Journal X poets Carla Schick, Claudia Ramírez Flores, and GusTavo A. Guerra Vásquez read and discuss their poems, touching upon themes of racial oppression, jazz, homophobia, border violence, culture, ancestry, “Watsón(ville)”, and more. Journal X, also known as Xinachtli Journal, is a literary/arts magazine focusing on social justice issues. To read or submit to the journal, visit https://www.cabrillo.edu/journal-x/.

About the poets:

Carla Schick is a Queer activist for liberation, educator and union activist, lover of jazz and language. They have worked for an education system that empowers our students. Published in SF City College’s Forum, Milvia Street, Sinister Wisdom, Earth’s Daughters, and online, at The Write Launch and A Gathering of the Tribes, they received their Certificate in Creative Writing/Poetry from Berkeley City College.

Claudia Ramírez Flores is a poet, fearless writer and Mexican immigrant who highlights crucial social issues in our world by writing about immigration, mental health, death and healing. She seeks to give a voice to the thousands of missing people in México. She has studied at Cabrillo College, UC Berkeley and Yale University.

GusTavo Adolfo Guerra Vásquez (he/him) is a multimedia artist whose work has been featured in La Raíz, Fingir, Arte Latino Now, The Coiled Serpent, and The Wandering Song. A GuatemaLAngelino, GusTavo facilitates artistic workshops on poetry and social justice through his consulting work on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility leadership. You can see his work at IDEALbridges.com or follow him on instagram as @poetartista. You can subscribe to his YouTube channel at gMeing. GusTavo lived in Santa Cruz and Watsonville during the 1990’s where he organized cultural events like “Noche de Artistas” and the “Sabor a Chocolate” art exhibit.