Una noche de poesía por Xánath Caraza

Una noche de poesía por Xánath Caraza

The International Women’s Day Poetry Reading happened on March 8 from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. on Zoom.  Here are some of the highlights and photos of la noche de poesía. Words by Nurehşan Guneri, the Intercultural Dialogue Student Association President, the first woman ISDA president, and a recent graduate of UMKC. 

 

“Intercultural Dialogue Student Association is dedicated to celebrating diversity.  We bring together students from multiple backgrounds, cultures, religions, countries, languages and more to get to know each other and learn about our similarities and differences while creating peace together.  International Women’s Day has celebrated women’s accomplishments worldwide for more than a hundred years.  Thus, our Intercultural Dialogue Student Association International Women’s Day Celebration each year is key in celebrating what and who we stand for. 

 

Tonight, in order to celebrate International Women’s Day, we have a poetry reading by our distinguished poets. I would like to share the names of our sponsors and co-sponsors. Our event is sponsored by the UMKC Intercultural Dialogue Student Association and the Kansas City Branch of the Dialogue Institute of the Southwest, which is a nonprofit organization in the Greater Kansas City Area and their executive director is Dr. Eyyup Esen. As well, the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, in addition to the Women’s Center, are co-sponsoring and their program coordinator is Ms. Chelsie Duckworth.” 

 

“Annette Hope Billings is an award-winning writer, fondly referred to by her readers as "Maya of the Midwest," Annette Hope Billings holds poetry nearest to her heart. She began writing full-time in 2015 after four decades of being a registered nurse. Her first collection of poetry, A Net Full of Hope, won the 2015 ArtsConnect ARTY Award in Literature.  She has written three collections of poetry, her most recent being Just Shy of Stars (Spartan Press). She holds a special interest in new poets and has co-hosted a monthly open mic, Speak Easy Poets, now in its tenth year. Her work can also be found in several anthologies and in print and online publications.”

 

“Xánath Caraza is a traveler, educator, poet, short story writer, and translator. She writes for La Bloga, and Revista Literaria Monolito. In 2021 It Pierces the Skin received Bronze Medal for the Juan Felipe Herrera Best Book of Poetry. In 2020 Balamkú received second place for the Juan Felipe Herrera Best Book of Poetry Award. In 2019 for the International Latino Book Awards she received Second Place for Hudson for “Best Book of Poetry in Spanish” and Second Place for Metztli for Best Short Story Collection. In 2018 for the International Latino Book Awards she received First Place for Lágrima roja for “Best Book of Poetry in Spanish by One Author” and First Place for Sin preámbulos / Without Preamble for “Best Book of Bilingual Poetry”. Her book of poetry Syllables of Wind / Sílabas de viento received the 2015 International Book Award for Poetry. She was Writer-in-Residence at Westchester Community College, NY, 2016-2019. Caraza was the recipient of the 2014 Beca Nebrija para Creadores, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares in Spain. She was named number one of the 2013 Top Ten Latino Authors by LatinoStories.com. Her books of verse Where the Light is Violet, Black Ink, Ocelocíhuatl, Conjuro and her book of short fiction What the Tide Brings have won national and international recognition. Her other books of poetry are Fără preambul, Μαύρη μελάνη, Le sillabe del vento, Noche de colibríes, Corazón pintado, Perching, Lips of Stone, Jackeline’s Butterfly, and Red Teardrop. Caraza has been translated into English, Italian, Romanian, and Greek; and partially translated into Nahuatl, Portuguese, Hindi, and Turkish.”

 

“Mercy Tullis-Bukhari is a poet, essayist, and fiction writer who focuses on the woman experience through individuality, motherhood, and sexuality. Mercy was named one of the “8 Authors Bringing Afro-Latina Stories to the Forefront” by Remezcla magazine and was a Pushcart Prize nominee in 2016 and 2018. Mercy’s third anthology of poetry, The Little Deaths, will be published by Get Fresh Books Publishing this year.”