bio/CV
Summer Minerva is an independent researcher, multidisciplinary artist, public speaker, and educator working on the reclamation of the dignity of gender fluidity within the folk traditions of Napoli and other indigenous traditions.
EXPERIENCE
Sacred Gender Project, founder and creative director — August 2017-present
Facilitating ancestral remembrance workshops for the queer Italian American community, which include teaching about the devotional practices of the 3rd gender group of Napoli, the femminielli. Participants connect with esoteric aspects of their ancestral culture that have been erased due to assimilation. Summer also produces and leads annual pilgrimages for queer Italian Americans to Napoli in order to connect with ancient queer traditions. An anthology of Italian transpeople’s narratives that Summer co-edited, Italian Trans Geographies, will be published in early 2023 by SUNY Academic Press.
Summer Within Film, director and producer — January 2017-present
In collaboration with Megamot Media productions, Summer has created the first feature-length documentary protagonizing the experience of a queer Italian American, heartfully showing her search for belonging through the death of her grandmother and encounter with the femminielli in Napoli. Summer has raised over $25000 for the film to be complete in December 2020.
The Generations Project, storytelling workshop facilitator - October 2017-present
Summer facilitates storytelling workshops for the intergenerational lgbtq+ community, supporting storytellers in developing meaningful and heartfelt stories to be shared at live events. The intention of the workshops and organization is to bring forward little known narratives silenced by dominant culture. Workshop themes include 9/11, First Times, and Black Lives Matter.
Adjunct Professor, SUNY Empire State College — September 2018 - present
Writes relevant and engaging curriculum for writing students in the Labor Studies Department and delivers high energy, engaging lessons on developing critical thinking skills while drawing links to labor movements here and abroad, present and past. Co-edited Labor Writes, a student publication.
Written on the Body, contributing writer — 2018
Contributed to this collection of letters written to trans and nonbinary survivors’ of domestic abuse. Finalist for the Lamba Literary award.
Voyages of the Black Madonna, contributing writer— 2019
Contributed a personal narrative to this award winning, groundbreaking reference book.
Public Speaker and presenter — 2018 - present
Summer has presented at various colleges and universities on the themes of gender and identity, including Temple University, NYU, Columbia University, Sarah Lawrence College, and, in 2020 was a featured presenter at the largest college lgbtq+ conference in the midwest, MBLGTACC.
NYC Teaching Fellow — 2010-2016
Summer was awarded a place in the highly competitive NYC Teaching Fellows program. She taught special education pre-K through 3rd grade over 6 years, focusing on progressive educational ideals, project based learned, and differentiated instruction for children of all levels of needs. She worked full time at 3 different schools: The Earth School in the East Village, Central Park East 1, and PS36 Margaret Douglas.
EDUCATION
University of Miami, BA in International Studies and Journalism, 2009
CUNY City College, MS in Special Education, 2012
SKILLS
On-Camera Hosting, Workshop facilitation, Writing, Editing, Translating (Spanish, Portuguese, Italian), Directing - Film and Theater, Early Childhood-Adult Classroom Teaching, Choreographer