Janice Mirikitani, a Sansei (third generation) Japanese American, is recognized as a poet, editor, administrator and community activist. She is Executive Director of Glide Church and President of the Glide Foundation.

Mirikitani is San Francisco's second Poet Laureate, appointed in 2000 and 2001. Her newest book of poems, "LOVE WORKS," was released in 2002 by City Lights Publishing as part of its Poet Laureate Series.

Her collection of selected poetry, "WE, THE DANGEROUS," has received rave reviews both in England and in the United States. "SHEDDING SILENCE, Poetry and Prose" is in its second printing and continues to receive critical acclaim. Her first book of poetry and prose, "AWAKE IN THE RIVER," was published by Isthmus Press of San Francisco in 1978.

Long committed to projects for literacy and creative arts, Mirikitani is also known for her work as an editor and anthologist of ten publications, the most recent being "WHAT MATTERS," an anthology of poetry and visual art by young writers and artists. Other anthologies include "I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS BIG TROUBLE, Children of the Tenderloin Speak Out," edited and compiled by Mirikitani, is the first known collection of children's writings to come out of the environment of the crack cocaine crisis. "WATCH OUT, WE'RE TALKING, Speaking out about Incest and Abuse," directed and edited by Mirikitani, is a compilation of oral histories, poetry, essays, and biographical testimonies of women and men of diverse backgrounds who experienced childhood incest and abuse. She has also edited "THIRD WORLD WOMEN," an anthology of writings and graphics by women of color; "TIME TO GREEZ!," containing the works of Third World voices; and "AYUMI," a publication of graphics, poetry, prose, journals and diaries of four generations of Japanese in America. Mirikitani has worked with POETRY FOR THE PEOPLE in collaboration with Dr. June Jordan and students from the University of California at Berkeley for over five years, offering poetry workshops at Glide Church to people from all walks of life. She has also inspired poetry programs created to teach poetry to at-risk youth and children from poor communities.

Mirikitani has been serving as a commissioner on the San Francisco Arts Commission since 1996 and was reappointed by Mayor Newsom in 2004.

Mirikitani is Executive Director of Glide Church and President of the Glide Foundation where she oversees a non-profit organization with an annual budget of $11 million dollars. As Executive Director, she directs 86 comprehensive programs that provide extensive outreach and services to the poor and homeless of San Francisco. As President, Mirikitani has taken an active role in the implementation of recovery programs at Glide, giving special emphasis to programs for women as they struggle with issues of substance abuse, rape, incest, domestic violence, the AIDS crisis, single parenting, health, education, and jobs development. She oversees the services and programs provided to the residents of the Cecil Williams Glide Community House, an affordable housing project that opened in August 1999.

Mirikitani is recipient of more than 35 awards and honors, including San Francisco State University's "Distinguished Alumnae Award," the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce's "Lifetime Achievement Ebbie Award," the Asian American Art Foundation's "Golden Ring Award," the prestigious American Book "Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature," the San Francisco Bay Area "50th Anniversary Human Rights Award," the Women's Foundation of San Francisco's "Community Leadership Award," the University of California at San Francisco Chancellor's "Medal of Honor Award," the "Woman Warrior in Arts and Culture Award" from the Pacific Asian-American Bay Area Women's Coalition, and the first "Woman of Words Award" from the Women's Foundation. Mirikitani has received two honorary doctorate degrees, one from the Rosebridge Graduate School of Integrative Psychology, as well as the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Mirikitani has participated in and helped organize numerous rallies, demonstrations, and marches focusing on issues such as pro-choice, anti-war, anti-nuclear proliferation, and civil and human rights. She has also been involved in the efforts to gain reparations for Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated in American concentration camps during World War II.

Mirikitani and her family were incarcerated in a camp in Rohwer, Arkansas during World War II. She graduated with honors from UCLA and received her teaching credential in secondary education from UC Berkeley. She enrolled in graduate studies at San Francisco State University.

Mirikitani is married to the Rev. Cecil Williams and is the mother of a daughter, Tianne.