Trenches Full of Poets, LA Poets of Resistance

Laura Sermeño was born in Montebello, CA, raised and educated in Sur El Monte, (UCLA matriculated), educated by her people—from the classrooms to the streets. In 2012, she began auditioning for spoken word performances. In 2015, she was accepted into the Voices of our Nation's (VONA) Southern California Regional Workshop, focusing on “Poetry as Documentary.” Last year she published her first full-length poetry collection, born to cry. She teaches and resides in Pasadena, CA.

Iván Salinas is a poet born in el DF and raised in the valley. Iván is a poet and co-editor of Drifter Zine, a theme-based publication showcasing local artists & writers. His work has been published in The Acentos Review, Mobile Data Mag, La Raíz Magazine, and elsewhere both in print and online. He is working on an extended edition of his zine, Dealer: prosa carcacha. He lives in Panorama City with Madi and their dog, Rocket.

Tauri Alonso, they/them, is a poet born in East LA, who was raised in the Inland Empire and currently resides in the bay. They love banana slugs and hiking along the redwoods. Tauri is the chief editor of Acid Verse Literary journal and a part of the Los Angeles Poet Society.

Nikolai Garcia has been invited to read his poems at San Francisco’s Flor Y Canto literary festival, Voices of California 2023 in Sacramento, and Lit Hop Fresno. His first chapbook, Nuclear Shadows of Palm Trees, was published by DSTL Arts in 2019. His second chapbook, All the Sad Music, will be released this year.