‘Afro-Latinx Poetry Now’ conference and readings held at Notre Dame

Tribune Staff Report
·2 min read
Poetry Society of Indiana is calling for submissions by young poets for its annual contest.

SOUTH BEND — The Institute for Latino Studies (ILS) and the Initiative on Race and Resilience (IRR) present the conference “Afro-Latinx Poetry Now” on Sept. 27 and 28 in McKenna Hall at the University of Notre Dame.

The two-day gathering features six poets and six scholars from around the United States who will participate in four daytime panel sessions that delve into the work of 12 poets.

Two evening sessions will feature poets performing from their work.

Each of the six poets has chosen an Afro-Latinx poet whose work they particularly admire to discuss during the afternoon sessions, while the six scholars will discuss the works of the six poets in attendance at each day’s second session.

The two evening sessions take place at 8 p.m. in McKenna Hall’s auditorium and feature the six featured poets, in groups of three, performing 15-minute sets of their work, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

From 2 to 3:15 p.m. Sept. 27, the program features the following:

• Darrel Alejandro Holnes on the poetry of Lorenzo Thomas

• Yesenia Montilla on the poetry of Aracelis Girmay

• John Murillo on the poetry of Nancy Morejón

From 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Sept. 27, the program features the following:

• Pablo José Lopez Oro on the poetry of Darrel Alejandro Holnes

• Francisco Robles on the poetry of Yesenia Montilla

• John Alba Cutler on the poetry of John Murillo

From 2 to 3:15 p.m. Sept. 28, the program features the following:

• Jasminne Mendez on the poetry of Dianelly Antigua

• Roberto Carlos Garcia on the poetry of Willie Perdomo

• Raina J. León on the poetry of Alán Pelaez López

From 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Sept. 28, the program features the following:

• Judith Rodríguez on the poetry of Jasminne Mendez

• Marisel Moreno on the poetry of Roberto Carlos Garcia

• Yomaira Figueroa-Vásquez on the poetry of Raina J. León

Darrel Alejandro Holnes, Yesenia Montilla and John Murillo read at 8 p.m. Sept. 27 in McKenna Hall.

Jasminne Mendez, Roberto Carlos Garcia and Raina J. León read at 8 p.m. Sept. 28 in McKenna Hall.

All sessions will be live-streamed, as well as recorded and archived, for a national audience.

Admission is free.

For more information, visit latinostudies.nd.edu/poetry.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame holds 'Afro-Latinx Poetry Now' conference and readings