Internationally-known poet, DeClercq award winners read their works April 16
Lorna Dee Cervantes will read her poetry April 16 in the Biella Room of the University Library.
- April 2, 2012
Lorna Dee Cervantes, internationally known and prize-winning poet, will read from her work at 7 p.m. Monday, April 16, on the Hayward Campus of Cal State East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd. The program will be in the Biella Room of the University Library.
Presented by the university's Department of English's Distinguished Writers Series in conjunction with National Poetry Month, the free program will begin with recognition of, and readings by, this year’s three DeClercq Poetry Prize winners. Cervantes’ reading and book signing will follow.
Stephen Gutierrez, professor of English and Distinguished Writers' program director, thinks Cervantes will make a strong impression.
"Lorna Dee Cervantes is one of the reigning queens of contemporary Latina poetry," said Gutierrez said. "Yes, there is room in the land for more than one – and her appeal is widespread. She writes honestly and movingly of everyday things, and of big issues. She's a must-read poet."
A fifth generation Californian of Mexican and Native American (Chumasch) heritage, Cervantes was influential during the Chicano literary movement with her small press and Chicano literary journal, “Mango,” which first published many influential writers.
Her fiction, essays, poetry, and screenplays have received numerous awards, honors and fellowships, including the Lila Wallace/Readers Digest Writers Award, two National Endowment for the Arts fellowship grants, two Pushcart prizes, and several "Best Book" awards.
Her books of poetry include, “From the Cables of Genocide: Poems on Love and Hunger,” ’91," and “Ciento: 100 100-word Love Poems,” which is underway.
Currently, she is a University of California Regents’ lecturer at UC Berkeley. She is a former professor of English and director of creative writing at the University of Colorado-Boulder.
CSUEB welcomes persons with disabilities to attend campus events and will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please notify event sponsor in advance at (510) 885-3151 if accommodation is needed.
Campus parking is $2 per hour – payable at kiosk machines.