Lourdes Figueroa was born in California during a trip her parents made from Mexico to the USA when they worked in the campo tilling the soil for tomatoes. Lourdes is a proud 2009 and 2011 VONA alum. Her work has been published in the SF Poet’s 11 2008 & 2010 and in Generations. She received her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of San Francisco. Her first chapbook, yolotl, was published by Spooky Actions Books.

Jeremy Michael Vasquez is an artist, author, activist, and educator in San Francisco. He uses his expression of art to facilitate healing workshops for youth in the Bay Area. As a spoken word and musical artist, he has performed at many community events and correctional facilities. Serving as a keynote speaker at conferences, colleges and universities, and public high schools nationwide, Jeremy has used his pain as a platform. With his 2017 book, Unshackled, he has been called to free people through storytelling and vulnerability.

An open mic follows the featured readers. Sign ups begin at about 6:45.

Our twice-monthly POETS! series has been hosted by Jerry Ferraz since the beginning 15+ years ago.  Since her appointment in 2017 as San Francisco Poet Laureate, Kim Shuck has joined Jerry as co-booker and co-host of the series.

Open mic participants come from all directions. There are typically 10-15 readers in the open mic, and time is generally restricted to about 3 minutes per poet.