2026 San José Poetry Festival: Palabras & Poetry: Zapatista Principles Poetry Workshop with Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo

The 12th Annual San José Poetry Festival continues!

This is Day Three of our four-day festival! This free creative poetry workshop will be facilitated by local poet Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo as a part of the 2026 San Jose Poetry Festival! 

To be held upstairs in the Firehouse at History Park. Elevator accessible.

Free, but seats are limited.

2026 San José Poetry Festival 
poetry workshop

Palabras & Poetry: Zapatista Principles 
by Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo in partership with La Raíz Magazine

Palabras & Poetry: Zapatista Principles is a bilingual generative poetry workshop inspired by the seven principles of the Zapatistas of the EZLN, Indigenous peoples of Chiapas, México. 7 Principles: 1. To Obey, Not Command, 2. To Propose, Not Impose, 3. To Represent, Not Supplant, 4. To Convince, Not Conquer, 5. To Construct, Not Destroy, 6.To Serve Others, Not Serve Oneself, 7. To Work From Below, Not Seek To Rise.

This is an interactive workshop with sample poetry, prompts, verse starters, and sample verses. Everyone will be welcome to share their poetry aloud with the group and comment. The workshop is open to writers of all ages with any level of experience and is a continuation of the theme, with new content.

Palabras & Poetry: Zapatista Principles es un taller de poesía generativo, inspirado por los siete principios de los Zapatistas del EZLN, gente indígena de Chiapas, México. Los siete principios: 1) Obedecer y No Mandar; 2) Proponer y No Imponer; 3) Representar y No Suplantar; 4) Convencer y No Vencer; 5) Construir y No Destruir; 6) Servir y No Servirse; 7) Bajar y No Subir. Se guiará a los participantes a escribir poesía en un taller interactivo con tres segmentos de poesía de ejemplo, entrada, versos para completar, y versos de ejemplo. Todos seran bienvenidos a compartir su poesía con el grupo y ofrecer comentarios. El taller es para escritores de todas edades y cualquier nivel de experiencia.

Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo is a poet, visual artist, and education facilitator whose work is informed by her Indigenous ancestry, Mesoamerican philosophy, Mexika & Mixtec art, Mexican culture, Raza history, and her experiences as a Chicana. Her poetry is published widely in journals and anthologies, while her paintings have been featured in over seventy exhibitions across the country. Editorial Xingao published her book, Breathe Liberación. She earned a BFA in Pictorial Art and a BA in French from San José State University, served as Creative Ambassador of the San José Office of Cultural Affairs, and was selected as Creative Corps Initiative grantee by California Arts Council and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. She serves as a Board Member of Poetry Center San José and is the Founder of La Raíz Magazine. www.ejmontelongo.com/poetry

Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo es poeta, artista plástica y facilitadora. Fué nombrada embajadora creativa de la oficina de asuntos culturales de San José, y tambien seleccionada para el programa del concilio de arte de California y YBCA, Creative Corps Initiative. Ella há facilitado talleres de poesía para universidades y organizaciones sin fines de lucro. Elizabeth recibió licenciaturas en arte y frances de la universidad estatal de San José. Es miembra de la mesa directiva de Poetry Center San José y editora y directora de La Raíz Magazine, una publicación bilingüe. www.ejmontelongo.com/poetry

Instagram: @elizabethjimenezmontelongo Facebook: @ejmontelongo

Partnership

La Raíz Magazine provides culturally-relevant, generative arts engagement experiences and opportunities for the publication and public presentation of creative work, with an emphasis on promoting the expression of people of color, women of color, women & girls, and people whose ancestry is rooted in this continent, Indigenous peoples, Raza, Chicanos, and people from areas that are now Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. www.laraizmagazine.com

La Raíz Magazine provee oportunidades para participar en el arte de manera cultural y generativa, también abriendo paso para la publicación y presentación pública de obras creativas, con el enfoque en apoyar la expresión de gente de varias culturas, mujeres y niñas, particularmente personas con herencia en este continente, gente indígena, Raza, Chicana, y de areas que ahora son México, Centro América, el Caribe, y Sur América, de alguna parte del continente Américano. www.laraizmagazine.com

Instagram: @laraizmagazine Facebook: @laraizmag

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(Image: detail of artwork by Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo)

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San José Poetry Festival 2025 is presented by Poetry Center San José and sponsored in part by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José; a grant from SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council; and additional support from Anne & Mark’s Art Party and the Brandenburg Family Foundation. Many thanks to Four Points by Sheraton for hotel accommodations and Robertino R. Ragazza for his guidance and hospitality. We would like to acknowledge and offer our deepest gratitude to past and current venues worthy of your support: San Jose Stage, Central Park Library Santa Clara, Convergence Arts Center, SJZ Break Room, Art Boutiki, Books Inc., Caravan Lounge, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, First Unitarian Church of San José, History/San José, MACLA, Mama Kin, Recycle Bookstore, The School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza, Tabard Theatre (R.I.P.), Willow Glen Public Library, Works/San José art & performance center and Hillbrook Upper School of San José. Please support these spaces however you can. And we thank all our volunteers whose time and effort make this festival possible.