Bios
Jen Soriano (she~they) is a Filipinx-American writer, independent scholar, and performer who has long worked at the intersection of grassroots organizing, narrative strategy, and art-driven social change. They are the author of the chapbook Making the Tongue Dry, and the lyric essay collection Nervous, which won the 2024 Memoir Prize and the American Book Fest prize for books about mental health and psychology. They are also co-editor of the anthology Closer to Liberation: Pina/xy Activism in Theory and Practice and author of "Multiplicity From the Margins," which explores the potential of intersectional form to disrupt oppressive narratives and expand narrow worldviews. Jen is a grateful recipient of fellowships from Artist Trust, Hugo House, the Jack Jones Literary Arts Retreat, and Vermont Studio Center. They received a BA in History and Science from Harvard and an MFA in fiction and nonfiction from the Rainier Writing Workshop. Jen is also a co-founder and former board chair of the cultural democracy institutions, MediaJustice and ReFrame, and is a leader in the field of narrative justice. Originally from a landlocked part of the Chicago area, Jen has spent the past decade living with her family in Seattle, near the Duwamish River and the Salish Sea.
Jen Soriano (she~they) is a softie who likes to gushguts through words. A Filipinx writer and musician, they feel lucky to have worked at the intersection of grassroots organizing, narrative strategy, and art-driven social change for more than two decades. Jen is the author of Nervous: Essays on Heritage and Healing, which won the 2024 Memoir Prize and was recognized by TIME, GLAMOUR, Poets&Writers, and other outlets as a notable book of 2023. Some of her family members even read the book and liked it. Jen is also co-editor of Closer to Liberation: A Pina/xy Activist Anthology and author of the limited-edition chapbook Making the Tongue Dry. They are a grateful recipient of fellowships from Artist Trust, Hugo House, the Jack Jones Literary Arts Retreat, and Vermont Studio Center. Originally from a landlocked part of the Chicago area, Jen has spent the past decade living with her family in Seattle, near the Duwamish River and the Salish Sea. They are probably eating and/or sleeping right now, and would love to connect on Instagram and TikTok @jensorianowrites.
Byline: Jen Soriano is a Filipinx writer, scholar, and performer based in Seattle. She is the author of Nervous: Essays on Heritage and Healing and co-editor of Closer to Liberation: A Pina/xy Activist Anthology.
Photo Credit: Naomi Ishisaka
Image Description: Headshot of Jen Soriano, a light skinned Filipinx person with asymmetric hair. Their hair is shoulder length on one side and is black with blue highlights. They are slightly smiling to the camera, with their chin propped on their left hand. The backdrop is a pale green wall at the Eastern Cafe in Seattle's Chinatown International District. Jen is wearing red lipstick, a ruffled white shirt, a leather bracelet, two gold rings, and a red, green and gold beaded bracelet from the Steilacoom Indian Tribe.