Noteworthy:​

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• City of Jersey City -Inaugural Poet​​​

• Jersey City Office of Cultural Affairs - Woman of Action Award Recipient 2023

• Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund Committee - Ward A Representative 2021-2024

• NJCU English Department - Poet

• Poetry Society of New York - Member, Poet Group Leader, Poets Laboratory

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•  Other Awards & Accolades

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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: 

• Dodge Poetry Festival  - School Coordinator 

• Save Ellis Island  and Ellis Island Institute  - Stories of Immigration - Educational Resources, Lesson Plans

• Poetry & Journalism Project - Marist High School Students

• Collaborative Mural Project  - Artist Circle and Students

• Collaborative Film Project  - Hightech High School Students

More...

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Teaching Positions: 

• Infinite Therapy Solutions - Teacher / Consultant / Technical Writer / Designer 

• Saint Peter's University 21st Century Program - Poetry & Art 

• Marist High School - Poetry & Journalism / Creator of  "The Shield" Poetry Magazine & Newspaper

• All Saints Academy - World Cultures & History / Creator of "The Multiverse Peace Game"

• Kenmare High School  / York Street Project - Poetry & Handmade Books​

• Bayonne Board of Education - ESL / ABA Program / Various Subjects

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Certifications: 

• State of New Jersey Board Certified Teacher: K-12

• American Council of Teaching Foreign Languages

• New Pathways to Teaching in New Jersey

• 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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“The Heist Project,” 

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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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 - Co-Founder, Public Relations & Event Organizer 

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International

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"  - Script Writer / Film / Producer , 

Partnership:

• City of Jersey City

• Goldman Sachs

• Jersey City Parks Coalition

• Laura Scholar, Persian Field Garden Friends 

• John Flora , Jersey City PS #7

• Nick Milak

• New Jersey City University

• Naomi De Leon​​

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2022

JCAST - Greenville Art and Poetry Displays in Public Park, Event Organizer 

 

Partnership:

Walk Bye ​​

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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:

• Jersey City Theater Center

• I Love Greenville

• ​Peace Care St. Ann's

• Stories of Greenville 

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"The Great Emancipator," Orator 

Partnership:

• City of Jersey City - Public Library - Cunningham Branch - 

• Mary Quinn, Lincoln Association of Jersey City

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Conferences & Universities​

​

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.

 

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

 

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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2012

Hudson County Community College, NJCU, St. Peter’s University

• “Women Unlimited” Conference- Featured Presenter - Poet / Orator

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2011

Rutgers University - Newark, NJ

• “Women Empowered” Conference - Featured Presenter - Poet / Orator

 

2010

Rutgers University - New Brunswick, NJ

• “Poets Symposium” -  Featured Poet

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2012-2024

New Jersey City University

• "Kathy Potter Literature Award Ceremony" - Feature Speaker October 2024

• “NJCU President's Inauguration” -  Oral and Visual Presentation 2013

• “Words, Music, Memory - 20 Years of Memoir ” -  Poetry / Prose 2017

• “Writing Without Boarders - Writers on Language Crossing” - Poet 2017

• “Photographer as Poet” - Oral and Visual Presentation 2017

• “Latina Writers Tell Their Stories” - Featured Speaker 2012

• “Memoirs of Immigration” - Featured Speaker 2013

• "Kathy Potter Memorial Event" 

• “El Olor de Cansancio” - Memoir as a Teaching Tool in The Classroom

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Editor  

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2017

"The Shield"

• Poetry Magazine & School Newspaper - Editor & Creator 

 

2013

The ReCollective Anthology 

• 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

• "Literature and Work "- Pearson Press -  Edited by Thomas M. Kitts

• “What We Hold in Common The Feminist Press - An Introduction to Working-Class Studies” Edited by Janet Sandy

 

Other Publications by:

• The Sun Magazine - June 2022 -  “El Olor de Cansancio,” Prose / Poetry

• Save Ellis Island.org - Melida’s Memoir as a Teaching Tool

• Jersey Journal - " There in A City Our Jersey City" - Full Poem 

• Jersey Journal - "Open Letter to George RR Martin"  - Full Letter and Cover Story 

 

Pedagogical Journals:

“Art as a Spiritual Experience”

• Transformations: “The Journal of Inclusive Scholarship & Pedagogy”

• Project Muse

• JSTOR.org

• Scholarly Publishing Collective

• Duke University Press

• Penn State University Press

• Feminist Periodicals.Org

 

Books:

“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” 100 Word Poems & Photos 2020

Featured in the Smush Gallery “Zine Show”

 

Magazines and Newsletter Publications:

• “Purnima Creations” - “Third Eye - The Poets Camera”

• “Paths” - “Elefante” Poetry and Intaglio Prints

• “Women on Campus” - “Donde Empeso El Ilo?”

• “Women on Campus” - “Migration Story”

• “Women on Campus -  “Our Bodies”

• “Gothic Times” -  Featured Poet & Artist

• “Instigatorzine” - Multiple Issues - Poems

• Dozens of Online Publications and Features - Poetry & Prose​

 

 

Grants

​

2013

PROARTS and Sustainable Jersey City

Poet / Artist  Grant Award

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Workshops

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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;

Poetry & Memoir Workshop” Moderator

 

September 12th, 2024

"Poetry & Pottery " - Jersey City, NJ

Creator - Moderator 

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2023

"Local  100 Words - Poetry" - co -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 

 

•  "Northern Lights" - Lead Event Organizer,  Host and Poetry Performance

 

•  “Lit” - Lead Event Organizer, Project Manager and Poetry Performance

 

• "Words & Drums" - Lead Event Organizer, Project Manager and Poetry Performance

 

• “5/ 5"  - Jersey City Artist Studio Tour - Lead Event Organizer, Project Manager and Poetry Performance

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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

“Record Release Event CMPD”  - Presenter - Organizer Poetry & Music

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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'

"5/5 at 3 /3 " - JCAST" Featured Poet - Organizer 23'

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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

• Poem Commission by Meredith Lipman, Director of Hudson County Cultural Affairs

• “Resilience” - Orator and Visual Presentation 24'

• “Her Story” -  13'

• “In Her Strength” - 11'

• “Libertad”- 14'

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2021

“Hudson County Bar Association Inauguration Gala”- NJ - Poetry & Art Installation

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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 - Vertigo”

“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

 

“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

Art of Newark - NJ

Showcase Jersey City Poets & Artists - Featured Poet 

 

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

 

New Jersey Performing Arts Center - NJPAC - Newark, NJ

Nimbus Dance Works Project - as part of James Moody Jazz Festival

Melida’s photography documents the words used in protest signs by activists during the Black Lives Matter Movement -Jersey City rallies & peaceful demonstrations.

 

Nimbus Dance Works Project -Jersey City

Photography - the written words used on protest signs by activists - Multimedia

 

Susan Justiniano & Infull Color

Projections - for Play based on Poetry by Susan Justiniano / Rescue Poetix

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2013

Center for Book Arts - NYC International Project, Global Collaboration

“Al-Mutanabbi Street - Starts Here”

• 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

 

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2024

“Into The Woods,” Fairy Tales Theater Production, Collaboration: City Kidz Playhouse - NJ

Interpreting the playbook by James Lapine’s as Projection Artist

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2022 - 2023

“Literacy & Library Cards - Sidewalk Campaign ”

Collaboration: Jersey City Public Library ​

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“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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2022- Present

“Trunk-or-Treat” event organized by Councilwoman Denise Ridley. On a yearly basis, decorates vehicle w/ books to spread the joy of literature.

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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:

 

• York Street Project, Women’s Shelter

• Angela Cares Non - Profit

• 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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