The Carnegie Art Center (CAC) will celebrate National Poetry Month with several free events throughout April. This series kicks off the 50th anniversary celebration of the nonprofit organization’s founding in 1975. Connecting the community, the arts, and accessibility are central to the mission of the CAC.

Jillian Hanesworth was born and raised on the East side of Buffalo NY. She began writing at the age of 7 when she would write songs for her mother to sing in church. Over time, Jillian’s writings evolved into short stories and poetry that narrates the lived experiences of her community. Since her first professional poetry performance on February 1st, 2017, Jillian has performed over 500 times in various cities and countries. Jillian is the founder of Literary Freedom, a nationally recognized literacy access program called Buffalo Books, the first and founding Poet Laureate of Buffalo, and the 2024 national Emmy award recipient in the Dick Schaap Outstanding Writing category.

This event is provided with support from the Board of Directors and North Tonawanda Garden Walk.