Michelle T. Boone, President & CEO of The Poetry Foundation. She is the first woman and African American to lead the organization. The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization and private foundation committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in American culture. Its programs are designed to shape a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative literary prizes and programs. Previously, Boone was the Chief Program and Civic Engagement Officer at Navy Pier, a historic landmark and top cultural destination and attraction in the Midwest. In