Women's History Month is quickly winding down and you haven't celebrated yet? Why not kill two birds with one stone by joining La Dulce Palabra Spoken Word Ensemble ( La Dulce ) Saturday, March 27, at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, for "Voces y Palabras: Journeys in Transition"—where you can enjoy a film, a performance, and be part of the continuation of women making history right here at home?
La Dulce is just over three years old and has changed in as many times. Originally formed to provide open mic/spoken-word opportunities, La Dulce later offered workshops on writing and acting. In its current incarnation, the collective is self-described as queer and allied Latina performers, and the group has morphed again in its perpetual pursuit of chronicling its journey. Individually, they are: Alicia Vega, Evon Barrera, Maria Calderon, Marixa Rojas and Martha Cartagena.
La Dulce has published a book of collective pieces and individual stories. Cartagena explained that they were freed from the traditional bounds and financial limitations of the past and said, "It was a true labor of love in every aspect." Calderon added, "We started with a vision without even knowing it was possible to come up with a book." Linda Garcia Merchant—friend, honorary member and self-proclaimed number-one fan, said, "This book demonstrates the power of women, of saying hey we want to, and then doing it. The book is bilingual, further showing the beauty of our many cultures and sharing of two languages." Finally, Vega said in trying to describe the book, "I can imagine someone reading this to someone they love."
In addition to first dibs to this limited edition book, "Voces y Palabras: Journeys in Transition" offers performances by La Dulce; an emcee turn by Chicago performance artist Misty DeBerry; an encore screening of Palabras Dulces, Palabras Amargas ( "Sweet Words, Bitter Words"—a film inspired by La Dulce ) ; and young writers including Lucky Mosqueda, Erika Phillips and Epiphany.
If that's not enough to get you to the Center, Rojas said, "We are trying to show women what we are all about, to encourage them to join our group. They need to speak, they need to be heard. La Dulce is a safe haven for you to express yourself." Calderon was quick to interject that women who "are not fluent in English are welcome; this is a group for all." Barrera added, "Together we share, write, listen, vent and reinvent, and now we want to extend our hands." According to Vega, "This event is us re-introducing ourselves on our journey, a chapter of us, a piece of our history for women's history."
The Center is also working to increase and improve opportunities for all women at the facility, and with Women's History Month as a backdrop, together with Christine Forester, the Center's women's program coordinator, La Dulce is claiming some space for queer Latinas there.
Tickets to "Voces y Palabras"—which takes place Saturday, March 27, 6-9 p.m.—are $10. See www.myspace.com/390106995 and www.centeronhalsted.org .
