Author Archives: Karla Cordero

About Karla Cordero

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Posted on 05.18.20

Plants & Poetics: A Reflection on Craft and Inspiration...

news | by Karla Cordero

Those of you that catch me on Instagram know that one of my favorite things to share is the garden, the blooming flowers, the bean that sprouted, or my dog Spanky stealing a carrot from the day’s harvest. Recently, as I return to writing, I’ve been thinking a lot about pla...

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Posted on 04.15.20

Interview with Gigi Bella...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

Last fall I was asked to host the San Diego Poetry Slam, featuring Gigi Bella. I remember meeting Gigi for the first time. Her outfit on point, radiating with joy, smiling like we had known each other for years. It was mid-way through the slam, I invited Gigi to the mic and her a...

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Posted on 04.07.20

Keeping Slam Alive During COVID-19...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

Sunday evening, I'm rocking my fuzzy concha slippers, sweats, and a messy bun any bird would be down to nest in. You know, just here, practicing the art of  social distancing with the utmost class during the era of COVID-19. The microwave rings and Top Ramen is set for dinner...

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Posted on 08.07.19

A Conversation with Phil Kaye...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

A Conversation with Phil Kaye by Emily Lu Gao     Originally published in YLWRNGR                                                                                      Link: https://ylwrngr.com/2019/03/15/phil-kaye/        ...

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Posted on 03.11.19

Financially Sustaining Your Craft: An Interview on Self-Publishing with Edy...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

The debate over self-publishing versus working with an established press is always in conversation with various writing communities. At times, the final debate around the topic seems to end with a negative stigma regarding self-publishing as a lack of credibility or validatio...

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Posted on 09.16.18

Book Review - Citizen Illegal by José Olivarez...

books | by Karla Cordero

The Intimacy of Family, Home, and Identity in Citizen Illegal by José Olivarez Reviewed by Valorie K. Ruiz  It takes a focused introspection, awareness, and openness to capture what it’s like to exist within the intersection of multiple identities. José Olivarez’ Cit...

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Posted on 07.17.18

Some Rules & Rituals for the Full-Time Teacher-Writer...

news | by Karla Cordero

Ahhh... summer! My favorite time of the year where writing feels more luxury than the impossible endeavor. But all teachers know all glorious summers must come to an end. We slowly put our notebooks down and hit the ground running with syllabus development, book orders, an...

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Posted on 02.20.18

Making Time To Write: Confessions from a Poet-Teacher...

news | by Karla Cordero

It’s official, 2018 has arrived and when it comes to thinking about New Year’s Resolutions some of us might pinky promise ourselves to, “WRITE MORE, READ MORE, DEDICATE MORE TIME TO MY CRAFT!” However, if you work in the field of education it can be quite the challengi...

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Posted on 07.24.17

The Found Poem: A Teacher’s Creative Strategy Toward Student Engagement...

news | by Karla Cordero

In Oceanside, California, poetry enters the classroom at MiraCosta College as mentor texts, that perform and empower student readers. Professor Maria Figueroa uses the found poem in particular to encourage students to question and rewrite the oppressive narratives spilled from th...

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Posted on 06.08.16

Paper vs. Technology:An artist's decision when it comes to reading New Shit...

news | by Karla Cordero

The open mic for most artists is the perfect space to read new work fresh off the pen, as many people in the spoken word scene refer to as NEW SHIT! At times, poems, stories, rants, and jokes birthed recently from the artist aren’t necessarily always memorized, but our bodies a...

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Posted on 05.01.16

When Poetry Meets God...

news | by Karla Cordero

Saint is a poet whose wordsmithing sheds humor and compassion for humanity when hitting the stage. His numerous accomplishments as an artist has given him the opportunity to open for hip-hop artists such as Common, Lupe Fiasco and gospel sensation Dietrick Haddon. As a perform...

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Posted on 08.18.15

10 Tips for Teaching Hip-Hop & Spoken Word Poetry...

news | by Karla Cordero

As educators we are constantly on the prowl to find new and creative pedagogical strategies to motivate our students to critically engage with literature. Brian Mooney is one of the many educators who utilizes hip-hop and spoken word poetry as a teaching tool. Inside of the cl...

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Posted on 08.07.15

Interview with Mercedez Holtry...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

Imagine sitting in your Spanish class where the teacher questions your racial identity by the sound of your name. The teacher pronounces each word slowly, you can tell her tongue is uncomfortable by the time she hears the cadence of your last name escape her mouth, and in hesita...

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Posted on 06.20.15

Interview with Saroya Marsh...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

Everybody meet the wonderful Saroya Marsh, a poet who defends and represents the voices of those who've been silenced. Saroya, placing second at the 2015 Women of the World Poetry Slam, is an artist that moves mountains with honest words. We had the honor to ask Saroya a.k.a. ...

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Posted on 04.23.15

AWP 2015 Throwback...

news | by Karla Cordero

At this years Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) we had the privilege to visit some awesome publishers at their tables. Be sure to check out their work!   Organic Weapon Arts http://www.organicweaponarts.com   Red Hen Press http:...

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Posted on 04.15.15

The Balancing Act: Learning how to poet and parent ...

news | by Karla Cordero

To be a parent, means to give every ounce of your body, mind, and spirit to the very human being/s you brought into this world. Parents are the providers and sculptors of their children who will one day carry their legacy in all that they do. However, parenting can be a scary thi...

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Posted on 04.03.15

Interview with Mahogany L. Browne...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

Mahogany L. Browne is a woman who brings her community beauty, courage, and hard work through her own writing and activism. While establishing the publishing company Penmanship Books, Poetry Program Directing the Nuyorican Poets Café, and having published several of her own boo...

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Posted on 02.14.15

10 Love Poems For Your Valentine...

news | by Karla Cordero

We know writing a love poem can be quite the challenge. You face the dangers of being too cliche, too sexy, & too boring. So we put together ten of our favorite love poems from the wordsmith experts for your inspiration & enjoyment. Forget Valentine Cards, share a poem! ...

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Posted on 01.20.15

When Poetry Meets God...

news | by Karla Cordero

Brian "SuperB" Oliva is an accomplished writer and spoken word artist, with a touch of r&b and soul. He has featured at countless venues and was the co-host and one of the founding fathers of the Inland Empire's most successful performance venues, Urbane Culture. He is the 20...

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Posted on 11.25.14

Interview with Carrie Seitzinger...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

Once your eyes dive into a couple of poetry and fiction books by Small Doggies Press, you'll understand how this small press carries a fearless bite behind every published author. Whether you're a new or fanatic reader of the press, you're immediately invited to explore the human...

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Posted on 11.10.14

Neil Hilborn's New Album Northbound...

news | by Karla Cordero

You can find Neil Hilborn on Youtube and his amazing poem titled "OCD," a story about a man and his struggle between disability and love. Hilborn's poem has reached over eight million views and counting, as poetry fans everywhere can now listen to Hilborn's  poetic work on his n...

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Posted on 11.03.14

Interview with Franny Choi...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

Franny Choi is a poet, a performer, a teaching artist, a Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowship finalist, and the author of Floating, Brilliant, Gone, published by Write Bloody Publishing (2014). Her accomplishments include being a finalist at several national poetry slams, and her play Ma...

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Posted on 10.21.14

2014 IWPS Champion Porsha O, Tells Her Story...

news | by Karla Cordero

Porsha O's voice delivers a sound that can only be described as a kind of "choir-drum beat" so loud you are taken by her words for three minutes at a time. Whether you get to experience her presence live or through your laptop screen, you can't help but nod your head and snap you...

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Posted on 10.13.14

Interview with Executive Director Suzi Q. Smith...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

This past weekend, 72 poets from across the country gathered to compete at the 2014 Individual World Poetry Slam. As poets attended orientation, collected their badges, and followed their schedule to the right venue, we began to marvel at the hard work and dedication organiz...

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Posted on 10.06.14

Interview with Ed Mabrey...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

With just four days away, Phoenix, Arizona will be hosting the 2014 Individual World Poetry Slam and Spit Journal just had to share a few words with the three-time defending champion Ed Mabrey. SPIT JOURNAL: We're all curious, how did you find your way into the realm of perfor...

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Posted on 09.18.14

Interview with D.C.' Slam Master Sarah Lawson...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

The people of D.C. were hungry for poetry this year, bringing heavy metaphor, dynamic group pieces, and imagery focusing on political, cultural and social issues to the National Poetry Slam in Oakland.  The D.C. Beltway Slam Team devoured the stage, claiming the 2014 champion ti...

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Posted on 09.11.14

Women of the World: Voice Becomes Fire Part II. ...

news | by Karla Cordero

Here is the second half of the 2014 Women of the World article, featuring Imani Cezanne and Carrie Rudzinski.  We hope you enjoy! What does poetry mean to you as woman? IMANI CEZANNE: As a woman of color, there are countless things I have to fight for that others don...

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Posted on 09.05.14

Where did poetry find you?...

news | by Karla Cordero

At this years National Poetry Slam in Oakland, we asked twenty poets the question: WHERE DID POETRY FIND YOU?   We are blessed to have met so many beautiful people.  Check out their responses below!            ...

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Posted on 08.02.14

Women of the World: Speak in Resistance Part 1...

news | by Karla Cordero

Once a year seventy-two of the fiercest female poets from across the country come together to spill their stories and truth at a competition known as Women of the World Poetry Slam (WOWPS). Each poet is a representative from her home venue, sent out to compete for the prestigious...

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Posted on 07.27.14

Interview with Douglas Kearney...

interviews | by Karla Cordero

At this years Association of Writer’s & Writing Program conference in Seattle, Washington, I witnessed an audience with dropped jaws and speechless reactions at a Douglas Kearney reading. The first poem he read titled “Thank You But Please Don’t Buy My Children Clothes ...

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Posted on 07.20.14

Split This Rock: It's not just a poetry program....

news | by Karla Cordero

In Washington D.C. poetry has become a vehicle to empower today's youth with writing skills, confidence, and socio-political responsibility. Washington D.C. is home to an organization known as Split This Rock. Since 2008, the organization has reached out into their community thr...

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