In order to spotlight and selfishly celebrate poetry and poets, The Word Around Town tour focuses its attention on a solid line-up of Houston’s best and brightest poets. So for the third time, Houston’s finest poets will congregate at several local venues throughout the city in order to spread the message, the image and the gift of word through poetry. Poets who are selected are individuals who may not be the most famous, but are the most talented. Standard poets, slam poets, spoken word artist and experimental poets all grace many of the poetic venues Houston has to offer.

The Word Around Town tour was originally organized by three Houston area poets: Zelene Pineda, Joe B and Stephen Gros, as a way to bring many types of poets and poetry together. This ambitious endeavor is made even more enticing by allowing invited poets to read throughout the city of Houston at local poetry/art/cultural venues. The purpose is two-fold: 1) to spotlight poets and their poetry that bring a clear and relevant message and 2) to expose these artists to an audience or venue they might not have ever been exposed to before. The original tour began in the summer of 2006 with 10 poets. This year’s line-up includes fourteen diverse poets and six beautiful venues, from coffee shops to cultural centers.

Participating artists include: Aria, BGK, Binx, Joe B, Kool B, MissMillieFiori, Stephen Gros, Marlon Lizama, Lupe Mendez, Marcell Murphy, Maria Palacios, Zelene Pineda, Jasminne Rosario and Jerome Washington

Tour Dates/Venues:
Sunday, July 20th - Bohemeo’s Art House - 708 Telephone Rd.
Monday, July 21st - MECA - 1900 Kane St.
Tuesday, July 22nd - Project Row Houses - 2521 Holman
Wednesday July 23rd - Notsuoh’s - 314 Main St.
Thursday, July 24th - Bohemeo’s - 708 Telephone Rd.
Friday, July 25th - Avant Garden – 411 Westheimer Rd.
Saturday, July 26th - BOX 13 Artspace - 6700 Harrisburg Rd.

2nd Night of W.A.T. tour
“Houston Cultura” Leaders Portrait Exhibit
Monday, July 21st – Doors Open at 8:00pm
Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA) – 1900 Kane
Price: Free – Refreshments provided by MECA – a fundraiser for their Capital Campaign

Monday night’s tour will feature live art to the beat of poetry. Local artists Skeez 181 and Christian Navarrete will create original art pieces to the beat of the featured poets. In conjunction with the poetry tour, local artistic photographer, Chuy Benitez, will have his portrait series of “Houston Cultura” leaders on display. Mr. Benitez’s cultural documentary photography is created with the help of wide-angle lenses and digital processing. His portraits involve a 360 view of a personal space and a front/back portrait displayed as a diptych. This portrait series presents those who represent and infuse Mexican American and Spanish-speaking culture into the mainstream society of Houston, TX.

Closing Night
End of Tour Party/Panhandler Publishing Release Party
Saturday, July 26th – Doors Open at 7:00pm
BOX13 Artspace – 6700 Harrisburg
Price: $8 at the door
Promoting the release of the Panhandler Quarterly summer issue, as well as the closing night celebration for the Word Around Town tour. Performing that night will be The Ton Tons, with special guest Desmond Zavala, DJ John Mullins and one other special guest DJ.

We would like to thank the following venues, galleries, and cultural community centers for hosting the poetry tour: Bohemeo’s Art House, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Avant Garden, BOX 13 Artspace, Notsuoh’s, and Project Row Houses.

We would like to also thank the following individuals who will serve as guest hosts for the tour: Liana Lopez – Nuestra Palabra, Josh Hayes – former Board President of Panhandler Publishing and Seth Walker, Spoken Word Artist, Black Snow Productions.

Brief Bios for Poets:
• Aria - Poet. School Teacher. Born to the World of Poetry in New Orleans. Originally from Austin, TX, Aria brings her voice and style from the Crescent City to the Bayou City.
• BGK - BGK is a slow world traveler from Washington, D.C., suffering the world through poetics, grocery lists, and mad rants.
• Binx – Lady Binx to be exact. Woman. Activist. Artist. Mother. Originally from Houston, TX, Lady Binx is a fierce voice for unrepresented women here in the United States and Mexico. Performing with her group, Almas Intocables Lady Binx packs houses, determined to put a face on the injustices of Latin America.
• Joe B – Beat maker, remix artist, A & R, producer (“I don’t sell tracks, I sell experiences”). Joe B, a founding member of Rebel Crew, influences underground breakbeats and bass.
• Kool B - Kool B established himself as a recognizable force in the literary world when he received a Houston Sammy Award for performance poetry. Since that time, his work as a troubadour has continued to attract the attention of beatniks and bards alike.
• MissMillieFiori – Former host of Taft Street Coffee’s poetry open mic, she is an eclectic force in the poetry world. Her smooth delivery matches the intelligence and wit of her words.
• Stephen Gros - Co-founder of Panhandler Publishing, poet, painter, lover, fool.
• Marlon Lizama - World traveled BBoy (Havikoro) and poet, this 27 year old writes to social issues, love, and injustice; all while juggling the jobs of a social worker. Marlon strives to prove a positive message of action through dance and word.
• Lupe Mendez – Originally from Galveston, TX, this man/poet/teacher delves into writing from two contrasting perspectives: the ideals of poetic imagery and the real world issues dealing with children, cultural identity and poverty.
• Marcell Murphy – Raised in Houston Texas, Marcell Murphy has been reciting poetry for 10 years and mixes the condensed energy of his performances with surreal written images. He is co-founder of the Houston Poetry Slam Team, promoting poetry slam as an art form in which poets compete against each other for the love of the audience.
• Maria Palacios - Maria R. Palacios is an empowered Latina, inspirational speaker, feminist poet, author, spoken word performer, polio survivor, activist, disability educator, workshop facilitator, and professional presenter. She is the Goddess on Wheels.
• Zelene Pineda – One of the original think-tankers to the Word Around Town tour, this ambitious nineteen-year-old poet currently attends the Univ. of Texas at El Paso. She makes waves wherever she goes. Then writes about them.
• Jasminne Rosario - Born from immigrant parents of the Dominican Republic, Jasminne was blessed to learn both English and Spanish at a very early age. She has used these skills to her advantage throughout her life by performing, reading and writing poetry and plays in both languages.
• Jerome Washington – Jerome has became a voice for the speechless, hope to the hopeless and proved to be one of the most progressive entities in the Poetry game today. It’s not just what he says, but how he says it. Emerging from Houston’s Fifth Ward, artist and visionary Jerome Darwin Washington is on the front line helping to define the emerging urban culture in the Bayou City.

The Ultimate Father’s Day Gift:
A Pair of Boxing Gloves Signed by Oscar De La Hoya.

Join Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say for a book signing with Oscar De La Hoya, Sunday, June 15, 2008, 7 pm, at Barnes and Noble, 7626 Westheimer @ Voss. Admission is free. This is part of Nuestra Palabra’s tenth anniversary season.

Oscar de La Hoya will be signing copies of his life story titled American Son. Everyone who purchases a copy of the book will also be entered into a raffle for a pair of boxing gloves signed by Oscar De La Hoya. A portion of book sales will be donated to Nuestra Palabra.

De La Hoya is part owner of the Houston Dynamos who will be on hand for the event. Dynamo paraphernalia will also be raffled.

This event is made possible through grants from the Texas Commission for the Arts, Houston Arts Alliance and our media partners Univisión Television, Univisión Radio, and KPFT 90.1 FM.

Get the flyer here (PDF)

The 5th Annual Edward James Olmos Houston Latino Book & Family Festival
September 29 & 30, 2007 (Friday & Saturday)
George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall A-3
1001 Avenida de las Americas
Houston, TX 77010
10 am - 6 pm
Admission is FREE
(parking is not free)

Volunteer positions available:
Security
Nuestra Palabra Booth
Information Booth for the national LBFF office
Time Keepers & Assistant Stage Managers
Technical (video & audio)
“Madrinas & Padrinos” (facilitators of rooms for author readings)
Distributing flyers
and more!

Volunteer Mixer will be at Arcodoro on Wednesday, August 22, 2007, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
FREE BUFFET. Complimentary Valet. Cash Bar. Drawing at 7 PM for your chance to win a prize!

Arcodoro Pomodoro Ristoranti
5000 Westheimer @ Post Oak
Houston, TX
713 621-6888 http://www.arcodoro.com/Houston/default.htm

For more info, please contact the Nuestra Palabra team! As some of you may know, I am relocating to Chicago as the new Director of Public Relations & Marketing for the National Museum of Mexican Art. I will no longer be an active volunteer for Nuestra Palabra - Angie Moreno.

Nuestra Palabra team:
Guadalupe Mendez -Volunteer Coordinator: mendezg76@yahoo.com
Liana Lopez - Facilitator/Stage Coordinator: npliana@gmail.com
Bryan Parras - Tech & Logistics Coordinator: lucas77@gmail.com
Tony Diaz - NP Director: aztecmuse@aol.com

Ask the Nuestra Palabra team about the active volunteer positions available throughout the year.

www.myspace.com/nuestrapalabra
www.lbff.us

Harvard Graduate and Rising Star
Manuel Muñoz
Presenting His First Novel
THE FAITH HEALER OF OLIVE AVENUE

Wednesday June 27, 2007 at 7 pm
Barnes and Noble, 7626 Westheimer @ Voss
Houston, TX 77063
Admission is free.

Originally from California, Manuel has risen from humble beginnings to the top of the literary world. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard then went on to study with noted author Helena Maria Viramontes at Cornell, where he received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing. He currently lives in New York where he is employed at a major publishing house.

Manuel’s stories have appeared in many important journals and magazines throughout the nation and grew into his first collection ZIGZAGGER. This is his first novel. He is part of the new generation of Latino writers who represent our community at the highest levels of the academic and publishing worlds. He writes at the highest level of craft and soul to create universal and moving fiction. He is making an important impact on the national literary scene.

For more info: www.nuestrapalabra.org
www.myspace.com/nuestrapalabra
713-867-8943

Sponsored by Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say, Houston Community College Title V Program, The Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. This event is supported by Poets & Writers, Inc.

Fear of A Brown Planet at DiverseWorks June 29th & 30th!

Fear of A Brown Planet
Written and Performed by The Chicano Messengers of
Spoken Word, Directed by Tony Garcia of El Centro Su
Teatro (Denver, Colorado)
Original jazz score by Marcus Shelby & Lighting Design
by Selina Young

Friday-Saturday June 29-30, 2007 at 8:00pm
DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, I-10 at North Main
Houston,TX 77002
Tickets: $5 Advance, $9 Day of show
DiverseWorks: 713-223-8346
Ticket Line: 713-335-3445
http://www.diverseworks.org/
www.meca-houston.org

Houston, TX - Nationally acclaimed spoken word performers Paul Flores (HBO Def Poetry), Marc David Pinate (1999 National Slam Poetry Champion) and Amalia Ortiz (HBO Def Poetry & 2000 San Antonio Puro Slam Champion) present their new spoken word theater play.

FEAR OF A BROWN PLANET is the story of three Chicano archetypes – a stubborn construction worker, a radical labor party lawyer, and a trophy wife socialite – who find themselves in an internment camp with no memory of why or how they got there. A browning of Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit, FEAR OF A BROWN PLANET is a psycho-spiritual journey into the dark prison of the mind in a quest for meaning to our collective Brown existence.

In FEAR OF A BROWN PLANET the Chicano Messengers utilize their talents as contemporary spoken word artists in a dramatic setting, combining conventions of theater, dialogue and character with a bebop jazz score. As inheritors of a Chicano literary tradition started in the 1970s, Chicano Messengers represent a new voice and new generation of writer-performers examining identity, race, terrorism and immigration with language that reflects a complex, more urban feel. Directed by Tony Garcia, author of “I Don’t Speak English Only” and founder of El Centro Su Teatro in Denver, Colorado, with the musical production of jazz composer Marcus Shelby and lighting design by Selina Young (San Jose Repertory), FEAR OF A BROWN PLANET is an essential work of for all cultures and generations.

ARTIST BIOS:

Paul S. Flores is a published poet, novelist and one of the nation’s prominent spoken word performers. Raised on the Tijuana / San Diego border, issues of immigration, border experience and Latino identity are central to his work. A versatile artist and a key collaborator in many ground-breaking theater projects, Flores’ playwriting and stage performance credits include Fear of a Brown Planet with Chicano Messengers of Spoken Word, REPRESENTA! and No Man’s Land. He is also the author of the novel Along the Border Lies which was awarded the PEN Oakland / Josephine Miles National Literary Award in 2003. He has performed at the National Hip-Hop Festival in Havana, Cuba and was featured on Season 4 of Russell Simmons Presents: Def Poetry Jam on HBO.

Amalia Ortiz is a San Antonio based actor, director, activist and Puro Slam grand slam champion 2000, 2001, and 2002. Amalia has graced the pages of Latina Magazine for founding, co-writing, directing, and appearing in the 2 hour all female poetry/theatre piece, Women of ILL Repute: Refute!, which raised money for the Rape Crisis Center. Amalia proudly represented San Antonio at the 2000 National Poetry Slam as the first Latina to compete in the National Slam Finals which placed 2nd in the nation. She has been awarded the San Antonio Current’s editor pick for “Best Local Poet” 2002 and the Alfredo Cisneros Del Moral Award from Sandra Cisneros. She also performed at the nation’s capital and met the President and First Lady at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Her poetry is featured on the spoken word compilation CDs PoetCD.Com Sampler Vol. I, NYC Urbana: the Very Best of 2003, and The Chicano Messengers of Spoken Word. Calaca Press will feature her on the upcoming CD RazaSpoken Here III. Amalia has appeared on three seasons of Russell Simmons Present Def Poetry on HBO and the 2003 NAACP Image Awards on FOX and currently tours with the female performance-poetry troupe Diva Diction, The Chicano Messengers of Spoken Word, and the Def Poetry College Tour.

Marc David Pinate is a poet, playwright, actor, organizer, and activist currently residing in Berkeley, California. Pinate is the co-founder and front man-poet of Grito Serpentino, a spoken word and music ensemble which has toured throughout the country. In 1999 Pinate was a member of the San Jose Slam Team that took first place at the National Slam Championships in Chicago that year and which also earned him an appearance on CBS’s “60 Minutes” when the news program did a feature story on slam poetry. Pinate also founded Los Del Pueblo Actors’ Lab, a grass roots NeoChican@ theater company which has mounted several plays written by Pinate including The Mex-Files, The Tale of Johnny Hispanic, Amor Rabioso, The Lunatic and The Journey of Isis. As a solo poet, he has performed in cities around the nation including Chicago, Los Angeles, Tucson, Washington D.C., New York City, Albuquerque, San Diego, and Boston. Pinate’s poetry, plays and short stories have been published in The Santa Clara Review, Razateca, Comfusion, Calaca Review, Zyzzyvaand StreetLow magazine. Pinate has recorded and released two spoken word CDs: the self titled debut CD, Grito Sepentino (1999), and the recently released, Para La Gente (2001). Originally from Chandler, Arizona, he received his BA in Communications from Santa Clara University in 1994 and holds a Master of Arts degree in Theater Arts from San Jose State University. He currently teaches drama at SJSU and is the Program Manager at GalerÌa De La Raza in San Francisco.

FEAR OF A BROWN PLANET was commissioned through the National Performance Network Creation Fund, with co-commissioners Youth Speaks (San Francisco), El Centro Su Teatro (Denver) Xicanindio Artes (Mesa, AZ) and MECA-Houston. FEAR OF A BROWN PLANET has its Texas debut June 29-30th, 2007 in Houston @ DiverseWorks.

For press reviews, schedule, photos, blog about Latino spoken word and hip-hop theater please visit:
www.myspace.com/paulfloresrepresenta

Youth Speaks director Paul Flores will be leading workshops for youth interested in creative writing, spoken work and Hip Hop performances. This residency is part of MECA’s Summer Program and will come to close with a youth poetry performance directed by Paul Flores. Performance will be Friday, June 22, 2007 at 7 PM at MECA Dow School Campus, located on 1900 Kane Street, Houston, TX 77007. For more info, call 713-802-9370 or visit www.meca-houston.org

ASK A MEXICAN in person

Nuestra Palabra presents Gustavo Arellano

The man behind this satirical, controversial persona

Houston, TX – Wednesday, May 16, 7 pm – 830 pm, at Barnes and Noble Book Store, 7626 Westheimer, Houston, Texas 77063, admission is free. Gustavo Arrelleno launches his new book ASK A MEXICAN. His column, of the same name, appears in over a dozen newspapers across the country, including the Houston Press . His satirical approach to controversial immigration issues inspires and enrages people on every end of the political spectrum. However, this new approach ignites fresh dialogue on topics that have been talked about and talked about and talked about to death.

You will never know where you really stand on immigration and multiculturalism until you ASK A MEXICAN.

Arellano will be taking live calls on several Houston radio shows during his visit, including the Nuestra Palabra radio show, Tuesday, May 8, 730 pm – 830 pm, on KPFT 90.1 FM. Live call-ins will be taken at 713-526-5738.

A portion of proceeds made May 16 at Barnes and Noble Voss with an NP voucher will be donated to Nuestra Palabra.  Sponsored by The Houston Press, The Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and KPFT.

In honor of Sor Juana, the first feminist writer of our continent,

Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say And the Houston Community College—(College Activity Board) Present

One of the leading Mexican American Feminists of our time, Novelist Helena Maria Viramontes

Houston (March 30, 2007) – Tuesday, April 17, 2007, from 7 pm – 8:30 pm, at Borders Bookstore 3025 Kirby @ Alabama, Houston, Texas, as part of Houston’s first Sor Juana Festival, Nuestra Palabra welcomes internationally acclaimed author Helena Maria Viramontes with her new book THEIR DOGS CAME WITH THEM. Local Latina authors will also be featured. This event will be broadcast live on KPFT 90.1 FM.

Helena María Viramontes is the author of The Moths and Other Stories; Under the Feet of Jesus, a novel; and the co-editor, with Maria Herrera Sobek, of two collections: Chicana (W)rites: On Word and Film and Chicana Creativity and Criticism. Her short stories and essays have been widely anthologized, and her writings have been adapted for classroom use and university study.

She is an associate professor at the prestigious creative program at Cornell, in Ithaca, New York. She is the ONLY Latina who is on the faculty of any of the top 10 creative writing programs in the nation. For more information call 713-867-8943.

Sponsored by Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say, Houston Community College-College Activity Board, The Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say ON THE AIR, Tuesdays 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM, on 90.1 FM KPFT, nation-wide on www.kpft.org

For more info on the National Sor Juana Festival, download the brochure from the Nuestra Palabra website or visit www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org.

The National Museum of Mexican Art Presents:

National Sor Juana Festival: A Tribute to Mexican Women

March 22 –April 29, 2007
Houston, Texas

Download the Sor Juana Fest Brochure

Houston, TX - The National Museum of Mexican Art, in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), Talento Bilingue de Houston, MECA, Arte Publico Press, Nuestra Palabra, and the Hispanic Women in Leadership, is proud to present the National Sor Juana Festival: A Tribute to Mexican Women in Houston, Texas 2007.

Now in its 14th year, The National Sor Juana Festival is an annual multidisciplinary festival which honors one of Mexico’s greatest writers, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a 17th Century Mexican nun who valued the education of women. Sor Juana was a celebrated playwright and poet in her own time and considered to be the first feminist of the Americas. Through this unique festival, we celebrate the legacy of Sor Juana and pay tribute to the rich artistic accomplishments of Mexican women from Mexico and the United States.

“The National Museum of Mexican Art is proud to be partnering with so many wonderful organizations that helped us bring the National Sor Juana Festival to Houston. This unique multidisciplinary festival, which includes music, dance, theater, film, literary arts, and visual arts, pays tribute to Mexican women and celebrates the many contributions they have made to the arts, our community and our lives.” Jorge Valdivia, Performing Arts Director, National Museum of Mexican Art.

This year marks a unique milestone for the festival as we broaden our scope and premiere the National Sor Juana Festival in Houston. In celebration of the festival’s premiere in Houston, the National Museum of Mexican Art is proud to present a “Divinas” Concert with Lila Downs, Magos Herrera, and Azul.

Latin Grammy winner, Lila Downs, is a bi-cultural singer/songwriter raised in the Mixtec region of Oaxaca, Mexico and in Minnesota. Lila first caught the attention of the general public with her performance in the film Frida, which, consequently, led her to perform at the Oscars ceremony with Caetano Veloso. Born in Mexico City, vocalist and composer, Magos Herrera possesses one of the most beautiful voices of the Mexican contemporary jazz music scene and is well known for her unique sound, that elegantly blends jazz with Brazilian and Latin rhythms. Azul, born in Mexico City, is a singer and songwriter with powerful and soulful voice. Her music is an example of how different influences can successfully be blended together offering spectators and listeners a unique experience into the beauty of her own interpretation of Latin Folk music. This unprecedented concert is not to be missed!

For a complete description of all Sor Juana festival events please log on to www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org. The 2007 National Sor Juana festival planning committee includes: Angela Camarrillo, MFAH; Tony Diaz, Nuestra Palabra; Angie Moreno, Nuestra Palabra; Jorge Piña, TBH; Marina Tristan, Arte Publico Press; Alice Valdez, MECA; Jorge Valdivia, National Museum of Mexican Art. Platinum Sponsor for the 2007 National Sor Juana Festival is Miller Outdoor Theatre. Additional support for the festival was provided by: PROA, Tenaris, Ternium and Julia’s Bistro. Media sponsors include Univision, Telefutura, KPFT 90.1 FM, Univision Radio, and Recuerdo 106.5 FM. Special thanks to: Angela Camarillo for helping make us bring this festival to Houston, Texas.

Schedule of Events

RECEPTION
Sor Juana Women of Achievement Awards Ceremony & Kick-Off Reception
Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH)
The Caroline Wiess Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet Street
Thursday, March 22, 2007, 7-10PM
RSVP only for reception
In 1998, the National Museum of Mexican Art initiated the Sor Juana Achievement Awards commending Mexican women leaders of Chicago. This year we are proud to pay tribute to six extraordinary Houstonian Mexican women that exemplify the legacy of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. Awards will be given at the National Sor Juana Festival kick-off reception with a very special performance by one of Mexico’s most acclaimed actresses, Diana Bracho.

VISUAL ARTS
Museum of Fine Arts Houston presents
Constructing a Poetic Universe: The Diane and Bruce Halle Collection of Latin American Art
MFAH, Audrey Jones Beck Building, 5601 Main Street
March 11 - June 10, 2007
$7-General Admission/$3.50-students, senior citizens, children/Free-members
In 1996, the Halle´s began collecting work by artists who have made significant contributions to the development of the field in the 20th century or show promise for the 21st century. Their focus on Latin American art grew out of the observation that despite the high quality production, there has yet to be a sustained representation in U.S. cultural and educational institutions.

MUSIC
National Museum of Mexican Art presents:
“Divinas” Concert with Lila Downs, Magos Herrera and Azul
Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Drive
Sunday, March 25, 2007, 5pm
Admission is free. In celebration of the premiere of the National Sor Juana Festival in Houston, the National Museum of Mexican Art is proud to present a “Divinas” Concert with Azul, Magos Herrera and Lila Downs. Join us as we continue the celebration with three extraordinary Mexican Divas!

VISUAL ARTS
Talento Bilingue de Houston Presents
MEZCLA: Paintings by Catalina Bribiesca
TBH 333 S. Jensen Drive
March 23 - June 2, 2007
Admission is free
Opening reception with the artist on March 23, 2007 from 6pm to 8pm. “My work is a mixture of explorations. What happens when you take the same notion of tenderness but turn it into a positive, when you capture the nurturing and soft qualities in men? All of this intrigues me.” Catalina Bribiesca

THEATER
MECA presents: Empanada
MECA, 1900 Kane Street
Friday, March 30, 2007 and Saturday, March 31, 2007, 8pm
$5 Advance purchase through ticketweb.com; $9 at the door.
Join us for a Cast Party at Bocados Restaurant on Saturday, March 31, 2007 immediately following the play. In an exploration of her multi-divided world, Empanada’s Chicana narrator challenges homophobia within herself, the LGBT community, and society at large, by declaring her secretos through lyrical vignettes that reveal encuentros from within the prison and asylum of the cocina. The performance reading, Empanada, is set against the backdrop of south Texas. Written by Anel I. Flores. Performed by Anel I. Flores, Maria Ibarra, Ana Lisa Leos and Isabel DeLaCerda. Directed by Maria A. Ibarra. Music arrangement and performance by Ana Lisa Leops and Isabel DeLaCerda.

DANCE
Univision Radio Presents: La Feria de la Mujer y la Familia
George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall A-3
Sunday, April 1, 2007
La Feria de la Mujer y la Familia is an annual free, day long celebration for Latina women, their families and friends presented by Univision Radio. The festival provides music, dance, and a quinceañera fashion show, as well as information on women’s health and family services. In addition, the festival includes exhibits, demonstrations, and entertainment provided by celebrities. Univision Radio and the Mexican Consulate are proud to present a Mexican folkoric dance performance, as part of the Sor Juana Festival, by Houston’s very own Sabor Mexico Theatrical Dance Company.

THEATER
Talento Bilingue de Houston (TBH) presents: El ENTRECEJO/THE BROW
Written and Performed by Angeles Romero
TBH, 333 S. Jensen Drive
Thursday, April 19 through Saturday, April 21, 2007
Curtain 8pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
$12 / $10
Through a series of flashbacks that chronicle the life and death of Frida Kahlo, we get a glimpse into Frida’s life journey: polio, the near-fatal bus accident, her primal need to paint, Diego Rivera, and her many love affairs, of which, painting reigned supreme.

LITERATURE
Nuestra Palabra and Houston Community College (College Activity Board) present: Helena María Viramontes
Borders Bookstore, 3025 Kirby at Alabama
Tuesday, April 17, 2007,
7:00-8:30p.m.
Admission is free
Nuestra Palabra welcomes internationally recognized author Helena Maria Viramontes. Viramontes’ latest novel, Their Dogs Came With Them, will be published by Atria Books in May 2007. The recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the 2006 Luis Leal Award and the John Dos Passos Award for Literature, her short stories and essays have been widely anthologized and her writings have been adopted for classroom use and university study. This event will be broadcast live on KPFT 90.1 FM. For more information, contact 713 867 8943 or visit www.nuestrapalabra.org.

LITERATURE
Arte Publico Press, MFAH and Nuestra Palabra present: Gwendolyn Zepeda
Presenting: Mexican Women Were My Mr. Miyagi
Museum of Fine Art (MFAH), Caroline Wiess Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet
Thursday, April 19th, 2007, 6:30pm
Reception to follow
Admission is free
In Mexican Women Were My Mister Miyagi, Houston author Gwendolyn Zepeda offers a tribute to the Latinas who shaped her life. Whether they taught her how to make tamales, how to run successful businesses, or how to be sexy while fending off unwanted men, many mexicanas shone as beacons of inspiration for Zepeda on her journey to womanhood. Zepeda will read favorite selections from her first book, To the Last Man I Slept with and All the Jerks Just Like Him, from her Houston reading series, “The Quinceañera You Were Too Poor to Have,” and from upcoming books, plus special pieces created just for this event. Reception immediately after reading.

FILM
Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) presents:
New Films from Latin America
April 26-29, 2007
Following an outrageously successful inaugural edition in 2006, this annual film festival returns with new films from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. This year Latin Wave will also feature filmmakers and actors in attendance, parties, and panel discussions. Schedule and tickets available after March 1 at www.mfah.org/films.

About the National Museum of Mexican Art
The NMMA is the largest Latino Arts organization in the U.S and the only Latino museum accredited by the American Association of Museums. The NMMA presents Visual Arts Exhibitions, Performance Festivals, and Education Programs to more than 200,000 annually including 50,000 K-12 students. The Museum’s public radio station, Radio Arte 90.5, is an award-winning two-year training program and 24 hour/7 day station run entirely by youth 13-21. The Museum’s hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. For information call 312.738.1503 or go to the NMMA’s website: www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org

Over a dozen authors, ranging from established voices, like Dagoberto Gilb, to new voices, such as Houston’s own Tonzi, to established musicians such as Flaco Jimenez and Grupo Fantasma are included in the anthology HECHO EN TEJAS. Thursday, March 1, at 630 pm at the Barnes and Noble 7262 Westheimer and Voss, a dozen writers will introduce the book HECHO EN TEJAS to the public. Additional Houston authors include Tony Diaz, Evangelina Vigil-Piñón.

This is the most authentic anthology of Mexican American voices from Texas every compiled. It is the most thorough, including early writings, established writings, and never before published works important to Texas. The book is in English, Spanish, and Spanglish. The final line up for the live reading will be finalized soon. Authors will visit Houston schools during the day, and events are scheduled throughout Texas.

Teachers can visit http://sophia.hccs.edu/TitleV/ to register for a workshop on how to use HECHO EN TEJAS in the classroom, Saturday, March 3. The first 100 teachers to register and attend the March 3 workshop will receive a $100 stipend.

Sponsored by Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say, Houston Community College Title V Program, The Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Houston Chronicle.