We are thrilled to have several new staff members at Literary Arts. These team members are already making great strides and helping us reach more readers and writers across our state. Welcome!
(Bios submitted by staff.)
Alex Dang, Verselandia! Specialist
Born and raised in Portland, and an alumnin of Cleveland High School, Alex Dang started performing poetry at 17 and hasn’t slowed down since. He has been on the Portland Poetry Slam nationals team in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, making him the only Asian-American poet in Portland’s history to be on the team four years in a row. Alex has earned his way to becoming the Eugene Poetry Grand Slam Champion in 2014, 2015, and again in 2017. He has been a TEDx speaker for both University of Oregon and Reno, Nevada. His work has been featured on HuffingtonPost, UpWorthy, and EverydayFeminism, and has been viewed over 2 million times on YouTube. Alex has performed in over 50 cities, 30 states, and wants to know what your favorite food is.
Olivia Jones-Hall, Youth Programs Coordinator
Olivia Jones-Hall is a writer, pasta aficionado, and aspiring Westeros historian from Portland. She has a BA in creative writing from Oberlin College, and since graduation has worked on content editing and creation, and social media strategy. Olivia has lived in Ireland, Ohio, and Astoria, Oregon and is very happy to be back in her hometown working for an inspiring organization. She is excited and grateful to put her experience and education to work at Literary Arts. You can reach her at olivia@literary-arts.org.
Emilly Prado, Writers in the Schools Program Specialist
Emilly Prado is an award-winning multimedia journalist, writer, and educator living in Portland, Oregon. Her writing has appeared in over two dozen publications including NPR, The Oregonian, Marie Claire, Remezcla, Bitch Media, and the Portland Mercury where she curates and writes a bi-weekly community and activism calendar. She is the recipient of a 2018 Community Stories Fellowship presented in partnership with Oregon Humanities, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Pulitzer Prizes and a 2016 Professional Development grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council. In her free time, she travels, makes zines, and DJs as DJ Mami Miami with Noche Libre, the Latinx femme DJ collective she co-founded in 2017. See more of her work at emillyprado.com.
Liz Olufson, Public Programs Coordinator
Liz Olufson is a live performance and event manager who has worked for Literary Arts on the Portland Book Festival for three years. A midwesterner, Liz gained her BA in Theatre & Drama (with an emphasis in Stage Management) from the University of Wisconsin. Prior to–and concurrently with–her work at Literary Arts, Liz was Assoc. Producer for the local live storytelling show, Back Fence PDX; House Manager at Portland Center Stage at the Armory; and an events team member at Powell’s Books. She looks forward to expanding her impact at Literary Arts beyond the Festival, into the full suite of Public Programs. You can reach her at liz@literary-arts.org.
Jessica Meza-Torres, Program Assistant for Programs for Writers
Jessica Meza-Torres recently graduated from Willamette University with a double B.A. in English and Politics. She’s previously worked as an English educator and freelance writer. Jessica is excited to assist Susan Moore with Programs for Writers, where she hopes to serve a diverse and vibrant community. You can reach her at jessica@literary-arts.org.
Alanna J. Faelan, Marketing Specialist
Alanna J. Faelan is a queer, genderfluid, working class writer and visual artist from South Philadelphia. She has a BFA from the University of the Arts, and has previously interned for the Leeway Foundation, which supports women and trans artists, and cultural producers working in communities at the intersection of art, culture, and social change. Her first published piece of fiction, The Taurids Branch, is forthcoming from Nightmare Magazine. She is a 2018 graduate of the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop, and has attended the Tin House Summer Writers’ Workshop in 2016 and 2017. As Literary Arts’ Marketing Specialist, she handles print and digital design, social media, and event branding. Contact Alanna through her website or email her at alanna@literay-arts.org.
Allegra Lopez, Development Assistant
Allegra Lopez is a young aspiring writer who graduated from Portland State University with a BA in English and writing minor. Her first piece of flash fiction, What the Moon Witnessed, has previously been published in Havok Quarterly Magazine, and she is currently working on writing a novel. As Literary Arts’ Development Assistant, she processes donations and ensures our donors are properly and promptly acknowledged for their generosity. For questions regarding donations or tax receipts, you can reach Allegra at allegra@literary-arts.org. To learn more about her writing, please visit her website at allegralopez.com.
