Malibu Poet Laureate

Malibu Poet Laureate Charlotte Ward was appointed by the City Council to serve as the 2025 - 2027 Poet Laureate.

Charlotte Ward has co-authored The Home Birth Book, Doubleday; Simply Live It Up: Brief Solutions, Purposeful Press; and since 1991, multiple editions of the best-selling gemology series: Diamonds, Emeralds, Gem Care, Jade, Opals, Pearls, Phenomenal Gems, and Rubies & Sapphires, Gem Book Publishers. She has edited many business projects, six books on life coaching, and three memoirs. With a BA in English and a teaching certificate from University of Florida, and an MLS with Distinction from Georgetown University, she holds credentials in the MBTI, Neuro-Linguistic Programing, Photo Reading, and Success Unlimited Network®. Long a member of Malibu Woman's Club who delights in collaboration, she hosts a writing group, participates in area poetry events, and attends Santa Monica College Emeritus creative writing and literature classes. At an early age, Charlotte chose poetry as her vital means of self-expression.

Questions related to the Poet Laureate program or arts programming may be directed to Joie Cosentino, Recreation Coordinator. 

Past Poet Laureates

  • Nathan Hassall August 2023 - August 2025
  • Ann Buxie September 2021 - August 2023
  • Dr. John Struloeff October 12, 2019 - June 1, 2021
  • Ellen Reich March 28, 2019 - April 1, 2020
  • Ricardo Means Ybarra March 28, 2017 – March 27, 2019
Charlotte Ward

Verse About Town


Local poets are encouraged to submit their work to be featured in the Malibu Poet Laureate Committee's program, Verse About Town. Poetry is displayed monthly at City Parks. Visit the program webpage for additional details and submit poems through the City's online form center.

Poetry Stones at Legacy Park

In 2018, the Cultural Arts Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission approved the placement of two poetry stones at Legacy Park. The stones were placed in honor of the City’s first Poet Laureate, Ricardo Means Ybarra, and recognized the importance of poetry and literary arts to Malibu. Mr. Ybarra was recognized as the first Poet Laureate with a stone that contains a portion of his poem, America. The second stone included the poem, Thank You, by Mandy Mulligan, a graduate of Juan Cabrillo Elementary School, part of the City’s Arts in Education program. The stone installation of the City’s second Poet Laureate Ellen Reich, took place on October 8, 2020.  Her black Belgian stone is an appropriate fit for the native park and includes her poem, Interruption of Bird.

All of the poetry stones are located at Legacy Park. Mrs. Reich’s poetry stone is placed opposite of Mr. Ybarra’s, near the amphitheater overlooking the water, which was selected due to its purpose as a place for creativity and location for cultural events. Ms. Mulligan’s stone is placed in the amphitheater containing multiple mosaic animal sculptures.