This installment of the Latinx & Proud! Reading Series features Casandra López, Angela Velez, Feralcat aka Roger Romero, and surprise guests, hosted by Eloisa Amezcua. Join us to celebrate the work of Latinx literary voices as this series celebrates one year of empowering local and national Latinx authors and performers. This event is in proud partnership with Casa San Jose-Pittsburgh and PEN America's DREAMing Out Loud project. ¡Ven a celebrar con nosotros! (Come celebrate with us)

Casandra López is a California Indian (Cahuilla/Tongva/Luiseño) and Chicana writer who has received support from CantoMundo, Bread Loaf, and Tin House. She’s the author of the poetry collection Brother Bullet.

Angela Velez is a writer and artist living in Pittsburgh, PA. Velez's debut YA novel, LULU AND MILAGRO’S SEARCH FOR CLARITY, will be published in Winter 2022, through Balzer + Bray.

Feralcat aka Roger Romero has a freelance saxophone player in Pittsburgh, PA, performing as a sideman within a wide variety of genres. Romero's work embodies the American dream; his compositions comprise a melting pot of musical genres closely intertwined with his upbringing as a first generation middle-class child of Dominican immigrants.

Eloisa Amezcua is from Arizona. Amezcua's debut collection, From the Inside Quietly, is the inaugural winner of the Shelterbelt Poetry Prize selected by Ada Limón, (Shelterbelt Press, 2018). Amezcua is the founding editor-in-chief of The Shallow Ends: A Journal of Poetry, Associate Poetry Editor at Honeysuckle Press, & founder of Costura Creative.

PEN America's DREAMing Out loud specials guests:

Yesica Balderrama is a writer, activist, and artist. Her work has appeared in The Third Coast International Festival, WNYC, and Latino USA.

Erika Apupalo is a writer born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, New York. She graduated from Baruch College with a double major in History and Spanish. She currently works at non-profit Project Sunshine

Casa San Jose is a community resource center that advocates for and empowers Latinos by promoting integration and self-sufficiency.

Support immigrant justice and help Casa San Jose be able to continue their work, expand their reach, and honor their communities. Immigrants deserve peace and justice. Help them make that possible!

Donate to Casa San Jose via GIVE BIG PITTSBURGH

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide.

PRESENTE! is a bilingual publication focused on Western PA’s growing Latinx community presentepgh.com

Adriana E. Ramírez, Eloisa Amezcua, Malcolm Friend & Karla Lamb

The mission of the Latinx & Proud! reading series is to incite conversation, empower, & amplify the Latinx community in Pittsburgh, PA & beyond.

Latinx & Proud! Reading Series Returns!