KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The city of Oak Ridge is well known for its science, but leaders said it has an abundance of art too.
"A poet laureate is going to get up here and they're going to represent our city in just a more creative way and I'm just really thrilled to have her," said Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Dodson.
Ms. Rose Weaver, a native of the secret city was given the honor of Poet Laureate while Lillian Shafer, a student at Oak Ridge High School, was named Youth Poet Laureate.
Weaver will serve two years as the Poet Laureate, while Lillian Shafer will serve a one-year term.
"We think the spoken word can kind of empower people, young people and adults, to want to communicate," said Weaver.
She adds that she will use the opportunity to improve the city she calls home.
"Being the poet laureate, this is a call to me to do something to improve the quality of life in the Oak Ridge community and bring us together," said Weaver.
City leaders said Weaver best represents the Oak Ridge community not just through her poetry, but through her actions as well.
"She is an ambassador. She's not just an ambassador through the spoken word, but through the actions that she exemplifies in the city of Oak Ridge, and I couldn't be prouder to have somebody represent us," said Dodson.
Weaver said she wants to expand people's minds with her work.
"People can see the rhythm and the other things that a poet is conveying and it can make them think," said Weaver.
She also encourages people to get outside to find their inspiration for poetry.
"You just take your pen and your paper, you look at the sky you look at the trees, and the words will just come to you," said Weaver.