Events for Our Children at the Borders

Talleres de Poesía & Accíon Latina's 

3rd Annual Flor y Canto para Nuestros Niños y Niñas

This year Flor y Canto Poetry Festival is very special and important. It is dedicated to the children coming from Central America and Mexico who are being detained in shelters at the borders - some of them are facing deportation back to their violence and poverty ridden countries. 

The event is a welcome celebration of love and hope, to also demonstrate that these children are not alone, that people care and are working towards making things better for them.

The festival is scheduled to start at 2pm at Accíon Latina 2958- 24th St. (between Harrison & Alabama) San Francisco, California.

We kindly ask you to please come and support the festival by coming to the children's activities. Also a reminder, we will be collecting children's books in Spanish, Arts & Craft Kits, puzzles, coloring books, crayons and stuffed animals for the little ones.

We are thankful to Accíon Latina and El Tecolote Newspaper who for the 3rd year are partnering with us to produce this festival. Please note that Saturday August 23rd is also the 44th Anniversary of El Tecolote Newspaper and we will be celebrating in the evening at Cesars Latin Palace with music by John Santos, Roger Glenn, Tito Gonzalez and Anthony Blea. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/447291505410775/

Admission is $20, and all proceeds go to benefit El Tecolote, and community journalism. Mention that you participated in Flor y Canto and get $5 off the cover. Please join us!

  

 'Unaccompanied Latin American Minor Project'

5 days left to support the 'Unaccompanied Latin American Minor Project' Fund!
 La Casa Azul Bookstore staff will deliver books to local shelters/court offices and provide them directly to children and teenagers who are currently in deportation proceedings. Please share with your networks, gracias!

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/unaccompanied-latin-american-minor-project-fund#pledges

Fireworks in New Orleans 2012

Melinda Palacio

The week began on a somber, but hopeful note. The humidity and 96-degree weather reminded me of Panama. Like Panama, New Orleans is one of my favorite places, and one of the most unique cities in the world. Many who don’t appreciate the beauty of the river city and its diversity would have written New Orleans off the map when the water kept rising after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The city bounced back and much of the clean-up and rebuilding effort came from immigrants who now call New Orleans home.

Standing with the Southern 32 in front of the Hale Boggs Federal Building in  New Orleans.

Last Friday, I stood with the Southern 32, a group of jornaleros who experienced violations to their civil rights, who chose to stand up for justice.

Jacinta Gonzalez with the Southern 32 and Delmy Palencia with her 16-month-old son Josue.

Members of the community came out to support the Southern 32. Thanks to the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice, www.nowcr.org, and the organization's vivacious leaders, such as Jacinta Gonzalez, day laborers have a place to call when fear is used to abuse their civil rights.

The types of traps, wage theft, unconstitutional treatment, unlawful arrest, and “payday raids” by immigration agents, tipped off by employers who refused to pay workers or provide safety equipment, is a move out of Arizona’s playbook.

In a powerful speech by Delmy Palencia, 35, spoke to the group about the struggles she has endured. She has been humiliated and separated from her nursing son, and undergone an unconstitutional arrest by ICE. “As women we have to stand up for our children, our families, our communities, and ourselves,” she said. Palencia left behind two daughters in Honduras.

Part of the reason why I wrote Ocotillo Dreams was to bring to light the different types of issues surrounding undocumented workers. 

This week also brought a whirlwind of buzz for the novel, beginning with an interview by Adela Najarro at Letras Latinas, news that Ocotillo Dreams is the book of the month at the Latina Book Club,

and (the excitement continues), La Casa Azul Bookstore in New York named Ocotillo Dreams as the #1 Best Seller in June.

La Casa Azul Bookstore's best sellers display.

I am grateful to Aurora Anaya-Cerda for giving me one of the very first book signing events at La Casa Azul Bookstore in East Harlem, two days after I had won the Mariposa Award for Best First Book and received an Honorable Mention in the Historical Fiction category at the Instituto Cervantes in Manhattan. I love New York.

What’s next?

On the fourth of July, Glimmer Train informed me that my new short story was a Finalist in their Family Matters competition and received an Honorable Mention. I earned extra sparklers, according to my friend Jocelyn. After 10 years of rejections from the literary journal, the editors finally gave me a nod. I’m one step closer to winning. And all because I am not afraid of rejection.

Events: Tomorrow in New Orleans, Saturday, July 7, 2012 at 2pm, I join the Poetry Buffet at the Latter Library.

Literary News from California to New Mexico to New York!

Melinda Palacio

May wraps ups with my non-fiction story, "Grandmother's Stars," published in Mary: A Journal of New Writing. The other good news is the Ocotillo Dreams tour rides again in New York at La Casa Azul Bookstore in East Harlem. Aurora Anaya-Cerda fulfilled her dream to open a bookstore in East Harlem. The store will open with much celebration June 1 and I have the privilege of being among the first authors to have a book signing at La Casa Azul Bookstore, June 7 at 6pm. This is also my first visit to the big city as an author. The address to La Casa Azul Bookstore is 143 E. 103rd Street, El Barrio 10029. In NY speak, take the 6 train to 103rd.

The first week of June in New York is also exciting for two other reasons: Book Expo America and the 14th International Latino Book Awards. La Bloga represents. Daniel Olivas's novel, The Book of Want, is a finalist in Best Popular Fiction and Ocotillo Dreams is a finalist in two categories: Best First Book and Best Historical Fiction. Check out the complete list of finalists here. The 14th International Latino Book Awards takes place June 5 at the Instituto Cervantes. Fourteen is a good number so far. Today I received my 14th review on Amazon, another 5 star customer review. Add your review of Ocotillo Dreams here.

Speaking of reviews... La Bloga friend, Reyna Grande, received a noted starred review from Publishers Weekly for her new memoir, The Distance Between Us. Grande captivates and inspires begins the review. The book is available for pre-order with an August release date. La Bloga will continue to report on the accolades and book signings for Reyna Grande. Much of Grande's US portion of the memoir takes place in Highland Park, Ca.

Taco Shop Poets Tomás Riley and Adrian Arancibia at the Border Book Festival in 2006

An exciting event is happening this weekend in Highland Park, thanks to Poesia Para La Gente, an Avenue 50 studio event. Members of the Taco Shop Poets reunite for a special reading along with Luivette Resto at My Taco, 6300 York Boulevard #4, Highland Park, CA 90042. This promises to be an excellent poetry event, especially if you enjoy tacos. I had the privilege of trying out the scrumptious carne asada tacos with Luivette after the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and Avenue 50 Studio's La Palabra Poetry Reading last month. 

Denise Chávez and Luis Alberto Urrea at the Border Book Festival 

Reyna Grande, Malín Alegría, Melinda Palacio, Monica Brown, René Colato Laínez, and
Daniel Zolinksy at the Border Book Festival

The Mesilla Cultural Center with its wonderful workshops, presentations, and the Border Book Festival has found a new home in the original settlement of Las Cruces at 314 S. Tornillo, Las Cruces NM 88001. If you are in the area, lend a hand in the moving party, Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and May 27. Meet at 9 am. Send donations to the new Cultural Center:  314 S. Tornillo, Las Cruces, NM 88001 or you can donate via Pay Pal.

Next month in beautiful Santa Barbara, the 40th Santa Barbara Writers Conference will take place at the Hyatt, across from the beach, June 9-14, 2012. Secure your spot before registration closes.

Talleres de Poesía- New Fundraising Events

For more information visit www.talleresdepoesia.org

Event in Los Angeles

Talleres de Poesía and Un Solo Sol Kitchen invite you to this fundraising event for the 2nd Annual Children's Poetry Festival in El Salvador.

You will enjoy delicious food while you listen to poets and children’s book authors. 

Date: Sunday, September 25th

Time: 2 to 5 pm.

Place: Un Solo Sol Kitchen

1818 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033

(323) 269-8680

Event in San Francisco

Friday, October 7, 7pm 

Piñata Art Gallery 

4268 Mission St. San Francisco, CA

Talleres de Poesía and CARECEN present the 2nd Annual Art Auction Benefit for the 2nd Children's Poetry Festival in El Salvador.

‘40K in 40 days’ 

campaign to open La Casa Azul Bookstore in East Harlem!