The Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series supports the mission of the North Carolina Poetry Society to foster the reading, writing, and enjoyment of poetry across the state. Three Distinguished Poets from the east, central, and west of North Carolina will mentor each a middle-school, a high-school, a college or university student, and an adult within their respective regions. This year's participants poets Eastern Region: Distinguished Poet Anna Lena Phillips Bell, Kalaiya Corbin (high school) Raleigh; Jo Ann Hoffman (adult), Beaufort; Kelly Jones (adult), Tabor City; Leslie Sexton (adult), Winterville. Central Region: Distinguished Poet Dasan Ahanu; Hausson Byrd (college), Greensboro; Adeja Cheek (high school), Durham; Valerie Macon (adult), Fuquay-Varina; Jermaine Monroe (adult), Greensboro. Western Region: Distinguished Poet Ricardo Nazario y Colon, Jane Mary Curran (adult), Asheville. The GCDPS originated when the NCPS Board voted in 2003 to follow the advice of Fred Chappell, then North Carolina's Poet Laureate. He had written and advised the NCPS president about various approaches to take in furthering the NCPS mission of encouraging the reading, writing, and enjoyment of poetry. The GCDPS plans evolved from that correspondence and earlier discussions by Board members. The Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series offers a way for poets to give back to the North Carolina poetry community. Past Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poets include Ann Deagon, Joseph Bathanti, John Hoppenthaler, Becky Gould Gibson, Lavonne Adams, and Catherine Carter, among others.