In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, SDSU welcomes Chicano poet, writer and educator, Tomás Riley, for an "Afternoon of Chicano Spoken Word" at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6 in Casa Real.

About Riley

Riley was a finalist for the 2004 California Voices Award from Poets & Writers Magazine, and is a 10-year veteran of the San Diego-based spoken word collective The Taco Shop Poets.  

Bringing spoken word to relevant places – from taquerías to Chicano Park to New York University – Riley’s more than 200 thought-provoking poetry performances have transcended states, borders and ideologies.

TV and print

Riley appeared in the HBO documentary "Americanos: Latino Life in the United States," the PBS dramatic series "American Family," and is profiled in the documentary series "Latina/o arts: Visiones."

In 2005, Riley released his first solo collection of poems in "Mahcic," published by Calaca Press.  His written work is featured in "Bum Rush the Page: A Def Poetry Jam," "Chorizo Tonguefire: The Taco Shop Poets Anthology," "Primera Palabra," Pacific Review and various journals and literary publications.

Riley and SDSU

Riley is an SDSU alumnus and founding member of The Voz Alta Project, which provides a space for San Diego visual and performing arts.  

Having taught students at the elementary and college level, Riley now mentors up-and-coming teen writers in the Mission District of San Francisco at Youth Speaks, a nonprofit literary arts organization for the city’s youth.

To learn more about the work of Tomás Riley, visit his website at www.yofoolio.com.

For more information about this event, visit the Cross Cultural Center website or call (619) 594-7057.