Join us for the Peoples Poetry Fest!!

Schedule of Events:

11:00 am: Opening - Welcoming Remarks J.D. Leza, Dr. Andrea Elizondo

We kick of the 10th Annual People's Literary Festival with opening remarks from Festival Chair J.D. Leza along with Del Mar College's own Andrea Elizondo

11:15 am: Session 1 - Keynote Kickoff - Debut Novelist Reading and Discussion - Detective Fiction:  Holy City

Detective Fiction is a historically popular genre that represents literature's unique connection to shifting audiences, media, and artistic convention. The genre's mark on the last century is immense, ranging from expanding national literacy via pulp media to adaptations in Hollywood file. More importantly, Detective Fiction has long sought to complicate reductive images of justice, represent the underrepresented, and underscore the human desire for truth. In a continuing effort to bring exciting new writers to the Del Mar student body and community, novelist Henry Wise will read from and discuss his debut novel Holy City, published by Grove Atlantic in June 2024 and professional creative writing process. Holy City explores the weight of life and tragedy in rural America, particularly forgotten communities where the nation's labor, racial, and ecological histories are intrinsically tied to justice and public service. Holy City's themes are relevant to students in English, Journalism, Liberal Arts, Criminal Justice, Political Science, Economics, and Anthropology. This presentation is funded in part by Del Mar College's Cultural Programs Fund.

12:45 pm: Session 2 - How to Get Published Panel: Cultural and Community Leadership - Editing Magazines, Journals and Books

Editing Magazines, Journals and Books explores the art, science and process of selecting and editing articles, literature, poetry, art and ads for publication, as well as the choices, challenges and process a newly published author used to select and work with agents, editors and publishers.  Participants will learn about what led these cultural and community leaders to their fields, what criteria and steps their publications and publishers use, the evolution of their industries and what the future looks like from their positions, and tips for aspiring authors, editors and publishers.  This presentation is funded in part by Del Mar College's Cultural Programs Fund.

12:45 pm: Session 3 - Professional Development Workshop - The Writing Process
02:00 pm: Session 4 - How to Get Published: Self-Publishing - The Lived Human Experience in Self-Publishing

The Lived Human Experience in Self-Publishing explores the decision to self-publish and the steps necessary to secure rights of intellectual property involved in several self-published works ranging from autobiographical, poetry, collaborative, and self-help. In an effort to encourage, inspire, and educate on the journey of self-publishing, Say Something host Bryan Jones will be introducing three Corpus Christi, TX resident black authors to speak on their upbringing and the paths that drew them to the literary mediums they've published.

2:00 pm: Session 5 - Professional Development Workshop - Research and Resources for Writing
7:00 pm: Session 9 - Corpus Christi Poet Laureate Panel

2023-2024 Outgoing Poet Laureate Dr. Robin Carstensen, will introduce the incoming 2025-2026 Corpus Christi Poet Laureate. There will be City and County Proclamations, an award ceremony, reading and discussion, and the new Poet Laureate's vision presentation.

8:00 pm: Session 10 - Robb and Vanesa Jackson Award Ceremony for High School Poets

This contest, honoring the life of Robb Jackson, who was a Regents Professor of English at Texas AandM University-Corpus Christi, awards exceptional high school poets, who will read their winning poems.

9:30 pm: Remarks - Closing Remarks - Alan Berecka (Sinton, TX), Sarah Lenz, and Rev. Jonathan Wickham