VENUE UPDATE: PROYECTO LATINA TONIGHT!

UPDATE:
Due to significant street closings along 18th street we will be holding February's Proyecto Latina--THAT'S TONIGHT!--at Tianguis, 2003 S. Damen.

Join us this President's Day, Monday, February 18th @ 7 p.m. Proyecto Latina's open mic series resumes after a brief winter break and 2nd anniversary celebration--we're back with amazing features, an open mic and everyone's favorite the chisme box.

This month's feature is Elizabeth (Liz) Sandoval. An amazing writer and performer. You can learn more about her here and find a link to hear a sample of her work here.

Proyecto Latina & Palabra Pura, both in Pilsen this February

Proyecto Latina
Remember to join us this President's Day, Monday, February 18th @ 7 p.m. Proyecto Latina's open mic series resumes after a brief winter break and 2nd anniversary celebration--we're back with amazing features, an open mic and everyone's favorite the chisme box.

We have new things in the works with Proyecto Latina, including an awesome lineup of featured talent for the new year, art shows and a radio show! Stay tuned we will share details as they become available.

We will now be gathering at a new venue to better accommodate everyone: Radio Arte, 1401 W. 18th Street (On the corner of 18th and Blue Island. Across the street from the Lozano Library).

This month's feature:


Elizabeth (Liz) Sandoval is a Chicago-born writer/performer who's lived most of her life in Los Angeles--and has made her way back home to Chicago! You can get her full bio here, and you can get a preview of her work a humorous Valentine's piece on unrequited love--that aired on Chicago Public Radio last night here.


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Palabra Pura
Wednesday, February 20th @ 8 p.m.
Palabra Pura is touring into Pilsen this month and holding its open mic at Decima Musa, 1901 S. Loomis. Their February features are Tim Hernandez from Boulder, CO, he will read from his book, Skin Tax, which won the American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation. Tim will read with Stephanie Gentry-Fernandez, who will just be completing her performance in the sold-out play Machos by Teatro Luna.












Lisa Alvarado has posted all the wonderful details on Tim and Stephanie over at La Bloga.

High wow factor for Momotombo's new release

Aaron Michael Morales is the author of From here you can almost see the end of the desert, the newest title from Momotombo Press.

When the box of Aaron's new book arrived, I promptly grabbed a copy and read it. When I was done reading it, I raved to anyone who would listen about the amazing writing I had just encountered. Actually, I've revisited Aaron's book and I still find myself wondering about his characters.

I'm not the only one that felt this way, Luis Alberto Urrea gives Aaron's work an eloquent thumbs-up in the introduction, and there is even more praise by Helena María Viramontes on the back cover of this chapbook.

The book is available and on sale at Tianguis. You can swing by the store to pick it up or if you are outside our area you can order it online or by phone.

Even better, Aaron will be joining us at Tianguis, 2003 S. Damen, Chicago, for an author reading on Saturday, February 23rd @ 2 p.m. Space is limited and RSVP is not required but recommended. Its a wonderful opportunity where Aaron will personally share his stories and characters with everyone.

Resource: Youth Grant for Lawndale neighborhoods

We got this message today from our friends over at the Crib Collective:

The Crib Collective's Youth Grant-Making Team is at it again!

If you are a young person or you know some young people that are trying to get a project off the ground, could currently be happening or could be a plan for something in the near future. We are giving up to $2500 to youth-led projects that benefit the Lawndale community, both North and South, that includes Little Village. I am attaching an application and I am available via email to answer any questions about it. The deadline is approaching soon, FEBRUARY 14TH!

Please feel free to forward this to your contacts especially any young leaders who could benefit from this oppurtunity.

Application, guidelines and contact info available here.

CELEBRATE WITH US! 2nd Anniversary Soiree

Proyecto Latina is brewing a wonderful celebration event for the night of Saturday, January 19th. Stay tuned for a lovely and talented lineup--a best of Proyecto Latina features from the past two years. We are grateful to the help of our friends at Radio Art and Junior's Sports Bar.


UPDATE:
Its a night to put your pen and papelitos away, and instead whip out your dancing shoes, and open up to inspiration. Proyecto Latina invites you to join us and celebrate our 2nd Anniversary on Saturday, January 19th 2008 at Junior's Sports Bar, 2058 W. Cermak Rd. (In Pilsen and a couple of blocks away from Tianguis.) We're bringing back highlights--crowd favorites of course--from our past features list to help us mark this wonderful occassion with amazing words, music and dancing. And we are super excited to cap the night off with two Proyecto Latina newcomers our two featured DJ's to put more groove in our night: La Primitiva and Spacerwoman.*

We get started at 7 p.m. Free admission and antojitos (while they last).

Silvia Rivera	Amanda Torres
Wendy (Gwen) Vargas	The Luna Blues Machine
La Primitiva	Spacerwoman

We owe a very BIG thanks to Radio Arte and Junior's Sports Bar.

*No open mic for this January event. We will be bring back the open mic with the February edition of Proyecto Latina.

Featured titles to help fulfill your gift needs

A thoughtfully selected book can add meaning to your gifts, take it to the next level and turn it into a keepsake by personalizing it with a short note, the finishing touch--a bookmark of course.

Below is our list of recommended titles that we know make ideal gifts, and which can all be found on our bookshelves:


Bless Me Ultima is our current bookclub selection, its a coming-of-age story appropriate for adults and young readers:

Ask A Mexican will draw in even the most hesitant reader on your list. We still have autographed copies available.

The Alchemist Chances are people who read this books got it as a gift and there is a high probability rate that they go on to share the gift with others.

More suggestions:

from l to r: Once Upon a Quinceanera by Julia Alvarez
Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask,
a bilingual cuento by Xavier Garza

I will never forget you: Frida Kahlo and Nickolas Murray
by Salomon Grimberg

from l to r: Nahui Olin by Adriana Malvido;
Las Soldaderas: Women of the Mexican Revolution by Elena Poniatowska

from l to r: Revolucion!: Cuban Poster Art by Lincoln Cushing
Mexican Calendar Girls by Angela Villalba

submission call:new anthology focus on Mexican/Chicanos in Chicago and Midwest

Call for submissions for new anthology focusing on Mexicans/ Chicanos in Chicago and the Midwest.

Edited by: María A. Beltrán-Vocal, Paul Martínez Pompa,
and Irasema González

• Abstract: This anthology explores the experience of Mexicans/Chicanos in Chicago and the Midwest through their writing. By telling the stories of Chicano lives’, we create history and provide a foundation for those attempting to understand the needs and experiences of Chicanos. We also provide direction for self-empowerment.

• The purpose of this book is to record the social, cultural, political, literary experience of Chicanos/Mexicans from their own voice and perspective. This anthology will provide writers and scholars with first hand experience and perspective of Mexicans in Chicago and the Midwest. This anthology will provide Mexicans/Chicanos with the opportunity to explore the presence of Mexicans in Chicago and the Midwest from the end of the XIXth century to today. The writings will allow the reader to view the experience of workers in the railroads, the mills, and the activism of Mexicans in the sixties and seventies to the immigration marches in the XX1st centuries. These writings will give a new perspective of the presence and contributions of Mexicans in Chicago and the Midwest. It will examine the hardships, the struggles and triumphs of Chicanos/Mexicans and how their struggle has changed their perspective of life, politics, activism, education, and gender roles. We are accepting submissions in the forms of essay, poetry, short story, oral histories/testimonies, and autobiographies.

• Postmarked deadline for submissions is Saturday, March 22^nd, 2008.

• Two hard copies of the article, including endnotes and bibliography

§ Submissions should be double spaced, follow MLA format and must not exceed 20 pages.

§ Poets may submit up to five poems

§ Writers may submit up to two short stories no longer than 20 pages

§ Autobiography/testimony, creative, non-fiction/memoir no longer than 20 pages

§ All contributors must submit a brief biography and professional affiliation.

Please send submissions to:

María A. Beltrán-Vocal
Department of Modern Languages
DePaul University
802 West Belden Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773)325-7000 ext. 51866