Thursday, January 31, 2013

Writing Prompt: On a slow thaw... @nyclwg #amwriting



On a slow thaw…
I rise
I wake
From years of being frozen, trapped underneath tons of ice…
Decades old

Ice sculptures formed
Dragging generations of pain and abuse…
On a slow thaw…
I rise
Slowly
Peaking my eyes out
Is it safe?
I rise
Slowly
With intention
On a slow thaw…
Knowing it can’t be rushed…
It has taken me years to get here…
I’ve been here before…
On a slow thaw…
I will not be rushed…
Pushed…
Forced…
Made to be who I am not
Mis muertos me dicen.
“nunca olvides quien eres y de donde vienes”
Under the sea
Do not forget me
Olokun me dice sus secretos
Y yo le prometo que no se lo dire a nadie
On a slow thaw…
I rise
Fearlessly forming palenques
On a slow thaw…
I am grateful that drip-by-drip I rise…
Aware, alert, amazed by what I am here to do…
On a slow thaw…
I pray…
I pray for all the women who came before me
The women at my side
And those who are rising
On a slow thaw…
I smile
Knowing that my destiny
My dreams
My vision
My goals
Are all manifested
I don’t have to pray for it…
All that I’ve been waiting for has arrived…
On a slow thaw…
I give thanks
I have fully risen…
Resurrected
Reborn
Anew

 
End of freewrite~ and so it is ~ Aché

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Writing prompt: What you don't see~



The role of the artist…
as lover…
if I love you I make you conscious of the things you don’t see…
There’s a fire rising in me
for a moment reflecting on what you don’t see…
What you don’t see is… brilliance…
A beauty deeper than the mask on the outside…
What don’t see is… Courage
A natural strength you were born with…
You are centuries old…
What you don’t see is… Love
Something you never have to beg for or need from another…
What you don’t see is…
This exact moment… how today is all that matters
What you don’t see is…
Hope in humanity that not everyone is evil…
What you don’t see is…  Innocence
The moment where it may seem that it was taken from you… the fact is you are intact..
you are whole…
What you don’t see is…
the Statue of Liberty…
how she lives inside of you as freedom, strength and beauty…
What you don’t see is…
My love for you… how deeply it runs through me…
a love residing in my veins…
like ocean waves and river currents…
bear feet walking on white stones…
touching you so you never forget…
What you don’t see is…
Me in your mouth…
the taste of honey…
a goodbye kiss…
yet yours forever…
What you don’t see is…
My reflection in the mirror…
left arm extended…
take my hand…
come with me…
What you don’t see is…
The life I have planned for you…
filled with labyrinths, creeks, bridges, trees, lilies, sunflowers and orchids…
What you don’t see is…
Me in you…
and you in me…
pure love, forever, strength, Goddess, Guerrera, hija, hermana, amante…
for eternity
What you don’t see is…
Sadness… that you don’t see me at all…
My time is up! And so it is

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Writing prompt: the scars you can't see

The scars you can’t see
beauty…
Masks, scars, first impressions
Parts of me that clothes hide
Bits of me under painted on makeup
If you’re lucky enough to stand close to me or lay beside me you will notice a beautiful scar a straight line across the side of my face.
A wound that a girl left reminding me that my history has not been flawless.
The me then fighting to be heard
Rage consuming 
Anger suffocating 
Resolved only for a moment by putting my hands on someone 
and them swinging back.
I went from putting Vaseline on my face 
in exchange for it on my teeth and a crown.
Beauty pageants
Miss USA
Nuestra Belleza
Stand straight
Walk
Pivot
Stop
Pivot
Continue walking
Turn
Step back
Smile
What if….
In the Q&A
When asked what I would do with the crown
Me as reina
And I respond…
good evening… 
first thing I’d do is collect every single child who has ever known abuse, abandono, neglect and pain… 
I would beat the shit out of every adult who raises a hand to a child
Would I have won?
Have I won?
This scar…
Does not define me…
Yet it is an important part of my story
Reminds me that I have been places
Seen things
My life has value
I am alive
My story has purpose
I have survived
This scar that I wake to 
does not make me ugly
It is the pure definition of me
My beauty
My future
Will read
She has lived a life
Complete

And so it is~

Time is up!

Monday, January 28, 2013

NYCLWG 2013 Calendar & Writing Workshops~


Hey everyone,
Please mark your calendars. Below is the final calendar for NYC Latina Writers Group writing circles for the year:

2013 ~ NYCLWG Writing Circles:
Sunday, January 20th ~ meeting from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Sunday, February 24th ~ meeting from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Saturday, March 16th ~ meeting from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Saturday, April 20th ~ meeting from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Sunday, May 12th ~ meeting from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Friday, June 14th ~ critique/potluck ~ meeting from 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Saturday, July 6th ~ picnic/meeting from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Sunday, August 25th ~ picnic/meeting from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Sunday, September 15th ~ meeting from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Wednesday, October 16th ~ 7 Year Anniversary of the NYCLWG ~ Celebration 6:00pm - Until - TBD
Sunday, October 20th ~ meeting from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Sunday, November 17th ~ meeting from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Sunday, December 15th ~ potluck/holiday party ~ meeting from 12:00pm – 6:00pm

NYCLWG Announcements:
February ~ 
  • Look out for a call for submission for the first NYC Latina Writers Group Anthology publication date: October 2013 ~ details to follow.
March ~
§  Sankofa Sisterhood event ~ we are in need of a venue. If you have any suggestions please email me at findingyourforce@gmail.com 
§  Writing from the Womb ~ Six week writing workshop begins

WRITING WORKSHOPS FOR 2013 ~
March ~
Writing from the Womb ~ six week writing workshop – writing intensive: (limit 12 seats)
March: 3, 10, 17, 24 and April: 14th and 21st

June ~
Writing with Intention ~ six day workshop/three weekends – writing intensive: (limit 12 seats)
June: 1st and 2nd
June: 8th and 9th
June: 15th and 16th

October ~
Writing from the Womb ~ six week writing workshop – writing intensive: (limit 12 seats)
October: 5, 12, 19, 26 and November: 2nd and 9th 
For more information on workshops email: at findingyourforce@gmail.com 

2013 Author Readings & Performances / Events


JANUARY
§  Sunday, January 20th ~ meeting from 12:00pm – 4:00pm

FEBRUARY
§  University of New Haven ~ Afrolatinos Presentation
§  Afrolatinos Radio Interview ~ New York
§  Cornell University ~ Ithaca, New York
§  Towson University ~ Towson, MD
§  Harvard University ~ Boston, MA
§  University of Florida ~ FL
§  NYCLWG ~ Sunday, February 24th

MARCH
§  Sankofa Sisterhood Event ~ New York City
§  Writing from the Womb Workshop ~ New York
§  NYCLWG ~ Saturday, March 16th
§  Afrolatinos tour in Houston, TX
§  University of Florida, FL
§  Dominican Conference ~ Wesleyan University ~ Middletown, CT

APRIL
§  NLCC ~ University at Albany SUNY ~ Albany, NY
§  Syracuse University ~ Syracuse, NY
§  NYCLWG ~ Saturday, April 20th ~ NY

MAY
§  NYCLWG ~ Sunday, May 12th
§  A month celebrating my daughter

JUNE
§  NYCLWG ~ Friday, June 14th ~ NY
§  Writing with Intention Workshop: 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16 ~ NY
§  VONA ~ Writing Workshop with Junot Diaz, CA

JULY
§  NYCLWG ~ Saturday, July 6th ~ NY
§  VACATION ~ lejos de aqui

AUGUST
§  Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival ~ Facilitating Workshops ~ MI
§  NYCLWG ~ Sunday, August 25th ~ NY

SEPTEMBER
§  NYCLWG ~ Sunday, September 15th ~ NY
§  Latino Heritage Month Events ~ Everywhere

OCTOBER
§  Latino Heritage Month Events ~ Everywhere
§  Writing from the Womb Workshop: October 5, 12, 19, 26 ~ NY
§  NYCLWG ~ 7 Year Anniversary Event ~ NY
§  NYCLWG ~ Sunday, October 20th  ~ NY

NOVEMBER
§  Writing from the Womb Workshop: November: 2nd and 9th ~NY
§  NYCLWG ~ Sunday, November 17th ~ NY

DECEMBER
§  NYCLWG ~ Sunday, December 15th ~ NY

JANUARY
§  Sunday, January 12th ~ NY

Writing prompt: un pequeño ejemplo/a small example

Este era solo un pequeño ejemplo de la… maldad que hombres con poder hacen
Cometen errores
Violaciones
Robando naciones
This was just a small example of the atrocities committed around the world nations taken
at the hands of men hungry for power angry
taking taking taking more more power
Take over
Control
Possess
It’s all a game
This is just a small example of why I decided to form this movement warriors, soldiers,
when will they say…
when will they see
that instead of build they destroyed community,
cultivating
Acculturating
Integrating
Democracy
Such hypocrisy
Socialism
Idealism
power
White
Black
This is just a small example of the injustices that still exist.
Solo un pequeño ejemplo de la injusticia que existe
Nuestra gente le han vendido un sueno vacío
Un sueno que es falsa…
un amenaza
Un pequeño ejemplola cual debemos pelear, aprender y luchar
A small example that if we stay silent we have no rights no rights to complain
Speaking out
Speaking up
Silence
Silence
Silence
When we stay silent those around us are the ones who decide what is in our best interests…
Interests…
Protecting our interest
Nuestros intereses
I’m hearing voices in my head about interests
Their interests
Sus interés
In our countries
Our lands
Our women and children
Prostitution
Institution
Corruption
Their interests
Sus interés
When did we become their interest?
When did we become theirs?
Interests
Interesting…
I wonder what it would look like for someone to take them…
as their own interests.
A reversal of power
Would they understand what it feels like to belong to someone else to be controlled by others? 
Time is up!
Just a small example… un pequeño ejemplo…

Writing prompt: te sentí tan dentro de mi / I felt you deeply in me

Te sentí presente
The singers voice brought me back to Cuba
You opening the ceremony
Olodo olodo
……………
…………
The beats drumming
Para Yemaya fue el canto
Transporting me in the distance
Me fui lejosYemaya – te sentí presente
Te sentí cerca
Te sentí tan dentro de mi
Your salt waters
Rolling down my face
Cleansing me
Purification
Tu quien me das todo
Todo lo mio es tuyo
Este espacio
Tus dos hijas
Fiel
The structure
The column that that holds me up
Your presence
Present in me
Y te sentí
Te sentí tan dentro de mi
I was present
I was surrounded
Encircled
Blessed
Thank you
Y me mandaste a Chango
Para recordarme
That I am surrounded
The drums are rising…
they are rising in me
…………….
……………
olodo olodo
feeling you
close
enclosing me
unfolding as me
a part of me
te encuentro en el sonido
in the beat beat beating
de mi Corazón
the air I breathe
te sentí presente
tan dentro de mi
Chango…
my faith is in you…
thank you for all you told me…
for all you share with me about me.
For all you show me in me.
I’ve never seen you in the eyes of a five-year-old girl before
Beautiful black hair
A strength I see in me
My brother
Somos hijos
Hermanos
Tenemos una historia larga
Una conexión fuerte
My heart is pounding
I feel you present in me
In the calls
In the cries
In the drum
Cuatro vientos
Zarabanda
Rompe…
Desenvolvimiento
La bendición
Tu canto
Te canto
Ibo che che
Tan dentro de mi
End of freewrite

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Writing prompt:your beliefs...

This can be any belief. ....

What I know to be true… What I know to be true What I know to be true What I know to be true everyday I am deciphering, sifting, throwing out, and cleaning house… purging all the bullshit you attempted to serve me Serve The truth is you brought us here to serve Owned us Possessions Yet we fought for our freedom Holding onto our religion Speaking dialects you dream of understanding Communing with piedras y cocos Our messages traveling through oceans and flames Secrets well kept We came from Nigeria Congo Angola Mali Senegal Guinea Togo And Ghana… Bringing with us The drum Un tambor………………………………. We played on barrels, encadenados speaking with our ancestors telling us to hold on we will hold on, we will hold on- we will hold on dying on ships sleeping in vomit and shit arrival to foreign lands stripped of our language our families our EVERYTHING but you didn't take everything we had you fooled Santa Barbara our Chango La Caridad nuestra Ochun Your lady of mercy our Obatala Saint Peter mi papa We held on We held on We held onto who we are Your failed attempts of removing remnants of our history Nunca seremos what you wanted us to be Our children remember They will never let you forget the smell of our bodies being burned and how it filled your streets At what cost At what cost At what cost This black holocaust Cruelty your game Yet our strength Our strength 100's and 100's and 100's and 100's and 100's and 100's of anos después… our strength intact what I know to be true what I know to be true what I know to be true we will never be YOU!!! and our story will never be erased! Aché End of freewrite

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Writing prompt: time travel. A room

It’s vast
This space
I’m sitting on the ground feeling the dampness of the grass in my hands
The air as I inhale is of mint, lilies, and daisies
The sun hitting my face
I look up and give thanks
As I rise I extend my arms
Take one step
Then another
Barefoot
The earth underneath me grounded
Roots
My roots
Where I come from
This room that I am in
Is earth
Freedom
Open air
Caressing my cheeks
Love
Gratitude
Completion
Arrival
Safe
Arms extended
Feeling my way
Touching the branches
Leaves of healing plants all around me
Safe
Kingdom
Inheritance
I, too entitled
All this
Is mine
Ours
Yours
this room is home
my land
our land
your land
gratitude
peacefulness
tranquility
pink, red, orange, purple
colors of flowers I don’t even know the names of yet
but I’m learning
I’m leaving
A room without limits
A room without worry
A room without walls
Vast
Wide
Open
Home
The country
My country
Return
Yes return
Peacefulness
That’s what this room brings me
Peace
Filled completely
No one around
I am safe here
I am loved here
No judgments
No regrets
No hate
No hurt
No fear
No shame
Shame is what my old religion taught me
My new religion loves me
Accepts me as I am
That’s what I feel in this vast space… LARGENESS… TRUTH… PROTECTED
Complete acceptance and love
A love reserved for me.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Writing from the Womb

Writing from the womb...

Writing from the wound...

The womb and our wounds is what I am meditating on today. This deep place were our writing comes from... the source... that place where the truth in our stories are birthed.

I'm thinking about the most amazing experience that took place yesterday. Inspiration. Vulnerability. Art. Poetry. Love. Spirituality.

I spent an entire day creating with the most amazing women. Women with rich accents and incredible stories to share. Women filled with love, history,  culture, pride, differences, similarities, strength,  hunger, fire and a desperation to tell their stories.

One woman said to me yesterday, "You were born to do this!"

A compliment and honor I do not take lightly or for granted... facilitating this group of women has been a sacred experience.

15 women gathered yesterday to begin an individual writing journey--- together. Thank you to the women who joined via phone. You SHOWED UP!!!! You showed up for yourselves.... In trust. In love. In solidarity. There must be a better word than solidarity. In sisterhood. This word is not good enough. Thank you for showing up in honor of yourselves, each other and for our young girls and ancestors. We are community. Family.

I am grateful to each of you... those who were present and our sisters who could not be. The moment we put pen to page was the moment we declared/claimed our rightful place as WRITERS. That is what you are... A WRITER.

It matters not if you are published or unpublished you are writers and I am honored to be called to share this time and space with you. 

With love. Ali

Mark your calendars:

NYCLWG monthly writing circles:
Feb 24th ~ 12pm
Mar 17
Apr 21
May 12
Jun 9
Sep 8
Oct 13
Nov 17
Dec 8

March Workshop: Writing from the Womb. Six week writing workshop:
March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, April 6th

Sending you so much love.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Just SHOW UP!


Good morning writers!

I have been thinking so much about this group over the past few months. I’ve been thinking about the writers life, the writers process, the writers journey, discipline, focus and commitment to our craft… what really honoring our stories really looks like. There are so many writers who for many different reasons don’t know that they were born storytellers. Voices silenced… family obligations… self-doubt… insecurity.

As we begin this New Year I have set new intentions for our group, there are many wonderful changes… changes that really are about supporting our differences and the different stages we are all at as writers. Every year I pick a word that is my WORD FOR THE YEAR… this year it’s SHOW UP!

Just show up!

Show up to the page…
Show up to the task…
Show up for our characters…
Show up for ourselves…
Show up with our gifts…
Show up and allow for the miracle to happen…

The New York City Latina Writers Group was created six years ago out of the desperate necessity to create a space of my own where I felt I could be me… where I could just show up and see what happens. There was no pressure… no judgment… plenty of patience. I just showed up!

Showing up was the easy part… it then became about consistently showing up.

So my intention for this year is to SHOW UP! My intention is to show up for you! I am committed to you. I am here for you. Just show up!

This year we will be meeting once a month (every third week of the month. The 2013 calendar will be posted in the next few weeks).

Our first meeting of the year will be held:

Date: Sunday, January 20th

Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm (RSVP by Sat. 1/19/13)
Agenda

- Setting writing goals for 2013
- Group discussion on direction of the NYCLWG
- Bring current project working on
- Writing exercises

Cost: FREE

Location: Private (please email me for address: findingyourforce@gmail.com)

The meeting is accessible via teleconference. .. toll free. Just ask and I will be happy to provide you with details.

I look forward to a New Year of creating together.

Know that this is a safe space… a sacred space where you are free and your voice honored.

Wishing you a year filled with blessings.

With love,
Alicia

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Alicia Anabel Santos Curriculum Vitae



ALICIA ANABEL SANTOS


Curriculum Vitae

I am a proud New York born Dominicana who is passionate about writing works that empower and inspire women to find their voices. A self-identified Latina Lesbian Writer, Performance Artist, Producer, Playwright, and Activist, who after reading one too many stories about women I could not wholly relate to, decided to write my own tales that would honor women throughout Latin America and at the same time represent the American-born Latina experience which led me to launch the New York City Latina Writers Group.

Recently, I published my memoir, Finding Your Force: A Journey to Love and am currently completing a historical fiction novel titled, The Daughters of the Revolution. My one-woman show I WAS BORN was selected as part of the ONE Festival in 2011, held in NYC. I have worked for renowned magazines BusinessWeek, Glamour and Domino, but it was an article published in Urban Latino Magazine, "Two Cultures Marching to One Drum," that would change the direction of my life. In 2008, I joined Creador Pictures as Writer /Co-Producer of its first documentary, "Afro Latinos: La Historia Que Nunca Nos Contaron / AfroLatinos: The Untaught Story" WWW.AFROLATINOS.TV, a project that will change the way the world sees color and race relations in Latin America.

I live in Harlem, NYC with my daughter Courtniana. I am a freelance writer and activist against sexual and physical abuse towards women and children. I attended New York University and Rhode Island College. I attended New York University and Rhode Island College.


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Writing and Editorial Work

Workshop Facilitator and Founder                                                                                    2006 - Present
NYC LATINA WRITERS GROUP, New York, NY            
§  Designed and coordinated monthly writing workshops.  Created a program that provides a supportive structure aiding writers in building a foundation where they can establish and maintain a writing discipline.
§  Workshops facilitated: Rituals of Writing 12-week workshop, Writing With Intention and Women Writing the World.

Writer and Editor                                                                                                 2006 – Present
FINDING YOUR FORCE, New York, NY                                                
§  Wrote and edited daily blog.  Managed website, researched topics and wrote opinion articles for blog.

Author, Finding Your Force A Journey to Love                                                            2002 – 2011
§  Wrote and published a memoir.


REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS

§  AfroLatinos: The Untaught Story – traveled to 18 countries and conducted over 200 interviews in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Peru, Panama, Uruguay, Argentina, Guatemala, Honduras and others.
§  Latina Source Podcast: reviewed Julia Alvarez’s In the Time of the Butterflies (2007); Wallace Wattles’ The Science of Getting Rich (2007); Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret (2007); Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner (2007); Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist (2007); Mary Phipher’s Writing to Change the World (2007) and the documentary Last Days of Left Eye.
§  Urban Latino Magazine: Interview with Visual Artist, Yasmin Hernandez; Professor, Dr. Georgina Falu; Professor, Dr. Natasha Gordon-Chipembere; Author, Dr. Marta Moreno-Vega; and Writer & Composer, Tato Torres.


PRESENTATIONS ~ WORKSHOPS
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

§  “Bleeding Black,” Afrolatinos documentary screening and presentation, Black History Month Event, George Washington University, Washington, DC, February, 2012
§  Finding Your Force book presentation, Books on the Square, Providence, RI, February, 2012
§  Black History Month Presentation, Afrolatinos documentary screening and presentation at Hunter College, New York NY, February, 2012
§  Keynote address: “Without Limits: A Women’s  Movement,” Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, March 2012
§  Classroom presentations: “Modern Latin America” and “Violence and Healthcare.” Afrolatinos documentary screening and presentation, Haverford College, Ardmore, PA, March 2012
§  “Noche de Gala: Color Esperanza,” Latin American Student Union Banquet, Reading, SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz, NY, March 2012
§  “Sankofa Sisterhood,” in honor of Women’s History Month, Hueman Bookstore, New York, NY, March 2012
§  “Memoir Writing Workshop,” Bronx Community College, Bronx, NY, March 2012
§  “22nd Annual NLCC’s National Latino Collegiate Conference,” Women’s History Month Event, SUNY Albany, Albany, NY, March 2012
§  “Night of the Arts: Expressions, Evening of Music, Art and Spoken Word, Film and Inspiration,” Bronx Community College, Bronx, NY, March 2012
§  National Dominican Student Conference, LGBT Panel, Brown University, Providence, RI, April 2012
§  Book Reading and discussion at Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, April, 2012
§  Book Reading and discussion at SUNY Albany, Albany, NY, April, 2012
§  “Tu Vida Tu Voz” blog workshop, Havana and Santiago, Cuba, April-May, 2012
§  “Afro-Latino Identity & Contemporary Media,” Panel Discussion, Somos & the BEAT of Viacom, New York, NY, June, 2012
§  “Rituals of Writing,” 12-week writing workshop, Hunter College, New York, NY, July, 2012
§  “Our History Our Words,” St. Josephs College, Brooklyn, NY, September,  2012
§  “Continuing the Oral Tradition on Paper: Latino Writers in Their Own Words,” The New School, New York, NY, September, 2012
§  The Emerging Latina Leader:  Challenges, Opportunities & Transformation, presentation, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, October, 2012
§  “De Donde Vengo Yo! Where I am from!,” NYC Latina Writers Group performance, Camaradas, New York, NY, October 2012
§  NYC Latina Writers Group presentation, “Marathon reading of work by Audre Lorde and Adrienne Rich,” Lesbian Herstory Archives, Brooklyn, NY, November, 2012
§  “Café Con Leche event,” I WAS BORN and Finding Your Force book reading, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, October, 2012
§  “The Black Employee Network Celebrates CSC Diversity Month/Afrolatino Heritage Webinar,” presentation, CSC, Falls Church, VA, October, 2012
§  Latino Heritage Month Performance/Workshop, Afrolatinos documentary screening and discussion, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, October, 2012
§  “Women Writing the World,” facilitated virtual writing workshop, New York, NY, October, 2012
§  “Writing With Intention,” facilitated writing workshop, New York, NY, November-December 2012
§  Afrolatinos presentation and film screening, Latino Heritage Month, St. Joseph’s College, Brooklyn, NY, October, 2012
§  “In Our Own Words—On Our Own Terms: Reflections of Latin@ LGBTQ Writers,” panelist and facilitated writing session, Pace University, New York, NY, October, 2012
§  Afrolatinos presentation, screening and discussion, SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz, NY, December, 2012
§  Finding Your Force, book reading and discussion, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, February, 2011
§  U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Race, Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion Unit, Afrolatinos international webinar/presentation, Washington, DC, February, 2011
§  National Dominican Student Conference, LGBT Panel, Yale University, New Haven, CT, April, 2011
§  Finding Your Force A Journey to Love, book release and presentation, Hueman Bookstore, New York, NY, August, 2011
§  Global Soul, Afrolatinos Presentation, Little Field, Brooklyn, NY, September, 2011
§  Finding Your Force book reading, Casa Attabex Aché, Bronx, NY, September, 2011
§  Finding Your Force book reading, Word UP! Community Bookshop, Washington Heights, NY, September, 2011
§  Hispanic/Latino Authors Book Presentation, Brooklyn Book Festival, La Casa Azul and Las Comadres, Brooklyn, NY, September, 2011
§  Center Authors presents: Finding Your Force: A Journey to Love, book presentation, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center, New York, NY, September, 2011
§  “Native Tongues & Spoken Words,” performance and book presentation, Roots Café, Providence, RI, September, 2011
§  Afrolatino’s presentation, discussion on writing, performance art and theatre, at McCluer South-Berkeley High School, St. Louis, MO, October, 2011
§  Finding Your Force book presentation, Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn, NY, October, 2011
§  Finding Your Force book presentation, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME, October, 2011
§  Finding Your Force book presentation, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, October, 2011
§  Finding Your Force book presentation, Corcho Wine Room, New York, NY, October, 2011
§  Afrolatinos screening and presentation, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, February, 2010
§  NYC Latina Writers Group, performance series, La Pregunta Café, New York, NY, February 2010
§  “Beyond the Color Divide,” Afrolatinos presentation and discussion, Caribbean Week, Yale University, New Haven, CT,  April, 2010
§  Afrolatinos presentation and discussion, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, April 2010
§  “Pelo Bueno, Pelo Malo,” panelist, National Dominican Student Conference and the Senior Advisor for Quisqueya: the Dominican Students Association in Cornell University, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, April, 2010
§  “Warrior of Words,” NYC Latina Writers Group performance, featuring Lemon Anderson, Bowery Poetry Club, New York, NY, June, 2010
§  For the LOVE of COMM-UN-ITY, For the LOVE of WORDS,” NYC Latina Writers Group performance, Rock Wilk, Camaradas, New York, NY, October, 2010
§  “Showcase Afro-Latino heritage,” Afrolatinos presentation and discussion, Pace University, Pleasantville, New York, September, 2010 
§  Hispanic Panic Event, I WAS BORN play presentation, Nowhere Lounge, New York, NY, September, 2010
§  “Womyn Without Voices/Mujeres Sin Voces,” LGBT Center, New York, NY, October, 2010
§  Presentation of One Woman show, I WAS BORN, Teatro Latea, New York, October, 2010
§  “Powerful Womyn, Powerful Words,” NYC Latina Writers Group performance, Women’s History Event, East Harlem Café, March, 2009
§  “Presentación: Mujer Negra, Arte, Cultura e Identidad ~ Conversatorio Mujer Negra, presentation and moderated discussion, Bogota, Colombia, September, 2009
§  Afrolatinos presentation, Universidad Manuela Beltran Presentacion, Bogota, Colombia, September, 2009
§  35th Anniversary National Conference of Black Mayors,” MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, October, 2009
§  Afrolatinos presentation and discussion, Mott Haven Village Preparatory High School, Bronx, NY, October, 2009
§  “Mujeres Viviendo Sus Leyendas/Women Living their Legend, NYC Latina Writers Group performance, East Harlem Café, New York, NY, October, 2009
§  “Latino Art Gallery and Book Discussion,” Afrolatinos Presentation, New York University, New York, NY, November, 2009
§  “Explore Where Your Options Can Take You,” District 79’s College Fair, New York University, New York, NY, May, 2009
§  “Choice and Commitment,” NYC Latina Writers Group performance, Camaradas, New York, NY, October, 2007

HONORS/AWARDS
INTERVIEWS & APPEARANCES

§  Named Notable Latina -profiled AfroLatino Event for Black History Month with the Hispanic Student Association.- George Mason University – September, 2012

§  Finding Your Force A Journey to Love, listed in the Advocates, “21 LGBT Biographies or Memoirs You Should Read Now,” August, 2012

§  Finding Your Force A Journey to Love, listed in Publishers Weekly quarterly, as “A growing chorus of voices in DIY publishing, April 2012
www.cuny.tv/bio/alicia_anabel_santos. Appearances on CUNY TV. Independent Sources. 2010 Year Ender December 29, 2010; The Black/Brown Divide March 3, 2010
§  Interview: Nueva York
articles.nydailynews.com/.../29440843_1_reading-series-gay-...Share
Sep 15, 2010 – Alicia Anabel Santos, a 39-year-old Brooklyn-born Dominicana, appeared at the all-female LATINA PANIC! in July.
§  Interview: BronxNet - Alicia Anabel Santos on OPEN, March, 2012
Mar 26, 2012 – What better way to pay tribute in Women's History Month than with a panel discussion and featured performance art touching on issues that ...


                        PUBLICATIONS

§  Finding Your Force A Journey to Love, Memoir, August, 2011
§  The Best of Panic Anthology, Published December, 2010
§  Urban Latino Magazine: Two Cultures Marching to One Drum, February, 2008

CROSS CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Interviews for Afrolatinos Documentary
§  San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, August 2012
§  Santiago de Cuba, Havana, Cuba, April – May 2012
§  Bogota, Colombia, December 2011 – January 2012
§  Bogota, Colombia, May – July 2011
§  Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 2010
§  Montevideo, Uruguay, April, 2010
§  Samana, Dominican Republic (Semana Santa); Port Au Prince, Haiti (Vudoo), and Bogota, Colombia, April, 2009
§  Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, July, 2009
§  Havana, Cuba, and Bogota, Colombia, November, 2009
§  New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA, May 2008
§  Veracruz, Mexico, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, July, 2008
§  San Basilio de Palenque, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bogota, Colombia; Colon, Panama; Masca, Honduras, August, 2008
§  Livingston, Guatemala; La Ceiba, Travesia, Honduras, and Dominican Republic (Fiesta de San Miguel),  September, 2008
§  Peru, November, 2008

AFFILIATIONS / MEMBERSHIPS

§  New York City Latina Writers Group, Founder and member since 2006, New York, NY
§  DeAlmas Women’s Collective, Member since 2008, New York, NY
§  Las Comadres Para Las Americas, Member since 2005, New York, NY
§  Keynote address at Syracuse University: “Without Limits: A Women’s Movement!” at Syracuse, University, Syracuse, NY, March, 2012
§  Conferences: National Dominican Student Conference (2012, 2011, 2010), Fuerza Latina’s 22nd Annual National Latino Collegiate Conference,"El Poder De Ahora: The Dawn of a New Era" (2012).
§  Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation (VONA), Completed the Fiction Writing Workshop with Maaza Mengiste, University California, Berkeley (2012).
§  FELT Fantastic Experimental Theater Workshop, with Playwright Carmen Rivera. (2010)
§  NYC Latina Writers Group ~ Founder, Writing Workshop Facilitator (2006 – present).

WEBSITE / BLOG
§  www.afrolatinos.tvwww.afrolatinos.tv
§  findingyourforce.blogspot.com