Keynote Speaker:  Alejandro Jimenez
 

ALEJANDRO JIMENEZ is a formerly-undocumented immigrant, poet, writer, and educator from Colima, Mexico, living in New Mexico. His work centers and touches on cultural identity, race/ethnicity, immigrant narratives, masculinity, memory, and the intersection of them all. He was featured in TIME Magazine as one of 80 Mexican artists shaping contemporary Mexican culture. His work, and personal story, are the subject of a short documentary for the PBS series, American Masters: In The Making, which highlights emerging cultural icons. He is the 2021 Mexican National Poetry Slam Champion, a two-time National Poetry Slam Semi-Finalist (US), multiple time TEDx Speaker/Performer, and regional Emmy-nominated poet. 

He has been a teaching artist for the last decade, teaching poetry to students of all grade and language levels, newcomer students, English Language Learners, and has worked with various school districts to incorporate poetry in their curriculums. For the last decade, as well, he has been a high school counselor and advisor helping families and students navigate all the options available to them upon high school graduation. He loves poetry but loves being in a classroom more.