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Nuestra Palabra: Latinos Having Their Say

@nuestrapalabra

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Founded by @librotraficante
Since 1998
The Houston Text Fest
Oct 17 10:30a-5p
6300 Irvington Blvd., Houston
FREE. Celebrate Lit in all forms

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HOUSTON, THE WAIT IS OVER.

The literary festival this city deserves is finally here.
Introducing HOUSTON TEXT FEST: a bold new celebration of literature, storytelling, and the voices shaping our city.

From poetry, publishing, and film to bilingual children’s readings, young adult literature, powerful conversations, and Houston’s vibrant writing scene—we’re celebrating LIT IN ALL FORMS.

📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026
⏰ 10:30 AM–5 PM
📍 6300 Irvington Blvd., Houston
🎟️ FREE admission + FREE parking

The full schedule is LIVE.

RSVP now and plan your day at www.nuestrapalabra.org - Link in bio

This is the first Houston Text Fest. Come make history with us.

Presented by Nuestra Palabra in partnership with the Rice University Department of English and Creative Writing.

Funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

#HoustonTextFest #NuestraPalabra #HoustonWriters #HoustonEvents #LiteraryHouston by @nuestrapalabra

HOUSTON, THE WAIT IS OVER. 
The literary festival this city deserves is finally here.
Introducing HOUSTON TEXT FEST: a bold new celebration of literature, storytelling, and the voices shaping our city. 
From poetry, publishing, and film to bilingual children’s readings, young adult literature, powerful conversations, and Houston’s vibrant writing scene—we’re celebrating LIT IN ALL FORMS. 
📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026 ⏰ 10:30 AM–5 PM 📍 6300 Irvington Blvd., Houston 🎟️ FREE admission + FREE parking 
The full schedule is LIVE. 
RSVP now and plan your day at www.nuestrapalabra.org - Link in bio 
This is the first Houston Text Fest. Come make history with us. 
Presented by Nuestra Palabra in partnership with the Rice University Department of English.   Funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance 
#HoustonTextFest #NuestraPalabra #HoustonWriters #HoustonEvents #LiteraryHouston by @nuestrapalabra

This is what it looks like when our community tells its own stories.

This panel captured the power of Houston Text Fest to amplify the voices, history, and creative work of our community.

We are deeply grateful to the family of José Campos Torres for sharing their inspiring words and carrying his legacy forward; to Lupe Méndez, Bryan Parras, Dr. Michelle Tovar, and Dr. Sergio Lira for connecting art, history, and the present moment; and to our director, Tony Díaz, El Librotraficante, for curating this important conversation.

Special thanks to sculptor Bernardo Infante, whose work reminds us that we have the power to tell our stories our way, on our terms.

Unidos.

This panel was proudly sponsored by @abogadodomingo  
#HoustonTextFest #CommunityMemory #ArtAndJustice #JoseCamposTorres #NuestraPalabra by @nuestrapalabra

Some histories survive because communities refuse to let them disappear.

At Houston Text Fest, More MAS: Defying AZ’s & TX’s Bans of Mexican American Studies brought together Tony Díaz @librotraficante, Lupe Méndez @thepoetmendez, Dr. Nolan Cabrera @chicanstocracy_blog, Liana Lopez @lianalisa_ on, Bryan Parras @hightechaztec, Houston Poet Laureate Reyes Ramirez @nisabes, and Texas State Representative Christina Morales @repmorales145

The panel revisited the banning of Mexican American Studies in Arizona, the Librotraficante Caravan that carried banned books back to Tucson, the research that helped challenge the discriminatory ban, and the continuing fight for Mexican American Studies in Texas.

Thank you to our panelists and everyone who joined us for this important conversation about education, community organizing, and the right to know our own history.

Swipe through for moments from the session.

#HoustonTextFest #MoreMAS #MexicanAmericanStudies #Librotraficantes #NuestraPalabra by @nuestrapalabra

Today, we mourn the passing of Dolores Huerta, a tireless advocate for civil rights, labor rights, and social justice.

For decades, she stood alongside communities whose voices too often went unheard. Her courage, determination, and commitment to justice helped shape generations of activists and organizers.

Nuestra Palabra honors her extraordinary life and legacy. We are grateful for the moments our founder, Tony Díaz, shared with her.

Her voice will be missed. Her legacy lives on.

¡Sí, se puede!

Dolores Huerta | 1930–2026 by @nuestrapalabra

What a day at Houston Text Fest 2026! 
From great conversations and inspiring panels to art, culture, and live music, October 17 was a day to remember. 
It was wonderful to see so many writers, artists, and community members come together to share ideas, stories, and experiences. 
A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make our first Houston Text Fest happen! 
Here’s a little of the energy from that day.  
Presented by Nuestra Palabra. 
#HoustonTextFest #NuestraPalabra #HoustonArts #HoustonLiterature by @nuestrapalabra

Building the arts ecosystem that shapes the future of our region starts with collaboration, shared resources, and cultural equity.

During the inaugural Houston Text Fest hosted by @nuestrapalabra , ALMAAHH President Carlos Duarte (@carlos.a.duarte.72) joined fellow civic and cultural leaders for the panel “Building the Arts Ecosystem That Shapes the Future of Our Region” alongside Nory Angel (@noryangel55), Michele Leal (@michelemleal), and Tony Díaz ( @librotraficante ). Together, they explored how institutions, artists, and residents can collaborate to expand access, share resources, and create new opportunities across Greater Houston.

At ALMAAHH, we believe that cultural equity matters for our future and that building together makes us stronger.

As we asked during the conversation: What changes would you like to see in Houston’s cultural landscape? Drop your thoughts below and join us for our next chapter together. 🤎✨

#ALMAAHH #HoustonTextFest #NuestraPalabra #CulturalEquity #ArtsEcosystem HoustonArts LatinoHeritage Collaboration by @nuestrapalabra

What does our region need to create a stronger, more connected, and more accessible arts ecosystem?

At ALMAAHH, we believe that the future of the arts in our region is forged through intentional collaboration, cultural equity, and establishing permanent spaces where our voices and heritage are elevated.

During the inaugural Houston Text Fest ( @nuestrapalabra ) , ALMAAHH President Carlos Duarte ( @carlos.a.duarte.72 ) joined fellow civic and cultural leaders for the panel “Building the Arts Ecosystem That Shapes the Future of Our Region”. Alongside Michele Leal ( @michelemleal) (City of Houston Office of Arts), Nory Angel ( @noryangel55) (American Leadership Forum @americanleadershipforumhouston ), and Tony Díaz ( @librotraficante) (Nuestra Palabra), the conversation explored how institutions, artists, and residents can work together to expand access, share resources, and create meaningful opportunities across Greater Houston.

Thank you to @nuestrapalabra and @americanleadershipforumhouston for fostering this vital dialogue. Together, we continue advocating for a cultural home that reflects, preserves, and celebrates the rich contributions of our Latino arts community. 🤎

What changes would you like to see in Houston’s cultural landscape?
Share your thoughts in the comments below! 👇🏽

#ALMAAHH #HoustonTextFest #NuestraPalabra #CulturalEquity #HoustonArts #LatinoArts #ArtsEcosystem #HoustonWriters #LiteraryHouston by @nuestrapalabra

Thank you to the Morales Memorial Foundation for supporting Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say with a donation from Death byChocolate. And always celebrating our cultura and spreading joy. by @nuestrapalabra

Nuestra Palabra is honored be recognized and supported by The Morales Foundation’s Death By Chocolate. We are thrilled to unite to keep our art and culture alive. See you tonight! Once you read the banned books, they can never take them away. by @nuestrapalabra

Houston Text Fest 2026 would not have been possible without the support of the organizations and community partners who believed in what we set out to do.

To our sponsors, thank you for supporting Nuestra Palabra and helping us bring together writers, artists, and our Houston community for a day of literature, art, and conversation.

We appreciate your partnership and your commitment to making events like Houston Text Fest possible.

Thank you for being part of this year’s festival.

#HoustonTextFest #NuestraPalabra by @nuestrapalabra

It's been a few days since Houston Tex Fest! It gave us time to reflect! 🎨

Senior Fellow Class 30 and ALF President Nory Angel moderated a rich conversation on building Houston’s arts ecosystem, and making sure that ecosystem supports the Latino community that makes up almost half the city. She was joined by Michelle Leal, Senior Fellow Class 49 and Director of Arts, Mayor’s Office; Carlos Duarte, Senior Fellow Class 56 and President, ALMAAHH; and Tony Diaz, Senior Fellow Class 25, Founder of Nuestra Palabra and Professor at Lone Star College.

The panel named a rare moment for our city: historic firsts in Latina leadership as Director of Arts at the Mayor's Office and President of ALF.

Each panelist gave us a lot to think about:

✨ Michelle Leal reminded us that artists need what all working Houstonians need: affordable places to live and work, economic opportunity, and health care. And the investment pays off, with every $1 of city arts funding generating $28 in economic activity.

✨ Carlos Duarte shared that ALMAAHH, now with land secured in the East End, is being built as a platform for Latinos to define themselves. The talent is abundant; what’s missing is the space and the connections.

✨ Tony Diaz challenged us to train the next generation of leaders now, and to build institutions that stay open to every community member, not just the credentialed few.

Houston has the talent to become a national model. Our job is to build the connections and foster the ecosystem to allow that talent to stay in Houston and thrive here.

Thank you to the City of Houston and Houston Arts Alliance for supporting this conversation, Nuestra Palabra for organizing this first annual Houston Text Fest and to the many ALF Fellows in the room.

#ALFHouston #HoustonTexFest #HoustonArts #LatinoLeadership by @nuestrapalabra