Lupe Castillo

Alma Y Corazón: Writing in the Rhythm of Life

Lupe, Texas born, Minnesota raised, shares the experience of Southern roots with Midwest musings. Being one of only a few Latina families in her childhood community offers the lens of resistance, survival, and thriving.

Lupe is the creator of HeartSpeaks: “Voces de Cultura/Voices of Culture Healing & Writing Circles” and is a self-identified XicanaIndigena from the Southern lands. As a Culture Bearer, HeartSpeaks provides activated collaborations in writing and spoken word artistry. Lupe guides participants in writing about their connections to family, community, and cultural identity. Workshops are held in community groups, high schools, and universities.

Lupe’s recent poetry is documented in the Northside Green Our Urban Canopy coloring book, the University of Minnesota’s Chicano Latino Studies history archives, and in Boundless—The Anthology of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival 2019.

In 2024 Lupe began workshops that facilitate and elevate the lives of Latino poets and writers through the “Places We Call Home” poetry workshops with The Minnesota Humanities Center.

Lupe is a co-founding member of Palabristas—LatinE Writers/Poetry group.

“I write what I am willing to live up to, and possess, my truths. Let us all have the Will to Write and Write to Right the injustices of our existence.”