9/25-9/27 Weekend Program
The 2026 theme, “Viva! Joy as Resistance: A Journey of Radical Hope Through Art, Connection & Collective Imagination,” explores joy as an act of resilience and renewal.
NOTE:
Artist bios are featured through our IG social media platform.
This program is designed to provide a concise guide to
the weekend’s programming, participants, and schedule.
Click Artist Photo for Names.
1
Day One
September 25
Ticketed Event
Networking
kick off Party
7pm-11pm
The Stork Club
2 Chapel Avenue, Jersey City
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Networking
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Interdisciplinary Performances
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Cosplay
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Dance Music
___________________
Line up
7:30 – 7:40 PM - Music
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Jersey City Cabaret
7:40 – 7:55 PM - Spoken Word
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Cat Doty
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Cozy
7:55 – 8:15 PM - Music
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Forget the Whale
Opening
8:20 – 8:25 PM - Spoken Word
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I. Buenaventura, a.k.a Patrick
8:25 – 8:30 PM - Spoken Word
8:30 - 8:35 PM - Spoken Word
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Elisabet Velasquez
8:35 – 8:55 PM - Music
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Women's Resistance Revival Chorus A joyful, inspiring set of protest songs celebrating resilience, hope, and community.
8:55 - 9:00 PM - Spoken Word
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Alyssa Baccay
9:00 - 9:05 PM - Spoken Word
9:05 - 9:10 PM - Spoken Word
9:10 – 9:25 PM - Music
9:25 PM – Close - Music
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Le Fiddler
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Meyling Wong
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Jasmine De Leon
Includes an Open Mic
9:00PM
Hosted by: Sarah Ruilova
connecting music, storytelling, and performance.
Networking opportunities with special guests:
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Dodge Poetry Festival / NJPAC
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Bowery Poetry
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3 Peas Productions
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Black Lit Podcast
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Color and Light Festival
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Trill or Not Trill
2
Day two
September 26
Ticketed Event
SYNERGY
an interdisciplinary Exploration of Poetry
3pm-9pm
Monira Foundation
Mana Contemporary
888 Newark Ave, Jersey City
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Live Poetry Readings
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Interdisciplinary Performances
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Film Screenings
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book sales
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Cafe
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art
____________________
Multimedia
3:00 - 8:00PM
Monira Cinema - Film Screenings
Films Curated by:
Patrick / I. Buenaventura
Wearable Work by:
Buttered Roll
Installation Artists:
Voyo Woo
Exhibition Technician:
Tina Maneca
Light Design & Installation Artists:
Melida Rodas
3:00 - 8:45PM
ABAKE - Book sales
&
JCPOFEST POP UP SHOP
Line up
Open Mic &
Young Voices:
3:00 PM
Community Open Mic
3:30 PM - 3:45PM
Spoken Word
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JCPOFEST Youth Poetry Ambassador - Ethan Rodriguez
Musical Theater
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JCPOFEST Musical Theater Ambassador - Maya Rosalky and Aicha Ousman, Bayonne
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City Kidz Playhouse: Lana Oliver & Caleah Ragland
Spoken Word
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Project Write Now - Teens: Emalyn Donovan
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Literature from "The Hudson Scholar" a student run magazine team.
Special Guests & Announcements:
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Kean University Student Poet Laureate: Ameenah McKiethen
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Jersey City Free Public Library: Jersey City Youth Poet Laureate Updates & Announcements
Literary Panel:
3:45PM - 4:45PM
Panel Curator: Patrick
I.Buennaventura
A panel featuring poets from three vital literary organizations:
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Cave Canem
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Kundiman
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CantoMundo
Including:
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Evie Shockley (Pulitzer Prize finalist)
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Purvi Shah
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Eduardo Martinez-Leyva
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Moderated by Kathy Kremins, CavenKerry Press
Local & Regional Poetry Groups:
3:45PM - 4:45pm
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Àbákẹ́ Books & Cafe / BLK Lit Podcast : TBD
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CavanKerry Press: Marina Carreira, a. adenike phillips, Cyn Grace Sylvie
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Reorienting Reads: Ashna Ali, Noah Arhm Choi, e.jin
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Jersey City Writers: Augie Catarella, DS Will, Anisha Jain
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Kean University: Ameenah McKiethen, Kyla Byris, Gianna Valdez
Poetry in Motion
4:50 PM Featured Artist:
Chinaza Sol
Spoken Word
5:00 PM Featured Artist:
Otto Vock
Spoken Word
5:10 PM
Group Poets Round 1
Spoken Word
5:35 PM Featured Artist:
K. Desiree Milwood
Spoken Word
5:45 PM
Group Poets Round 2
Music
6:10 PM
Featured Artist
Tara Stafford Ocansey
Spoken Word
6:20 PM
Group Poets Round 3
Spoken Word
6:50 PM
Featured Artist:
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Theta Pavis
____________________
EVENING PROGRAM
7:00 PM
Poetry in Motion
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Cara Hagan
Poetry & Music
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Melida Rodas
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Le Fiddler
Poetry & Memoir
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Dr. Edvige Giunta
7:35 PM
Our Main Headliner:
Richard Blanco
Music
8:05 PM
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Giselle Bellas
8:15 PM
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
A climate justice call to action
Violin - Projections - Poetic Lyrics Acrobatics - Physical Vocabulary
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Le Fiddler
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Melida Rodas
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Cay Izumi
___________________
Richard Blanco
Book Signings
8:30 PM
9:00 PM Program Ends
3
Day Three
September 27
POSTPONED DUE TO STORM
WILL RESCHDULE
FOR JCAST WEEKEND
Lazul:
an Eco-Centric Group Exhibition
&
Festival
Closing Party
2pm-5pm
Lazul
301 Westside Ave.
Jersey City, NJ 07305
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Art
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Live Music
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Poetry
RSVP REQUIRED
_____________________________
Live Music by:
2:00 – 3:00 PM
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Sofia Carrasco
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Victor Sotomayor
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Le Fiddler
Spoken Word
Poetry readings Curated by: La Malcriada
Time: 2:30pm - 2:40pm
Time: 3:00pm - 3:15pm
Featuring:
Rita Lumina,
Bianelly Tellez
Abi
Gracie Azua
Participating Artists:
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Sofia Carrasco
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Mary Jean Canziani
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Nora Chavooshian
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Jennifer Krause Chapeau
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Isabelle Duverger
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Eileen Ferara
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Tatyana Kazakova
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Amy Rubinger
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Ray Schwartz
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Voyo Woo
Curated by: Tina Maneca
Exploring humanity’s relationship with the natural world and sustainable futures through visual art.
Creative Director: Melida Rodas
JCPOFEST TEAM:
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Melida Rodas - Founder & Visionary I Poet Laureate of Jersey City
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Eugene O’Connell - Philanthropy Chair
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I. Buenaventura - Producer I Panel Curator I Film Curator
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Le Fiddler Entertainment - Production I Sound Technician
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Tina Maneca - Art Curator I Lazul
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Emilee Jane Rosalsky - Production Assistant
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Alyssa Lian Bacay - Volunteer Coordinator I Stage Manager
BOOK SELLER:
HOSPITALITY & EVENT EXPERIENCE TEAM:
Holding space for connection, care, and belonging:
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Sarah Ruilova
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Myra Rivera Rodriguez
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Elyssa Santiago
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Nicolas Byers
ASL INTERPRETERS:
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Kia Imani
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Meagan Utsey
Made possible by those who believe in the power of poetry to spark innovation and unexpected encounters across generations, disciplines, and imagination—and to make room for wonder, whimsy, and joy.
We gratefully acknowledge Noreen Collins and The LeFrak Organization for helping to bring this vison to life .
Meet the other organizations and individuals who help make JCPOFEST possible:
Cultural &. Community Partners
Noreen Collins
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