​festival Activities

 

HEADLINERS:

 

• Jeff Dess  Poet and Master of Ceremonies

Public Speaker/ Author /Poet / Educator / Co-Founder of Trill or Not Trill

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• Melida Rodas , Poet Laureate of Jersey 2025 - 2026

Educator / Interdisciplinary Curator / Executive Producer & Founder of JCPOFEST

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• Rashad Wright Poet Laureate Emeritus, 

Author of Romeo’s Whiskey, 2X “Grand Slam Champion of Jersey City Slam”

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• Cara Hagan 

Poet / Film Maker / Dancer / Educator / Program Director for the MFA in Contemporary Theatre Performance at The New School

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• Lisa Marie

Author / Poet / Journalist  / Essay  - New York Times, Editor - Luna Luna Magazine

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• Le Fiddler

Award Winning International Violinist / Composer / Experimental Artist

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• Sofia Carrasco Iglesias,  

Jazz Musician and Multimedia Artist 

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MUSEUM TOURS AND EXHIBITIONS:

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Museum of Jersey City History / The Apple Tree House

"Legendary Arenas and The Legends Who Performed There" - Curated by Peter Begans

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FILM POEMS :​

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"Eye Write" 

 

Curated by Melida Rodas

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​Film Makers:

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• River 瑩瑩 Dandelion

• Cheryl Gross

• Cara Hagan

• Ayesha Raees

• I. Buenaventura

• Chinaza

• IIsabelle Duverger 

• Laia Cabrera

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TYPEWRITER WORK SHOPS & POETRY:

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Qwert Poetry aka  Pierce Logan - custom poems and workshops - explore analog writing technology.

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SCULPTURE GARDEN:

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"Grounded"

 

Curated by: Tina Maneca

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• Jerome China

• Tina Maneca

• Josh Urso

• Gail M. Boykewich

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MIXED MEDIA & POETRY

ART EXHIBITION:

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"Poetic Justice"  

 

Curated by: Yun Jung Rhee

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• Eun Kyung Lee

• Eva Salmeron

• Yun Yung Rhee 

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POETS & PAINTERS EXHIBITION:

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"Verse & Vision" - Curated by:

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 Art for Everyone - Mariana Morete

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VENDORS Books & Community: 

 

• ABAKE - BOOK & CAFE

• BLACK LIT PODCAST

• CAVANKERRY PRESS

• WAYE SMALL PRESS

• FELIZ  DELIZ 

• POUT - WORD ART 

• JCPOFEST - POP UP SHOP

• ST. JOES - Up-cycled Wearable Art - Honoring the Legacy of Musical Lyricists 

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​ORDER OF EVENTS 

 

 

​​12:00 PM 

OPEN MIC SIGN UPS - * For Five People - Ticket Holders ONLY* - First Come First Served 

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12:15 PM 

The WildStory Podcast Poets” 

 

• Ann E. Wallace 

• Lynne Shapiro

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12:30 PM  

NJCU Poets & Writers:

• John T. Trigonis

• Katherine Pagan

• Isaael Sanchez

• Alyssa Lian Bacay

• Bridget Benoit

• Eric Cheng

• Brother Nev

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1:00 PM  

OPEN MIC - Readings - Pre-Registered Ticket Holders - Online Form First Five Submissions.

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1:30 PM 

Transition + Break + Qwert Poetry aka Pierce Logan

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"Poetry to Move The People" Panel 

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1:45 PM 

“Poetry to Move The People”

Panel Intros

 

2:00 PM  

LGBTQ - Panel Discussion

 

2:30 PM 

Final Q&A

 

2:45 PM  

Meet the Panel Poets, Book Sales & Signings​

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Curated by I. Buenaventura

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PANEL

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• Ashna Ali

• Kay Ulanday Barrett

• Emanuel Xavier

• Jasmine Reid

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3:00 PM  Break

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Poetry in Motion

 

3:15 PM 

Poetry in Motion - Dance Performance by: 

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• Kim Ima

• Chinaza Sol 

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3:30 PM 

SJ , “One Mic Stand” - Performance

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3:40 PM  

"I Am - Yo Soy" Bilingual Poetry - Ana Sofia Salazar  - A. SAL,

Sarah Ruilova

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OPEN MIC - Final Readings -  In Person 12pm Sign ups -

*Registered Ticket Holders 

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4:30 PM

Break, Eat, Explore Exhibitions & Vendors + Qwert Poetry aka Pierce Logan

 

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Poetry Collectives - Poetry Readings ​​

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5:15 PM 

WAYE  / WAYE Small Press 

• Vanessa Rosensweet

• Gia Clark-Grillo

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5:30 PM  

Cozy Open Mic  

• Cozy

• SNC

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5:45 PM  

Open Road Poetry 

• Poeta Rubi G

• Danny Shot

• Crystal Davis

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6:00 PM 

The {Poetry} Unfold  -

• Buttered Roll

• Jaden Gwynn

• Danny Gonzalez

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6:15 PM  

Hoboken Historical Museum-

• Vera Sirota

• Joel Lewis

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6:30 PM  

JC Writers  

• Andrew Revie

• Samedi Exeleine

• Theta Pavis

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Poet Laison: SJ 

Stage Manager: Crystal Letters 

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6:45 - 7:00 PM 

Break, Eat, Explore Exhibitions & Vendors + Qwert Poetry aka Pierce Logan

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SYNERGY - Poetry & Multimedia Showcase

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7:00 PM 

Special Announcements & Recognitions 

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7:15 PM  

Jeff Dess  – Master of Ceremonies

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7:30 PM 

Rashad Wright Poet Laureate Emeritus - Spoken Word + Music

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7:45 PM 

Sofia Carrasco Iglesias-

Poetic Jazz Fusion - with band mates : Victor Sotomayor , Gabriel Balado, Chris Paredes 

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8:00 PM 

Melida Rodas   Poet Laureate 2025 - 2026 - Poetry + Multimedia 

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8:15 PM 

Cara Hagan   "Inter/body/text"+

 "Memoirs in Motion" - 

A dance Interpretations of poetic memoirs by writer Edvige Giunta  and Melida Rodas 

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8:30 PM  

Le Fiddler, Strings Poem

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8:45 PM 100 WORDS

"For The Earth" - Ensemble

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• La Malcriada

• Scott Pleasants, Poet Laureate of Teaneck , NJ

• Cara Hagan

• Lisa Marie 

• Cynthia Atkins

• Rachel Therres

• Aileen Bassis 

• Aurelia Luciano / Golden Light Poetry

• Buttered Roll

• Cyn Grace Sylvie

• Megha Sood

• Ms. Jenn

• William J Van Sickell

• Carmen Vega

• Elijah Brown 

• Sofia Rosado

• Melida Rodas  

 

9:00 PM 

Closing Remarks + Announcements - Community Party Begins!

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POETRY & ART - MIX MEDIA -  EXHIBITION 

Saturday 12 pm - 10 PM 

 

"VERSE AND VISION"

Curated by:  

Art for Everyone - Mariana Morete

 

A collaborative mosaic - community project - pairing poets & painters to create a unified work of art.

 

"Verse and Vision" - POETS: 

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Crystal Davis

​Lisa Marie Basile

Daniella/Dani

Jay Maryeski

David Acosta “murdock”

Elena Aguilar

Ana Sofía Salazar (a. sal)

Exoercista

Ms. Jenn

Dani

Gabriella Sokol

Buttered Roll

ReylaAngela

Lina Munar Guevara

Alex V. Cruz

Hayley

Tj

Eva Estime

Iggy Manzanero

Reyla Ángela

Annielee Calamito

Danny Gonzalez

Kissarne Averill Pang

Cailtin Rose Munson

Rebecca Pinwei Tseng

Angela Suarez

Meghan Dhawan

Rachel Therres

Laura Duarte

 

"Verse and Vision" - ARTISTS: 

 

Mercy

Thomas Banks 

Ricardo Raphael

Athena Toledo “Flora”

Elena Aguilar

Susana Gómez

Erika Thangamani

Talia Benitez aka Ty

Marc Sokol

Buttered Roll

Amanda Estevez

Jessica Becker

María Lupianez

Artes De Pluma

Patch

Yvette Estime

Artistic Afro

Amanda Estevez 

André Nicolas

Danny Gonzalez

Bethany Altschwager

Rayne Munson

Marianne DeAngelis

Vincent Zambrano

Sherly Fan

Eli Ramos

Eric Alter

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9:45 PM  Program Ends

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 Day 2 Team: 

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Creative Director / Producer : Melida Rodas 

Event Producer:  I. Buenaventura

Poet Liason / Community Engagement: SJ 

Event Partner: Le Fiddler Entertainment

Sculpture Garden Curator: Tna Maneca

Verse & Vision Curator: Mariana Morete 

Event Photographer: Zach Mayo

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