Out of Our Minds on KKUP Poetita

Imaginary Animal Test Recording by Poetita

Rachelle escamilla is a Chicana poet from Hollister, California. her nationally award winning first book is slated to become an off broadway play. Rachelle is the founder of a number of poetry programs all over the world, she is a scholar recognized by the Library of Congress and a community-based activist whose research and work includes the fair treatment of migrant workers, anti-fracking and most recently the Decriminalization of Psilocybin. She lives in Monterey, Ca and does media and marketing for the Philip Glass Days and Nights Festival.

James Cordero, Co-director of Water Drops for Border Angels San Diego.

Marcelo Hernandez Castillo is a poet, essayist, translator, and immigration advocate. He earned a BA at Sacramento State University and is the first undocumented student to earn an MFA at the University of Michigan. In this pre-recorded reading, Marcelo is reading from and discussing his groundbreaking, debut novel, Children of the Land. In conversation with Castillo is Nathan Xavier Osorio who is also a poet and essayist. This interview was recorded on February 11, 2020 at Book Shop Santa Cruz.

Matt Sedillo is a Chicano poet, writer, creative director and public intellectual. He has been called “the poet laureate of the struggle” by Dr. Paul Ortiz and “the best political poet in America” by investigative journalist Greg Palast. Sedillo has been featured at over 90 colleges and universities including the University of Cambridge and a recent appearance at San Jose City College. He has been invited by countless cultural institutions, including Casa De Las Americas and has been featured on various media outlets including The Associated Press, Los Angeles Times and C-Span. He is the current literary director of the Center for the Arts in Pomona, California. His first book is called “Mowing Leaves of Grass” published by FLowerSong Books.

IN HINDI MEANING HOPE
ASHA is an Artist, Educator, and Revolutionary.
Originally from LA, ASHA is currently an 8th grade teacher in San Jose. She is an international poet, striving to use art to create radical change.
ASHA has been featured on the cover of Content Magazine, is a feature at many of the prominent poetry events in the Bay Area, as well as active speaker, emcee, and performer at numerous rallies and marches for civil and human rights. ASHA was the focus of a recent short documentary by KQED ARTS.
She was given the Hank Hutchins award by the Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators for supporting and advocating for black youth. She is actively training educators across California on equitable practices and building student agency. She is certified as a facilitator through Teaching Tolerance. Her dream is to establish her own K-12 school rooted in restorative justice and social justice based standards.
ASHA consistently uses her platform to voice out against injustice and to speak up for those who have been marginalized and silenced for centuries.