By John Heinis , HUDSON COUNTY VIEW
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November 22, 2024 10:41 am
“We are proud to honor Melida Rodas as Jersey City’s new Poet Laureate, a testament to our commitment to celebrating the arts and fostering creative expression within our community. Through their work, Melida will inspire, unite, and amplify the voices that make our city so vibrant and diverse,” Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement.
She has fulfilled the role of Dodge Poetry Festival School Coordinator and has been involved in educational initiatives, including the Poetry and Journalism Project with Marist High School and The Literature of Immigration Project with SaveEllisIsland.org.
“The Jersey City Arts Council is thrilled to present Melida Rodas as the next poet laureate. We are confident that Melida will use this position to continue and expand her dedication to innovative projects that promote the art of poetry in the Jersey City community and beyond,” adds Jersey City Arts Council Board member Jeff Dess
This year, JCAC implemented a new application and evaluation approach for the poet laureate role.
Applicants submitted a personal statement, poetry portfolio, video performance, poetic resume, community involvement statement, and letter of recommendation.
They were required to be current residents of Jersey City, at least 18 years old, and demonstrate meaningful ties to the Jersey City community....
In this new role, Rodas invites others to join in exploring new artistic horizons through poetry. As with her previous projects, she aims to maintain a forward-thinking vision that reconstructs, revitalizes, and revolutionizes the art of poetry....
