DAY 2 of 3
Saturday, September 26
SYNERGY – An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Poetry
Time: 3:00– 9:00 p.m.
The 2026 theme, “Viva! Joy as Resistance: A Journey of Radical Hope Through Art, Connection & Collective Imagination”
Live readings and performances
Main Headliner: Richard Blanco, the fifth U.S. Presidential Inaugural Poet and recipient of the 2023 National Humanities Medal.
Location: Monira Foundation
Address: Mana Contemporary
888 Newark Ave., Jersey City
Film Screenings: 3–8 p.m. at Monira Cinema
In partnership MONIRA FOUNDATION and with the Newark LGBTQ Film Festival, we’ll be screening “Two Black Boys in Paradise,” a BAFTA–winning stop-motion, animated short film based on the poem by Dean Atta, an acclaimed gay Black British poet.
Open Mic and Young Voices:
3 p.m.
Community Open Mic
Followed by showcases from:
JCPOFEST Youth Poetry Ambassador Ethan Rodriguez
JCPOFEST Musical Theater Ambassadors Maya Rosalsky and Aicha Ousman from Bayonne; Project Write Now Teen Emalyn Donovan; City Kidz Playhouse actors: Lana Oliver and Caleah Ragland; and literature from “The Hudson Scholar,” a student-run magazine.
Special Guests and Announcements: Kean University Student Poet Laureate Ameenah McKiethen
Jersey City Free Public Library: Jersey City Youth Poet Laureate Updates and Announcements
From: 3:45–9 p.m.
The program continues with the following:
Literary Panel:
Curated by: I. Buenaventura / Patrick
A panel featuring poets from three vital literary organizations:
Cave Canem
Kundiman
CantoMundo
Including:
Eduardo Martinez-Leyva
Evie Shockley (Pulitzer Prize finalist)
Purvi Shah
Moderated by Kathy Kremins, CavenKerry Press
Local & Regional Poetry Groups:
Àbákẹ́ Books & Cafe / BLK Lit Podcast
CavanKerry Press: Marina Carreira, a. adenike phillips, Cyn Grace Sylvie
Jersey City Writers: Augie Catarella, Anisha Jain, DS Will
Kean University: Kyla Byris, Ameenah McKiethen, Gianna Valdez
Reorienting Reads: Ashna Ali, Noah Arhm Choi, e.jin
Featured Poets:
Dr. Edvige Giunta
K. Desireé Milwood
Theta Pavis
and more +
Featured Interdisciplinary Artists:
Giselle Bellas
I. Buenaventura aka Patrick
Le Fiddler
Cara Hagan
Tara Stafford Ocansey
Buttered Roll
Melida Rodas
Chinaza Sol
Our Book Seller & Cultural Partner
Àbákẹ́ Books & Cafe
Special Guests:
BLK Lit Podcast
The Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation
The Hudson Scholar Magazine
The Jersey City Free Public Library
The Jersey City Parks Coalition
Project Write Now (Teens)
MORE INFO: https://www.jerseycitypoetryfestival.org/pressrelease26
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JCPOFEST TEAM:
Melida Rodas, Founder & Visionary I Poet Laureate of Jersey City
Eugene O’Connell, Philanthropy Chair
I. Buenaventura, Producer I Panel Curator
Le Fiddler Entertainment, Production I Sound Technician