Aja Beech is a poet, journalist, essayist, and short story author living in Philadelphia, PA.
Her journalism and essays can be found at:
Star Community News
Selected list of other published works:
Poetry
2021
Atonement, Letting, Coven Journal, May
2017
Power Struggle, Small Portions Journal, February 10.
2016
Lady Lazarus Revisited, Incandescent Mind Volume 1, December.
Borders, The 5-2, Poems on Crime, September 26. Sundress Best of the Net nominated work.
2015
Snow over Kabul: The Bagram Airbase Bombing, The 5-2, Poems on Crime, February 23.
At dawn and Alms to an Armenian Woman, Apiary Magazine, April 24.
2012
The Bookbinder’s House, Certain Circuits, September. Sundress Best of the Net nominated work.
2011
For you women, Certain Circuits 2.1 (print) and featured at Certain Circuits online, December. Pushcart Prize nominated work.
2010
Variations, thank you very much. The Tract House, February.
Sand Walk, selected by the American Philosophical Society and Network for New Music for an original contemporary classical music composition, February.
Short Stories
2014
Districts, Metropolarity, October
2012
Walls, Ether Books, March
The Wedding, Ether Books, June
Created Publications:
- Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Preview Magazine, Alumni Success Stories, June, 2014
- Temple Contemporary at the Tyler School of Art, Mass Incarceration in America show pamphlet, April, 2014
- Beccaria, a chapbook anthology of poems and artwork contributed by murder victims’ family members, death row inmates, and exonerees to bring awareness to the atrocities of the death penalty in Pennsylvania, April, 2011
- Collaborator, Apiary Magazine, The Power Issue, Issue 7, December 16, 2013
Grants / Awards
Recipient, Philadelphia Creative Connector, 2011
Recipient, Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grant, 2010
Selected Press of Work
Member Profile: Meet Aja Beech, Generocity, Sabrina Vourvoulias, August 2, 2019.
Meet the tireless Philadelphians who give their all to make the city safer, Helen Ubinas, Philadelphia Inquirer, August 17, 2018.
Women, LGBT activists support sex harassment training for Philly city employees, A.D. Amorosi. Metro, May 14, 2018.
Cabaret Raises Profile of Sex Assault Survivors, A.D. Amorosi. Philadelphia Gay News, March 22, 2018.
Beyond The Wall
- City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program website, Sold Out – Beyond the Wall: A Symposium on Mass Incarceration, Laure Biron. April 15, 2014.
- IcePack Illustrated, Philadelphia City Paper, A. D. Amorosi. March 13, 2014.
Mass Incarceration Awareness Day Black Male Engagement Project
- The Roots Affiliate Dice Raw Presents M.I.A. (Mass Incarceration Awareness) Day, Yohance Kyles, All Hip Hop. August 28, 2013.
- Dice Raw declares today Mass Incarceration Awareness Day, The Source, staff writer. August 29, 2013.
- Rapper Dice Raw Presents M.I.A. (Mass Incarceration Awareness Day), Skyyhook, The Urban Daily. August 29, 2013.
Execute Art Not People
- Execute Art Not People: Campaign to Redirect State Funds from Death Row to the Arts, Shannon Collins, Generocity. May 30, 2012.
- An Effort to Fund Art Instead of Death Row, AD Amorosi, The Philadelphia Inquirer. May 31, 2012.
- Execute Art Not People, Joshua Pelta-Heller, two.one.five Magazine. June 1, 2012.
Beccaria
- Anti-Death Penalty Chapbook Readies Printing, Will Dean, Apiary Magazine. February 7, 2012.
- Beccaria, A Chapbook Anthology, A Labor of Love and Life. A Review, Reginald Lewis, Graterfriends, February 2012.
Aja Beech 