UHD Hosts Poetry Reading , Performance & Writing Workshop
By Sheryl E. Taylor
The College of Humanities & Social Sciences’ Cultural Enrichment Center presents a Poetry Reading & Performance at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11 in the Welcome Center’s TDECU Room (Third Floor) at the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD).
This year’s event features Latino Book Award-winning author, performance poet, actress and educator Jasminne Méndez — co-founder and program director of Houston-based Latino literary arts organization Tintero Projects and co-host of the poetry and writing podcast series, “INKWELL.” Méndez has performed her poetry in venues all around Houston, including Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Rice University and the Alley Theatre. She has shared the stage with respected writers and poets, notably, Sandra Cisneros and Natalie Diaz. Mendez has been published both nationally and internationally and her first multi-genre memoir “Island of Dreams” (Floricanto Press, 2013) was awarded Best Young Adult Latino Focused Book by the International Latino Book Awards in 2015. She also recently won the COG Poetry Prize for her poems "Run, Irelia, Run," "Bounty," and "Return to Water."
Jasminne will be joined by husband and fellow performance poet, writer, educator and activist Lupe Méndez—
founder of Tintero Projects and co-host of “INKWELL”—a collaborative podcast with Houston’s Inprint—to spotlight Latinx writers and other writers of color. The Galveston native works with Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say, Brazilian Arts Foundation and other organizations to promote poetry events, advocate for literacy/literature and organize creative writing. Mendez has been honored as one "Houston Press' Creative 100s"—and along with the rest of the Librotraficante organizers, was also awarded the 2012 Downs Intellectual Freedom Award for the defense of Mexican American Studies and literature across the Southwest United States.
A reception and book signing will immediately follow the poetry reading and performance.
Also on Oct. 11, the Center will present a Writing workshop at 2:30 p.m. in the Welcome Center’s Milam Room (Third Floor - Girard Street Building). To register for the workshop, visit mendezwritingworkshop.eventbrite.com.
For more information, contact Dr. Jane Creighton, director of Cultural Enrichment Center, at creightonj@uhd.edu.
The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.
U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.
