Metropolitan State University of Denver, Chicana/o Studies Department invites the community to the 8^th Annual Lalo Delgado Poetry Festival Tuesday April 21, 2015 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. at the St. Cajetans Event Center, on the Auraria Campus, Denver. This year theme, “From the Sword to the Pen”, will center on activism through poetry.

Delgado is best known as Colorado’s social justice poet who was considered the National Grandfather of Chicano Poetry.  Delgado received a hand-written Civil Rights Award from Rosa Parks, Scholar/Elder of the Civil Rights Movement who worked with Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez to support thousands of migrant farm workers in the Unites States who were striking for better working conditions.

The 2015 Lalo Delgado Poetry Festival will feature nationally recognized poet and activist: Jimmy Santiago Baca.  Jimmy is a winner of the American Book Award and the National Poetry Award.  Jimmy Santiago Baca has established himself as an inspiring and important spokesperson for the Chicano experience, continually giving voice to the voiceless. The movie Blood In – Blood Out; was based on the true life experiences of Jimmy Santiago Baca, who also was one of the writers of the movie.

Jimmy has written numerous poems and books such as Rita and Julia, Singing at the Gates, Breaking Bread with the Darkness: Book 1: The Esai Poems, Stories from the Edge, Adolescents on the Edge, Winter Poems Along the Rio Grande, A Glass of Water, and a Place to Stand (Book & DVD).  Both his books and DVD’s will be for sale at the event.

 Lalo’s Poetry Festival also features Poetry Jazz by Freddy Rodriguez Jr., and other poets such as Jessie Ramirez, Dr. Ramon Del Castillo, Ricardo La Fore and Antonio Vigil.  A special treat will be poetry recited by Lalo’s great grandchildren.  Dr. Chalane Lechuga, a Professor of Chicana/o Studies will bring us an academic experience of understanding poetry through education.

The festival opening at 9 a.m. features a blessing ceremony by Aztec Troupe Huitzilopochtli, followed by a free continental breakfast and a catered lunch.  The event is free and open to the public. Sponsors include: MSU Presidents Office of Institutional Diversity, and Student Activities, the University of Colorado Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Colorado Latino Leadership Advocacy and Research Organization.

For more information please contact Christina M. Sigala at selim@msudenver.edu or (720) 309-4227.