On a crisp Tuesday morning, on February 4th, at NJCU, I had the privilege of witnessing the power of storytelling firsthand. When writers share their lived experiences, they open windows for the audience to see, feel, and even smell the moments that shaped them. It heightens all the senses. That is exactly what  Melida Rodas, Jersey City’s Poet Laureate  and a former NJCU student, did as she delivered a heartfelt reading of a piece she originally wrote in 2000; 25 years ago. 

From the moment she began speaking, it was clear that this was more than just a reading. It was an experience, one that pulled the audience into the depths of her memories, painting vivid scenes of childhood, resilience, and dreams that both soared and remained grounded. The room was silent, not because people were not engaged, but because we were entranced. She didn’t just tell her story; she transported us into it. 

As an English Literature major, I felt honored to take that ride alongside her and my fellow writers. One of the most inspiring revelations was discovering that  Melida Rodas may be one of the reasons Jersey City has a Poet Laureate today. In 2011, she put together a proposal for The City of Jersey City to establish the Poet Laureate position, but she did not receive a response. Despite this setback, she did not give up. She believed poetry had a place in our daily lives, just as it does in the hearts and minds of those who live through it. Her wish came true, and over 7 years later, under a new administration and with the establishment of the Jersey City Arts Council, this position was finally established. She commended those who had made this finally come to fruition. She celebrated this victory for her community and remembered the long hard battle she had initiated to achieve years before. She now holds the title herself 14 years later.  

Her dedication to poetry and community is undeniable. She was the  first poet to recite at the mayor’s inauguration for Jersey City, an act that solidified her place in the city’s literary history. She knew poetry belonged in that moment, standing alongside the voices of leaders and change makers, just as it has at presidential inaugurations. Her poem that day, There in a City, OUR, Jersey City, was a love letter to the people, the everyday individuals who are the heartbeat of the city. 

Her persistence struck a chord with me, not just because of what she accomplished, but because of what it represented. She did not let rejection stop her. That kind of resilience resonates deeply with me. I, too, have heard “no” many times, but I do not take it as rejection. To me, NO stands for “Not Over” and “Next Opportunity.” 

Before reading her poem, she looked at the audience and said, “This is for you.” In that moment, she was not just speaking to us but including us in her story. She was not simply sharing her own journey; she was speaking to future writers, immigrants, and dreamers. It was as if she was passing on a torch, igniting something within each of us, urging us to believe in our own voices. 

Her first piece of the day, El Olor de Cansancio, which means The Smell of Fatigue. It was something she was able to share with her father just a few months before his passing. The weight of that moment was palpable. It was as though her words had given him flight, allowing him to reach for the sky in a way he never had the chance to physically. And in that same breath, she was granting us the ability to soar with her. For a moment, we all felt like we, too, were lying in a field, watching airplanes fly over us, tracing the dream her father once had, navigate aircrafts to fly.  

This was not just poetry, it was memory, history, and heartache woven together into something that felt sacred. 

I found out about this event only ten minutes before it started, and I feel incredibly grateful to have been there. It was a reminder that sometimes, being in the right place at the right time is no accident. It is perhaps divine intervention. The discussions that followed her reading only deepened the experience. As students asked questions, we gained even more insight into the text, hearing about the backstory of her piece and the moments that shaped its creation. We were not just hearing poetry; we were being given access to the raw, unfiltered emotions that had birthed it. 

Through her words, we connected not just with her father, but also with her culture, her struggles, and her daughter, who was mentioned when the piece was first published and, on this day, she too was a part of this captive audience. Her father had always wanted to be a pilot, and in a way, he achieved that dream because through her poetry,  Melida Rodas copiloted us on a flight through their world. 

Just when we thought the journey had reached its destination, she took us even further. After being asked to share more of her work, she closed with The Ethics of Captivity. The richness of her storytelling was undeniable. 

A Literary Journey That Took Flight at NJCU 

Melida Rodas’s writing journey at NJCU has been  a catalyst for her growth as a poet, tracing back to her adolescent years. She took her  first creative writing course with Professor Ellen Garvey, whose support and encouragement guided her toward developing her voice as a writer. It was through this foundation that she later enrolled in the Women Writers Workshop, where she met  Professor Edvige Giunta, the mentor who, in Melida’s own words,  gave her wings, allowing her to fly. 

It is powerful to witness how a creative spark, nurtured by an academic space like NJCU, can lead a writer to literary heights. Now, she returns not just as an alum but as  Jersey City’s Poet Laureate, bringing that journey full circle. 

What’s Next: Her Vision as Poet Laureate 

Melida Rodas has big plans for her tenure as Jersey City’s Poet Laureate. She aims to advocate for literature and literacy both inside and outside the classroom, ensuring that poetry continues to be a bridge for storytelling and cultural preservation. She wants to bring poetry into public schools and libraries, creating spaces for young writers to develop their voices and understand the power of their own narratives. 

As part of her commitment to fostering creativity and activism, she has founded  JCPOFEST, a poetry festival focused on climate justice and the interconnectedness of poetry with other forms of self-expression. This festival, set to take place in Autumn 2025, will highlight poetry as not just an art form but a force for awareness and advocacy. Her approach is holistic, she wants poetry to transcend boundaries, showing how storytelling can intertwine with activism, music, and visual arts to create something transformative.  

The Spirit of Allowance  

One of the things I admire most about Melida Rodas is her  spirit of allowance, her openness to growth and learning. I have seen how she has evolved, from writing privately in the hallways to sharing her work with fellow writers, allowing them to critique it in ways that she welcomes. There is something deeply inspiring about a poet who does not just write but  invites feedback, values community, and embraces the process of refining their craft. She understands that poetry is a living thing, it breathes, expands, and becomes richer when shared with others. 

She is proof that growth is a lifelong journey, and that  embracing the voices of others does not diminish our own, it strengthens it. 

“Welcome home, Melida Rodas.” 

Her words were not just heard that day, they were felt. They lingered in the air long after the reading ended, finding a home in the hearts of those who were there to receive them. 

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to English Professors Joshua Fausty, the Center for Career and Professional Development, Rob Dailey, Director for Learning Without Limits, and Professor of English Dr. Edvige Giunta, who has impacted so many writers who have come through NJCU’s doors. Their commitment to fostering these spaces for storytelling and creative expression is invaluable. 

For those who wish to experience more moments like this, I encourage you to follow @lwl_at_njcu on Instagram to stay updated on future events. There will be three more events where alumni writers will be speaking, and if they are anything like this one, they will be nothing short of extraordinary. 

I Pray for the Poet 

I pray for the poet who opens up a blank notebook 

it is at times an arctic landscape, 

barren, 

stark, 

desolate, 

untraveled. 

as there is solitude there 

ahead is the abyss 

she trembles 

yet she returns 

she always returns 

I pray for the poet 

As I pray for myself