MOBILE, Ala. (NBC 15) — The Mobile Arts Council (MAC), in partnership with the City of Mobile and the Alabama State Council on the Arts, has announced the appointment of Alex Lofton, known throughout the community as “Huggy Bear da Poet,” as Mobile’s 2026–2027 Poet Laureate.
The Poet Laureate program celebrates the power of poetry to uplift, connect, and inspire the people of Mobile. As an ambassador for the literary arts, the Poet Laureate will use the written and spoken word to deepen community engagement, promote creative expression, and celebrate the cultural vibrancy of our city.
Alex Lofton’s lifelong connection to Mobile is woven through generations. Raised between the heart of Mobile, the neighborhoods of Prichard, and the red-clay hills of Citronelle, his earliest performances took place inside his grandmother’s country church. Lofton refined his voice and passion for the arts at John L. Leflore Magnet High School, where he developed the integrity, purpose, and creative drive that have shaped his career…