Monday, February 2, 2026
Celebrating ‘a literary trailblazer’
USPS dedicates its Phillis Wheatley stamp in Boston
The Postal Service dedicated its stamp honoring poet Phillis Wheatley in a Boston ceremony on Jan. 29.
Known as “the mother of African American literature,” Wheatley charmed readers with her poems and offered subtle commentary on a complex nation. She was the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book and is the 49th honoree in the Black Heritage stamp series.
“She not only challenged prevailing assumptions about race, intellect and artistic ability during the Colonial period, she sought to remind the young nation that the ‘Goddess of Liberty’ should belong to everyone, regardless of the color of their skin,” dedicating official Chenise LeDoux, vice president for the Postal Service’s Southern Area, said.
Wheatley (1753-1784) was born in West Africa and was brought to Boston on a slave ship. Although she was enslaved, she received an education in the household of merchant John Wheatley. By age 11, she had already begun to compose her own poems. Her 1773 collection, “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral,” showcased her mastery of forms ranging from hymns and elegies to philosophical and narrative verse.
Wheatley was freed from slavery in 1773, and her later poems showed growing support for the American Revolution. Her legacy endures as schools, libraries, community centers and university buildings across the country bear her name.
“Wheatley’s relevance continues today as we reflect on the 250 years since our nation’s founding,” LeDoux said.
Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using an existing portrait by Kerry James Marshall.
The Forever stamp is available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and at usps.com.
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A red-letter day in Oxnard, CA
New sorting and delivery center hosts grand opening
Red balloons, a big red ribbon and the rolling out of a red carpet marked the recent grand opening of the new Oxnard, CA, Sorting and Delivery Center, a prime example of the Postal Service’s retail modernization efforts.
The festive affair was attended by Postal Service employees and leaders, and local media representatives. They received a tour, enjoyed a lemonade stand and heard a rendition of the national anthem sung by Lebec, CA, Postmaster Jamie Wright.
“When we talk about modernizing retail lobbies, we’re not talking about change for the sake of change. We’re talking about upgrading the customer experience,” Elvin Mercado, the Postal Services’ chief retail and delivery officer, said to employees and others in attendance.
Mercado pointed to the center’s lobby, which features USPS Smart Lockers, Rapid Dropoff Stations and enhanced self-service kiosks.
“Clear information, simple choices, convenient tools and strong in-person service when customers need it. That’s what you see in this space,” he said.
Oxnard Postmaster Alejandro “Alex” Parra praised employees for bringing the center to life.
“None of this would be possible without your hard work and dedication,” he said.
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Heroes
He heard a faint cry and responded
This employee helped a customer who collapsed inside her home after having a stroke
Letter Carrier Anthony Scardino was delivering mail in Stratford, NJ, recently when he heard a customer calling for help from inside her house.
The customer, who lives alone, lost her balance and fell after having a stroke.
She was wearing a medical alert necklace but was too disoriented to use it and instead cried out for help.
The Postal Service employee called 911 and waited until help arrived.
The customer is receiving medical care, and her family is making provisions for when she returns home.
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Jan. 25-31
A stamp honoring Phillis Wheatley and an NHL sponsorship deal made news
Last week, Link was there as the Postal Service honored 18th-century poet Phillis Wheatley with the 49th stamp in the Black Heritage series.
Wheatley — who was born in West Africa and brought to Boston on a slave ship as a child — was the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book.
“During the Colonial period, she sought to remind the young nation that the ‘Goddess of Liberty’ should belong to everyone, regardless of the color of their skin,” Chenise LeDoux, Southern Area vice president, said at the stamp ceremony in Boston.
In other philatelic news, we told you about the dedication of the Colorado Statehood stamp on Jan. 24 and explored lesser-known facts about recent stamp subject Muhammad Ali.
Link also shared news about leadership courses available for Executive and Administrative Schedule employees, the deadline for safe driver award nominations, and about the organization’s recent sponsorship deal with the National Hockey League.
And we offered reminders on the ethics rules surrounding second jobs and the importance of ladder safety.
The “Heroes” column spotlighted Stratford, NJ, Letter Carrier Anthony Scardino, who rescued a customer who fell after suffering a stroke; and “People” checked in with Eric Senkavitch and Angel Reynolds, Webster, MA, postmaster and customer services supervisor, respectively, who took part in a pop-up letter-writing event held by the nonprofit Stamp of Sunshine.
“Their job is to spread happiness, and we at USPS are inspired. I, myself, mailed a postcard from the event to my grandma,” Senkavitch said.
Finally, Link debuted a new explanatory feature, “Primers,” which took a deep dive into postal customer councils in its kickoff column.
Email us your feedback. Your comments could be included in our “Mail” column.
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Celebrating ‘a literary trailblazer’
USPS dedicates its Phillis Wheatley stamp in Boston
-
A red-letter day in Oxnard, CA
New sorting and delivery center hosts grand opening
-
Heroes
He heard a faint cry and responded
This employee helped a customer who collapsed inside her home after having a stroke
-
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Jan. 25-31
A stamp honoring Phillis Wheatley and an NHL sponsorship deal made news