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Celebrating Storytelling In All Forms.
Saturday, October 17
 

10:30am CDT

Childrens' Reading Time: In English and Spanish
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Children's Area
Limited Capacity seats available
Saturday October 17, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Children's Area

10:30am CDT

Dr. Nolan Cabrera Presents: Banned: The Fight for Mexican American Studies in the Streets and in the Courts
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
201
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
avatar for Tony Diaz

Tony Diaz

Founder and Director, Nuestra Palabra: Latinos Having Their Say
Writer and activist Tony Diaz, El Librotraficante, is a Cultural Accelerator. He was the first Chicano to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Houston Creative Writing Program. In 1998, he founded Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say (NP), Houston’s... Read More →
avatar for Nolan Cabrera
LL
avatar for Bryan Parras

Bryan Parras

Filmmaker, Another Gulf Is Possible
Bryan “Lucas” Parras is a Houston-born environmental justice advocate, storyteller, and cultural organizer whose work sits at the intersection of community health, equity, and narrative power. Raised in Houston’s East End and shaped by early involvement in Nuestra Palabra where... Read More →
avatar for Lupe Mendez
Saturday October 17, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
201

10:30am CDT

Film Screening: The Chicano Squad
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
202
Limited Capacity seats available
Watch this powerful film about the first bilingual, all-Mexican American police squad in Houston, Texas. This is a potent story that covers Mexican American History, Houston History, Texas legends, and American History. Produced by Houston lawyer Sergio Selvera, whose father, Jose Selvera, Jr., formed part of that original unit. This is a testament to the role of writers in our society. As...
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Speakers
avatar for Mario Diaz

Mario Diaz

Director & Showrunner, The Chicano Squad
Mario Diaz is an Emmy-award winning director, editor, and producer known for the A&E limited series The Chicano Squad (2024), Right To Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution (2022), and Kids Behind Bars (2021), ESPN's 30 for 30: Brothers in Exile (2014), 30 for 30: Trojan War (2015... Read More →
avatar for Sergio Selvera

Sergio Selvera

Attorney, Rodgers Selvera PLLC
 Sergio Selvera is a Houston-based entertainment attorney, producer, and arts advocate whose work spans film, television, music, and media. He is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Rodgers Selvera PLLC, an entertainment and media law firm representing artists, creators, pro... Read More →
Saturday October 17, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
202

10:30am CDT

Ivan Gerardo Morales Detained: A boy's journal of survival and resilience by David Esperanza & Gerardo Iván Morales
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
203
Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers
avatar for Ivan Gerardo Morales

Ivan Gerardo Morales

Author
Gerardo Iván Morales was born in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, and immigrated to the United States of America in 2000 when he was five. He is passionate about advocating for human rights and immigration. In 2018, Iván dedicated six months inside an American child detention center... Read More →
avatar for Chef Adrian Torres
Saturday October 17, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
203

10:30am CDT

Powerul Tejas Poetry
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
101
Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers
avatar for Emmy Perez
avatar for Carolina Monsivias
Saturday October 17, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
101

10:30am CDT

Wisdom Speaks: Elders Share New and Works and Progress
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
102
Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers
avatar for Raul Torres

Raul Torres

originally from Chile, but I now call Houston home with my wife and family. I am happy to join you to share an excerpt from my manuscript which is much longer. It is titled:  This is my first time reading your work in public, so I am grateful for your attention. And if you have... Read More →
AJ
BV
Saturday October 17, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
102

12:00pm CDT

Building the Arts Ecosystem That Shapes the Future of Our Region
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
201
Limited Capacity seats available

Nory Angel leads a powerful analysis of the future of Art in Houston.Panel Leader: Nory Angel


Speakers
avatar for Nory Angel

Nory Angel

President
Nory Angel comes to the American Leadership Forum from TEACH, an education-based, nonprofit organization co-founded by Susan Sarofim that serves Houston’s public schools where she served as Executive Director.  Prior to her work at TEACH, she served as the Executive Director and... Read More →
Saturday October 17, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
201

12:00pm CDT

Lupe Mendez Presents: We Exist In The Whisper: Huelga School Verses
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
203
Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers
avatar for Lupe Mendez
Saturday October 17, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
203

12:00pm CDT

The Making of Chicano Squad: The Power of The Pen.
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
202
Limited Capacity seats available
Get profound insights into history, culture, and art, and find out how writers make a living as they make history. This panel features one of the film's stars, the producer, and a showrunner. You will learn some about the making of this work. You will also learn the paths these important figures took and get to ask them questions.The film made a national impact as a documentary for A&E...
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Speakers
avatar for Sergio Selvera

Sergio Selvera

Attorney, Rodgers Selvera PLLC
 Sergio Selvera is a Houston-based entertainment attorney, producer, and arts advocate whose work spans film, television, music, and media. He is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Rodgers Selvera PLLC, an entertainment and media law firm representing artists, creators, pro... Read More →
avatar for Mario Diaz

Mario Diaz

Director & Showrunner, The Chicano Squad
Mario Diaz is an Emmy-award winning director, editor, and producer known for the A&E limited series The Chicano Squad (2024), Right To Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution (2022), and Kids Behind Bars (2021), ESPN's 30 for 30: Brothers in Exile (2014), 30 for 30: Trojan War (2015... Read More →
avatar for Jose Selvera Jr.

Jose Selvera Jr.

Original Member of the Chicano Squad
Jose Selvera Jr. is an original member of the Houston Police Department’s legendary Chicano Squad, the groundbreaking group of bilingual Mexican American officers whose story is chronicled in the A&E docuseries The Chicano Squad.A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served during the Vietnam War, Jose went on to dedicate more than five decades to law enforcement and public service in Houston. During his career with HPD, he investigated some of the city’s most serious crimes, including homicides, kidnappings... Read More →
Saturday October 17, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
202

1:30pm CDT

Dr. Laura Murillo Presents: Lead In Life
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
203
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
avatar for Dr Laura Murillo

Dr Laura Murillo

Director, The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Houston

Saturday October 17, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
203

1:30pm CDT

Houston Latinx Writers Assemble: With Dr. Jose Aranda, Rice University.
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
201
Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers
avatar for Roberto Tejada

Roberto Tejada

Professor, University of Houston
Roberto Tejada is the author of the poetry collections Carbonate of Copper (Fordham, 2025), longlisted for the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award (2026), Why the Assembly Disbanded (Fordham, 2022), and Exposition Park (Wesleyan, 2010), among others. He writes art and media histories that... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Jose Aranda, Jr.

Dr. Jose Aranda, Jr.

Professor, Rice University
José Aranda holds a dual appointment in the Department of English and Creative Writing and the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures. He is the founding director of Rice’s Program in Latin American Studies and also serves as the coordinator for... Read More →
avatar for Jasminne Mendez

Jasminne Mendez

Author
Jasminne Mendez is Pura Belpré Honor Award recepient and a Dominican-American poet, playwright and author of several books for children and adults. She is also a poet, playwright, translator, and professional audiobook narrator. Her most recent publication Aniana del Mar Jumps In... Read More →
Saturday October 17, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
201

1:30pm CDT

Protecting Your Story: What Every Writer Should Know About Rights, Publishing & Hollywood
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
202
Limited Capacity seats available
Meet the leading lawyers in intellectual property, who happen to be based in Houston. They form a team that profoundly understands the spirit of the law, the letter of the law, and what it takes to create art in this new era.The session will begin with an overview and concrete examples. However, there will be time for a conversation with the audience, so have your questions ready. The...
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Speakers
avatar for Erin Rodgers

Erin Rodgers

Partner, Rodgers Selvera PLLC
Erin Rodgers is a partner at Rodgers Selvera PLLC, where she represents writers, artists, creators, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in entertainment, intellectual property, and corporate matters. A native Houstonian, she earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center after receiving her Bachelor of Music in Music... Read More →
avatar for Tyler McConnell

Tyler McConnell

Attorney, Rodgers Selvera PLLC
Tyler McConnell is an attorney with Rodgers Selvera PLLC, where he represents writers, artists, entrepreneurs, and other creative professionals in matters involving entertainment, intellectual property, business law, and estate and legacy planning. His practice includes a parti... Read More →
Saturday October 17, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
202

1:30pm CDT

The Art of Writing Opinion-Editorials
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
101
Limited Capacity seats available
The NP 2026 Latino Writers Census revealed that many Latinos who wrote and published opinion editorials did not consider themselves writers. We aim to change that. Delve into the basics and art of this genre. Join editors and community members to discover how to shape our community through your voice.

Speakers
avatar for Gabriel Esparza
avatar for Evan Mintz

Evan Mintz

Editor of Opinion and Community Engagement, Houston Chronicle
Evan Mintz is the editor of opinion and community engagement for the Houston Chronicle. He was a 2017 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Writing for his contributions to a series on gun laws and violence.  A licensed attorney, Mintz graduated from Rice University and... Read More →
avatar for Al Castillo

Al Castillo

Writer, SEEN
Al Castillo grew up in a legacy Chicano family. His parents formed part of LULAC history. They helped shape their East End neighborhood. He continues this tradition by advocating for civil rights, especially Freedom of Speech. He writes opinion pieces and helps other community members... Read More →
Saturday October 17, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
101

1:30pm CDT

Time to Write
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
102
Limited Capacity seats available
Get back to basics. This is a chance for you to sit and write. Yes, sit and write like you promised you would do. Save your spot. Meet like minded writers looking to support each other to make time to write. Participantes will be invited to from a group to keep it up. Perhaps at Houston Text Fest 2027 you will have a manuscript to share.
Speakers
avatar for Loida Casares
Saturday October 17, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
102

3:00pm CDT

Art and Culture: The State of Immigrant Voices: Freeing the Voice of Lorenzo and All Our Workers.
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
202
Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers
avatar for Domingo Garcia

Domingo Garcia

Senior Partner, Domingo Garcia Law Firm
Attorney Domingo Garcia has led an active civic, legal and political career. He was born in Midland, Texas and grew up in Dallas, Texas. He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Texas in 1980. In 1983, he obtained his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from... Read More →
BI
avatar for Tony Diaz

Tony Diaz

Founder and Director, Nuestra Palabra: Latinos Having Their Say
Writer and activist Tony Diaz, El Librotraficante, is a Cultural Accelerator. He was the first Chicano to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Houston Creative Writing Program. In 1998, he founded Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say (NP), Houston’s... Read More →
avatar for Ivan Gerardo Morales

Ivan Gerardo Morales

Author
Gerardo Iván Morales was born in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, and immigrated to the United States of America in 2000 when he was five. He is passionate about advocating for human rights and immigration. In 2018, Iván dedicated six months inside an American child detention center... Read More →
avatar for Chef Adrian Torres
Saturday October 17, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
202

3:00pm CDT

Bookstore, Publishers, Readings
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
203
Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Farfán-Santos

Elizabeth Farfán-Santos

Author, Dreamers Books + Culture,
Elizabeth Farfán-Santos is a Chicana author and medical anthropologist who grew up in a Mexican, immigrant, working class household led by women. She is the author of two nonfiction books. Her newest book, Undocumented Motherhood: Conversations on Love, Trauma, and Border Crossi... Read More →
Saturday October 17, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
203

3:00pm CDT

Miriam Damaris Mardivino Presents Hamaca Blues
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
201
Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers
avatar for Miriam Damaris Mardivino
avatar for Lourdes Jiménez
Saturday October 17, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
201

4:30pm CDT

Houston Text Fest 2026 Prom Pic
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm CDT
202
Limited Capacity seats available
Houston writers, join us for the Houston Text Fest 2026 Prom pic! Register so we get your name. The photo will be staged as best as possible. The finished product will be donated to the Houston Public Library Archives. Yes, literarlly make history as a Houston Writer. Unidos!
Saturday October 17, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm CDT
202

6:00pm CDT

After Party:
LIMITED
Saturday October 17, 2026 6:00pm - 8:30pm CDT
The Lymbar 4201 Main St Ste 100, Houston, TX 77002
Limited Capacity seats available
Join us to celebrate the First Annual Houston Text Fest. The Lymbar is our Literary Bar with legacy books on the wall, an Underwood typewriter on display, and legacy dishes prepared by Chef David Cordua. Let's conjure the muses to inspire us to continue to work together all year long.
Saturday October 17, 2026 6:00pm - 8:30pm CDT
The Lymbar 4201 Main St Ste 100, Houston, TX 77002
 
Houston Text Fest
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Saturday, October 17
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203
Children's Area
The Lymbar 4201 Main St Ste 100, Houston, TX 77002