Chelsea Prieto is an English major at Texas A&M University–San Antonio and an active member of the Jaguar Ink Society, the university's creative writing club. A passionate storyteller and aspiring young adult novelist, Chelsea also explores the realms of short fiction and poetry, often drawing inspiration from personal experiences and the challenges she has overcome. Her writing is raw, honest, and deeply resonant.

In November 2024, Chelsea was a proud winner of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a testament to her dedication and creative drive. Her debut YA fantasy novel is set to release in September 2025, marking an exciting milestone in her literary journey.

Beyond writing, Chelsea is the co-host of a local open mic night at Tandem, a cozy Southside coffee shop where writers, poets, and musicians come together to share their work and creative energy.

She is also launching Beyond The Book—a literary website and shop that serves as a welcoming online space designed to inspire, support, and connect aspiring writers and book lovers alike.

Music by Jamie Seward

Walker (Walpoet) Valdez is a Bolivian American spoken word poet, and educator from Falls Church, VA. His storytelling contains themes of identity, and is blended with humor and wordplay to speak on the Latin American experience. Mr. Valdez is an alumni from the award-winning arts collective Spoken Resistance and is a graduate of the NALAC Leadership Institute in San Antonio Texas. He holds a B.A in English ( Performance Media Concentration) and a Masters in Special Education. He has performed at various venues throughout DC, such as the Studio Theatre, GALA Hispanic Theatre, and the Rayburn House Office Building just to name a few. He currently hosts the Coffeehouse Poetry monthly open mic in Georgetown and is a teaching artist for the Heard nonprofit Arts Org.

Music by Jamie Seward

AgitProp's poetry is a powerful exploration of identity, resistance, and liberation. Rooted in his Chicano heritage, his verses blend raw emotion with unapologetic truth, confronting systemic oppression and celebrating revolutionary love. Through vivid imagery and rhythmic intensity, AgitProp captures the struggles and resilience of marginalized communities, weaving personal and collective narratives into a tapestry of defiance and hope. His work challenges societal norms while honoring cultural roots, creating a space where vulnerability and strength coexist. AgitProp's poetry reflects not just his experiences but a call to action, inspiring readers and listeners to envision and fight for a more just world.

Music by Jamie Seward

Chieftain is a poet from San Diego who advocates for social justice through his artistic expression. His poetry reflects his personal experiences and the environment around him, which can often be challenging and unfair. Despite these difficulties, he remains a beacon of hope in his community, inspiring many people, including me.

After you listen to his work, follow @sandiegostreetops on Instagram to see what he's all about.

Music by Jamie Seward

RatQing Rios is a Tejanx storyteller and educator based in San Antonio. Queer, neurodivergent, and Latinx, RatQing creates from a place informed and inspired by the binaries they have navigated, challenged, and straddled their whole life. A polyamorous creator, RatQing loves many mediums, including poetry, comics, zines, and nonfiction.

Music by Jamie Seward

Candelaria Nieves Perez has been writing poetry since the age of 9, using it to discover and reaffirm her identity. She is currently a student at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in English Language Arts with a concentration in Literature. Candelaria’s poetry has been published in four local anthologies and in Texas A&M’s inaugural literary magazine, The Mosaic.

Her passion for poetry and advocacy for the arts, especially in the often-overlooked Southside, inspired her to create an open mic event at Tandem every second Wednesday of the month from 6 to 9 p.m. This platform allows creatives to share their work freely. Candelaria believes poetry and art play vital roles in creating safe and inclusive communities, emphasizing the need for connection and community for healing and growth.

Love is the fundamental basis of everything she does and is a central theme in her poetry. Candelaria aims to help people feel seen and valued through her efforts, ensuring their names and needs are recognized.

Music by Jamie Seward

Gaby Moreno is a San Diego native who graduated from SDSU. She is an independent creative and a jack of all trades. She loves to express herself in various art forms and doesn't like to be boxed in.

She writes poetry, makes music, and creates art. She also hosts a podcast called Nightmare on Sedgwick Avenue, where she blends her love for Hip-Hop and Horror.

She has released two EPs (God Of My Destiny and From Xibalba to Aztlan) and a few singles under her artist name, 7 Octoberz. On March 21st, she will release her first self-published poetry book, The Anxious Poeta!

Music by Jamie Seward

Johnie J. Guerra was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, and his family roots are in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and Brownsville, Texas. After serving in the military at Fort Sam Houston, he fell in love with San Antonio and made it his home.

He earned a bachelor's degree in Mexican American Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio. His poetry celebrates Chicano identity and history, using English, Spanish, Spanglish, and Nahuatl while incorporating ancient Mesoamerican beliefs.

Johnie founded Zona San Anto, a poetry collective that fosters unity, and co-founded the monthly Lakeside Poetry open mic to create a safe space for creative expression.

Music by Jamie Seward