Experience Summary
I am an educator, poet, novelist, and journalist, the founder of La Onda Negra Press, and author of Reclamo and The Housekeeper’s Diary, originally a book of poetry and now a one-woman performance. was released in April 2006. Sister Chicas is a coming of age story concerning the lives of three young Latinas living in Chicago, and won 2nd place Best First Novel in English (Latino Literacy Now/2007) My book of poetry, Raw Silk Suture, is the newest release by Floricanto Press. I've also been the recipient of grants from the Department of Cultural Affairs, The NEA, and the Ragdale Foundation.
Teaching Style
I encourage students from all backgrounds to find their best learning style and I support them and guide them in that. Learning must provide students with the means to survive and thrive in the larger world.
My work as a novelist, as a performance poet, installation artist, gives me many routes, many paths to encourage students to explore. As teacher and mentor, I can meet students at different levels, and help them discover the lens for their own learning. In the ideal situation, my students uncover many questions and discover their own answers and hopefully, the concrete skills to take them to the next level regarding their learning and career goals.