Windsor's new Youth Poet Laureate hopes residents will see their city from a different perspective.
Alexei Ungurenasu, whose pronouns are they and them, is relatively new to Windsor and Canada. They immigrated from Iasi, Romania, in 2010 when they were 11-years-old.
Their family first settled in Toronto. Seven years later, they came to Windsor to earn a Bachelor of Arts Honours in English and Philosophy at the University of Windsor.
"As an outsider-become-insider, I have a distinct appreciation for Windsor," said Ungurenasu. "In my poetry, I show Windsor as I see it, as a combination of lights, colours, sounds, directions, faces, streets, smells, signs, buildings, and everything else."
The emerging writer cites Leonard Cohen, Walt Whitman, William Blake, and John Milton as primary influences.
Ungurenasu's first published poem will appear in the spring 2021 volume of Headlight Anthology, and they hope to publish a short collection called "Sandwiched" in the next two years.
They started their writing career in grade 10. Since coming to the city, they held poetry workshops, volunteered with Artcite Inc., contributed to the Arts Council Windsor and Region's Vanguard Youth Arts Collective and been named a two-time finalist of the Why Humanities contest.
"I was blown away by Alexei's poetry -- a strong sense of place and outsider perspective," said Windsor's Poet Laureate, Mary Ann Mulhern. "I think Alexei has a unique gift. They are a poet who will accomplish great things and will do Windsor proud."
Ungurenasu will work on projects showcasing poetry from Windsor youth by presenting readings and workshops at local schools.
"The City of Windsor's poet laureate program helps to record and share the stories that shape our city while teaching us the value of unique voices and perspectives," said Mayor Drew Dilkens.
Urgurenasu will serve in the role until 2023.
