photograph by Richshell Allen, Pasadena City College photographer – “What compelled you to write about social justice issues?”– “How do you push past ‘writers’ block?'”– “Can you talk about...
Read more17 Mar, 2020
14 Mar, 2020
charcoal, cancellations, & social distancing…
14 Mar, 2020
Yesterday, for my storytelling workshop at a Pasadena high school, I took blank paper and charcoal and zero instructions The situation changes from one hour to the next, and...
Read more14 Nov, 2019
“instead of retiring, I’m refiring…”
14 Nov, 2019
Writers including Peggy DoBreer, Hazel Harrison, Angela Franklin, Tanya Ho Kong, Jessica Ceballos y Campbell participating in a conversation with Luis Rodriguez at Avenue 50 Studio “Instead of retiring, I’m...
Read more29 Oct, 2019
unexpected intersections…
29 Oct, 2019
Selfies: With Bettina Ng’weno (L); Sharon Fabriz (R) “I remember us facilitating Rice Writing Project sessions at the Rice School and how even then you had the title in mind....
Read more30 Jul, 2019
macondo2019 after a tough take-off…
30 Jul, 2019
Workshop participants Reyna Grande, Macarena Hernández, Olivia Meña, Amelia María de la Luz Montes and partner, Liliana Valenzuela, Fan Wu, and Macondo board member Pat Aldrete with Sandra Cisneros and Ruth Behar at Liberty Bar “I’m...
Read more07 Mar, 2019
carpool conversation…
07 Mar, 2019
carpool conversation on a foggy morning This year, our carpool conversations have been limited–not because Minal and her friends don’t talk to each other–but because they sing songs that...
Read more23 Jan, 2019
protesting for equal education for all…
23 Jan, 2019
teachers picketing outside Burbank Middle School, Highland Park, Los Angeles The teachers’ strike in Los Angeles started last week and stretched for six long days, encompassing some of the...
Read more10 Jan, 2019
barbed wire…
10 Jan, 2019
barbed wire rolled around iron-wrought fence Close to where I currently live is a park, next to which is a public high school. A US Marines headquarters building sits at the edge...
Read more28 Dec, 2018
driving through rain and loving it…
28 Dec, 2018
Rain along the freeway between Austin toward Houston My family’s December visit to Austin and Houston was punctuated by rain, mist, and cold temperatures. I was appreciative. I love...
Read more04 Aug, 2014
biking along brays bayou…
04 Aug, 2014
On our first Saturday afternoon in Houston after a month of roaming, Minal, René and I meander on our bikes along a trail that’s being built along Brays Bayou...
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