Esther Cepeda: 600 is the sweet spot

Esther Cepeda encourages the Latina journalism student to develop her multi-media skills and to be bold. Esther leads by example; she writes and self-syndicates her column at 600words. In 2006 she became the first Latino metro columnist when she joined the Chicago Sun-Times, about the opportunity she says, "Its great to have a seat at the table."

Listen to more from our interview with Esther below:


Esther Cepeda 1 of 2 (7:06)


Esther Cepeda 2 of 2 (7:06)



Interview by Diana Pando

Migdalia Cruz: Writing is life

One of the most exciting things for me this fall is the impressive line-up of talented Latinas--from playwrights to actors--that Chicago theaters are boasting. I'm sure you've heard about Mango Street hitting the stage, the Brown Girl Chronicles just finished a second run, our September feature Marilyn Camacho is debuting as a director, and finally, Migdalia Cruz, whose play El Grito del Bronx ran this summer at the Goodman will be back in town teaching a master playwriting class over at Chicago Dramatist on October 24th. Its poised to be a one-of-a-kind experience, Migdalia is combining movement and yoga along with writing exercises into her workshop.

In case you've wondered about penning your own play, I thought this a most appropriate time to reach into my vault and share an interview that I did with Migdalia earlier this summer.

Diana: I read somewhere that you were originally a math major. How did you go from math major to playwright?

Migdalia:I was also a History minor, and took a class about Beckett. I thought it was about the English historical figure "Thomas A Becket, but instead it was about Samuel Beckett. When I saw how beautifully and poetically Beckett rendered the most horrible of human conditions, I thought becoming a playwright could be an incredible gift. So I dropped the Calculus. When I get stuck on my plays, I sometimes add big numbers. I figure anything on paper is good. It also relaxes me. Strange, huh? Math stresses a lot of people, but not me. But once I faced the fact that writing was what would truly make me happy, I remembered that I had written my first play when I was six years old—a puppet play about Civil Rights. So I suppose I was really just acknowledging what I always knew in my heart. Math was fun, but writing was life.

Diana: What advice do you give to emerging women playwrights?

Migdalia: Respect your history, listen to your ancestors, tell the truth, and write your own story—or someone else will write it and get it all wrong.

Diana: Can you give us a sneak peek at some of the other plays you might be working on?

Migdalia: Hmmm...I'm not sure how much I should tell you— I have been working for a while on an adaptation of Petronius' Satyricon, which will include both reggaeton & the music of Nino Rota. And I have recently started thinking about a play about real Puerto Rican Pirates to whom I am related. Enough said.

'Finding a Method to Your Own Madness.' For more details contact: Megan from Chicago Dramatist at msmith@chicagodramatists.org, or call at 312-206-8959.

Interview by Diana Pando

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

Josefina Lopez: Renaissance Latina says, create your opportunities and own your stories

"Never wait for anyone to give you an opportunity, make it happen for yourself ..."
--Josefina Lopez

During a recent visit to the windy city Josefina Lopez, author of Real Women Have Curves, and most recently the novel Hungry woman in Paris sits down to talk to Proyecto Latina co-producer Diana Pando.

Josefina Lopez talks to us about the decision to move to Paris, her latest novel and other upcoming projects. Josefina also advises Latinas on creating their own opportunities, handling rejection and ownership of our own stories.


Part I: Josefina Lopez, 6:06


Part II: Josefina Lopez, 6:08


Part III: Josefina Lopez, 5:18


More information on Josefina and her projects at josefinalopez.com

Interview by Diana Pando

Dolores Huerta: Be full of yourself and take the credit for your work

This past March Dolores Huerta received the 2009 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Award for a Pioneer in Women’s Rights at the Chicago Foundation for Women Impact Awards. Dolores Huerta's life story revolves around activism, compassion and leadership. She is a leading advocate for the human rights of workers, immigrants and women. Proyecto Latina Co-producer, Diana Pando had the opportunity to speak to Dolores and she emerged from her interview with one very important message for young Latinas everwhere. Its regarding the si se puede slogan Dolores coined and a picture she didn't take: make sure you take credit for your accomplishments or someone else will do it .


Part I: Dolores Huerta, 5:56


Part II: Dolores Huerta, 9:54


Interview by Diana Pando

Tanya Saracho & Sandra Marquez tell us about the discipline & power in theatre

Proyecto Latina speaks to the two leading women behind the making of the play Our Lady of the Underpass, which was presented earlier this year by Teatro Vista. Learn about the art process behind each of these women: Sandra Marquez, director, tells us about the required discipline when working in theater and Tanya Saracho, playwright, tells us where to find the power in theatre that will insure that more plays by and for Latin@s are produced.

Part I: Interview with Sandra Marquez, 14:01


Part II: Interview with Tanya Saracho, 21:38