At last night’s City Council meeting, the Mayor and Council unanimously voted to appoint veteran educator, author, and acclaimed spoken word artist Toney Jackson as the first Poet Laureate of the City of Hackensack, celebrating his decades of artistic leadership and lifelong dedication to uplifting the community through the arts.
Council Chambers was filled with colleagues, residents, and members of the arts community who gathered to witness this historic moment for Hackensack. The evening provided a fitting tribute to an educator and artist who has long used poetry, music, and storytelling to connect classrooms, stages, and neighborhoods.
“Toney has been celebrated across the United States and beyond for his artistry, and it is important that we celebrate our own right here in Hackensack,” Mayor Caseen Gaines said. “He is a stellar reflection of the homegrown talent we have in the City, and will be an excellent ambassador for not only the arts, but also our community as a whole.”
A lifelong Hackensack resident, Jackson is a veteran fourth-grade teacher at Nellie K. Parker School, where he brings creative expression directly into the classroom to help students discover their own voices.
Additionally, he serves as the Superintendent’s liaison to the Johnson Public Library Board and was a founding member of the City’s Cultural Arts Board, which was integral in advising the municipality during the founding of the Hackensack Performing Arts Center.
“Toney Jackson has always been a community connector, bridging the gaps between students, parents, the City of Hackensack, and the greater outside world,” said Tara Marie Cooper, Director of the Johnson Public Library. “Toney is a community gem, and an inspiration to his students.”
Jackson’s work has earned national recognition from organizations including the National Education Association and the Children’s Book Council, alongside educational collaborations with Microsoft Education, Canva, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Spending more than two decades shaping New Jersey’s spoken-word landscape, Jackson helped establish Verbal Mayhem, served as a founding member of the nationally touring performance ensemble The Mayhem Poets, and founded S.P.E.A.K. (Sharing Poetic Expressions, Artistry, and Knowledge), a vibrant writers’ circle and open mic initiative fostering connection throughout the region.
Following the vote, attendees offered a warm standing ovation to celebrate Jackson’s appointment to the newly established position.
“It is about time that Toney was recognized as Poet Laureate,” said Randy Glover, a Hackensack resident and one of the vocal community members who championed the appointment. “This is a vibrant city, and Toney is an example of excellence and what this city represents.”
“I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity,” said Jackson. “Thank you to Mayor Gaines and the City Council for demonstrating the value you place on the arts and your belief in the power of poetry. I’m excited to give back to this community, and I can’t wait to see and hear this city S.P.E.A.K.”
Under the adopted resolution, Jackson will serve as Poet Laureate through December 31, 2027, composing original works for civic occasions, advocating for the literary arts, and nurturing creative expression across all generations of Hackensack residents.
Click here to read the poem Toney Jackson wrote to commerate the occasion.
