Palabra Pura: “Intercambios Generaciónales con Palabras y Ritmos” (Generational Exchange with Words and Rhythms)

Three Poets and a master percussionist demonstrate the continuing contributions of Puerto Ricans to Chicago literature. This evening is curated by Eduardo Arocho and features poet Judy Diaz, poet/musician David Hernandez, and percussionist and musician Peter Vale.

Curator

Eduardo Arocho has been writing and performing poetry since 1992. He has been featured in many venues in Chicago including: Citiverse Poetry Series at the Sultzer Library, The Institute for Puerto Rican Arts and Culture and the Guild Complex among others. His poetry has been published in OPEN FIST: Anthology of Young Illinois Poets, by Tia Chucha Press (1993), POWERLINES: A Decade of Poetry from Chicago’s Guild Complex, by Tia Chucha Press (2000) and EL CENTRO JOURNAL, Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College New York, NY, (2001). His career also includes performing on Chicago Public Radio, the feature film Urban Poet by New Film Productions (2003) and the Documentary Flags of Steel by Mildred Amador (2008). As a freelance reporter his articles have appeared in several local Chicago newspapers, as well as the National Public Radio program Latino USA: The Radio Journal of News and Culture. He is currently completing work on his forthcoming poetry manuscript, Nació Maestro (New and Selected Poems).

Featured Artists

Judith Díaz was born and raised in Humboldt Park, earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Master’s in Educational Psychology for Youth Development at University of Illinois at Chicago. Judy has also worked as a youth advocate in Pilsen through the National Center for Latinos with Disabilities and as an Affordable Housing Community Organizer at Blocks Together in the West Humboldt Park community. Her involvement in Paseo Boricua began with Batey Urbano where she combined her passion for community building and poetry. Batey Urbano became the space where she worked with students of Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School (PACHS) for the first time. She was inspired by their resiliency and became more interested in education. She began working as a mentor at PACHS in 2005. Currently, Judy is the Dean of Student Affairs at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School. She dedicates herself to working with youth in the Humboldt Park community to provide educational alternatives and help them realize their potential to be agents of self/social transformation.

David Hernandez He is a founding member of the Latino Arts movement and has continued this commitment as board member, editor, panelist and juror with the Poetry Foundation, Illinois Arts Council and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. As a poet and educator, he has touched the lives of over 600,000 students from public schools, community and regional programs, to libraries, colleges, universities and professionals at agencies and corporations. He has organized student performances, city-wide poetry festivals, poetry contests and edited several anthologies of poetry. His grants, awards and other recognition include being the 1st recipient of the Gwendolyn Brooks Outstanding Poet of Illinois award and the Illinois State Library Patron’s Choice award. In 1971 he founded Street Sounds-Chicago’s award-winning premier poetry/music group.

Peter Vale‘s instruments include Congas, Bongo and Timbales. He has performed with the following bands: Son Bayu, Salsa Dulce, Acusticos, Joe Rendon & Friends, Latin Inspiracion, Suena Latin Jazz, Taino DNA, Albert Sierra & His Cuban Flavor, and more. He studied Latin Percussion under Master Congero Osbaldo “Ogie” Merced.