Thelma Uranga: knitting graffiti in Pilsen

"It should be something cultural, it should define us but it should be open to anyone who wants to join," The 27 year-old Thelma Uranga says about her knitting circle El Stitch y Bitch. About a year and a half ago Thelma's creative urge led her to pick up knitting needles and start purling, she went on to make hats and scarfs and ultimately create the community of knitters that lacked in her part of town. They meet in Pilsen and Little Village cafes and occasionally venture out with knitted swatches to make statements on Pilsen streets that puts a new spin on graffiti.














Thelma tells us how it all started (4:01)


Knitting statements (6:01)


Hook up with El Stitch y Bitch (1:37)



Connect with El Stitch y Bitch here, here and on:
Wed., Sept. 2nd from 7 to 9 p.m. @ Catedral Cafe, 2500 S. Christiana, Chicago.

interview by Ericka Sanchez

House On Mango Street Takes To The Stage

They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones that cannot out.
– Esperanza Cordero, The House On Mango Street


















Front to back: Sandra Delgado, Belinda Cervantes and Christina Nieves
photo by Saverio Truglia


The world premiere for the musical adaptation of The House on Mango Street opens this fall. The cast of the new play features: Belinda Cervantes, Gina Cornejo, Sandra Delgado as Esperanza, Liza Fernandez, Ricardo Gutierrez, Christina Nieves, Tony Sancho and Mari Stratton. Earlier this year Proyecto Latina had the opportunity to talk to some of the ladies that are now involved with this production.

Check out our interview archive to learn more about them:

• Sandra Cisneros: Compost your rage and fuel your art
  
  
• Tanya Saracho,The discipline and power of theatre
  
  
• Sandra Delgado in El Grito del Bronx
  
  
• Belinda Cervantes: Two sisters, one cd & lots of livin' & learnin'
  

The House On Mango Street by Chicago writer Sandra Cisneros has been adapted by playwright Tanya Saracho, who took on the challenge of bringing Esperanza and the people on Mango Street to the stage. Saracho also recently received two Jeff Nominations for her play Our Lady of the Underpass.

The House on Mango Street is a coming of age story of Esperanza, a Mexican-American girl, growing up in Chicago. The book gives voice to Esperanza and her working class family, as well as, the people that live on Mango Street. The book is not only a Chicago story but an American story.

Proyecto Latina congratulates all of these ladies for their artistic achievements and contributions to the arts in Chicago.

This World Premiere production opens October 13 – November 1. In the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., in Chicago. For information on reservation and performance times visit www.steppenwolf.org or call (312) 335-1650.

Listening To Latinas

In a new report "Listening to Latinas: Barriers to High School Graduation" was released August 27 by MALDEF and National Women’s Law Center highlighting the greater challenges Latina students face than their counterparts. The report is meant to offer strategies to get young Latinas to graduate High School.

The report took a close look at the drop-out crisis in the Latino community and found the following:

• The latest data show that 41% of Latina students do not graduate on time with a standard high school diploma.

• The study reports that while 98% of high school seniors want to graduate from high school, and 80% aspire to higher education, Latina students continue to face numerous challenges in reaching these goals.

The recommendations of the report include:

• Calling on schools, policymakers, and government agencies to: invest in the future of Latino children through high-quality early learning program

• Ensure that all students are prepared for post-secondary educational opportunities, ensure safe school environments that are culturally inclusive and free from discrimination
  

• Improve efforts to prevent teen pregnancy and provide support for pregnant and parenting students, and require better data collection and promote school accountability.

Together we can improve the quality of life for Latinas by reaching out to our community and encouraging them to stay in school. Irasema Gonzalez and I are proud to say that we’ve had the opportunity to mentor some amazing young Latinas who are the next wave of Latina leaders in the city and they include Mayra Macias and Zulema Ortiz.

The report is available here.

For more information on this report, visit MALDEF.org.

The MáS Memoir Writing Workshop

Well, the lazy days of summer are almost over and with September around the corner it's time to flex those writing muscles. Next month Ana Castillo returns to the Windy City to offer her Más Writing Workshop. Irasema Gonzalez, Coya Paz, Yolanda Cardenas and I had an opportunity to take her last writing workshop. It was thought provoking and very useful for anyone wanting to write memoir.

"We’ll write from our hearts and our minds. And then, we’ll learn to get rid of all the sentimentality and leave on the page what is important for the reader to know about your memoir". -Ana Castillo

This workshop welcomes back previous participants. It will include first time participants. Together, you’ll take a look at writing-in-progress, learn workshop method and discuss new writing tips and techniques.

Sunday, Sept. 20 - 10AM to 2PM - Location TBA.

In memoir, the reader must be persuaded that the narrator is writing honestly, whether or not he/she is, is secondary. It doesn’t matter as much ‘what happened’ as what you make of what you remember may have happened.The workshop will consist of exercises, which help us to know how to get started when desiring to work on a memoir essay.

Persons interested must submit 1 pg writing sample to apply.18 yrs. and up.

All Inquiries and to Apply:

Email: anacastilloworkshops@gmail.com Cost: $175 per person Limit only 15 per workshop * Exact locations and times will be given once applicant has been accepted.

August - Proyecto Latina

August brings sunshine, barbecues and Proyecto Latina! This month we are featuring Proyecto emerging writer and Chicago Public School teacher Ericka Sanchez. A few years back, I met Ericka at one of our Proyecto Latina readings and thought what a fabulous storyteller.

When Ericka isn't in the trenches of the the public school system she is our Proyecto Latina correspondent doing interviews with Latinas making an impact in our community. You can also thank Ericka for the chisme box!

As an emerging writer Ericka will be sharing some hilarious and reflective new work that hopefully will inspire you to pick up the pen or keyboard and write. –Diana Pando

This month’s August Proyecto Latina will take place at Monday, August 17 @ 7PM:













Cedahlia's 1010 -12 S Western
Chicago, IL 60608 (312) 733-0885
Street Parking Available
http://www.transitchicago.com
http://www.mapquest.com

Our friend Jesse Iniquez has generously donated his space.

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.

Proyecto Latina Congratulates New Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor!

A picture really is worth a thousand words. Photo courtesy of our friends at Emily's List.

Yesterday, was a proud moment as the senate confirmed Sonia Sotomayor 68-31 to become the third woman and first Latina to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. Proyecto Latina congratulates Sotomayor for her accomplishment and dedication to law. On our Proyecto Latina wish list is an interview with Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor:)

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!