Jessica Helen Lopez

“…..I’ve got no qualms on being a woman
no problem with my swinging hips
paint my lips
a Nefertiti-type of chick
a fret-none, foul-mouthed
drink some beer kind of bitch
laugh with the girls
smoldering cigarillo hangs from hard lips
I’m a quick-wit pessimist
born with a bad disposition
bonding bartenders and waitress sisterhood
up to
no
good….”

***

Jessica Helen Lopez is a three time member of the City of Albuquerque Slam Team and the 2008 National Champion Winning UNM Lobo Slam Team. She is a Poetry and Creative Writing Instructor at Robert F. Kennedy Charter High School . Mother to a vivacious eight year-old daughter, Lopez’s work has been published in UNM Press’s, A Bigger Boat: The Unlikely Success of the Albuquerque Slam Scene, Chicago Open Mic America Vol I, Feminism Now, Poetic Diversity, and Destructible Heart Press’s, Albumar Familia. Additionally, she was the co-editor for Earthships: A New Mecca Poetry Collection 2007. Lopez has recently been accepted to the Macondo Foundation and completed a week-long intensive writing seminar with some of the nation’s leading artisans. Founded by Sandra Cisneros, it is an association of socially-engaged writers united to advance creativity, foster generosity, and honor community. Some other activities and panels she has been apart of are the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s VOCES: A Writing Institute for Youth, Feature/Workshop Instructor for the 12th Annual Las Mujeres 2007 Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, and has also provided Poesia sin Fronteras workshops/performances for the Verse/Converse Taos Poetry Bout and Festival 2009. Lopez continues to organize not-for-profit poetic events and projects in and around Albuquerque , NM .

You can find her on Facebook or request more information on Jessica from the guild.

Photos by Gina Marselle.

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