San Bernardino Valley College hosted its second annual John Trudell Poetry Festival, commemorating the life and work of the famous SBVC alumni after which it is named.

An outspoken advocate of Native American rights, Trudell’s legacy of poetry and songwriting about righteous defiance was celebrated at the inaugural event. Trudell studied radio and broadcasting at SVBC after serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He died of cancer in December 2015, and the free festival held at SBVC aimed to celebrate his life and poetry. This year’s guest poet was Shihan Van Clief, a multi-faceted presenter and host of the nation’s largest weekly open mic “Da Poetry Lounge” in Los Angeles.

A packed room of campus and community members enjoyed the celebration, which included a special honor to Sage Trudell, the daughter of John Trudell.