Workshops + Presentations

Age range for workshop participants 5th grade-Adults

Poetry Workshop estimated time 45-75 minutes

Each interactive workshop is designed with two components: writing and performing. We start with a crash course in fundamental poetry exercises to warm up our creative juices. These exercises activate literary devices such as similes and metaphors, rhyme schemes, alliteration, poetic structure, and using the senses as descriptors. Once we’re warmed up we create a poem. To keep the workshop exciting I mix in performance exercises to prep the participants for sharing their work. The workshop culminates with a sharing of their work in an open mic-style.

Raíces to Roots Workshop estimated time 60-90 minutes

This workshop involves writing and movement. First the group is led through poetry workshop in which each individual creates a short poem related to the prompt. Then the group is led through a guided meditation by our principal dancer, Maria Luis Torres, also based on the prompt. The group is randomly divided into small groups. The group is then guided to create a series of movements to that interpret their poem. Then, we share with the rest of the class!

Keynote Speaker

As a keynote speaker, I speak about my childhood growing up Puerto Rican in Chicago and I detail my experiences as a Latino poet and educator working with youth and figuring out how to make a living as a poet/performer.

list of schools

I have given workshops at the following schools: various CHicago public Schools, lyons township high school, maine west high school, libertyville high school, morton east and morton freshman center, among others.