Gabriela Lemmons introduces Sandra Cisneros
Showing posts with label Latino Writers Collective. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Latino Writers Collective. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Kansas City, MO: April 16, 2009
Todays photos are by Oscar Pedroza. [Yesterday's photo courtesy of Stephen Holland Wempe] Special thanks to Xánath Caraza and the Latino Writers Collective for sharing Sandra Cisneros' visit to Kansas City, MO with Letras Latinas Blog.
Gabriela Lemmons introduces Sandra Cisneros
Gabriela Lemmons introduces Sandra Cisneros
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Kansas City, MO receives Sandra Cisneros
Dreams Come True: Sandra Cisneros in Kansas City
by Xánath Caraza,
member of the Latino Writers Collective (LWC),
Kansas City, MO
member of the Latino Writers Collective (LWC),
Kansas City, MO
“I am astonished to find such a literary oasis with such strong writers..." These were the words from Sandra Cisneros in a letter sent to Linda Rodriguez, Vice President of the Latino Writers Collective (LWC), after her visit to Kansas City, Missouri. latinowriterscollective.org
Sandra Cisneros spoke at the historic building of the Central Library in Kansas City, Missouri on April 16, 2009 at 7 p.m. This gala event was part of her nationwide tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of The House on Mango Street. Cisneros’ appearance was an important component of the Tercera Página Reading Series the LWC organizes each year.
The arrival of Sandra Cisneros in Kansas City was an astonishing dream realized by the LWC. Forming this dream was at the beginning of the LWC Reading Series three years ago when the founding members happened to fantasize aloud. Among the storm of ideas was inviting Sandra Cisneros as guest speaker. She arrived and has now left her footprint in Kansas City. She has revitalized the LWC, the many students she talked to, and the many, without exaggeration, many people she individually talked with during her book signing, demonstrating her care for those around her.
For her first appearance, Cisneros was introduced by LWC member Gabriela Lemmons and greeted by an outstanding audience of nearly 900, a record-breaking number of audience members. The event was underway when Cisneros shared with the audience how The House on Mango Street evolved: Cisneros’ self-identification at the time of writing her first novel, the importance of her own voice, her experience as a teacher, her struggles with her father, and the pride her mother had for her. “…Se lleva las manos a la cintura y dice orgullosa: ‘Salió a mí’” (page xvi La casa en Mango Street)
After Cisneros’ speech, the forum was open to an exciting question and answer session. Cisneros commented on ways to find one’s own voice when writing, woman empowerment, her own family history (including Kansas City), and how The House on Mango Street became accessible to everyone. She also commented on the significance of proving to herself that she is an independent person.
Cisneros’ positive energy permeates her being. She demonstrated this as she individually chatted with each audience member requesting her autograph. She gave of herself to each person in line waiting for the book signing session. !Ella es incredible! Consequently, what one receives from her is her central presence in the moment with the people around her and her concern for their future.
At the Kansas City Plaza Library, Cisneros met with local high school students the following day, April 17 at 1 p.m. She had a repeat performance of her magic with a tailor-made approach for this audience relating her personal experience growing up with that of the students in the audience, enchanting the many students present for her talk. Cisneros’ ability to connect with different audiences was perceived yet again in Kansas City, Missouri. She was able to communicate to this young audience the importance of expressing their feelings, processing these feeling, and feeling secure in actually having these feelings. However, most notably she encouraged these high school students to write, to read, and to educate themselves.
In Cisneros’ own words “I couldn't have found a more loving and supportive community… and make sure I come back." (Cisneros’ letter to Linda Rodriguez). From Kansas City, Sandra, we lift our voices out of your inspiration and say to you, Gracias! More photos, courtesy of Stephen Holland-Wempe and Oscar Pedroza, will follow in a future post very soon. They illustrate moments of this unforgettable event.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Latino Writers Collective/Ethnic Voices Poetry Series
On January 9th I received an e-mail whose first paragraph read, in part:
“…I live in Kansas City, Missouri, and am vice president of the board of the Latino Writers Collective. We are publishing an anthology of poetry, Primera Página: Poetry from the Latino Heartland. Tomás was guest writer at our first Latino reading series, Primera Página, held last year and is guest poet for the book. There are many anthologies of Latino poets from the coasts and the southwest, but no one is familiar with the old and large Latino communities in Kansas City on both sides of the state line. We founded the Collective to bring those voices to the larger community here, but we hope with this anthology to bring them to an even larger community.”
It was from Linda Rodriguez, author of a forthcoming poetry collection, Heart's Migration, to be published by Tía Chucha Press this coming spring.
Thus began what I hope will be a long and close collaboration. I felt honored to be asked to blurb, Primera Página: Poetry from the Latino Heartland (Scapegoat Press, 2008). But I didn’t think I’d have the pleasure of meeting any of these poets any time soon. As luck would have it, Virginia Brackett, a professor at nearby Park University, who founded and curates the Ethnic Voices Poetry Series, graciously invited me to read. She contacted me back in July and an early December date was set—three days after my slated return from Santa Fe, NM.
Of the 40 or so readings I’ve given since November of 2005, my time with The Latino Writers Collective and the good people at Park University rank among the most indelible and meaningful experiences I’ve had in this racket, maybe the best. I’ve said it here before: one of the things Palabra Pura tries to foster is this sense of hospitality towards our visiting artists. The Latino Writers Collective has set the highest bar I’ve witnessed and had the privilege of experiencing first hand. I think the photographs below will hint at what I mean. They organized a dinner on the evening of my first day, which was held at The Writer’s Place, their home—a space founded by Puerto Rican poet and LWC member Gloria Vando. Earlier in the day, one of their newest members, Erika Noguera, took me on a tour of the westside of Kansas City, MO, which is predominantly Latino and home of the Guadalupe Center, which has been serving this community since 1919. The next day, they organized a luncheon where I got to meet some of the community’s local cultural activists, including Joe and Romana Arce owners and publishers of The Kansas City Hispanic News, Florentino Camacho, the former Kansas state director of LULAC, Consuelo Cruz, director of the Matthie Rhodes Latino Cultural Arts Division, Freda Mendez Smith, president of the KCMO LULAC council, and Sandra Sanchez, president of MANA in Kansas City. One LWC member, Chato Villalobos, actually took me on a tour of the Guadalupe Center beforehand. That evening, I gave my reading at Park and was delighted to share the stage with two LWC poets, Gabriela N. Lemmons and Xanath Caraza. We had a very nice Q and A afterwards, along with a book signing. I was appreciative of how many of Virginia’s colleagues attended and with whom I had a nice time chatting. Afterwards, we all broke bread yet again, at a nearby restaurant. In short, just a wonderful time.
To give you an idea of what an impression the Latino Writers Collective makes on the people they host or have a hand in hosting, consider this: they hosted Helena Maria Viramontes in February of this year. She and her agent were so impressed with how well and warmly they were treated that they reported back—to certain people. The result? Sandra Cisneros will be reading for the Latino Writers Collective in April. A class act. Buena gente.
Here are some pics:
Poet and muralist José Faus, current President of the LWC is on my right.
All of us enjoying the food, drink, and each other's company
A toast to new connections and future collaboration
Group photo number 1 on the steps inside The Writer's Place
A luncheon the next day at a local restaurant on Kansas City's westside
Poet, police officer, and member of the LWC, Chato Villalobos, on my left
Linda Rodriguez did the honors of introducing the readers that evening
Selling and signing a few books
The LWC poets I read with: Gabriela N. Lemmons and Xanath Caraza
Group photo number 2 at Park University, after the reading
“…I live in Kansas City, Missouri, and am vice president of the board of the Latino Writers Collective. We are publishing an anthology of poetry, Primera Página: Poetry from the Latino Heartland. Tomás was guest writer at our first Latino reading series, Primera Página, held last year and is guest poet for the book. There are many anthologies of Latino poets from the coasts and the southwest, but no one is familiar with the old and large Latino communities in Kansas City on both sides of the state line. We founded the Collective to bring those voices to the larger community here, but we hope with this anthology to bring them to an even larger community.”
It was from Linda Rodriguez, author of a forthcoming poetry collection, Heart's Migration, to be published by Tía Chucha Press this coming spring.
Thus began what I hope will be a long and close collaboration. I felt honored to be asked to blurb, Primera Página: Poetry from the Latino Heartland (Scapegoat Press, 2008). But I didn’t think I’d have the pleasure of meeting any of these poets any time soon. As luck would have it, Virginia Brackett, a professor at nearby Park University, who founded and curates the Ethnic Voices Poetry Series, graciously invited me to read. She contacted me back in July and an early December date was set—three days after my slated return from Santa Fe, NM.
Of the 40 or so readings I’ve given since November of 2005, my time with The Latino Writers Collective and the good people at Park University rank among the most indelible and meaningful experiences I’ve had in this racket, maybe the best. I’ve said it here before: one of the things Palabra Pura tries to foster is this sense of hospitality towards our visiting artists. The Latino Writers Collective has set the highest bar I’ve witnessed and had the privilege of experiencing first hand. I think the photographs below will hint at what I mean. They organized a dinner on the evening of my first day, which was held at The Writer’s Place, their home—a space founded by Puerto Rican poet and LWC member Gloria Vando. Earlier in the day, one of their newest members, Erika Noguera, took me on a tour of the westside of Kansas City, MO, which is predominantly Latino and home of the Guadalupe Center, which has been serving this community since 1919. The next day, they organized a luncheon where I got to meet some of the community’s local cultural activists, including Joe and Romana Arce owners and publishers of The Kansas City Hispanic News, Florentino Camacho, the former Kansas state director of LULAC, Consuelo Cruz, director of the Matthie Rhodes Latino Cultural Arts Division, Freda Mendez Smith, president of the KCMO LULAC council, and Sandra Sanchez, president of MANA in Kansas City. One LWC member, Chato Villalobos, actually took me on a tour of the Guadalupe Center beforehand. That evening, I gave my reading at Park and was delighted to share the stage with two LWC poets, Gabriela N. Lemmons and Xanath Caraza. We had a very nice Q and A afterwards, along with a book signing. I was appreciative of how many of Virginia’s colleagues attended and with whom I had a nice time chatting. Afterwards, we all broke bread yet again, at a nearby restaurant. In short, just a wonderful time.
To give you an idea of what an impression the Latino Writers Collective makes on the people they host or have a hand in hosting, consider this: they hosted Helena Maria Viramontes in February of this year. She and her agent were so impressed with how well and warmly they were treated that they reported back—to certain people. The result? Sandra Cisneros will be reading for the Latino Writers Collective in April. A class act. Buena gente.
Here are some pics:
Poet and muralist José Faus, current President of the LWC is on my right.
All of us enjoying the food, drink, and each other's company
A toast to new connections and future collaboration
Group photo number 1 on the steps inside The Writer's Place
A luncheon the next day at a local restaurant on Kansas City's westside
Poet, police officer, and member of the LWC, Chato Villalobos, on my left
Linda Rodriguez did the honors of introducing the readers that evening
Selling and signing a few books
The LWC poets I read with: Gabriela N. Lemmons and Xanath Caraza
Group photo number 2 at Park University, after the reading*
To read an excelllent interview with LWC vice president click--HERE.
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