Blog
An Evening with Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet Tracy K. Smith at Segerstrom Center
02.23.25
Segerstrom Center for the Arts welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tracy K. Smith for an evening of compelling conversation with acclaimed poet and educator Tina Chang. As part of the Center’s In Conversation series spotlighting contemporary American authors and poets, this event promises an insightful and thought-provoking discussion on Monday, March 3, at 8 p.m.
Tracy K. Smith has been a force in the literary world since her debut in 2003. Her poetry collection Life on Mars won the Pulitzer Prize, and her memoir Ordinary Light was a finalist for the National Book Award for Nonfiction. Across genres, her writing is powerful, intelligent, and lyrical—delving into the big questions about our world with unflinching honesty. Her work masterfully explores love, grief, desire, and hope while weaving in themes of race, power, and justice. Often described as America’s “poetic caretaker,” Smith invites readers to reflect on the stories they’ve been told and the history that shapes us.
Beyond her writing, Smith is a dedicated educator and advocate. She served two terms as U.S. Poet Laureate, bringing poetry to communities across the country, and she currently teaches English and African and African American studies at Harvard.
Tina Chang, who will moderate the conversation, is a celebrated poet and editor. She made history as the first woman to be named Poet Laureate of Brooklyn, a role she held for more than a decade. A graduate of Columbia University’s MFA program, she is the author of three critically acclaimed poetry collections and is a professor of English and Director of Creative Writing at Binghamton University.
Tickets for Tracy K. Smith IN CONVERSATION start at $44.07 and are available now at scfta.org. They can also be purchased in person at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, or by phone at (714) 556-2787. For group ticket discounts (10 or more), call (714) 755-0236.
Blog
Christine Brennan to Speak at 27th Witte Lectures
02.19.25
The Newport Beach Public Library Foundation presents the 27th Witte Lectures, featuring award-winning sports journalist Christine Brennan.
Brennan’s talk, “Today Is the Greatest Day for Women in Sports – Until Tomorrow: The Story of Title IX and the Empowerment of Women in Sports,” will explore the impact of Title IX and the evolution of women’s sports.
The lecture will take place at the Friends Room at the Central Library, located at 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach on the following dates:
- Friday, Feb. 21, 7–9 p.m. (includes a light supper and wine)
- Saturday, Feb. 22, 2–4 p.m. (includes refreshments)
Brennan is a national sports columnist for USA TODAY, a commentator for ABC News, CNN, and PBS NewsHour, and a nationally known speaker. She is the bestselling author of Inside Edge, which was named one of the top 100 sports books of all time by Sports Illustrated. A veteran of 21 Olympic Games, she has been recognized multiple times as one of the country’s top 10 sports columnists by the Associated Press Sports Editors.
Her upcoming book on Caitlin Clark is highly anticipated and expected to be a compelling read for sports fans and those interested in resilience and achievement.
Event details:
Lecture, book sale, and signing
Friends Room, Central Library
Friday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 22, 2 p.m.
Seating is limited. Individual tickets are on sale now here.
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