Poetry has been a lifelong calling for Brion Gill, aka Lady Brion. Growing up near Whitelock Avenue, then in Northwood, her childhood was marked by intergenerational gatherings and creative exchange, sparking an early passion for poetry and deliberation.

From organizing youth slam events to excelling as a competitive debater in high school, Brion carved her own career path, drawing inspiration from Black community staples like AFRAM and the former Warm Wednesdays open-mics along the way. In recent years, the 34-year-old has performed internationally, won multiple competitions, and taught creative writing for local students.

Now, as Maryland’s 11th poet laureate under Gov. Wes Moore—as well as the director of the Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts District, the first of its kind in Maryland, dedicated to celebrating and promoting African-American culture—she hopes to inspire other artists to go after their own lifelong dreams.

What are some of your plans for this role?
I intend to travel across Maryland for performances and workshops. It’d be great to publish new works, but I also want to use this platform to help amplify and bring to fruition other literary arts initiatives. For example, working to create a Baltimore City poet laureate. I am also interested in [creating] a literary arts festival for Maryland, pulling folks from all corners of the state to be a part of it. My hope is that it can take place in Baltimore City

Growing up in Baltimore, what drew you to poetry?
I used to watch Def Poetry Jam on HBO. I was enamored with that show. I fell in love with poets like Sunni Patterson and Black Ice. There’s a whole group of spoken-word poets, particularly Black spoken-word poets, that just drew me in. I wanted to be like them. I wanted to be able to share my story. I remember being in middle school, going into the corner of my father’s apartment, and writing my first little poem. So many people encouraged me, and affirmed me, and gave me spaces to write poems and share poems, and that really launched my career. I’ve been performing on stages [ever since].

In 2019, you founded the Pennsylvania Black Arts District. How does it continue to shape your work?
We’re just here to connect people and illuminate the amazing work that they’re doing. This is an organization that was built and run by Black artists who want to see Black arts thrive in this city, and so it’s just all about making a space for the community to continue to be great. I’ve really become connected to the arts and cultural community in Baltimore, and that fuels me. It’s the reason I wake up and do this every day.