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Step up. Speak out. Stand tall.Jersey City Writers invites you to One-Mic Stand with SJ—an open mic experience like no other! This is where raw talent meets electrifying energy, and every voice has a chance to shine.
On the 2nd Friday of every month, two incredible featured poets will take the stage alongside a lineup of fearless performers from our vibrant poetry community. Open mic slots are 5 minutes each, giving you the perfect space to share your truth—whether it’s poetry, spoken word, or a story waiting to be heard.
Come for the poetry. Stay for the magic. Join the movement.
$10 Suggested Donation (Cash, Venmo, Paypal)
Doors open at 6:30pm, Open Mic starts at 7pm -- first come, first served!
Our Host Steve Willett (SJ) is a sound poet who is actively involved in the poetry community and has had several feature performances around New Jersey. His poem ‘Petulance’ was a shortlisted selection for the University of Grimsby’s Hammond House International Poetry Competition in 2019. Steve serves as moderator for the Jersey City Writers (JC Plums) poetry group, which meets online every week to discuss poetry and improve participants' works. He was also one of the producers for the Jersey City Writers JC Poetry Festival in 2023 and is currently working on the 2025 festival. He is also a teaching artist at Newark School of the Arts. He lives with his wife, 2 daughters, and 5 cats in the Heights. He is excited to have his own Open Mic, (One-Mic Stand with SJ), and give back to a community that has given so much support to him.
This month's features:
Jasmine Rosario, known artistically as JRose is an international spoken word artist, teaching artist, and community builder from Queens, New York. She began performing poetry at 16 and has since transformed her passion into a career dedicated to amplifying voices and creating spaces where stories can be told with honesty and power.
JRose is the founder of The Rose Garden Events, a thriving performance platform that has become a safe haven for poets, storytellers, and creatives. As a visionary cultural organizer and Executive Producer of The JRose Experience Talk Show, she continues to build opportunities that uplift artists and foster meaningful connection through storytelling and performance.
A decorated slam poet, JRose has won numerous competitions across the country, including the 2023 BRIC Brooklyn Grand Slam Finals, Nuyorican Poets Cafe Slam, Rockland Poets Slam, and Poetic Affair Slam. In a full-circle moment, she now hosts the iconic Nuyorican Poets Cafe Poetry Slam, helping to shape the next generation of performance poets.
Beyond performance, JRose is a dedicated teaching artist and mentor, leading creative writing, playwriting, and performance workshops in schools, universities, and libraries. Her most impactful work takes place at Rikers Island, where she works with incarcerated youth and women, using writing as a tool for healing, self-reflection, and empowerment. In 2025, she expanded her reach internationally through a teaching artist residency in San José, Costa Rica.
In 2024, JRose became the first poet signed to First Generation Rich, releasing her debut book and spoken word album Pieces of My Crumbled Thoughts, submitted for Grammy consideration.
Through performance, education, and mentorship, JRose continues her mission to inspire others to reclaim their power, tell their stories, and always #KeepGrowing
Marc W. Polite is an author, award-winning writer, and the founder of Polite On Society. He is the author of six books: Poetic Ruminations of Mr. Born Nice, Everything to Learn, Nothing to Teach, Poetic Ruminations: Volume 2, The Binge Watcher’s Guide to Black Mirror, Quiet With A Loud Mind and Stand On Ganymede.
He writes about social issues, labor, film, technology, and literature. His reviews and commentary have been featured in The Amsterdam News. Marc is also a member of the Harlem Writers Guild.
Supported by public funds from the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund
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Event venue
157B 1st Street, 6th Floor, Room 608, Jersey City, NJ, United States
Tickets
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