About the Author

Jessica Genia [pronounced Genya] Simon wrote her first poem when she was seven-years-old. Her poems have been published in numerous journals and anthologies including the Atlanta Review, Slipform 2020 Anthology, Moment Magazine, Magnolia: A Journal of Women’s Socially Engaged Literature, Vol. II, Edge, Vol. 9, Nature in the Now, Tiny Seed Literary Journal and Super Stoked: An Anthology of Queer Poetry from the Capturing Fire Slam & Summit.  

Born and raised in Maryland, she started publishing her poems in local newspapers while at Robert Frost Middle School. She started leading poetry workshops in high school after attending the University of Virginia’s Young Writers Workshop. She competed and won a spot on the 2001 D.C. National Youth Poetry Slam Team, which won 6th place in the Brave New Voices 2001 National Youth Poetry Slam in Ann Arbor, MI. As a teen poet, she competed with the DC National Youth Poetry Slam Team, led poetry workshops, open mics and poetry slams in and around the DMV, Syracuse, NY and Jerusalem, Israel. 

She earned a B.A. in English and Textual Studies and Policy Studies at Syracuse University, where she hosted poetry slams and workshops on and off campus. Upon graduation, she joined Teach for America and taught High School English in North Philadelphia while earning her M.S. in Education from University of Pennsylvania. Then, she spent a year in Jerusalem, Israel studying Bible, Mishnah, Talmud at Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies, while volunteering with LGBTQ+ and middle east peace organizations.

She now works at Brady: United Against Gun Violence and lives with her wife, infant daughter and short-haired tabby cat, Zahav, in Silver Spring, MD. Built of All I Shape and Name is her first poetry collection, available now from Kelsay Books.

Contact: bookings (at) jessicasimonpoetry (dot) com