If you are a regular reader of this blog, you already know that La Bloga celebrates Latinx culture in its many forms: literature, art, food, politics, and more. In our different voices, we try to bring you news of where and how you can join in the celebration—wherever it might be. But in the end, our truest love are books, especially those written by Latinx authors.
One way is to celebrate Latinx literature is to visit (and support) independent bookstores such as Tía Chucha’s Centro Cultural in Sylmar. The mission of Tía Chucha’s is to transform community in the Northeast San Fernando Valley and beyond through ancestral knowledge, the arts, literacy and creative engagement.
Tía Chucha’s began as a café, bookstore and cultural space owned and run by former Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis J. Rodríguez, his wife Trini Rodríguez, and their brother-in-law Enrique Sánchez. Tía Chucha’s provides year-round on-site and off-site free or low-cost arts and literacy bilingual intergenerational programming in mural painting, music, dance, writing, visual arts, healing arts sessions (such as reiki healing) and healing/talking circles. Workshops and activities also include Mexica ("Aztec") dance, indigenous cosmology/philosophy, and two weekly open mic nights (one in Spanish, the other in English). Tía Chucha’s also has hosted author readings, film screenings, and art exhibits as well.
While the pandemic has moved many of these offerings into the virtual world, Tía Chucha’s is still going strong because of the committed staff and vibrant community members.
You may visit Tía Chucha’s and do some socially distanced book browsing, or order online. Check out some of these wonderful titles, and stock up on books for adults, teens, and kids.
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