Loved throughout the world for her moving performances and poetry readings, Dr. Carmen Tafolla is a poet, storyteller, performance artist, motivational speaker, and university professor.

 

The author of more than 30 books, her work appears internationally in high school and university textbooks, newspapers, journals and magazines, and elementary school readers. Named State Poet Laureate of Texas in 2015, she is currently the President of the Texas Institute of Letters. Tafolla had also served from 2012-2014 as the first City Poet Laureate of San Antonio and presented at more than 300 schools, universities, professional conferences, and community arts centers in her two-year tenure.

 

Called by Roots author Alex Haley a “world-class writer”, Tafolla has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Americas Award, presented to her at the Library of Congress in 2010, five International Latino Book Awards, two Tomas Rivera Book Awards, three ALA Notable Books, a Charlotte Zolotow Award, the Art of Peace Award, Top Ten Books for Babies, and has been recognized by the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies for work which “gives voice to the peoples and cultures of this land.”