Jacinta V. White
photo by Kristen Bryant
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 -- helping her process the pain and grief. 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. Today, TWP has expanded its reach, and works with those of all ages and walks of life.
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 to focus on her passion: TWP. She has studied Poetry Therapy with Dr. Sherry Reiter of the Creative Righting Center in NY, and has worked alongside renowned poetry therapist and author, John Fox.
As director of TWP, Jacinta leads countless workshops and trainings; is called upon as keynote speaker for programs; serves as a consultant to non-profits; and has been a consultant for many initiatives such as LifeVerse and Building Common Ground. She was also the 2012 & 2013 Coordinator for the NC Poetry Out Loud Competition, a judge for the 2014 NC Poetry Out Loud Competition, and a judge for the 2012 Guilford County & 2014 Winston-Salem/Forsyth County High School Poet Laureate contests. Jacinta is also recognized as a NC Arts Council Teaching Artist.
But Jacinta's work doesn't stop at poetry. She's also called upon as an artist facilitator working with such groups like EMC Arts, UNC School of the Arts, and the Kenan Institute for the Arts as a thought and creative partner. Whether facilitating retreats, leading workshops, or working one-on-one, Jacinta is sought out for her ability to deeply listen and assist others on their healing journey,
Jacinta's latest collection of poetry, Resurrecting the Bones: A Journey through African American Churches and Cemeteries in the Rural South will be published Sept. 2019 by Press 53 (read more here). Her chapbook, broken ritual, was released by Finishing Line Press in 2012. Other works include: poetry in Prime Number Magazine (2014), What Matters Anthology (Jacar Press, 2013), 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). See more here.
In 2015, Jacinta founded Snapdragon: A Journal of Art & Healing -- one of the leading journals on art and healing. To read more about Jacinta's experience as a poetry facilitator, click here.
To contact Jacinta email her directly at jacinta.white@poetryheals.com.
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 to focus on her passion: TWP. She has studied Poetry Therapy with Dr. Sherry Reiter of the Creative Righting Center in NY, and has worked alongside renowned poetry therapist and author, John Fox.
As director of TWP, Jacinta leads countless workshops and trainings; is called upon as keynote speaker for programs; serves as a consultant to non-profits; and has been a consultant for many initiatives such as LifeVerse and Building Common Ground. She was also the 2012 & 2013 Coordinator for the NC Poetry Out Loud Competition, a judge for the 2014 NC Poetry Out Loud Competition, and a judge for the 2012 Guilford County & 2014 Winston-Salem/Forsyth County High School Poet Laureate contests. Jacinta is also recognized as a NC Arts Council Teaching Artist.
But Jacinta's work doesn't stop at poetry. She's also called upon as an artist facilitator working with such groups like EMC Arts, UNC School of the Arts, and the Kenan Institute for the Arts as a thought and creative partner. Whether facilitating retreats, leading workshops, or working one-on-one, Jacinta is sought out for her ability to deeply listen and assist others on their healing journey,
Jacinta's latest collection of poetry, Resurrecting the Bones: A Journey through African American Churches and Cemeteries in the Rural South will be published Sept. 2019 by Press 53 (read more here). Her chapbook, broken ritual, was released by Finishing Line Press in 2012. Other works include: poetry in Prime Number Magazine (2014), What Matters Anthology (Jacar Press, 2013), 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). See more here.
In 2015, Jacinta founded Snapdragon: A Journal of Art & Healing -- one of the leading journals on art and healing. To read more about Jacinta's experience as a poetry facilitator, click here.
To contact Jacinta email her directly at jacinta.white@poetryheals.com.
Jacinta, the 2008 first place winner in poetry for the Press 53 Open Award Competition.