Sponsored by
Art That Heals, Inc. * McAllen Chamber of Commerce * South Texas College * El Zarape Press *
~Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival: Established 2008~
"Let the plethora of words commence!"
The Narciso Martínez Cultural Arts Center
Founded by Daniel Garcia Ordaz and Brenda Nettles Riojas/Creative Director: Vanessa Brown Now Seeking Sponsors to join Art That Heals, Inc., the Mcallen Chamber of Commerce, South Texas College, the Narciso Martínez Cultural Arts Center, El Zarape Press, and Heredado Designs.
Phone: (956) 358-7211
Celebrate National Poetry Month . . .
FEATURED POETS for 2010 are: AMALIA ORTIZ, DEF POET--star of HBO's "Russel Simmon's Presents Def Poetry Jam"; MICHAEL GUINN, extraordinary slam poet from Fort Worth; JESSE G. HERRERA, poet from Laredo, Texas; YOLANDA BARRERA, poet from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; ARNULFO VIGIL, also from Monterrey!
FEATURED POETS for 2009 were: LARRY THOMAS, THE POET LAUREATE OF TEXAS; AMALIA ORTIZ, DEF POET--star of HBO's "Russel Simmon's Presents Def Poetry Jam"; and NEPHTALI DE LEON, Chicano muralist and poet!
[NEPHTALI DE LEON, FEATURED POET]
Click on the repsective poet's name below to learn more about him or her.
Nephtalí De León (San Antonio)
[AMALIA ORTIZ, FEATURED POET]
[LARRY THOMAS, FEATURED POET]
Teachers: see related educational links
a href="http://www.nephtali.net">Author/Poet/Playwright/Muralist. Nephtali is a former migrant worker from the Rio Grande Valley. He attended grammar school in San Juan, Edinburgo and Rio Grande City, Texas, among others then gave up formal education after high school in West Texas. While still in high school, he published Chicanos: Our Background & Our Pride. Other works include Chicano Popcorn (poetry), and--for children--I Will Catch The Sun, I Color My Garden and El Pollito Amarillo
AMALIA ORTIZ, FEATURED POET (Los Angeles)
Contact Amaila
Amalia Ortiz grew up in La Feria, Texas before moving to San Antonio. She has appeared thrice on HBO's "Russel Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam" (Seasons 2, 3, and 4) and has also appeared onstage and in indie films. While in San Antonio, she became the first Latina ever to make it to the National Slam Championship Finals. She was San Antonio Puro Slam Grand Champion in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Presently she resides in Los Angeles, California. Check out her bio, pics, poems, etc. by clicking here. Come get her autograph, picture and buy her CDs, which will be available at several venues and at our headquarters at the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center.
Larry D. Thomas, Poet Laureate of Texas (2008), Featured Poet (Texas)
Larry D. Thomas is the Poet Laureate of Texas (2008). Visit www.larrydthomas.com for more information on Larry D. Thomas, and to read some of his poems or listen to him recite poetry, etc.Larry D. Thomas, born and reared in West Texas, has resided in Houston since 1967. He moved from West Texas to Houston at the age of twenty to complete his college education, and graduated from the University of Houston in 1970 with a BA degree in English literature. In 1998, he retired from a career in adult criminal justice, the last fifteen years of which he served as a branch director for the Harris County Adult Probation Department (Houston). Since his retirement, he has been employed as a full-time poet.
[2009 Registered Poets] [2009 Featured Poets] [2009 Schedule of Events] [2009 Venues] [2009 Poetry Pachanga] [2009 Sponsors & Sponsorship Opportunities] [2009 Volunteer Opportunities] [2009 Youth Poetry Slam] [2009 Adult Poetry Slam] [2009 Registration] [2009 Late Registration] [Boundless 2009 Anthology Submissions] [2009 VIPF Home]