Mission Statement-
The mission of the Jersey City Book Fair is to have a free event that promotes literacy, fosters a love of reading, and creates meaningful connections between authors, readers, and community organizations. Through accessible programming, book-centered experiences, and intentional partnerships, the fair aims to uplift voices, encourage lifelong learning, and strengthen our local literary ecosystem.
The event will feature authors tabling and selling their books, panel discussions, poetry performances, community resources, and opportunities for attendees to engage with local writers, artists, educators, and literary organizations.The Jersey City Book Fair is produced by author and poet Marc Polite and event curator and host Millicent Ansah.
About The Founders
Marc W. Polite
Marc W. Polite, JCBF Co-Founder
Marc W. Polite is an author, and the founder of the award-winning blog Polite On Society. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in History from The City College of New York.
He is the author of six books: Poetic Ruminations of Mr. Born Nice, Everything to Learn, Nothing to Teach, Poetic Ruminations: Volume 2, The Binge Watcher’s Guide to Black Mirror, Quiet With A Loud Mind and Stand On Ganymede.
He writes about social issues, labor, film, technology, and literature. His reviews and commentary have been featured in The Amsterdam News. Mr. Polite is a proud member of the Harlem Writers Guild, the oldest continuously operating Black writers workshop in the United States.
Millicent Ansah
Millicent Ansah, JCBF Co-Founder
Millicent Ansah, known as Millie, is a Jersey City–based educator, poet, and community curator whose work has been featured in SoupCan Magazine, WNYC, and Teaneck Poetry Park.
She is the founder and host of Mocha Mic with Millie, a monthly open mic uplifting Black and emerging artists. Established in 2023, Mocha Mic with Millie has had local performers and those from around the country grace the stage and share their artistry.
In 2025, she launched Poetic Pages: Where Black Poets Speak, a literary series created to preserve and highlight Black stories and artistry.
In 2026, she was one of twenty recipients awarded an Individual Artist Fellowship Grant through the Jersey City Arts Council and the Jersey City Arts and Cultural Fund.
Millie also partners with local organizations to lead creative writing workshops for youth and build meaningful community connections through the arts and quality programming. Some of her child and youth programming includes Stretch & Sketch, Rhythm & Roots and The Monticello Fall Festival.
A believer in supporting local artists through her events, and supporting children literacy through her programmiming, In 2026 she joined forces with local poet and author Marc Polite to produce the first Jersey City Book Fair which will debut on October 3rd as a part of The Jersey City Arts Studio Tour.
Her work has been highlighted in The Jersey Journal, The Jersey City Times, Slice of Culture, Bold Journey Magazine, Patch.com, and more. She can be reached via her Instagram pages @millicent_ansah24 & mochamicwithmillie or via email millicentansah24@gmail.com and mochamicwithmillie@gmail.com
