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The Jersey City Poetry Festival / aka JCPOFEST

 

• ALL ACCESS 3-DAY PASS CLICK HERE!

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• Unlimited entry to all performances, panels, workshops, and special events for all three days. September 19, 20, and 21st 

 

DAY 1 -NETWORKING

9/19

 

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Breakfast Launch Party / Press Conference /

Private Screening of Jonas Mekas Film Poems

 

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Venue: Mana Contemporary

Hosted by:  JCPOFEST & Our Cultural Partner, Monira Foundation

10am -12pm

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VIP FESTIVE NETWORKING EXPERIENCE

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• With a COSPLAY ELEMENT - at The Stork Club :

• 7pm - 11pm

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NETWORKING TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE!

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•   *Creative attire and literary figure costumes are not mandatory but they are joyfully encouraged.- Let's have some fun!  *

• An exclusive gathering for select voices in poetry, publishing, and the arts.

• Venue: The Stork Club  - 2 Chapel Avenue - Jersey City, NJ 07305

• 7pm - 11pm

   

   

This unique evening brings together creatives, visionaries, and art-lovers in an immersive celebration of poetic legacy and lyrical brilliance. As part of the evening's theme, we invite you to attend in bookish attire or dressed as a renowned poet or lyricist who has inspired you—be it Emily Dickinson, Tupac Shakur, Bob Dylan, Maya Angelou, or any artist whose words have left a mark on history. We also encourage each guest to bring a short piece—a poem, verse, or lyric—to read aloud, authored by the artist you embody. This shared experience will celebrate the timeless power of words and the diverse voices that continue to shape our cultural narrative. NOTE:  * bookish or Literary figure costumes are NOT REQUIRED - come as you are and take in the vibes!

 

Line up:

 

• Le Fiddler

• Giselle Bellas

• Rashad Wright

• Sofia Carrasco

• Victor Sotomayor

• Lisa Marie Basile

• Leilani

• Jasmine de Leon

• Meyling Wong

• Marc Del Giudice 

• Brona Nielsen

• The Jersey City Cabaret

    

 

Your VIP access includes:

• An exclusive networking lounge

• Passed Hors d’oeuvres

• Cash Bar - Signature Cocktails

• Participation in the Live Reading Circle (Limited to Those With Full Costume Who Arrive Early to Sign up)

• Prize for Best Boookish Costume

• An electric atmosphere enriched by poetry & art 

• Creative ambiance

• The exchange of ideas 

• Camaraderie

• Connections holding the potential for collaboration

• Celebration of creativity and community

 

 

DAY 2: SYNERGY

9/20 

12-10 pm

 

SYNERGY : Immersive Interdisciplinary

- Poetic Experience:

• Venue: Museum of Jersey City History - 298 Academy St, Jersey City, NJ 

• Poets and Artist Showcase - exploring the SYNERGY between the language arts, science, philosophy, technology and all forms of artistic expressions.

 

I. Buennaventura, Producer / Melida Rodas Executive Producer

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SYNERGY TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE!

 

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

Tenor Saxophone / Bilingual - Multidisciplinary Artist / Visual Art / Music / Fusion Victor Sotomayor - Keyboard, Gabriel Balado - Bass, Chris Paredes - Drums

 

 

PANEL DISCUSSION:  

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“Poetry to Move the People” - Curated by I. Buenaventura

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• Ashna Ali

• Kay Ulanday Barrett

• Emanuel Xavier

• Jasmine Reid

 

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

 

FILM POEMS :

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"Eye Write" - Curated by Melida Rodas

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• River 瑩瑩 Dandelion

• Cheryl Gross

• Cara Hagan

• Ayesha Raees

• I. Buenaventura

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TYPE WRITER WORK SHOPS & POETRY:

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

 

SCULPTURE GARDEN:

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• "Grounded" - Curated by Tina Maneca

   

ST. JOES - ENVIRONMENTALLY CONCIOUS - WEARABLE ART:

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• Upcycled - Honoring the Legacy of Musical Lyricists 

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ART EXHIBITION

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• "Poetic Justice" - Curated by Yun Jung Rhee

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VENDORS Books & Community: 

 

• ABAKE - BOOK & CAFE

• BLACK LIT PODCAST

• CAVANKERRY PRESS

• POUT - WORD ART 

• FRIENDS OF JCPOFEST 

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LOCAL POETRY COLLECTIVES - POETRY READINGS 

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SJ - Poet Liaison / Planning Committee

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Wild Stories

• Dr. Ann Wallace, Poet Laureate Emeritus - Educator/ Founder of Wild Stories 

 

Waye Poetry / Waye Press

• Vanessa Rosensweet

• Gia Clark-Grillo

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JC Writers  

• Andrew Revie

• Samedi Exeleine

• Theta Pavis

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Poetry Unfold  

• Yetvart S. Majian

• Buttered Roll

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Hoboken Historical Museum

• Vera Sirota 

• Joel Lewis

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Open Road Poetry 

• Poeta Rubi G

• Danny Shot

• Crystal Davis

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Cozy Open Mic 

• Cozy

• SNC

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SPECIAL GUESTS:

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New Jersey City University Writers

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• Alyssa Lian Bacay

• Elijah Brown 

• Eric Cheng

• Brother Nev

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100 WORDS - "For The Earth" - Ensemble

 

• Scott Pleasants, Poet Laureate of Teaneck , NJ

• Cara Hagan

• Lisa Marie 

• Cynthia Atkins

• Rachel Therres

• Aileen Bassis 

•  A. SAL

• Aurelia Luciano / Golden Light Poetry

• Buttered Roll

• Cyn Grace Sylvie

• La Malcriada

• Megha Sood

• Ms. Jenn

• William J Van Sickell

• Carmen Vega

• Aurelia Luciano

 

 

POETRY & ART - MIX MEDIA -  EXHIBITION 

"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
Elias Ramos

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
Hiyasmine (Artistic Afro)
Amanda Estevez #2020vision
André Nicolas
Danny Gonzalez
Bethany Altschwager
Rayne Munson
Marianne DeAngelis
Vincent Zambrano
Sherly Fan
Eli Ramos
Eric Alter

Ariana Matos

 

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DAY 3 - FAMILY DAY​

9/21

12pm-3pm​

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• Venue: Museum of Jersey City History -  298 Academy St, Jersey City, NJ 07306

• Community-centered with youth performances, family-friendly activities, and surprises

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Produced by:

Aurelia Luciano / Golden Light Poetry & Melida Rodas

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FAMILY DAY TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE!

 

Featuring:

 

• Diana Lee Santamaria

Award Winning Bi-Lingual Children's Book Author / CTV Personality, Host of Story Time With DLee

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• City Kidz Playhouse  

Book Adaptation Musical Performance - Award Winning

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• Artist Avenue Book 

Adaptation Musical Performance Educational Arts Team -  Award Winning

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• Kayla Middleton

Author / Educator / Art Therapy Life Coach / Painter - Nature Inspired Art

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•  Carmen Arroyo

Teaching Artist - Intro to Music Books & Drum Circle

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• Ivan Garcia

Children’s Manifestation Coloring Book

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• Hermanitas 

Bookish Art

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• Kelly Green

Children’s sing -a-long

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• Sophia Rosado

Teen Poet / Award Wining Dancer / Musician

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Community Partners:

 

• Educational Arts Team - Teen Arts Installations & Ode's to The Wild by Camp Liberty Youth

• Jersey City Public Library - Literature and The Joy of Literacy

• Jersey City Moms - Eco - Friendly Activities + Art + Surprises

• Jersey City Parks Coalition Parks - Eco - Friendly Activities

• Symposia Book Store - FREE - Previously Loved  Books  - Library

 

About:

 

JCPOFEST is a festival for The People,  illuminating the tapestry of human connection that transcends the boundaries of individual studies and mediums. We celebrate the joy of literacy and literature! 

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Established in 2024, JCPOFEST is not just a festival—it is a homecoming of voices, a gathering of questions, a place where poetry shakes hands with science, where philosophy sits beside technology, and where all art forms exist like a harmonious ecosystem. It is a celebration of who we are, where we wander, what we wonder, and how we shape the world around us. 

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JCPOFEST is rooted in community, energized by innovation and inspires us to envision new ways of being together, of dreaming together. As part of the year round events leading to the festival weekend, multidisciplinary experiences invite us into a poem not just as readers, but as witnesses, as participants, as makers of sacred spaces that nurture collective imagination. 

 

JCPOFEST doesn’t just speak—it listens.

 

 

JCPOFEST, in partnership with local writers, artists, organizations and local businesses, is a gift wrapped in hope, vision, and the urgent need to remind us about the mystery, fragility and majesty of our planet earth and those who inhabit it.

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At the heart of this vision is the festival's founder and creative director,

Melida Rodas, eco-poetry teacher and Jersey City’s Poet Laureate.

Her award wining, multimedia, body of work is equal parts elegy and call to action. 

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