Photo Credit: Arlene Mejorado
Karla Cordero is a descendant of the Chichimeca peoples of northern Mexico, a Chicana poet, educator and author of the poetry collection, How To Pull Apart The Earth (Not A Cult.) a 2019 San Diego Book Award winner and awarding-winning finalist for the International Latino Book Award and the International Book Award. Her work has appeared on NPR, Academy of American Poets, O-Oprah Magazine, Split This Rock, PANK, The Breakbeat Poets Vol. 4 LatiNext Anthology, among other publications. Karla is a recipient of the 2021 California Arts Fellowship, in addition, she is a Macondo, VONA, CantoMundo, Tin House, Pink Door Writing Retreat, Community of Writers Fellow. Karla is the Executive Director for the non-profit Glassless Minds and a professor of composition and creative writing at MiraCosta College and San Diego City College. Follow her @karlaflaka13
The poem 'Calexico' was inspired by the various times I'd been asked, 'Where are you from?' As it turns out, many people are unaware of the existence of my hometown Calexico and it geographical location. Most recently, an individual responded, "Calexico, is that like California had a baby with Mexico?'
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