Of Summer Time and South Side Literary Landscaper Irasema Gonzalez

Little Village Literary Landscaper Irasema Gonzalez Is Featured In July Proyecto Latina Reading Series

Join Us It's FREE on July 20th @7pm in Little Village

In a neighborhood on the South Side of the city that often gets over looked and arts funding is next to nonexistent Proyecto Latina will host its first reading series in Little Village to reach out to Latinas of all ages and encourage them to come out and share their own writing about their lives and neighborhood.

The feature includes local writer and Little Village resident, Irasema Gonzalez, on Monday, July 20th at 7pm at the Chicago Public Library Toman Branch, FREE and open to the public.

She will be sharing her reflections on growing up in the Little Village and what it means to be a woman in that part of the city. “I am really hoping that Little Village writers (I know they’re out there and I want to meet them) come out to join me in sharing their work through our open mic," says writer Irasema Gonzalez.

Irasema Gonzalez is a writer and merchant. She is the owner of Tianguis.biz the current incarnation of her former book and teashop in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood"which is also the exclusive distributor for Momotombo Press. She is passionate about books that tell the stories of the Latino community. Also, a founding member of the Proyecto Latina reading series and the co-producer for the Proyecto Latina Radio Show at Radio Arte. Her poems appeared in the Ariel XXVIII (Triton College, 2009), Afternoon Wine: Vicios, Sueños y Confesiones (Maravilla Writing Collective’s chapbook, 2006), and in Between the Heart and the Land: An Anthology of Midwestern Latina Poets by March Abrazo Press, 2000. She has presented featured readings at venues throughout the city including: Palabra Pura, the Sor Juana festival and Poetry Fest at the Chicago Public Library. She is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago, where she earned a B.A. in journalism and creative writing. She resides in Little Village with her family and is giddy about hosting and featuring at Proyecto Latina in La Villita this July.

The reading will be Monday, July 20 at 7pm (FREE) at the Chicago Public Library Toman Branch 2708 S. Pulaski Road Chicago, IL 60623 - (312) 498-4067 / Street Parking Available/60 Blue Island Bus / 31st S. Pulaski Bus

Proyecto Latina provides a platform to showcase work by Latina writers, poets and performers. In its fourth year, the reading series takes place the third Monday of every month, it includes a feature, an open mic and a chisme box! Proyecto Latina proudly features emerging and established artists like: Lisa Alvarado (Poet), Achy Obejas (Writer),Coya Paz (Poet/Performance Artist) Yolanda Cardenas (Poet), Vida Bella Ensemble (Performance) Stephanie Elizondo Griest(Author), Tanya Saracho (Playwright) Liz Ann Acosta (Writer) and many more!

Proyecto Latina Team

Meet the team of mujeres that make Proyecto Latina happen weekly and monthly, year-round.













Irasema Gonzalez is a writer and merchant. She is the owner of Tianguis.biz, the current incarnation of her former book and tea shop in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. She is passionate about books that tell the stories of the Latino community, and is honored to be the exclusive distributor for Momotombo Press. She is a founding member of the Proyecto Latina reading series and most recently has become the co-producer for the Proyecto Latina Radio Show at Radio Arte. Her poems appeared in her writing group's chapbook, Afternoon Wine: Vicios, Sueños y Confesiones and in Between the Heart and the Land: An Anthology of Midwestern Latina Poets by March Abrazo Press. She is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago where she earned a B.A. in journalism and creative writing. She resides in Little Village with her husband and two cats.
















Diana Pando is a multi-genre writer from Chicago. Diana likes to flex her writing and advocacy skills to support Latinos in the arts and nonprofits impacting Latina women and girls in underserved communities. She is a founder of the Proyecto Latina Reading Series. "When I first got the idea I knew it would be a collaborative effort with other dynamic women like Coya and Irasema". Together we bring Latinas in the arts together once a month to tell their stories and support their creative efforts by providing a platform where they can share and express their creativity while building community. She is the Co-Producer of Proyecto Latina Radio Show on 90.5 F.M. WRTE highlighting Latinas making an impact in their communities. Diana’s kryptonite includes: Writing Cupcakes, military history, coffee, and cumbias.















Coya Paz is a poet, director, and lip gloss connoisseur who was raised in Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil before moving permanently to the United States in 1987. She is a cofounder of Proyecto Latina and Teatro Luna, and teaches in The Theater School at DePaul University. She is finishing a PhD in Performance Studies at Northwestern University, and believes in the power of performance and poetry to build community towards social change. For a full manifeto, visit her on the web at www.coyapaz.com



















Yolanda Cardenas lives in a city known as a mecca of arctic cold, bizarre weather and medicine, a modern day Dr. Zhivago emerges. Currently, Dr. Cardenas is serving as the music director of Proyecto Latina Radio on 90.5FM WRTE Radio Arte but her radio debut was on NPR's "848" which aired a poem in a segment about the Proyecto Latina Open Mic series. In 2007, Yolanda participated in "Niki Nights: Literature and Music in the Garden" at the Garfield Park Conservatory as well as in the National Museum of Mexican Art's "Sor Juana Festival." In 2006 she was a semi-finalist in the 13th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award and her work appeared in "Afternoon Wine: Vicios, Sueños y Confesiones" a compilation of poems in a chapbook featuring her writing group. In 2004, Yolanda Cardenas completed her family medicine training, while fine tuning the art of medicine, this Chicago native also honed her writing. Although there's no Russian revolution in her future, she's primed for social change and a medical revolution.






















Ericka Sanchez is a transplant from Mexico, raised in one of the cultural meccas for Mexicanos, Little Village. Her current incarnation as a school teacher by day allows her to run rampant for her love of photography, writing and crafting, music and movie obsessions as well as supporting fellow Latinas and their creative imaginings! Erick is currently a Proyecto Latina Correspondent.

El Grito del Bronx

Local Actor Sandra Delgado stars in the new play El Grito del Bronx by Migdalia Cruz. In this interview she talks to Diana Pando about her new role as Lulu in the play and how the role has impacted her as an actor along with a few tips for emerging Latina actors. We want to hear from you if you like this interview let us know!

Part I: Sandra Delgado on El Grito del Bronx, 5:49


Part II: Sandra Delgado on El Grito del Bronx, 6:39



Part III: Sandra Delgado on El Grito del Bronx, 5:08


interview by Diana Pando