Heritage Poetry with Chip Williford

Write about recipes, dances, clothing, experiences-- everything that composes your heritage.

Chip Williford, appointed 2025-2027 Suffolk County Poet Laureate, is a writer of prose, poetry and short stories. He is a videographer, filmmaker, documentarian, family historian, researcher, good listener and truthful story teller.

Williford is the director and cohost of Poetry Street, "The room without a roof, where every voice is heard." He produced and filmed “Poetry Street on The Road - The Film," and “America, Please learn from the Scars of History." His film “Bohemia, Then and Now” was viewed at the National Hall Bohemia Embassy after an full house Premiere and red carpet event at The Bohemia Historical Society Museum.

Williford facilitates Multicultural Diversity Friendship Circle discussions in a safe place, to talk about issues regarding racism, sexism, and discrimination.

He is the NAACP ELIB Scholarship Fund Chairman initiating an endowed scholarship for Suffolk County Community College, where he earned his AAS degree in Radio and Television Production, and served as Phi Theta Kappa - AZU Vice President of Service, leading and promoting volunteering and giving back to the community. His technical and production experience spans years working with Chew Entertainment on several Annual BET Honors, Night Of Inspiration Concerts, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monument dedication and other monumental events, award shows and concerts such as the Apollo Gala and Showtime At The Apollo. He also recently became a Long Island Poetry and Literary Repository board member.

“I want to be a part of something really special, and being a part of that collective successful effort is what I love most...make sure you take the time to do the things that are important to you.”

For more information, visit chipwilliford.com.