U.S. Poet Laureate Emeritus Juan Felipe Herrera says that Fresno is the "Capital of Poetry in the World." The Fresno State Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing takes that literary legacy seriously. As part of Fresno's annual Rogue Festival, hear the latest poetry and prose from emerging #FresnoWriters in this storytelling and spoken word show, featuring voices from the Hmong American Ink and Stories club (HAIS).

Time: 2 to 3 PM
Date: Saturday, March 2, 2024
Place: Hart's Haven Bookstore (950 N. Van Ness Ave.)
Admission: $10 + Rogue Fest wristband
Rated PG-13 • Latecomers OK • Seating is limited

Buy tickets: https://roguefestival.ticketleap.com/fresnostatecreativewriting/

Brian Rojas is a third-year graduate student in Fresno State's MFA program in creative writing, with an emphasis in poetry. Their writing examines contemporary post-apocalyptic xicanx realities through a mixture of abstract, visual, and narrative poetry.

Brandon Xiong is a senior English major at Fresno State, studying creative writing. In his poetry he likes to explore identity, love, and the mundane. He loves writing, and he has a lot of fun reading and writing. In his free time, you can find him hanging out with friends and family, or watching movies. He hopes to pursue a master's degree and teaching credential in the future.

Chou Xiong is a first-year MFA creative writing student who studies poetry. He loves to write about his experience as a Hmong refugee and the Hmong diaspora. He hopes to make a mark on Hmong contemporary poetry.

Katie Xiong is a second-generation Hmong American undergraduate student majoring in English (creative writing) at Fresno State. Her academic and creative journey is deeply influenced by her Hmong heritage, as she is focused on ardently weaving the tapestry of her ancestry into the fabric of her literary endeavors. In her craft, she is committed to transforming the unpleasant, shattered, and inexplicable aspects of her life into exquisite, comprehensible pieces of art.

All participants are welcome. For disability related accommodations or access information, please contact Jefferson Beavers at jbeavers@mail.fresnostate.edu or 559.278.1569. Requests should be made at least one week in advance of the event.