Fabu Phillis Carter, professionally known as Poet Fabu, was appointed Madison’s Poet Laureate in 2008 and served in that position until 2012. She was chosen for this honorary position by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and voted into office by The Madison Arts Commission in recognition of her years as a major figure in Madison’s literary arts movement. Fabu was also selected because of the inspiration she has provided for more than 20 years in poetry, reading and writing to school children, women and the African American communities. She is multicultural in perspective and encourages adults and children to write in many languages.

In Fabu’s presentations to school children, she encourages their creativity, supports their efforts to write and has specifically designed innovative curriculum to strengthen their learning abilities. Through her work with children over the years, she realized there were many age-related themes that might be used to help inspire all youth to begin writing about their own thoughts and dreams.  Poetry begins in the young and young-at-heart.

Fabu began by publishing a children’s book, Poems, Dreams and Roses, a compilation of poems and photographs of her from a child to an adult. Fabu began writing at the age of 11 and has continued to create poetry throughout her adult life. The poems for the book were chosen because they are both relevant and inspirational to children and youth as they go through their own stages of growing up.

Fabu holds two Masters from the University of Wisconsin – in African Languages and Literature and African-American Studies. In addition, she has spent time in Kenya and The University of Nairobi Press will published her book, In Our Own Tongues in 2011. Parallel Press in Madison published African-American Life in Haiku: Journey to the Midwest also in 2011.  She became a Madison Arts Commissioner in 2022 but has volunteered for Poetry organizations over the years.

She is a guest lecturer on a variety of contemporary topics, leads workshops on diversity, inclusion, justice and gender bias, provides enchanting storytelling for children and searing poetry readings, participates in community and international celebrations, writes guest poetry columns for local magazines and upon request, creates commissioned poems. Fabu is also a founding member of The Hibiscus Collective, and Hidden Voices: African American Writers in Wisconsin, both groups are Madison women writers from multi-cultures and African Americans, who write from their own unique perspectives in order for their particular voices to be heard.  She is the Wisconsin Director of The Alzheimer’s Poetry Project with Poet Gary Glazner.  Finally, she is also a guest columnist for The Capital Times and The Capital City Hues.