Proclamation
WHEREAS, Joyce Dale, long-time Merced resident, has dedicated her poetry to serving the Merced community by embracing its diversity and rich cultural heritage through the literary arts. She showcases the identity of the Merced community and celebrates its history through expansive and expressive poetry that reflects its essence; and WHEREAS, Joyce Dale's poetic expression honors a deep-rooted literary tradition of engaging the community by celebrating its history, hopes, goals, and emotions that unite its members in honoring shared values and perspectives while commemorating the citizens that embrace Merced as home. Joyce’s Father, Edward Huddleston, was known all over Merced County for the poems he would write to families after a loved one passed or to celebrate an anniversary or just about anything happy or sad; and WHEREAS, as Merced's first poet laureate, Joyce Dale symbolizes the importance of artistic and literary expression at the heart of our community and its shared experiences. This esteemed position embodies the collective voices of our writers, poets, and the broader citizenry, who seek a better world through the arts; and WHEREAS, Joyce Dale, in her role as Merced's first Poet Laureate, serves as a reminder that a vibrant literary community is vital for understanding the stories of our past and present, as well as envisioning our future. By capturing our stories, experiences, and identities through poetry, we document our history; and WHEREAS, as Poet Laureate of Merced, Joyce Dale recognizes her role in empowering all citizens of Merced to embrace our poetic nature and connect with one another. In doing so, she encourages the citizens of Merced to appreciate each other and the gift of self-expression through poetry; and NOW, THEREFORE, I, Matthew Serratto, Mayor of the City of Merced, do hereby affirm the significance of Joyce Dale, Merced’s First Poet Laureate, in promoting the reading, writing, and creation of poetry as a means of self-expression and personal joy through the arts. “Merced Poet Laureate”
For the benefit of the City of Merced and to celebrate the literary arts locally.
Signed this 5th day of May 2025.
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Matthew Serratto, Mayor of Merced