DADA Literary Café: Solar Year Celebration

Solar Year Celebration: featuring readings from books-in-process by poets and fiction writers, hosted by emily brandt

Alex Cuff is learning to metabolize grief into a presence that keeps her in relationship to herself and community. She’s a high school teacher, an editor at No, Dear, and author of the poetry collection Common Amnesias (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2024).Alex Cuff is a high school teacher, an editor at No, Dear, and author of the Common Amnesias (Ugly Duckling Presse), Family, a Natural Wonder (Reality Beach) and I Try Out A Sentence to See Whether I Believe (Ghost Proposal).

Marisa Mandabach (she/they) has a Ph.D. in Art History and is writing a first collection of poetry. Her poems explore intersections of nature, history, motherhood, capitalism, and imperial violence.

Yomalis Rosario (she/her) is a Black Dominican poet & teacher who was born and raised in Washington Heights, NYC. She is currently studying in the 2025 Brooklyn Poets Mentorship Program and serves as the Managing Editor for WE THE SOIL.

Nzingha Hazelton is a Harlem-based writer, artist, and operations professional who creates spaces for reflection, healing, and community through poetry and creative projects. With experience in education, nonprofit leadership, and international arts initiatives, she centers collective wellness and connection in her work. Her projects have been recognized through fellowships, grants, and publications in the arts and social justice fields. She holds degrees from Amherst College and CUNY-Hunter College.