POET Curriculum Vitae ​
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Please Continue to Scroll Down Towards The Bottom ​
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Sections Include the Following:
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Books
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Education
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Online Interviews
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Playwright
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Leadership
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Partnerships
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Conferences
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Grants
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Editor
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Workshops
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Public Speaking / Performance
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Literacy and The Young Child
POET Curriculum Vitae:
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Noteworthy - Poetry & Cutural Arts Community:​
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Poet Laureate of Jersey City 2025-2027
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City of Jersey City - Inaugural Poet 2013​​​
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Jersey City Office of Cultural Affairs - Woman of Action Award Recipient 2023
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NJCU English Department - Poet - English Department Feature
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NJCU English Department - Poet - English Department Feature 2024
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Relevant Memberships and Appointed Positions​
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- Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund Committee - Ward A Representative
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Poetry Society of New York - Member, Poet Group Leader, Poets Laboratory
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Academy of American Poets - Member
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Monmouth Arts Council - Member, Poet & Projection Artist
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Education:
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NJCU- Bachelor of Fine Arts & Education 13'
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Memoir Writing under the direction of Edvige Giunta
Creative Writing under the direction of Ellen Gruber Garvey
Poet House
Master Poets Program under the direction of Marie Ponsot
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Newark Museum
The Art of the Children's Book
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​Noteworthy - Education Projects:​
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Save Ellis Island and Ellis Island Institute - Melida's Immigration Memoir as an Educational Resource, Lesson Plans
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Poetry & Journalism Project - Marist High School Students
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Collaborative Mural Project - Artist Circle and Students
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Collaborative Film Project - Hightech High School Students
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Collaborative Theater Project - City Kidz Playhouse
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Collaborative Music Project - Jersey City Public Library & NJCU
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Teaching Positions:
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Infinite Therapy Solutions - Teacher / Consultant / Technical Writer / Designer
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Saint Peter's University 21st Century Program - Poetry & Art Teacher
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Marist High School - Poetry & Journalism Club Supervisor / Teacher / Editor of "The Shield" Poetry Magazine & Newspaper
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All Saints Academy - World Cultures & History / Creator of "The Multiverse Peace Game"
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Kenmare High School / York Street Project - Poetry & Handmade Books​ Teacher
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Bayonne Board of Education - ESL / ABA Program / Various Subjects Teacher
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Certifications:
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State of New Jersey Board Certified Teacher: K-12
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American Council of Teaching Foreign Languages
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New Pathways to Teaching in New Jersey
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Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation / Poetry Program Professional Development
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Online Interviews
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“NJCU English Department" - NJ Featured Poet & Artist
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"Hudson County Cultural Affairs - Meet Your Neighbor Series" - NJ Featured Poet & Artist
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"Chic Pea - Lynn Hazan" - March Issue - Featured Poet & Artist
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"The Jersey City Indpendent" - Elefante One Woman Show including Poetry & Art
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"Unveiling Melida Rodas" - Documentary Film by Brent Coheen
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Playwright
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Art House Productions - NJ 2005
“The Heist Project,” A Multi-media Play, Written by: Christine Goodman, Melida Rodas, Steve Bloom, Jack Halplin, Kait Kaiser, Bonnie Lykes,
Kelly Mc Allister, Joe Del Priorie, Heather Rogers, William Shakespeare, Trish Szymanski, Karin Williams.
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Theater
Collaborations
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2021
New Jersey Performing Arts Center - NJPAC - Newark, NJ
Nimbus Dance Works Project - as part of James Moody Jazz Festival, Multimedia Production including Projections.
Melida’s photography documents the words used in protest signs by activists during the Black Lives Matter Movement -Jersey City rallies & peaceful demonstrations.
December 2024
"Annie" - Projection Artist, Interpreting the playbook by Thomas Meehan, Music by Charles Strouse, Collaboration City Kidz Playhouse - NJ
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2024
“Into The Woods,” Fairy Tales Theater Production, Interpreting the playbook by James Lapine’s as Projection Artist, Collaboration: City Kidz Playhouse - NJ
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2023
Playwrights Horizon - NYC
"By The Light of The Ghetto Moon," Susan Justiniano/ Rescue Poetix & Infull Color
Interpreting the play & poetry by Susan Justiniano / Rescue Poetix
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Poetry Group Leader
2024
New York City Poetry Festival - Governor’s Island - NYC - Poetry Group Leader & Organizer
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Poetry Society of New York - Members Poetry Laboratory
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Greenville Arts Crossroads, Grassroots Poetry & Arts - C0-Founder, Public Relations & Event Organizer, Social Media, Marketing Director
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Destination Art Space , Poetry and Arts Incubator - Founder, Public Relations & Event Organizer, Social Media, Marketing Director
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​The ReCollective Writers Group - Co-Founder, Public Relations & Event Organizer
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From Seven Voices - Contributor, Co-Creator and Administrator of Online Anthology
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International Poetry & Prose
Partnerships / Collaborations
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2013
“Almatunabbi Street - Starts Here” , World Wide International Project; Melida Rodas - joins, Beau Beausoleil, a poet who has tirelessly organized the Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here project since shortly after the 2007 bombing of a central book-selling street.
Poetry Event Co-organizer and Co-Presenter: Melida Rodas
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Collaborators:
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1. The Collins Memorial Library, the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington – Coordinators – Jane Carlin and Jessica Spring March 7,
2. Washington D.C. – Coordinators – Helen Frederick and Casey Smith
Busboys and Poets Cafe, 14th and V Streets, Washington, D.C.
3. Warren, Michigan (Sterling Heights), Bella Banquet Hall, – Coordinators Dunya Mikhail and Alise Alousi
4. Exeter, UK. – Coordinator – Catherine Cartwright. Double Elephant Print Workshop
5. St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada – Coordinators – Patrick Warner and Tara Bryan
6. Herron Art Library, Herron School of Art and Design, Herron Art Library, Artist Book Alcove, Herron School of Art and Design, 735 West New York Street,Indianapolis, Indiana.
7. Bristol, UK. – Coordinator – Sarah Bodman – and the Print Centre (relief print area) at UWE Bristol, Bower Ashton
8. London, UK. – Coordinators – Hassan Abdulrazzak and Alan Ingram UCL Archaeology Lecture Theatre​
10. Pages on Kensington Bookstore – Calgary, Alberta, Canada – Coordinator – Richard Harrison
11. Portland, Oregon – Coordinators – Bill Denham and Laura Russell
12. The Great Overland Book Company (Bookstore) San Francisco, California – Coordinators – Beau Beausoleil and Andrea Hassiba.
13. Somerset College of Arts and Technology, Taunton, UK – Coordinator – Carl Middleton School of Art and Design, Somerset College, Wellington Road, Taunton TA1 5AX.
14. The Southern Letterpress, Northport, Alabama – Coordinator – Jessica Peterson​
15. Cambridge Arts Council, Cambridge, Massachusetts – Coordinators – Jeff Spurr and David P. Miller
16. New Haven, Connecticut – Coordinator – Stephen Kobasa
17. San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California – Coordinator
18. The American University in Cairo, Egypt – Coordinators – Ferial Ghazoul, Samia Mehrez, Conchita Anorve-Tschirgi, and Philip Croom
19. London, UK. – Arab British Centre and Banipal – Coordinators – Noreen Abu Oun, Ruba Asfahani, Hala Najjar, Chelsea Milsom, and Margaret Obank
20. New York City – Coordinators – Aditi Sriram and Sukhdev Sandhu – Pomegranate Gallery, 137 Greene St. N.Y. NY.
21. Atelier 6000 in Bend, Oregon – Coordinators – Julie Winter and Patricia Clark.Atelier 6000
22. Edinburgh, UK -Word Power Books – Coordinator – Sarah Irving
23. Gateshead, UK – Gateshead Old Town Hall – Coordinator – Theresa Easton
24. Minneapolis, Minnesota – Eat My Words Bookstore – With the Mizna writing group – Coordinator – Moheb Soliman
25. University of California, at Davis, CA. – Coordinator
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National Partnerships
2018
Dodge Poetry Festival School Coordinator, Melida Rodas
Partnership: Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation & Dodge Poetry Festival
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Local Partnerships​​
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"City of Trees" - Scriptwriter / Film / Producer
Partnership:
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City of Jersey City
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Goldman Sachs
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Jersey City Parks Coalition
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Laura Scholar, Persian Field Garden Friends
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John Flora , Jersey City PS #7
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Nick Milak
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New Jersey City University
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Naomi De Leon​​
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2022
JCAST - Greenville Art and Poetry Displays in Public Spaces in Greenville, Event Organizer
Partnership:
Rescue Poetix​​
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2019
"Providence - Pop Up Museum - Poetry and Art Event - JC Heights " Event Organizer, Curator
"Pop up Poetry and Art Event - 78 MLK " Event Organizer
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Partnership:
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Stories of Greenville
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"The Great Emancipator," Orator
Partnership:
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City of Jersey City - Public Library - Cunningham Branch -
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Mary Quinn, Lincoln Association of Jersey City
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Guest Speaker at Conferences​
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​Noteworthy - Conference Projects:​
1993 ​
"The Joy of Literacy and Literature Conference“ - NJCU, NJ
In preparation for the conference, Melida served as administrative assistant, to Dr. M. Jerry Weiss, an internationally recognized expert in the field of children's and adolescent literature.
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Conferences
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2010
Poet House, NYC
Master Poets Program - Featured Poet ​
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2013
Marist College - NYC
“Memoir Conference” Presenter - Featured Speaker : Blending Memoir & Poetry
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2012
Hudson County Community College, NJCU, St. Peter’s University
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“Women Unlimited” Conference- Featured Presenter - Poet / Orator
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2011
Rutgers University - Newark, NJ
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“Women Empowered” Conference - Featured Presenter - Poet / Orator
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1999
Urban Mission Conference at NJCU - Featured Speaker
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Guest Speaker at Universities
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2012-2024
New Jersey City University
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"Kathy Potter Literature Award Ceremony" - Feature Speaker October 2024
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“NJCU President's Inauguration” - Oral and Visual Presentation 2013
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“Words, Music, Memory - 20 Years of Memoir ” - Poetry / Prose 2017
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“Writing Without Boarders - Writers on Language Crossing” - Poet 2017
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“Photographer as Poet” - Oral and Visual Presentation 2017
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“Latina Writers Tell Their Stories” - Featured Speaker 2012
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“Memoirs of Immigration” - Featured Speaker 2013
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“El Olor de Cansancio” - Memoir as a Teaching Tool in The Classroom
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2013
Saint Peter's University - NJ
September 26th 2013 - Event Organizer & Lecturer
“The Poetry of The Psalms”
“The Poetry and Art of The St. Johns Bible - A Powerful Work of Unity”
Collaboration: Saint John's Abbey , Saint John's University, Minnesota and Saint Peter's University - NJ
Research: Library of Congress
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2010
Rutgers University - New Brunswick, NJ
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“Poets Symposium” - Featured Poet
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Editor
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2017
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Poetry Magazine & School Newspaper - Editor & Creator
2013
The ReCollective Anthology
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Poetry Magazine Editor
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Publications
​Textbooks:
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“American Working-Class Literature” Oxford University Press - Edited by Nicholas Coles & Janet Zandy
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"Literature and Work "- Pearson Press - Edited by Thomas M. Kitts
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“What We Hold in Common The Feminist Press - An Introduction to Working-Class Studies” Edited by Janet Sandy
Pedagogical Journals:
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“Art as a Spiritual Experience”
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Transformations: “The Journal of Inclusive Scholarship & Pedagogy”
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Duke University Press
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Penn State University Press
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Feminist Periodicals.Org
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Other Publications by:
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The Sun Magazine - June 2022 - “El Olor de Cansancio,” Prose / Poetry
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Save Ellis Island.org - Melida’s Memoir as a Teaching Tool
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Jersey Journal - " There in A City Our Jersey City" - Full Poem
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Jersey Journal - "Open Letter to George RR Martin" - Full Letter and Cover Story
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Wiki of Thrones- "Open Letter to George RR Martin" - Full Letter
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Winter is Coming.net "Open Letter to George RR Martin"
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Books:
Cuerpos Celestiales - Online Chapbook - 100 Word Poems
“Elefante Vol I- The Ethics of Captivity” - Poetry, Prose, Intaglio Prints
“Elefante - Vol II- The Ethics of Captivity”- Prose & Mixed Media
Anthologies:
“The Re - Collective Anthology” - Poetry & Prose - Editor
“From Seven Voice Anthology” - Poems - Co-Editor & Contributor - Online
Zine:
“Cuerpos Celestiales - Heavenly Bodies” Hand made Zine - Poems & Photos
Featured in the Smush Gallery “Zine Show”
Magazines and Newsletter Publications:
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“Purnima Creations” - “Third Eye - The Poets Camera”
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“Paths” - “Elefante” Poetry and Intaglio Prints
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“Women on Campus” - “Donde Empeso El Ilo?”
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“Women on Campus” - “Migration Story”
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“Women on Campus - “Our Bodies”
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“Gothic Times” - Featured Poet & Artist
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“Instigatorzine” - Multiple Issues - Poems
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Dozens of Online Publications and Features - Poetry & Prose​
Grants
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2013
PROARTS and Sustainable Jersey City
Poet / Artist Grant Award
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Workshops
​2024
Newark Museum - Organized by Newark Museum - Featured Poet - Story Teller
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2012
“Women Unlimited Conference” - Organized by: Hudson County Community College, NJCU, St. Peter’s University
“Poetry & Memoir Workshop” Moderator
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2011
“Women Empowered” - Rutgers University - Newark, NJ;
"Vitality and Verse" Poetry & Memoir Workshop” Moderator
2024
"Poetry & Pottery " - Jersey City, NJ
Creator - Moderator
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2024
"Gemini" - founder, writing circle, workshop- Hoboken & JC
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2023
"Local 100 Words - Poetry" - founder, writing circle
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2013 -2014
" I Rise"
York Street Project - Women’s Shelter / Kenmare High School; Poetry & Handmade books workshop for Women
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2009-2013
“The Re-Collective - Writers Workshop," literary group was founded by Melida with memoirists from NJCU and poets from Jersey City.
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2010 - 2018
" National - 100 Words - Poetry" - co-founder, writing circle - workshop
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2019
"From Seven Voices." - co -founder, a diverse array of literary forms, succinct stories, vignettes, poems, online anthology
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Poet Residency
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2022 -2023
Poet Residency - 3 ACRES @ 3/3 - 400 Claremont, Jersey City, NJ
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"Northern Lights" - Event Organizer, Host and Poetry Performance
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“Lit” - Poetry Performance, Event Organizer, Project Manager, Co-Host w/Rescue Poetix & Buttered Roll
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"Words & Drums" - Poetry Performance, Event Organizer, Project Manager, Co-Host w/Rescue Poetix
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“5/ 5" - Jersey City Artist Studio Tour -Event Organizer, Co-Host w/Rescue Poetix & "Millie"
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Public Speaker
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2024
New York City Poetry Festival - Governor’s Island - NYC - Featured Poet
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2024
Path Performs - Organized by Open Road Poetry, Rescue Poetix, Crystal Letters - JC - Featured Poet
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2023
“Northern Lights - Educational Event ” JC Public Library - Greenville - Orator
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2023
“The Art of Newark” - Featured Poet & Curator - Poetry & Art
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2023
“Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 306 Bergen” - Featured Speaker
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2019
“Pop Up Museum” - Jersey City Heights - Poetry and Prose Art Installation
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2017, 2019, 2020, 2023
“Ocean Green Pop Up Gallery” - JCAST - Featured Poet 19'
“Ocean Green Pop up Gallery” - JCAST - Featured Poet 17'
“Greenville Headquarter - Macadoo Pop Up Gallery ” - JCAST - Featured Poet 22'
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2013
“Eye Write - Poets Who Photograph” - Museum Casa Columbo - Featured Poet & Photographer
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2011-2024
Justice William J. Brennan Court House - NJ - Featured Poet & Artist
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Poem Commission by Meredith Lipman, Director of Hudson County Cultural Affairs
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“Resilience” - Orator and Visual Presentation 24'
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“Her Story” - 13'
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“In Her Strength” - 11'
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“Libertad”- 14'
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2021
“Hudson County Bar Association Inauguration Gala”- NJ - Poetry & Projections
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2019
“Persian Field Garden Friends - Fundraising Event”- NJ - Featured Poet
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2019
"Empowered Women Seminar" Dress for Success - Featured Poet / Orator​
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2017
Ocean Green Gallery - “Objet Trouv'e - Another Man's Treasure” - Featured Poet
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2009 - 2013
Symposia Book Store - Featured Poet on Multiple Occasions
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2011
Jersey City Public Library - Cunningham Branch - NJ
​“The Poetry of Abraham Lincoln” A Scholarly Presentation on Poetry by Abe Lincoln
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2011
The Lincoln Association of Jersey City - NJ
​“146th Anniversary Ceremony” - Featured Poet, original poem “Mystic Lincoln”
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1997-2003
Barnes & Noble Book Store - Featured Poet
“Italian Women’s Collective”
“Book Launch”
“The Craft of Memoir”
“York Street Project Fundraising Event”
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1997
“Newark Museum - After Dark Poetry Series" - NJ Featured Poet & Artist
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Other Performances - Open Mics:
Poetry Unfold - NJ
Waye Poetry - NJ
Nueyorican Poets Cafe - NYC
Art House Productions - NJ
Water Bug Hotel - NJ
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and a myriad other venues.
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Collaborations / Community​
Present
Newark Terminal B, Brick City Jams & Jersey Jams
Collaborate to showcase Jersey City Talent at Newark Airport Terminal B
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“Resilience,” an on going, evolving multimedia immersive experience / poetry
2024
“Oblivion” - Music Project - Poetry and Music Album - Melida Rodas & Jose Gonzalez
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2023
Jersey City Poets & Artists Showcase / Curator - Featured Poet
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2024
“Record Release Event - Marc Del Giudice ” - Producer - Poetry & Music
2022-2023
JC Poets Video and Film Series
In collaboration with Susan Justiniano & Sofia Waldron
Film vignettes on the process of writing poetry & sage advice for aspiring poets
Elizabeth Deegan / Project Greenville & Rescue Poetix / Susan Justiniano
JCAST 2022-2023 - Poets and Creatives Showcase
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Nimbus Dance Works Project -Jersey City
Photography - the written words used on protest signs by activists - Multimedia
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2013
Center for Book Arts - NYC International Project, Global Collaboration
“Al-Mutanabbi Street - Starts Here”
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Poetry Group Leader, Organizer & Featured Poet
2013
Guarini Library- NJ - International Project, Global Collaboration
“Remembering Al-Mutanabbi Street,”
Poetry Group Leader and Event Organizer Host For Open Mics / Poet
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2007
Segunda Quimbamba - NJ
Featured Spoken Word Artist - Drums and Words - Dance Series
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Literacy & The Young Child
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​Jersey City
2024
“Trunk-or-Treat” event organized by Councilwoman Denise Ridley - Theme Dr. Suess - Books by the Children's book Author
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2022 - 2023
“Literacy & Library Cards - Sidewalk Campaign ”
Collaboration: Jersey City Public Library ​
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2023
“Happy, Healthy, Me Story Time & Art,”
Family friendly event offering free books, story time, art therapy and caricatures​​
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2022
“Green Chalk Poetry Society,“ - Creator and Event Organizer, haikus, poems and asphalt murals.
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2023
“Trunk-or-Treat” event organized by Councilwoman Denise Ridley - Theme Space - Books About - Space Exploration & Climate
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2023
“Trunk-or-Treat” event organized by Councilwoman Denise Ridley - Theme Cuentos - Books about Day of The Dead & Wood Cravings
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2022
Easter Egg Hunt hosted by Councilwoman Denise Ridley; organized miniature book-making workshops to inspiring young children to share poems.
2019-2024
“Remember to Love - Book & Toy Drive” created by Melida.
For the past 5 Christmas seasons, she has collaborated with local business owners and friends, to collects books, educational toys, and art supplies. The Book & Toy Drive has benefitted the following:
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York Street Project, Women’s Shelter
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Angela Cares Non - Profit
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Seniors Citizens Residing in Affordable Housing Buildings in Jersey City
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​Bayonne
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"Bayonne Music Festival - Apshalt Murals" - Collaborator, Painter
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"Bayonne Mural Project"- Collaborator, Painter
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“Dr. Seuss Day” - Bayonne Board of Education - Featured Reader on Multiple Occasions
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Creator of “The Re-Collective Teen Poetry Contest 2011” - Scholarships & Award Ceremony
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“Bayonne Women’s Club - Scholarship & Poetry Contest” - Collaborator / Judge
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"BOA School Scholarship and Award" - Presenter
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"Happy Health Me Story Hour " - Bayonne Hospital - Bayonne Community Center
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"Happy Health Me Story Hour & Music Fun" - Jewish Community Center
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"Bayonne Color Run - School Fundraiser" - C0-Event Organizer - Asphalt Murals - 16th Street Park
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