<p><span>Step up. Speak out. Stand tall.</span></p><p><span>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.</span></p><p><span>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.</span></p><p><span>Come for the poetry. Stay for the magic. Join the movement.</span></p><p><span>$10 Suggested Donation (Cash, Venmo, Paypal)</span></p><p><span>Doors open at 6:30pm, Open Mic starts at 7pm -- first come, first served!</span></p><p><span>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.</span></p><p><span>02/13 FEATURED ACTS: KeyNote & J.T. Trigonis</span></p><p><span>KeyNote is a poet and performer born and raised in Paterson, NJ. She began writing at the early age of 12; eventually self-publishing her first book, “Mind of A Mature Youngin ‘’ at age 16. She continued her passion for the art in college as Vice President of Kean University’s Poetry Club, where she earned her BA in Psychology and MA in Forensic Psychology. KeyNote has been a featured poet, guest poet, and slam competitor at 40+ events across NJ, NY, and Philly. She is also the 2024 Winner of the New Jeru Send-Off Slam and earned her spot on the 2025 team going on to compete nationally. Now, KeyNote is focused on growing her craft, curating OutCry the Slam in Newark, KeyNote Speakers Social Event in Paterson, and co-hosting Cozy Keys in Union City, NJ.</span></p><p><span>J.T. Trigonis (he/him) is a neon troubadour of the written word. With the obligatory MFA in poetry from Brooklyn College and the ever more obligatory Pushcart prize nomination, his work has appeared in nearly 60 journals that have graced the bottom shelf of book stands (and online, too) for nearly 30 years. He’s headlined at over 30 venues, and he’s the author of seven self-published chapbooks. His most recent chapbook of selected poems, Through the Wreckage, was released in 2026 by Finishing Line Press.<br>Trigonis plays master of ceremonies at WAYE (We Appreciate Your Enthusiasm), the popular monthly reading series he and his partner host at their vintage shop/used bookstore in Jersey City Heights, and he’s the editorial director of By the WAYE, a magazine of poetry and visual art.</span></p><p><span>Supported by public funds from the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund</span></p>
