Jaz is an Award-winning Published Poet, Author, Performance Poet, Composer, Singer/Songwriter (ASCAP), Recording Artist, Actress, Playwright, and Educator from Philadelphia, PA. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing/Poetry from Goddard College and a BA in Theater from Temple University. Jaz regularly served as Co-Copy Editor for Goddard College's literary journal The Pitkin Review and has had several poetry publications(including a spotlight feature) in the journal. Jaz's body of published work spans over 2 decades going back to the year 2000. Jaz's poem "Please Don't Drop the Children" has a forthcoming publication in the Spring 2025 issue of Porcupine Literary: A Journal by and for Teachers. Jaz's work was just published in Moonstone Press's Tribute to Sonia Sanchez(Happy 90th Birthday). Another recent publication was in the Summer issue of Moonstone Press's Haiku Day 2024 and her poem "TrAuMa" published in the Fall 2024 issue of Porcupine Literary: A Journal by and for Teachers. Some more recent publications are in the Winter 2023 issue of The Moonstone Press "Remembering Sylvia Plath"(poetry), the Spring 2023 issue of The Pitkin Review (poetry) and the Spring 2023 issue of The Goddard Gyst (editorial feature). Jaz had a Winter 2022 spoken word feature of her poem "SKIN" on 2020-2021 Philly Poet Laureate Trapeta Mayson’s(founder) The Healing Verse Poetry Line 1-855-POEMRX2. She taught her introductory poetry workshop "The Body of Our Poetry" at Goddard College's Spring 2023 and Fall 2023 residencies. She co-facilitated/co-taught the workshop “Hacking Your G1” for the college’s Spring 2022 semester. She is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the 2017 Honoree of Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges & Universities, by nominee. Jaz is the author of poetry chapbooks The Carving Out Of A Butterfly’s Wings Parts I and II and one poetry book Serenading Flowers: A Book of Dedications (the latter available on Amazon). Jaz is the 2024 Finalist of Grubstreet Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers and the 2020 Community Finalist in the Temple University-sponsored Short Fiction/Poetry contest by French publishing house Short Edition. She is also the 2008 Second Place Winner of Blue Mountain Arts Eleventh Biannual poetry contest. Jaz’s poetry is widely published and has been featured in multiple anthologies, literary magazines, and online journals such as The Pitkin Review, Struggle, Literary House Review, APIARY, Poetry Ink, Penn Review, and Westward Quarterly among others. Her work has also been featured on internet, podcast, and public radio (Tiffany Bacon's "Whispers in the Dark"). When opportunities arise, she performs songs and poetry at open mics and featured performances as a soloist and as a member of "For Women Collective": a Philadelphia-based international performance ensemble honoring the legacy of Nina Simone, and "Philly Jawns". Jaz has shared stages with Natalie “The Floacist” Stewart of R&B duo “Floetry” fame in Philly’s FLO Vortex poetry shows at Philadelphia's legendary venue WarmDaddy’s. Jaz, along with her friend and fellow poet Adriann “The Pen” Bautista, co-founded the all-female performance ensemble "Wings of Worth". She has also been a photographic model for over 20 years. Jaz 's Christian album of original songs & poetry "A Higher Place" was released winter 2023 and is available on all digital platforms. She also recorded her song "2 Years” and "Betta Off Blue" (find "Betta Off Blue" on YouTube, Spotify, and iTunes), and a professional corporate voiceover for Temple University. In the Theater world, Jaz is an actress (plays, musicals, staged readings), and behind the scenes has served as an Assistant to The Producer, Hair Assistant(film), and Production Dramaturg. Jaz's one-act play "States of Clay" was part of an online production at Goddard College during Spring 2023 residency. Jaz was the resident creative writing/poetry instructor for adult students at the online lab/writing community SCRiBLAB for 2 years. At SCRiBLAB she is currently freelancing as a STORYlab literary writing genre coach, working closely with writers on their writing projects to provide customized editing and feedback. Jaz's own current writing project is her poetry manuscript "From Beneath the Indigo". Jaz taught her poetry class "Your Poetic Voice" for Mt. Airy Learning Tree's Spring 2024 season in Philly's historic and arts haven Germantown neighborhood and just completed the Fall 2024(Sept-Oct) season of teaching this class online at mtairylearningtree.org. Jaz will be teaching her inaugural poetry class "The Body of Our Poetry" online for the literary community Project Write Now's Fall II Session from 11/7/24-12/19/24. She has been educating K-4 students in the public school system for a little over 4 years now. Jaz is blessed to teach and graced to educate; therefore she is student as well as teacher. Jaz adores family, nature, reading, karaoke, French fries, and the Big Cats. She is honored to be used as a vessel for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on & off the stage/page.
