Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Public Library, the city's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Poetry Foundation on Monday announced avery r. young as Chicago's inaugural poet laureate. young has more than two decades of experience as a teaching artist, and his poetry has been included in multiple anthologies and periodicals, according to a news release from Lightfoot's office. young will serve a two-year term and will receive $50,000 for the commission of new poetry and establishing public programming.