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EDUCATION
2012 MFA Poetry, Mills College.
2008 Spanish Single Subject Teaching Credential, California State University East Bay
2002 Bilingual Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (BCLAD), California State University, East Bay
1999 M.A. Urban Planning, University of California, Los Angeles.
1993 Certificate of Proficiency in the German Language, Ruhr Universität, Bochum, Germany.
1989 B.A. Anthropology, University of California, Irvine. Minor in French.
AWARDS and FELLOWSHIPS
2021 The Palabra Archive at the Library of Congress
2021 Emmy in the Outstanding Interactive Media: Arts, Lifestyle and Culture category for Disappearing Daughters, a documentary film inspired by my book Killing Marias directed by Seattle Times journalists Corinne Chin and Erika Shultz
2019 Academy of American Poets, Poets Laureate Fellow
2019 Seattle Arts and Lectures Sherri Prowda Literary Champion award
2018 Shortlist. Washington State Book Award in Poetry for Killing Marías
2818 Washington State Poet Laureate
2017 Individual Artist Award Seattle Office of Arts and Culture
2017 Best Poet: Best of Seattle: Seattle Weekly
2016 Fellowship. Hedgebrook Residency
2015 Civic Poet of Seattle. Seattle Office of Arts and Culture
2015 Fellowship. Quest Writer’s Conference, Suquamish, BC, Canada
2015 Grant. 4 Culture King County Individual artist grant for innovation
2012 VONA (Voices of Our Nation) Writing Residency: Political Content – Elmaz Abinader
2011 CNF Honorable Mention – Annual writing contest Mills MFA
2011 VONA Fellowship Memoir with Minal Hajratwala
2010 VONA Fellowship Memoir with StaceyAnn Chin
PUBLICATIONS
Books
Cipota Under The Moon, Tia Chucha Press, Spring 2022
One River, A Thousand Voices, Chin Music Press, 2020
Killing Marías: A poem for Multiple Voices, Two Sylvias Press, 2017
This City, Floating Bridge Press, 2016
Anthologies
Opoplanax Spendorous, Cascadia: A Field Guide Through Art, Ecology, and Poetry, Derek Sheffield (Ed)
Tupelo Press, Forthcoming Spring 2022
Her Way, Alone Together: Love, Grief, And Comfort In The Time of COVID-19, Jennifer Haupt, (Ed) Central Avenue Publishing, 2020
María Estela Cause of Our Joy, The Cries of Those Who Vanish, Luis Mora (Ed), Underline Studio, 2019
De Aquí a allá, Mi Sol de Noche, María Elba Reina de Los Ángeles, María Isabel Taza de Sol, María Santos Madre Elevada al Cielo, Poeta Soy: Poesía de Mujeres Salvadoreñas, Ministerio de Educación de El Salvador, 2019
We are where we are, WA129, Tod Marshall, (Ed.), Sage Hill Press, 2017
Meditation on the color purple, The Wandering Song: Central American Writing in the US, Leticia Hernández, Rubén Martínez and Héctor Tovar, (Eds.), Northwestern University Press, 2017
Journals
COVID Gardens, Spark, 2021
Morning Star, Lights, Pleasure Boat Studio, 2020
María Eugenia Harvest Tower, María Teresa Greatest Ancestor, and María Most Wise, Pacific Northwest Magazine, Seattle Times, 2020
Ask The Bees, Borderlands, 2020
Devolution, Testimony, Seattle of Late, and On Translation, Page Boy Magazine
Im Sommerlicht Schwebend, Psychological Perspectives, 2017
Am I not an Immigrant? Seattle Review of Books, 2017
More Daunting Still, When Walking through China Town turns into a Meditation, Catalyst Magazine:
New Zealand, 2016
Epicurean Matters, Tyranny of the Milky Way, Poetry Northwest, 2016
Variation on a Theme, Seattle Review of Books, 2016
Trace and Anchor, Farmers Market, ARCADE, 2016
Rogue and Digital, The LiFUSE @10 Anthology, 2016
As Such To Be Chosen, Raven Chronicles, 2016
Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Pupusa, Diálogo, 2016
Poem No 5, City Arts, 2015
Guazapa, To see and be seen, Taos International Journal of Poetry and Art, 2015
10 P.M., Altars on the Streets, Riverbabble, 2013
Wake, Fingers, Secret Ingredient, The Womanist, 2011
On my way to the Castle, Milvia Street, 2010
Digital Anthologies
Seattle Poetic Grid, Project for the City of Seattle, 2017
Poetic Routes of Washington, Project for State of Washington Arts Commission
Non-Fiction
To the Children Seeking Asylum in the US: This Is My Wish For You, YES! Magazine, 12/3/2018
I see myself, and courage and hope, in the faces of the caravan, The Seattle Times, 11/9/2018
A Conversation with Horacio Castellanos Moya, True, Proximity Magazine.org, 2018
How it feels when Trump insults your homeland, Crosscut, 2018
Foreword, Stealing Light: A Raven Chronicles Anthology, Selected Work 1991-1996, forthcoming 2018
Ex Libris, Vanishing Points: Contemporary Salvadoran Narrative, Kalina Eds, 2017
El Salvador: America Offers One Family The Chance To Forget Fears, Seattle Review of Books, 2017
The Stars Remain, Women Writing About Home, Margot Kahn and Kelly McMasters (Eds.), Seal Press, 2017
Looking for home in the right places, ARCADE, 2016
Me Encanta el Fútbol, Soccer America, 2015, re-issue 2018
To Say Good-Bye, Jack Straw Writers Anthology, 2014
The Intersection, Critical Planning, 1997
TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2018 – 2021 Washington State Poet Laureate
2017 – Present Adjunct Professor Seattle University, Matteo Ricci Institute
2015 – 2017 Seattle Civic Poet
2014 – 2018 Teaching Artist, Jack Straw Cultural Center
2010 Lead New Teacher Coach / Oakland Unified School District
2006 High School Spanish Teacher / Oakland Unified School District
2005 Director, School Programs
2002 Education Program Manager /Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA)
1999 – 2001 Teacher. Oakland Unified School District
1998 – 1999 Field Representative. Office of California Assemblywoman Audie Elizabeth Bock
1997 – 1998 Communications & Public Relations Manager. United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 770
1996 – 1997 Staff Coordinator. National Hispanic Local Elected Officials Association (HELO). Office of Los Angeles Councilmember Richard Alarcón
1993 – 1995 Teacher. Elementary School Bilingual (English/Spanish)
PERFORMANCES / FEATURED READINGS – Partial List
2021
San Francisco State University Latinx Speaker Series
Foothill College, CA: Latinx Heritage Month Speaker
Washington State Salmon Recovery Conference
High Country News 50th Year Anniversary Event
Northwind Arts Reading Series, WA
Elliott Bay Books with poet Kim Stafford
Curator and moderator for KCTS Chanel 9 May’s reading series in collaboration with PBS Books and Third Place Books
Centrum Writer’s Conference, WA State, Hedgebrook Webinar: Between and Around the Lines
2020
Washington State University Center for Arts and Humanities, Lecture
Keynote Speaker, Washington Language Arts Council
Keynote Speaker, Casa Latina Gala
Keynote Speaker Chuckanut Writer’s Conference
Keynote Speaker Sea Mar Community Health Centers Luncheon
State Poet Laureate naming ceremony reading, Seattle
Washington State Penitentiary, Walla Walla
Washington State Correctional Facility for Women, Gig Harbor
Readings in various places across WA State: Walla Walla, Clarkston, Yakima, San Juan Island, Orcas Island, Bellingham, Lacey, Lopez Island, Whidbey Island, State Capitol Olympia, Tacoma, Wenatchee, Kent, Winthrop, Edmonds, Anderson Island, Spokane
2018
Washington State University Graduation Keynote for the Department of Urban Planning
2017
London Review of Books Bookstore, London, England
Libreria Calders, Barcelona, Spain
Poets and Busboys – Split this Rock poetry series, Washington DC.
Seattle Symphony Charles Ives concert Benaroya Hall
Writers, Resist Townhall Seattle
Seattle Arts and Lectures Interview with Poet Claudia Rankine
Wenatchee; Reading and poetry teaching with Tod Marshall, State Poet Laureate
Inauguration Day reading Seattle City Hall
Seattle Central Library National Poetry month
Bushwick Book Club gala
Vashon Poetry Festival, headline author
TILL at Smoke Farm
Open Books: Seattle Poetic Grid reading and Presentation
Casa Latina, Dia de los niños
Poetic Research Buro, Los Angeles
2016
Highline Community College, headline author for National Poetry Month
Edmonds Community College
Town Hall: Forterra
Seattle Public Library (various branches)
Elliott Bay Books
Open Books Bookstore; Jack Straw; Hugo House; La Sala/La Cocina; Seattle Art Museum;
Port Haddock Library
Port Townsend: Angels of History
Words West Reading Series
Lit Crawl at Hugo House
Abe Keller Foundation Gala
CARECEN Salvadoran poets in the diaspora, Los Angeles, CA
2015
National Hispanic Cultural Center – Albuquerque, NM
Mayor’s Art Awards Seattle Center
Humanities Washington: Bedtime Stories
Lit Crawl at Hugo House
Town Hall: Forterra Ampersand
November Henry Art Gallery
El Centro de la Raza: Dia de los Muertos
2014
Literary Arts, Portland, Oregon
Bushwick Book Club at Hugo House
Jack Straw May Reading Series
Northwest Folklife Festival
2012
Words’ Worth Poetry Program Seattle City Council
Pegasus Books, Berkeley, CA.
2011
Berkeley Poetry Festival, CA
Poems for local change Alameda, CA part of National 100,000 Poets for Change
COLLABORATIONS, COMMUNITY TEACHING, CURATIONS – Partial List
Seattle Escribe and Mineral School, designing and establishing a summer residency program for writers
living in the US who write in Spanish
Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries, Series of readings at various branches for the program,
One River, Many Voices, 2020
Mary Hill Museum of Art, Exquisite Gorge project 2020/2021
Seattle School of Visual Concepts, Designer in Residence 2019-2020
Seattle University, Forthcoming Winter 2019 Distinguished Visiting Professor, English Department
Seattle University, Adjunct Professor Matteo Ricci College
Hilary Field, Classical Guitarist and Executive Director or Seattle Classical Guitar Association: Poems written to the theme of Hope, Seattle Fall, 2017
Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Wrote Poetic sequence to Charles Yves’s four-part symphony: American Holidays, performed with full orchestra at Benaroya Hall, Seattle, Winter 2017
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, Wrote poetic response to George Walker’s, Lyric for Strings, performed at Langston Hughes Center
El Centro de la Raza, Poem for occasion on the re-dedication of Santos Rodriguez’s Park, Summer 2017
Seattle Public Library, “The Poet Is In,” poet in residency program offering drop-in poetry classes at various branches throughout the city of Seattle
Seattle Public Library, Wrote poem trilogy “Library Poems” commissioned by the public library – archived as podcast
Humanities Washington and Bushwick Book Club, Read “Ex Libris,” non-fiction work at gala fundraiser Bedtime Stories, Bushwick Book Club composed music to my work, Seattle, 2015
Seattle Art Museum, guest speaker and reader for My Favorite Things series. 2016, 2017
Chuckanut Writer’s Conference, Bellingham, WA. Teaching Artist. 2018
Till at Smoke Farm, Arlington, WA. Teaching Artist
King County Public Library System, White Center, Tukwila and Renton -Teaching Artist 2017, 2010
Jack Straw Cultural Center, Seattle. Teaching Artist: 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018
Forster High School, Tukwila, WA Teaching Artist. 2017 and 2018
Curated monthly Poetry Series for Seattle City Council CRUEDA committee (2016-July 2017)
Curated Lit Crawl reading 2016 at Hugo House: “The big P and the little p: Poetry and politics”
Curated National Poetry Month readings for Central branch of Seattle Public Library (2016 and 2017)
Curate Seattle Pop-up Reading series bringing poetry to the people holding readings in unconventional places throughout Seattle
CONFERENCES, CONTEST JUDGE
2021 Judge. Amazon Literary Partnerships – National awards
2021 Judge. WA State Poetry Out Loud finals
2019 AWP Portland panel: Salvadoran Poets, American Letters
2019 Distinguished Visiting Writer. Seattle University – Winter quarter
2018 Artist in Residence. Seattle School of Visual Concepts
2017 PBS Newshour: Navigating Seattle’s Ever-Evolving Streets Through Poetry
2017 AWP Washington DC Off-site reading: Split This Rock
2017 Judge. Seattle Escribe: First Spanish Literary Competition in WA State
2017 Judge. King County Poetry on Buses
2016. AWP Los Angeles Off-site Reading: Salvadoran Women Poets. 2 Languages. 2 Countries
2016 Judge. Artist Trust Washington—Washington State Literary Awards
2016 Judge. First Jack Straw Young Writers Series
2015 Judge. Annual graduate and undergraduate Poetry Contest – Mills College
2014 Fellowship. Jack Straw Professional Writer Series
2010 Presenter.12th Annual New Teacher Center Symposium, San Jose, California. Ground Rules: Clarifying and
Enacting Moral Purpose for Excellence in Leadership and Mentor Practice.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
2021 – Commissioner, Washington State Arts Commission
2020 – Present Partners in Print: Advisory Board
2016 – Present Board of Directors: Jack Straw Cultural Center
2016 – Present Poetry Ambassador: Seattle Arts and Lectures
2017 – Present Advisory Board: Bushwick Book Club, Raven Chronicles, La Sala
2007 – ‘12 Park Steward and Earth Day coordinator for Dover Park: Oakland, CA
1996 – ‘98 Volunteer: Salvadoran-American Leadership and Educational Fund. Los Angeles, CA
1995 – ’96 Student board member: Los Angeles Planning Congress
1988 – ‘97 Backpacking Counselor: Outward Bound Adventures (OBA). Pasadena, CA