On Nov. 5, writer, poet and University of Redlands alumnus Ángel García will return to the university to discuss his various works in collaboration with the creative writing department and its Visiting Writers Series.
García is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, having earned his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska, his MFA from the University of California, Riverside, his A.A. from Long Beach City College, and his B.A. at the University of Redlands.
“It’s great for the students to see that poets — especially poets — are able to move around the world and do significant things beyond just writing poems and publishing books,” said Alisa Slaughter, creative writing professor at the University of Redlands and organizer of the Visiting Writers Series. “I think it’s important for people to encounter writers in the wild.”
One of García’s written works, “Indifferent Cities,” is a collection of photographs, postcards and official documents as well as “rumor, suspicion and supposition” regarding migration and immigration from Mexico to the United States.
“He identifies himself in his biography as a Chicano poet born in Texas and brought up in California. He’s from a historically and politically contested lineage,” Slaughter said. “So just by existing, he enters into the unresolved conversation in this country about race and belonging and political conversations.”
In addition to his creative and academic work, García is also the co-founder of the nonprofit organization Gente Organizada, which works to “educate, empower, and engage communities through grassroots organizing.” Slaughter said this mission aligns with the goals the University of Redlands hopes to achieve by hosting the Visiting Writers Series.
“We feel a real responsibility to provide at least some programming,” Slaughter said, “and to curate it as much as we can within our budget.”
García will read poetry and answer questions regarding his works and experience on Nov. 5, at 4:30 p.m. in Hall of Letters 100.
Mateo Alvarado
Mateo Alvarado is a senior majoring in creative writing at the University of Redlands. He has prior experience in journalism after participating at Northview High School’s news outlet for his junior and senior year. Mateo has a passion for reading, writing, and drawing.
