Instructors
Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo
Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo is a visual artist, poet, and facilitator based in the SF Bay Area. Her poetry is widely published in literary journals and anthologies. Editorial Xingao published her collection of Chicana poetry, Breathe Liberación. Her artwork, inspired by Mexika dancers and Mesoamerican screenfold manuscripts, has been included in over seventy exhibitions in galleries and museums from California to New York. Elizabeth earned a BFA in Fine Art (Pictorial Arts) and BA in French from San José State University. She served as Creative Ambassador of the San José Office of Cultural Affairs and her work has been supported by California Arts Council, YBCA, and CCI. She is the founder of La Raíz Magazine. www.ejmontelongo.com
Diosa Xochiquetzalcóatl
Diosa Xochiquetzalcóatl, or Diosa X for short, is a multilingual and multidimensional Xicana, Indigenous, MeXicana poetiza. She is a seasoned language arts educator with a Bachelor’s in English and a Master’s in Cross-Cultural Education, as well as a Level 1 Kundalini Yoga Instructor and a student of Nahualísmo. Diosa X has been writing since her preteen years, first publishing her poems in her high school’s bilingual literary magazine, Las Voces. But it wasn’t until adulthood that she began to participate in open mics at Tia Chucha’s and Tonalli Studios; and it was then that she recommitted to her poetry and finally embraced her life as a poet, and eventually, author.
Juan G. Berumen, PhD.
Juan G. Berumen, PhD. Raised in the Bay Area, Juan is a teatrista and filmmaker who positions storytelling for self-expression while empowering our communities and transforming society. Currently, Juan is an Ethnic Studies Lecturer at UC Berkeley and is in production for his second short film, Recetas.
Ernesto Todd Mireles, MSW. PhD.
Ernesto Todd Mireles, MSW. PhD. is a filmmaker and award-winning author, a three-decade student, community, union, and electoral organizer. Mireles has been a professor of Xicano Studies
for the last 17 years. When he rocks on the mic, he rocks the mic right. He holds an MSW in organizational and community practice and a PhD. in American Studies from Michigan State
University. His book Insurgent Aztlan was awarded a 2020 International Latino Book Award in the Best Political/Current Affairs category. Mireles does a podcast called The Reality Dysfunction and has
completed his first documentary about Xicana/o/x student organizing titled War of the Flea: Fight for Xicano Studies. He has recently started writing short screenplays and filming them.
Ernest Hogan
Ernest Hogan, born in East L.A., is considered the Father of Chicano Science Fiction because of his novels High Aztech, Smoking Mirror Blues, and Cortez on Jupiter. His latest book is Guerrilla Mural of a Siren’s Song. He blogs at mondoernesto.com.
Dr. E.C.-Dukes
Dr. E.C.-Dukes is a Xicana award-winning multi-genre writer and entrepreneur from southern New Mexico, U.S.A. E.C. earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Texas at El Paso, a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film from Columbia University in the City of New York, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in Journalism and Chicano Studies and a minor in Theatre Arts. She is the author of two graphic novels, Daizee & the DUKES of Chuco: Chuco- Juárez World Rally and A.W.O.L.: Cruz Ochoa.
Ronnie Dukes
Ronnie Dukes is a Black artist with Latino and Indigenous heritage from South Shore Chicago. His first professional artist experience began at Gallery 37 while in high school. Ronnie earned a degree in computer animation in Minneapolis before relocating to Harlem in New York City where he began to paint and exhibit work. Ronnie created his publishing company DUKEScomics with his wife, partner Elvira Carrizal-Dukes, featuring their first major print project A.W.O.L.: CRUZ OCHOA, a full -color graphic novel available in English, Japanese and Spanish. Ronnie’s second graphic novel as the artist is Daizee & the DUKES of Chuco: Chuco- Juárez World Rally available in English, German, and soon Spanish and Japanese. To learn more, visit DUKEScomics.com.
