The History of Nuestra Palabra

The first Nuestra Palabra showcase was held in April of 1998 in the party hall of Chapultepec Restaurant. Last year, we attracted over 30,000 people to our 2004 Third Annual Houston Latino Book and Family Festival, which takes place in the Fall. This is now the largest book fair in all of Texas. In only six years, we have gone from the party hall of Chapultepec Restaurant, to exhibit Hall A of The George R. Brown Convention Center. And we are still growing.

Nuestra Palabra takes the upper echelon of Latino literature into the deepest part of the community. Our endeavors stem from our main showcases, which take place monthly from February to July. The showcases highlight Latino writers in an entertaining and informative forum. We generally draw from 100 – 300 people per event. These showcases are more than simply readings. Each forum evolves from or leads to other ways to educate and inspire the community, and at the same time promotes Latino literature and Latino authors.

In 2000 we added the NP TV show which now broadcasts on Houston Community College Television on Channel 19 of the Warner system. The TV Show is currently in hiatus as we update the format.

In 2001 we added the Nuestra Palabra radio show, “Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say: On The Air” every Tuesday night at 8 P.M. on 90.1 FM KPFT, nation-wide on www.kpft.org.

In 2002, Nuestra Palabra brought the Edward James Olmos Latino Book and Family Festival to Houston, which has become an annual event. Houston has been the most successful city on the book fair’s circuit of 6 cities.
And we are still growing!