C.L. “Rooster” Martinez is a spoken word poet and educator from San Antonio, TX. He earned an MA/MFA program in Creative Writing, Literature and Social Justice from OLLU. His work has appeared in Button Poetry, The Huffington Post Latino Voices, the Pittsburgh Poetry Review, Pilgrimage Press, and Sagebrush Review. He is the author of A Saint for Lost Things (Alabrava Press, 2020), and As it is in Heaven (Kissing Dynamite Poetry Press, 2020) and was a writer on the play, American Pride, which won two Alamo Theater Arts Council Globe Awards for original writing and overall production.

Kim Gallegos is 33 year old proud Hispanic Woman born and raised in Laredo, Texas. She is a self proclaimed coffee snob and Target addict who is a strong believer the art of uncomfortable truths, affirmations, and most importantly, BOUDOIR photography. Kim is a proud dog mom to Hunter and Ladybird who often trigger her allergies but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She has a background in behavioral health and holds a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling; however, she’s providing her services in what some may consider a little unconventional. After working in behavioral health for almost 5 years she decided to go back to her passion of photography to help women in her community and the surrounding areas, see themselves for the reinas they really are! After having a life changing boudoir experience herself, Kim pursued a certification in Boudoir Photography and has been specializing in it for almost two years! Her goal is to help liberate whoever comes through her studio from their negative self talk and self image by giving them a different lens to see themselves through.

Betsy:

My name is Aminta Lerma but everyone calls me Betsy. Born in Mexico, immigrated to the states and have been in South Texas ever since. I’m a full time toddler mom, run a plus size fashion and beauty blog on IG and FB and now Im 1/2 of Cosa Sad Súper Sad. Erin and I have been friends for about 16 years and I believe that we are kindred spirits that share one common passion, music. My husband is a big supporter of the group and has encouraged me to come out of my shell and face my insecurities. The group has given me the motivation to deal with my darkness by challenging myself to open up and I couldn’t be more grateful. Erin:

My name’s Erin Perez. I’m 31 years old born and raised in Laredo, Texas. I’ve been a musician since I was 3 years old and I play mostly percussion: drums, congas, timbales and a little piano. I like to write poetry, raps, I love to dance and my biggest passion is singing. I’ve been in musicals like Beauty and the Beast where I played Lumiere and I played Cousin Kevin in The Who’s Tommy. I work as a trainer for Comcast agents and I enjoy rollerblading.

Betsy and I have been friends for about 16 years now. Our love for music, cigarettes and expensive coffee brought us together. She’d pick me up when I was 16 and we’d head to Starbucks and talk for hours about a lot of different things. She’s my fucking muse. And I love her.

My dad is actually really proud of what Betsy, our moderators and I have done in the group and he’s actually a member and frequently reacts and watches our live videos. Overall, Cosa Sad, Super Sad has brought me to a better place than I was mentally and emotionally before it was conceived. I love my members. And we always keep it fucking Sad. #SadLifeBestLife

Eliseo Ceja also know as Eli is the Executive Director for Laredo Stroke Support Group a non-profit provided crucial adaptive therapy to stroke survivors. Eli also serves on the Laredo Border Slam Board of Directors as their Youth Coordinator. Eli first fell in love with spoken word poetry at the age of 13 when he first started going to Laredo Border Slam, since then he has been Slam Champion twice and been on  5 LBS teams. He is also the co-founder of Youth Poets Ignite a spoken word project providing teens with writing workshops and performance opportunities allowing them to express themselves freely.  Eli continues to study and learn more about what life is all about, most recently Eli will be starting a masters program studying Public Health with a concentration on Healthcare Leadership.

A conversation about sex, mental health, and empowerment. Marea is the creator of the Instagram page La Vida No Es Un Plan.

A conversation with Armando Axl Lopez, amazing poet and very good friend of mine.

I did it. Scared but let’s see how this goes. Let’s converse! Let’s explore! Let’s Bea-Ourselves!