Meet Susan Justiniano

We had the good fortune of connecting with Susan Justiniano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susan, is there something you believe many others might not?
There is a long held tradition that lived experience has less value and importance than a formal education with years and years in a classroom, learning theory and earning a degree before you can consider yourself a “professional”. Formal education rarely allows for flexibility in practice beyond what is taught.

As a person without a formal degree, I am a strong believer in the value of lived experience, learning through life lessons and finding your passion in profession through doing it, making mistakes, failing as lessons, and going at your own pace to achieve what success looks like for you as an individual.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a poet, author, spoken word artist, teaching artist, social justice advocate, playwright, event producer, and recording artist I’ve been an active professional artist since 2006. I took the “ground up” approach by learning everything I could behind the scenes before appearing on stage or in a recording studio. I volunteered and worked events while refining my craft, writing poems as lyrics and rehearsing for studio recording and performances.

I take a community approach to things that I am involved in and seek to connect people to others, organizations and opportunities to help them grow and develop as entrepreneurs. Over the last 15+ years, my art has evolved from written poems to reading poems, to recording to music, performing on stage, developing and producing events and beyond. It’s exciting to see how my art has developed and the next stage of that as a playwright. I take professional development through learning and lived experiences very seriously. I learn from those who have achieved a thing, all the things, every little thing.

The most important things I’ve learned about being a professional artist is that not only are persistence and consistency critical, being flexible is important. Each of us is on a different path with ourselves and our artistry. If I find myself getting caught up in the perceived “viral” success of others, I remind myself that their path is not my path and I have no idea what they have endured, sacrificed or how hard they worked to reach that level. When I get discouraged, as often happens when rejection is part of the adventure, I encourage others, share their successes, and give myself some grace. I give myself permission to learn by failing, I’ve learned to set boundaries to my time, energy and exchange of energy with others. I’ve also learned to approach new things with the excitement of a new adventure, whether I travel alone or with a community of my peers.

My greatest achievement will be that artists, organizations and people will embrace the idea that when we build together, we grow together. There is space for all of us. By uplifting others, we are successful.

To some, it may appear that I became an overnight success, in reality it’s been years in the making: webinars, workshops, classes, creating along the way, building relationships, walking away from relationships, all the while growing and evolving through mistakes and missteps. And that will likely be how it will continue to go as I get ready to be a voice actor and embrace the unknown of being able to do anything from anywhere with anyone.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Before we get started, we will check out visit Hudson website and the Jersey City Arts and Culture website to check out some events and recommendations.

I love my neighborhood and Jersey City! Same high quality experience as New York City, without the tolls. Getting around JC is easy for visiting friends, with a lively arts scene in all six wards.

Day 1 – West side!
Let’s grab a Turmeric Latte at Tree House Café, a walking distance from the West Side Light Rail/Transportation Hub. Frank and his wife and kids make this place a must visit spot! Coffee is always fresh and the snacks come from local bakeries. Pups are welcome! The back yard and outside wall host incredible murals and perfect selfie spots. If you want to check your emails, let’s sit in the back yard and relax for a while.

Next, let’s head over to Lincoln Park. If you brought your pup, let’s spend some time in one of the two dog runs. We can walk there from the coffee shop and check out the banners of upcoming events and festivals. As we walk through the park, we’ll pass the fountain where West Side Music & Arts do summer concerts, complete with food truck options, neighbors doing yoga in a group or individually, other people using the track to get their steps in or walk their own pups. We may see neighbors playing baseball, setting up for a music festival, participating or enjoying a drum circle or participating in one of the community events that include public art or the farmer’s market.

Before lunch we have time to visit some of the historical homes and churches in the neighborhood, while deciding a spot for a bite: on West Side Ave My Mexico for the best veggie nachos, Thanh Huong for Vietnamese Spring Rolls or Elios Bakery for their sandwiches.

Taking it into a slow afternoon, we can do some shopping on 440, whether at the Marshalls / Home Goods and Asian Food Store or in the Hudson Mall to check out the shops and local vendors. Then head to NJCU on Kennedy for public arts in the Arts Building.

Dinner is easy at The Table at the 3 Acres campus on Claremont Ave, at the West Side Light Rail. The menu is amazing and the service even more so. Depending on the night, there is an open mic or a band playing music. The bar is a great place to hang out to catch up with neighbors and connect with friends.

Day 2 – Journal Square and McGinley Square

We can get on the bus, just up the street, and head to Journal Square for breakfast and coffee (Lavendar Latte for me) at Café Peanut in Journal Square. The ambiance here is incredible and warm. Everything in the shop is previously loved, except the food, and the care taken to create this space shows throughout. We’ll be across from the historic William J. Brennan Courthouse, which may have a visual arts showcase to check out.

After breakfast, we can take a walking tour of JSQ to check out the murals, Stop at local spaces like The Landmark Lowe’s Jersey Theater, India Square and Mana Contemporary. Comfortable shoes are a must in JSQ! We an walk through Mana to check out the galleries and the incredible art from local and international artists and then head to Canco Park for a sit down or participate in any of the open air events happening like yoga, poetry, music or check out the murals in the area.

Lunch can take us to any of the restaurants in JSQ, some tucked away in the neighborhood. We have our choice of Italian, Filipino, Indian, Mexican, American or any of the burger spots.

After lunch let’s check out Sip Studios for events, or make our way to McGinley Square for the shops and events happening and then the Museum of Jersey City History aka The Apple Tree House. We can check out the Hudson County Culinary Center.
Before we head out to any of the open mics or showcases in JSQ, let’s have dinner at the Freetown Road Project, where Food Network Chopped Winner Chef Claude Lewis serves up some amazing Caribbean dishes

The next few days are filled with music, poetry, Liberty State Park, Liberty Science Center and catching up with the amazing arts scene in the Heights, Downtown, Newport, Bergen Lafayette and Greenville neighborhoods.

We can jump on and jump off the Light Rail or the path as we check out the Jersey City rich cultural arts scene and historical places! Food is definitely in abundance here, just like thrift shops, local vendors, open mics, roof top happy hours and things happening at Jersey City Theatre Center, Nimbus Arts Center, Art House and cafes that offer a wide variety of things to do, family friendly, pet friendly and adult friendly.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am influenced by all of the relationships that I’ve developed over the years. CyberJamz Records was the first record label to extend a platform for spoken word/poetry to be a consistent form of recording poetry to music. Special shout out to Samuel Acosta & Catherine Harris-Rowell for believing in the power of poetry and music as a way to build global and close community.

Recording poetry to House music was my introduction to a world beyond writing poetry. It opened up the doors to Spoken Word as a performance art.

Website: https://linktr.ee/rescuepoetix

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rescuepoetix/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rescuepoetix/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/rescue-poetix

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RescuePoetix

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcEsjLY2vVxdcGLI1sw4YG_RqE8rdmNzY

Image Credits
Performance Photo: Credits: RescuePoetix Logo: Created by Farib Alvarez Mocha Mic with Millie flyer: Millicent Amsah Jersey City Poet Laureate impact report cover: Flyers by Office of Cultural Affairs, Jersey City and CrystalLetters Passageways: Emergence Arts Jazzoetry: Community Awareness Series Jersey City Free Public Library By the Light of the Ghetto Moon Flyer: Paterson Performing Arts Development Council NJ State beat poet laureate: National Beat Poetry Foundation