PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island has a new state poet who’s also known for her work bringing professional writers into public schools.

Tina Cane was appointed poet laureate on Friday by Gov. Gina Raimondo.

Raimondo says the East Providence resident is a people’s poet because she has made the arts and creative self-expression more accessible for kids. She’s founder and director of an educational program called Writers-in-the-Schools, RI.

Cane’s poetry has been published in many journals. She has published a book-length poem and has two forthcoming books.

Cane replaces Rick Benjamin, who left for a job at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The search for a new state poet attracted some attention earlier this year when one of the candidates, Christopher Johnson, accused Providence police of unjustly arresting him because he’s black.