Poetry featured at the IHNA 25th Annual International Food & Music Festival
Details: In collaboration with Emanuel Martinez, Ivy Hill Neighborhood Association (IHNA) hosts a variety of programs and events throughout the year to enrich our community.
Purpose: The Annual Ivy Hill International Food and Music Festival, held at Ivy Hill Park, which brings together residents to celebrate our diverse cultures through cuisine, live performances and the arts.
Location: Ivy Hill Park, 253 Mt Vernon Pl, Newark, NJ 07106, United States, South Orange
Exhibit Dates: August 16, 2025
Poetic Artwork Titles Roots Run Deeper Than Boarders and The B’s that Should not Be.
Art Exhibit “Healing with Art Through Time” at Poe Visitor Center by Arlene Crystal Amarante‑Santiago
Details: Group exhibition created by Arlene Crystal Amarante‑Santiago. Other artists featured including Karina Guardiola-Lopez, Iris Soto, Maria Aponte, Jossie Ortiz and many more artists.
Purpose: In Arlene’s words “The purpose of the exhibition, is to bring light and inspire other’s, to celebrates the healing power of art and how it can connect us with our emotions and experiences, most importantly supporting each other. I want to create abundant opportunities for more artists to showcase their work—breaking the taboos that dictate artists must invest exorbitant sums to share their creations, or that success hinges solely on social connections. We must embrace the idea that we are all part of a vibrant community of artists, supporting and uplifting one another, regardless of age, race, disabilities, gender, or financial status. Every artist deserves the opportunity to share their voice.
Location: Poe Visitor Center (adjacent to the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage in Poe Park, Bronx, NY)
Exhibit Dates: July 9 – July 31, 2025
Poetic Artwork Title: Wombs (Originally publish in Sad Girl Diaries Journal 2024)
A Year Into You Writing Series
Details: This writing series features 12 prompt books, each blending elements of nature with human perspective to create unique, evocative writing prompts. The series is designed to inspire writers to share their stories and journeys through rich, thought-provoking themes. To support participants, a monthly virtual workshop is held on the last Sunday of every month.
Purpose: “A Year into You” is a generative writing journal series that offers writers of any level the opportunity to explore the many dimensions of writing through engaging, guided prompts. These journals are more than just spaces to write—they are creative journeys where you’ll cultivate collections of personal reflections and insights, ultimately shaping them into polished, cohesive bodies of work. As part of a year-long series, these journals invite you to deepen your exploration of writing and its impact on your life, one prompt at a time.
Writing Wednesday Series
In the Fall of 2022, alongside the debut of the Poems, Prompts, and Purpose Card Deck, I launched the Wednesday Writing Series. These occasional videos were meticulously crafted to kindle inspiration to writers of all levels and all types. The cards are catalysts, sparking ideas and providing direction. Stay connected and follow on Instagram to stay updated on literary holidays, writing prompts, quotes, and tools to inspire your writing journey. Click HERE for more information.
Textual Time Capsules was released on 11-11-21. It featured at #2 in the Hispanic-American Poetry New Releases and #10 on the Top 100 Caribbean and Latin America Poetry List on Amazon in the first four weeks of its release. Edited by Charlie Vasquez. Designed by Melissa L. Robinson.
Poems, Prompts, & Purpose Card Deck:
Do you need some inspiration? These cards are here to motivate you to write, self-reflect, and set goals. We all need reminders sometimes to get us focused. Your story is important! Write it! This deck include affirmations, quotes, and prompts for writers of all levels and all types. Edited by Jaime Woody (2022)
Once considered just for kids, coloring books are also for adults. According to WebMD, coloring “relaxes your brain and improves brain function.” Additional benefits include improved motor skills, better sleep, enhanced focus, and reduced anxiety. Download for Free (2024)
These stickers are great as bumper stickers, use it on planners, notebooks, laptops, mirrors, anywhere! These magnet are great for fridges, work stations, and anywhere magnetic. Stickers and magnets completely sold and the designer is no longer in business. (2023)
ASL Poetry
April is National Poetry Month (NaPoMo) and American Sign Language (ASL) day is April 15th. What happens when you merge the two together? You get ASL poetry. During this project, I selected five poets to participate in having their poems translated into ASL by Jan Morales. See video shorts below for details featuring Vanessa Chica, reg e gaines, Peggy Robles- Alvarado, Billy Tuggle, and Julissa Contreras. (2022)
Live Big Girl, The Play
kglopez.com 