Karla Cordero on Teaching & Creating Space for Students | Conversations with Poets

TL;DR

Carla Cordero discusses poetry, teaching, and inspiration in San Diego.

Transcript

michael clam here in the wangenheim room at the san diego public library for conversations with poets with carla cordero the one and only looking forward to chatting you about all things poetry here in san diego and hearing a couple poems too a little bit of inspiration i want to thank the public library for giving us these beautiful spaces to put ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👪 Carla Cordero integrates her border town heritage into her poetry, honoring her family and landscape.
• 🫵 She views poetry as a means of social activism and artivism, using language to empower and engage communities.
• 🤑 Carla emphasizes the importance of using students' cultural capital in teaching creative writing to create a rich learning environment.
• 💦 Influenced by poets like Rudy Francisco and Paige Matham, Carla's work celebrates identity and cultural complexity.
• ✊ During the pandemic, Carla emphasizes the power of virtual poetry workshops to connect with communities and inspire creativity.
• 😃 Carla finds inspiration in everyday experiences, highlighting the importance of gratitude and small joys in her poetry.
• ❓ Artivism for Carla means using poetry to create possibilities, reimagine histories, and empower marginalized communities.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Carla Cordero approach teaching creative writing?

Carla emphasizes using students' cultural capital to enrich their writing and connect it back to literary frameworks, fostering a welcoming space for students to share their stories.

Q: Who are Carla Cordero's inspirations in poetry?

Carla draws inspiration from poets like Rudy Francisco, Paige Matham, and Alicia Wise, whose work engages contemporary themes while celebrating identity and complexity.

Q: How does Carla Cordero reflect her border town upbringing in her poetry?

Carla integrates elements of her border town upbringing into her poetry, honoring her family, ancestors, and the landscape while also connecting with the diverse population of San Diego.

Q: How does Carla Cordero define "artivism"?

Carla sees artivism as the fusion of art and activism, using poetry as a platform to engage with and empower communities through social justice themes and reimagination of histories.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Carla Cordero engages in a poetic discussion with Michael Clam at the San Diego Public Library.

• She talks about her teaching philosophy, approach to creative writing, and the importance of using students' cultural capital in the classroom.

• Carla also recites a poem and discusses the influence of her border town upbringing on her poetry.