Richard Blanco at JCPOFEST

The Jersey City Poetry Festival Presents:
SYNERGY: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Poetry

In partnership with Monira Foundation

FOR TICKETS and more info: Click HERE!

 

Headliner:
Richard Blanco — 5th U.S. Presidential Inaugural Poet and recipient of the 2023 National Humanities Medal.

MORE THAN A POETRY FESTIVAL

The 2026 theme, “Viva! Joy as Resistance: A Journey of Radical Hope Through Art, Connection & Collective Imagination,” explores joy as an act of resilience, renewal, and possibility. Taking place alongside the nation’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the festival invites audiences to consider justice, freedom, belonging, and happiness across generations and disciplines.

The festival’s interdisciplinary mission is strengthened through partnerships with organizations including the Monira Foundation, whose collaboration with JCPOFEST helps bring film, visual art, and poetry together in unexpected and imaginative ways. The partnership continues JCPOFEST’s commitment to creating experiences that move beyond traditional literary programming and invite audiences into new forms of artistic discovery.

 

PROGRAM: 

Film Poems 

3pm – 9pm

Screening Space: Monira Cinema 

 

Open Mic & Young Voices 

3pm – 4pm 

A community open mic followed by showcases featuring:

• Ameenah McKiethen — Kean University Student Poet Laureate
• Ethan Rodriguez — JCPOFEST Youth Ambassador
• Maya Rosalky — JCPOFEST Musical Theater Ambassador
• Project Write Now Teens
• City Kidz Playhouse
• The Hudson Scholar — student-run literary magazine

3:30pm – 9pm

Literary Panel

A cross-generational conversation bringing together poets connected to three vital literary organizations:

Cave Canem • Kundiman • CantoMundo

Featuring:

• Evie Shockley — Pulitzer Prize finalist
• Purvi Shah
• Eduardo Martínez-Leyva

Moderated by Kathy Kremins

Featured Interdisciplinary Artists & Performers

Griselle Bellas • Tara Stafford Ocansey • Theta Pavis • Cara Hagan • Dr. Edvige Giunta • Chinaza Sol • K. Desireé Milwood • Otto Vock

Local & Regional Literary Partners

CavanKerry Press • Reorienting Reads • Jersey City Writers • Àbákẹ́ Books & Cafe • Kean University

Special Guests & Community Partners

Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation • The Hudson Scholar • Jersey City Free Public Library • Jersey City Parks Coalition • BLK Lit Podcast • Project Write Now Teens

SYNERGY brings poetry into conversation with music, theater, scholarship, youth voices, environmental literacy, and the visual and performing arts—creating an intergenerational experience where disciplines meet, new voices emerge, and poetry becomes a place for connection, discovery, wonder, and imagination.