One of my favorite poetry events of the year is swiftly approaching, and I am very pleased to announce that I will be a part of the performances. 

The New York City Poetry Festival theme this year is Poetopia, which encourages attendees and poets alike to reimage the poetic future. I will be performing my work with Jersey City Writers, and have the honor of sharing the stage with SJ, Theta Pavis, Erato, Shantanu, and Iggy.

SJ discovered his love poetry a few years ago, after finding his father felt the same way about the artform. His poem “Petulance” was a shortlisted selection for the University of Grimsby’s Hammond House International Poetry Competition. After finding out about sound poetry, SJ began to create soundscapes in his work, incorporating various voices to make a more performative piece. He is also actively involved in the poetry community, moderating an weekly online poetry workshop with Jersey City Writers and co-producing the 2023 Jersey City Poetry Festival last summer and is currently working on this year’s festival. He lives in the heights in Jersey City with his wonderful wife and 2 daughters, and 5 cats. You can find him at any of the numerous open mics around Jersey City which he loves to frequent.

Theta Pavis is a poet, editor and educator. Her writing has appeared in The Journal of New Jersey Poets, The Red Wheelbarrow, Mom Egg Review, Spillwords Press and many others. Her chapbook The Red Strobe was recently published by Finishing Line Press. Her poems have also been performed onstage by Poetry Well in New York. She’s received residencies from Arts By The People in New Jersey and the Bethany Arts Center in New York. She works in college communications and has taught journalism at several universities.

Erato is an artist with dissociative identity disorder that grew up steeped in poetry. Their introduction to poetry was through their father, cementing poetry as a form of love. It’s been named Granby High School’s Poet Laureate and he released its first book, Daddy Issue, in March, dedicated to the very person who got them into poetry in the beginning.

Shantanu is a brown writer hailing from the heart of India. He is a proud resident of Jersey City and a collector of Jersey sunsets. With his writings, he hopes to add a few meaningful pauses within his readers.

Iggy is a Jersey City born and raised poet. When he is not out fighting crime, being the lead guitarist and drummer in a one-man band, or skateboarding, he is writing poetry in hopes of using his words to change the world. This is his first time performing on a stage outside of his local open mic nights and it won’t be his last.

Cyn Grace Sylvie (she/they) is a queer-identified writer whose work explores the internal drives and subversive desires of human experience, through the lens of mythology, sensuality, diaspora and mysticism. Cyn is a recipient of Epiphany Magazine’s 2017 Short Nonfiction Prize, and long-listed as a Notable Nonfiction Selection in ‘The Best American Essays of 2018’ (Mariner Books). Their writing has appeared in MATH Magazine, The Literary Review, Dewdrop, and The Rumpus.

EVENT DETAILS:
JCW Poets at NYC Poetry Festival
Nolan Park, Governors Island 
Sunday, July 13, 2025 at 1:30PM
The Algonquin Stage

For more information about the NYC Poetry Fest, click HERE