Lisa Alvarado
Resume
L i s a  A l v a r a d o
lisa@lisaalvarado.net


Professional Summary:

Lisa Alvarado is an educator, poet, novelist, and journalist, the founder of La Onda Negra Press, author of Reclamo and The Housekeeper's Diary; originally a book of poetry and now a one-woman performance. Her first novel, Sister Chicas, Penguin/NAL, was released in April 2006. The novel is a coming of age story concerning the lives of three young Latinas living in Chicago. It won 2nd place, Best First Novel in English. (Latino Literacy Now/2007)

Her book of poetry, Raw Silk Suture, with a forward by Juan Felipe Hererra and released by Floricanto Press in 2008, was reviewed by Rigoberto Gonzalez. She has curated multimedia exhibits, mounted her own multimedia piece, Reclamo in the Pilsen art corridor in Chicago; and is currently a contributor to the nationally touring exhibit, Re-imagining the Distaff Toolkit, curated by Ricki Solinger/SUNY.

Lisa is the recipient of grants from the Department of Cultural Affairs, The NEA, and the Ragdale Foundation. In Fall, 2009, she was awarded Hispanic Author of the Year by the State of Illinois. In 2010, she contributed to HaLapid, The Journal for the Study of Crypto-Judaism. In 2011, she contributed to Me No Habla with Acento, edited by Emanuel Xavier, and released by Rebel Satori Press, and authored Still, Life, a volume of essays and poetry. In 2015, she curated and edited an anthology of on line jazz-inspired poetry, Love You Madly.

Education

B.A. in Writing Vermont College
M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts Goddard College Vermont

Faculty Status

2009   Adjunct Faculty, Department of English, Columbia College Chicago
2008   Adjunct Faculty, Department of English, Columbia College Chicago
2008   Adjunct Faculty, Department of English, North Park University, Chicago IL
Undergraduate courses: Introduction to Literature and Introduction to Latin American Music, Art and Literature, Introduction to Poetry and Introduction to Fiction Writing

Publication

2015   Love You Madly - on line poetry anthology, Editor, http://loveyoumadlypoetry.com
2014   Light Sleeper, creative nonfiction, Memoir Magazine
2011   Still, Life, essays and poetry, CreateSpace
2011   Me No Hablo with Acento, contributor/poetry anthology, Rebel Satori Press
2010   HaLapid, Journal for the Study of Crypto-Judaism, poetry
2008   Raw Silk Suture, Floricanto Press
2007   La Bloga, and Blogcritics.org, online literary criticism, book reviews, interviews and cultural commentary
2006   Sister Chicas, Penguin/NAL (written with Ann Hagman Cardinal
and Jane Alberdeston Coralin)
2004   Mexico, 90 days and counting, poem, Derriva, literary journal, Mexico City, D. F.
2000   Dark Water Speaking, Editor
1999   The Housekeeper's Diary, Author, Editor, Publisher
1995   Reclamo/Reclamation, Author, Editor, Publisher

Panelist

1999   Grant Evaluation, Neighborhood Arts Program, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs

Curation

2006   Woman Made Galley's annual calendar/Poetry submissions
1997   Video Reclamo, Centro de Bellas Artes de Ajijic (CABA), Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico
1995   Menarche, Menses & Menopause: Women and the Way of Blood, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
1995   Festival Latino: A Showcase of Latino Poets, Chicago Public Libraries, Chicago, IL
1994   Five Women In the Tenth Month, Women At the Crossroads, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
1993   Five Women in the Tenth Month, Women at the Crossroads, Woman Made Gallery,
Chicago, IL

Awards

2009   Hispanic Author of the Year, State of Illinois, Hispanic Heritage Month
1999   Community Arts Assistance Program, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
1997   Community Arts Assistance Program, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
1996   Community Arts Assistance Program, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
1996   Regional Artists Program, National Endowment for the Arts
1995   Community Arts Assistance Program, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
1995   Artist Residency Scholarship, Ragdale Foundation

Visual Arts/Installation

2008-09  Mexican Maid's Toolkit, Sin Fronteras part of Reimaging the Distaff Toolkit, a multi-artist installation traveling the U.S., curated by Rickie Solinger/SUNY
2001   Chicago Pageant: A New Day, Field Museum, Chicago, IL
1997   Installation Reclamo, Casa de Arte y Cultura / Calles y Sueños, Chicago, IL

Related Experience

1995-2008  Founder & Publisher, La Onda Negra Press, Chicago IL
April 2003  Facilitator, Writing and Movement Workshop for About Face Theater,
Chicago IL
Spring 1997  Lead Artist, Gallery 37, Chicago IL
Winter 1996  Assistant Producer, WBEZ Radio, Chicago IL
Summer 1996  Artist Instructor, General Woods Boys & Girls Club, Chicago IL