Mexican American, Japanese American Poets Coming to CSUF for National Poetry Month 

Three contemporary poets will share their work during Cal State Fullerton’s celebration of National Poetry Month. The Tuesday, April 18, poetry reading event, “You Are Welcome Here,” is being held in the Pollak Library’s Rotary Club of Fullerton Room 130.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480.0"] Jennifer Givhan, recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in poetry, will read from her work April 18 at Cal State Fullerton.[/caption]

The schedule:

8:30-9:50 a.m. — Jennifer Givhan

A Mexican-American poet and recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in poetry, Givhan is the author of “Landscape With Headless Mama,” “Protection Spell,” “Lifeline,” “The Daughter’s Curse” and “Lieserl Contemplates Resurrection.”

10-11:20 a.m. — Phillip B. Williams

Born in Chicago, Williams is the poetry editor of the online journal Vinyl Poetry and author of “Bruised Gospels,” “Burn” and “Thief in the Interior.” He currently is a chancellor’s graduate fellow at Washington University in St. Louis, where he is completing an M.F.A. in creative writing.

11:40 a.m.-12:50 p.m. — Amy Uyematsu

A Japanese-American poet and teacher from Los Angeles, Uyematsu has published five poetry collections, including “Basic Vocabulary,” “The Yellow Door,” "Stone Bow Prayer," "Nights of Fire," "Nights of Rain" and "30 Miles from J-Town." She also is the co-editor of the anthology, "Roots: An Asian American Reader."

1-1:30 p.m. — Community Reading

Community members are invited join campus members to read original poetry or other works during this open-mic session.

In addition to the Pollak Library, the event is sponsored by the university’s departments of African American Studies; Asian American Studies; Chicana and Chicano Studies; and English, Comparative Literature and Linguistics; plus Associated Students Inc.; Office of the Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences; and Diversity Initiatives and Resource Centers. Additional information is available online.

On-campus parking at 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, is $8 per vehicle for the day/evening or $2 per hour in “Park and Pay” spaces. Details are available online.