Lester Graves Lennon (along Sehba Sarwar) was named a 2025 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow of Altadena, California.
Per the Academy of American Poets: “In partnership with the Altadena Library District, Lester Graves Lennon and Sehba Sarwar will launch “After the Fires: Healing from Histories,” a poetry initiative that seeks to provide space for the Altadena/Pasadena community to document history and heal from the devastation caused by the 2025 Eaton Fire. They will work in collaboration with the library district and local arts spaces to offer monthly workshops and readings that will culminate in a publication and a daylong festival. The participation of Altadena residents, especially those who experienced displacement and/or loss as a result of the fires, will be prioritized. Lennon and Sarwar will build upon the work started by past poets laureate who have been serving the community since 2006.