"She is a major American poet. Janice speaks all our truths."     -- Dr. Maya Angelou        Janice Mirikitani is recognized as a visionary, community activist, leader, poet, and editor.
She is the Founding President of the Glide Foundation where she in partnership with her husband, Rev. Cecil Williams, have achieved worldwide recognition for  their ground- breaking organization which empowers San Francisco’s poor and marginalized com- munities to make meaningful changes in their lives to break the cycle of poverty and dependence.
	Over 40 years, they built 87 comprehensive programs that provide education, recovery support, primary and mental health care, job training, housing and human services.  Janice's passion has been to create programs for women and families as they struggle with issues of substance abuse, rape, incest, domestic violence, the AIDS crisis, single parenting, childcare, health/wellness, education, and jobs development.
Appointed in 2000, Janice is San Francisco’s second Poet Laureate.  She has authored four books of poetry - AWAKE IN THE RIVER; SHEDDING SILENCE; WE, THE DANGEROUS, and LOVE WORKS -- and is the editor of nine landmark anthologies which provide platforms for writers of color, women, youth and children.
	Janice has been serving as a commissioner on the San Francisco Arts Commission since 1996 and was re-appointed by Mayor Newsom in 2004. She is the recipient of over 40 awards and honors, including the Governor and First Lady’s Conference on Women and Families’ “Minerva Award”, San Francisco State University’s “Distinguished Alumnae Award,” the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s "Lifetime Achievement Ebbie Award,” the prestigious American Book “Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature,” and the University of California at San Francisco Chancellor’s “Medal of Honor Award".
Janice has received two honorary doctorate degrees, graduated from UCLA,  and received a teaching credential from UC Berkeley. She and her family were incarcerated in a Rohwer, Arkansas concentration camp with the mass internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.