CORONA: California's poet laureate to speak at library

California Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera.

Juan Felipe Herrera, California Poet laureate and professor at UC Riverside, will talk about his life and his books at the Corona Public Library on Saturday, July 20, at 11:30 a.m.

Herrera was educated at UCLA and Stanford University, and received his Master?s in Fine Arts ?from the University of Iowa Writers? Workshop.

His numerous poetry collections include ?187 Reasons Mexicanos Can?t Cross the Border,? ?Half of the World in Light: New and Selected Poems? and ?Border-Crosser with a Lamborghini Dream.?

In addition to publishing more than a dozen collections of poetry, Herrera has written short stories, young adult novels, and children?s literature.

In 2012, Herrera was named California?s poet laureate.

He has won the Hungry Mind Award of Distinction, the Focal Award, two Latino Hall of Fame Poetry Awards, and a PEN West Poetry Award.?His children?s book, ?The Upside Down Boy,? was adapted into a musical.

His honors include the UC Berkeley Regent?s Fellowship as well as fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Bread Loaf Writers? Conference, and the Stanford Chicano Fellows. He has also received several grants from the California Arts Council.

Herrera is also a performance artist and activist on behalf of migrant and indigenous communities and at-risk youth. His creative work often crosses genres, including poetry opera and dance theater.

?We are very excited to have the current California poet laureate at our library,? library director Julie Frfedericksen said. ?Mr. Herrera is a poet as well as a performer, cartoonist, teacher and activist. You will enjoy hearig his story and writing.?

Herrera will speak for about 45 minutes, and take questions from the audience. He will discuss the influences in his writings, life as a poet laureate and his connection to the Inland Empire.

Source: http://blog.pe.com/2013/07/09/corona-californias-poet-laureate-to-speak-at-library/

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