collaboration between Jaiden Dokken and Nellie Bridge. Readings from Nellie Bridge and ćićayx̣mu Rachel Sullivan-Owens.
April 27, 2025 – A Celebration of Native Poetry at the Makah Cultural and Research Center
A special event hosted by the Makah Cultural and Research Center in honor of National Poetry Month. Nellie Bridge was an invited guest.
April 30, 2025 – A Night of Noise, Studio Bob, Port Angeles
A gathering for protest, art, and song featuring presentations by Nellie Bridge and YMCA Youth and Government, with music from Barry Burnett, Laura Eyestone, and Mark Fredson.
May 1, 2025 – Poetry Reading, Sequim Library Temporary Location
A reception for Nellie Bridge in honor of her inauguration as the second Clallam County Poet Laureate, featuring guest readers Esther Saniiguaq Kugzruk, Claire Nakagawara, and Nevada Batcheller.
May 8, 2025 – Write-In at the Pine and Eight, Port Angeles
A drop-in silent writing session hosted at the Pine and Eight grocery store.
May 12, 2025 – Write-In at Paradise Restaurant, Sequim
A drop-in silent writing session hosted at Paradise Restaurant.
May 27, 2025 – Northwest Passages reading, KSQM
A conversation and poetry reading recorded by Bill Penczak’s “Northwest Passages.”
May 26, 2025 – Write-In at the Pine and Eight
A drop-in silent writing session hosted at the Pine and Eight grocery store.
June 30, 2025 – Happy Hour with Richard Brautigan, Rabbit Box Theater, Seattle
Participants read aloud from Richard Brautigan’s collection “June 30, June 30.” Nellie Bridge was one of the organizers and readers.
July 11, 2025 – Write-In at the Pine and Eight
A drop-in silent writing session hosted at the Pine and Eight grocery store.
July 14, 2025 – Writing Session for Veterans, Port Angeles Main Library
A drop-in writing session intended for veterans.
July 17, 2025 – Writing Session for OMC Staff, Olympic Medical Center, Port Angeles
A drop-in writing session held for Olympic Medical Center staff.
July 21, 2025 – Writing Session at Mariposa House
A drop-in writing session held for Mariposa House staff.
July 26, 2025 – Writing Workshop: Where I’m From, Sekiu Community Center
Participants wrote their own “Where I’m From” poems inspired by the poem by George Ella Lyon.
August 4, 2025 – Writing Session, Forks Branch Library
A drop-in writing session hosted at the Forks Branch Library.
August 8, 2025 – Writing Session, Clallam Bay Branch Library
A drop-in writing session hosted at the Clallam Bay Branch Library.
August 18, 2025 – Writing Session for Caregivers, Port Angeles Main Library
A drop-in writing session intended for caregivers (medical staff, parents/guardians, teachers, and others).
August 26, 2025 – Coast/Lines Poetry Salon: Poetry as Hub, Gentle House, Port Angeles
Nellie was the featured reader, and led a craft talk and free-write exercise. An open mic followed her reading, along with an ice cream social.
Fall 2025 – Poetry Writing, Forks High School
Nellie hosted poetry writing workshops for students in three classes at Forks High School. Students also interviewed her and featured her in the Spartan Spectator high school newspaper.
September 27, 2025 – “Yo Soy/I am” and “Soy de/I am from” Poetry Workshop, Forks Branch Library
All ages were invited to write poetry that celebrates self, heritage, and culture as part of the Día de Culturas community event.
October 20, 2025 – Poetry Reading with Lesley Wheeler, Port Angeles Main Library
Nellie, together with Gentle House, introduced a poetry reading from Wheeler’s latest collection, Mycocosmic.
November 21, 2025 – Olympic Peninsula Authors Open Mic, KSQM Community Room, Sequim
Nellie was a featured reader, followed by an open mic.
December 9, 2025 – Winter Moon Poetry Workshop, Forks Branch Library
An engaging short-poem writing workshop centered around the poem “Winter Moon” by Langston Hughes.
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 over the two-year term) 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. The two-year stipend is funded by a $1,000 contribution from Clallam County and a $9,000 donation from the North Olympic Library Foundation, a separate non-profit.
Nellie Bridge will serve as the second Clallam County Poet Laureate (April 2025 through March 2027).
The Clallam County Poet Laureate program began in 2023. Jaiden Dokken served as the first Poet Laureate (April 2023 through March 2025).
Poet Laureate Recommends
“Where I’m From” Writing Workshop at Sekiu Community Center. Photo by Nancy Messmer.
“Where I’m From” Writing Workshop at Sekiu Community Center. Photo by Nancy Messmer.
“Where I’m From” Writing Workshop at Sekiu Community Center. Photo by Nancy Messmer.
Writing Session at Forks Branch Library.
Writing Session at Forks Branch Library.
“Where I’m From” Writing Workshop at Sekiu Community Center. Photo by Nancy Messmer.
“Where I’m From” Writing Workshop at Sekiu Community Center. Photo by Nancy Messmer.
“Where I’m From” Writing Workshop at Sekiu Community Center. Photo by Nancy Messmer.
Writing Session at Forks Branch Library.
Writing Session at Forks Branch Library.
This position comes with a stipend of $10,000 total over the two-year term, funded by a $1,000 contribution from Clallam County and a $9,000 donation from the North Olympic Library Foundation, a separate non-profit.
This position comes with a stipend of $10,000 total over the two-year term, funded by a $1,000 contribution from Clallam County and a $9,000 donation from the North Olympic Library Foundation, a separate non-profit.