San Antonio Poetry Archive at Palo Alto College: Interviewing Local Poets

In 2015, Palo Alto College students, under the supervision of professor Rafael C. Castillo, Ph.D., interviewed local poets selected from a list provided by Laurie Ann Guerrero, then San Antonio Poet Laureate and project creator. Students transcribed the interviews and provided a written analysis of the interview.  These items, as well as other items gathered by the student interviewers or provided by the interviewees, make up the first collection in the Poetry Archive. 

In 2015 Isabel Aguilar attended Palo Alto College to earn an Associates Degree in Business Management and Business Administration, 3 + 1 Program.  After graduating from Palo Alto College, she planned to transfer to Texas A & M University San Antonio to pursue a Bachelor Degree in Business Management and Business Administration.  She hoped to utilize what she learned about business to improve her endeavor in designing gift baskets and other various arts & crafts.

In 2015 Joshua Alfaro was an aspiring artist born and raised in San Antonio, TX. Coming from a background of homelessness, drug-abuse, and family violence as a child, expressing himself through art was life-changing for him. Joshua was very driven to achieve his dreams and ambitions of working as an artist in order to give back to under-represented communities. Participating in the San Antonio Poetry Archive at Palo Alto  created another path for him to expand his artistic expression, while giving back to the college that has already given him so much.

In 2015 Sarah Burchett was an English major who was slated to receive an Associate of Arts in English from Palo Alto College in the Fall of 2015. She planned to continue her education in hopes of earning her Bachelor's of Arts Degree in English and hoped to become a professional writer, and maybe one day return to Palo Alto College to teach as a Creative Writing Professor.

After serving in the United States Army Ben Longoria decided to pursue his love of writing. He is the author of The Hound of Endtown. Other works include the short story, "The Girl in White," "American Monsters," "Luis and Amanda," and the first book in his magnum opus- A Death Solar. His A Death Solar series was discussed in the LA Times and was the focus of his Seattle based band.