After experiencing the sudden passing of her father, Jacinta--who, months prior, had her first poem published (Young Detroiter, 1996)--found poetry to be her "life-line." She says poetry took on a different meaning for her as it helped her process the pain and grieve. Years later, Jacinta started The Word Project (TWP) as a way to provide urban youth a safe space to share their complex stories through poetry.
     A graduate in speech communications from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1994), Jacinta began her career as a public relations professional. She parlayed those skills with her love for the nonprofit sector, and after receiving her MPA in Nonprofit Management from Georgia State University (2000), Jacinta worked in the field of resource development and event planning for several Atlanta-based nonprofits. In 2005, Jacinta returned to NC and began working full-time in her passion--TWP.
    As director of TWP, Jacinta leads countless workshops and trainings; is called upon as keynote speaker for programs; and serves as co-director of the LifeVerse Project along side the Greensboro Public Library’s Assistant Director, Steve Sumerford. She is also currently persuing her certification through the National Association of Poetry Therapy, and serves as a mentor with the Poetry Behind Bars program.
    Additionally, Jacinta works part-time as the Program Director of Leaderhip Winston-Salem's 9 month Flagship Program, and is an active member at St. Stephen A.M.E. Zion Church in High Point. Jacinta’s works include: poetry in Press 53 Open Awards Anthology (2008) as its first prize winner; contributor to My Soul to His Spirit: Soulful Writings of African American Daughters to Their Fathers (SoulDictates, 2005); and editor of Walking With God (Duncan & Duncan, 1996).

Jacinta's work has been featured in several media outlets, including 

• "Words that heal," Kernersville News, 2011
• "Poetry for tough times," Go Triad, 2011  
• “Poetry workshop a good way to start new year,” Go Triad, 2010
• “Library wins diversity prize,” Carolina Peacemaker, 2009
• “Local authors suggest good summer reads,” Go Triad, 2009
• “LifeVerse project brings poetry to patients,” Go Triad, 2009
• “Meet an Artist,” Go Triad, 2008
• “Finding words to live by,” Greensboro News & Record, 2007
• “Quest for common ground goal of Poetry GSO,” Yes! Weekly, 2006
• “Poet, Poetry GSO explore healing power of poetry,” Carolina Peacemaker, 2006
• “Healing Power of Writing,” Kernersville Journal, 2005

Certifications:

• TimeSlips Storytelling Facilitator Certification, Center for Creative Aging—NC, 2010
• Alzheimer’s Poetry Project Facilitator Certification, Alzheimer’s Poetry Project, 2009
• Applied Poetry Facilitator Certification, National Association for Biblio/Poetry Therapy, Present

Grants & fellowships include:
·         Grant, The Institute for Poetic Medicine, Juvenile Detention Center Poetry Series, 2011
·         Partial scholarship, Transformative Language Arts Conference, Vermont, 2009
·         Partial scholarship, National Association of Poetry Therapy, 2009
·         Grant, Fondue Fund, Greensboro, NC, 2008
·         Partial scholarship, Writer’s Abroad Conference, Thailand, 2007
·         Fellowship, NC Writers’ Network Spring Conference for Writers, Greensboro, NC, 2007
·         Fellowship, Idyllwild Creative Writing Program, Idyllwild, CA, 2004

                To contact Jacinta, call 336-830-5486 or email her directly at jacinta.white@poetryheals.com.