Shawn Welcome is the founder of Shawn Welcome and Associates and the co-founder of the Literary Arts Council of Central Florida. Shawn is also the former Poet Laureate for the City of Orlando. An award-winning professional speaker and gifted storyteller, Shawn uses his words to inspire, educate and entertain audiences around the world.

He has traveled extensively to perform, speak and facilitate writing and performance workshops dedicating his life to serving others and amplifying the voices of his community. In 2006 he founded Diverse Word, Central Florida’s longest-running open mic, which continues to provide a platform for creative expression nearly two decades later.

Shawn’s artistry and leadership have led him to collaborate with Disney, Universal Orlando, Nike, the Orlando Magic, the Orlando Business Journal and the University of Central Florida among others. He has also curated powerful educational poetry experiences for the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Bethune-Cookman University, the 33rd Street Jail and Orange County Public Schools.

With a BA in English literature and an MA in applied sociology, Shawn blends creativity with cultural insight making appearances on National Public Radio and other media outlets to highlight his role in advancing the literary arts.

Shawn lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife Jannah and their five children continuing to strengthen the region’s literary community through vision, leadership and art.