The Poet-in-Residence at the Equal Justice Society is a two-year position that focuses on public engagement. The resident works together with the Equal Justice Society team to design and produce a suite of poetry-related programs for various EJS audiences, with the goal of creating enriching experiences with poetry that consider how EJS may serve as a spark for visionary ideas and creativity. Programs intersect with EJS initiatives and may include poetry reading events, speaking events, poetry writing sessions, programming at other EJS events, and poetry workshops for youth, new fathers, educators and incarcerated audiences.

Michael Tyler is a native Chicagoan and father of two sons, whose life goal is to promote diversity as a humanistic opportunity rather than perpetuate it as a begrudging obligation.