Ami Patel

Ami Patel (she/her) is a justice-oriented consultant and multi-genre writer. Her work can be found online and in print. Ami is a 2023/2024 IPRC re/source resident and a 2024 Oregon Literary Fellow in Poetry. Ami’s prints and poetry were a part of the 2025 Mutnomah Arts Center Gallery exhibit “Shift Work.”

Ami is a double Bruin with a BA in International Development Studies and an MA in Asian American Studies from UCLA. She has almost 20 years of non-profit and philanthropy experience in strategic visioning, program development, and grantmaking. Her professional (and personal) framework is rooted in gender justice and queer liberation.

When not writing or working, Ami enjoys the changing Portland seasons with her family.

(Headshot by Celeste Noche)

You can find my work both online and in print:

The Case for Red in Tinderbox Poetry Journal (with audio recording)

Abecedarian for My Napping Nephew in fourteen poems (I read this poem & others and chat with editor Ben on this IG live)

boundaries in The B’K Volume 15 Issue 2 (page 54)

Wanting is the way to free in Beloit Poetry Journal

No Less Than Blood, No More Than Kin in The Fourth River’s Tributaries and in We The Gathered Heat: Asian American and Pacific Islander Poetry, Performance, and Spoken Word

faltering, and yet in They Rise Like a Wave: An Anthology of Asian American Women Poets (watch poet Neil Aitken read this poem on Hermit Poetry Series)

wanting, waiting in Occulum

The multiverse collapses and I meet my selfish self in Kissing Dynamite (Full House Lit Mag’s podcast discusses this piece at 1:54:58)

9 of Cups: Contentment in Roanoke Review

I Dream I Don’t Kill My Garden in The West Review (Pushcart Prize nominated)

waiting for god the Drag Queen’s debut performance in perhappened mag

When you say watch your mouth in Moss Lit

the edge of worship in Red Rock Review

i find myself queer in space in Apricity Magazine

Columbusing in decomp journal

in flight in Unchaste Anthology, Volume 2 (page 26)

two poems in Madwoman Etc Zine, Volume 2

three poems in In Parentheses

I wake to the adhan in Ahmedabad in The Stillwater Review

To The Moon in Kikaha by Island Air

Past:

5/29/25 AAPI Heritage Month Author Reading at Literary Arts

4/26/25 Fractals: A QT Poetry Reading at Multnomah Arts Center

4/19/25 “Shift Work” Artist Talk (I start at 5:18)

7/27/24 Spider and The Web of Life at the Legendary Makers Market

5/21/24 Literary Arts Oregon Literary Fellowship Reading

5/17/24 Coffee Talk: A Special Night Celebrating Harvey Walker (Video link! I read at minute 35)

4/11/24 Constellation Reading Series (Video link!)

3/2/24 Literary Arts BIPOC Reading Series

11/18/23 Rest | Joy | Play: A Queer API Literaoke

4/27/23 Matwaala hosts They Rise Like a Wave; Anthology of Asian American Women Poets (Video link!)

7/17/22 Tiger Tiger Fest

5/30/21 Moved By Words Presents New Voices of Color 2021 at the Northwest Folklife Festival

6/18/19 Tuesday Night Cafe: the lgbtq+ show

5/24/19 An Armful of Words: Celebrating the Belmont HMart

3/29/19 Coastlines & Crossroads: Offsite AWP Reading

11/10/18 Portland Book Festival Pop Up with De-Canon: A Visibility Project

5/25/18 Whitenoise Project 13: Asian Pacific Heritage Month

5/24/18 Literary Arts & Ooligan Press Writers of Color Showcase

I have almost 20 years of experience in nonprofit, public sector, academia, and philanthropy. I proudly consider myself a justice-oriented generalist. Learn more on LinkedIn.

My skills are in research, writing, content development, and curriculum design, with a focus on community engagement, gender justice, and JEDI (justice, equity, diversity & inclusion).

I am interested in working with the following industries:

I’m also available and interested in creative projects, such as readings, workshops, and multimedia collaborations.

I look forward to hearing from you!

I’d love to hear from you! Send me any messages regarding readings, writing projects, and consulting questions. You can use the drop down and message below to add details.