Kuwento Co.
GENERAL ADMISSION - Early Bird Special
GENERAL ADMISSION - Early Bird Special
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Writing Filipino America Through Poetry
A Generative Poetry Workshop Series
with Randy Gonzales
Explore Filipino American identity, memory, and voice through poetry grounded in artifact, archive, and lived experience.
DETAILS
Dates: April 6, 13, 20, 27 (Mondays)
Format: Live Virtual Workshop (Zoom)
Duration: 4 weekly sessions (90 minutes each)
Enrollment Cap: 20 participants
Time by Location:
7:30–9:00 PM ET
6:30–8:00 PM CT
5:30–7:00 PM MT
4:30–6:00 PM PT
3:30–5:00 PM AKT
2:30–4:00 PM HT
8:30–10:00 AM PHT (following day)
All times reflect U.S. daylight saving where applicable.
This is a cumulative workshop experience. Participants are expected to attend all four sessions, as each week builds upon the previous one.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to adults (18+).
Participants under 18 may be considered with parental consent. Please contact hello@kuwentoco.com prior to registration.
Writers at all levels are welcome. No prior archival research experience is required.
ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP
What stories live inside your family’s photographs, letters, and records?
This four-session virtual poetry workshop series invites participants to explore artifacts and archives through the creative process of writing poetry.
Poet and community historian Randy Gonzales, author of Settling St. Malo, will guide you in transforming personal and community history into original poems rooted in lived experience.
You will work with family photographs, government records, oral histories, diaries, letters, and archival materials — or any meaningful object connected to your story — to create poems that reflect the historical record while honoring the stories of our heritage.
Throughout the workshop, we will explore how poetry can recover silenced histories, amplify ancestral voices, and hold space for shared cultural memory.
This is an active, generative space grounded in craft, reflection, and community dialogue.
You will write.
You will examine history with intention.
You will leave with work that carries both personal and cultural weight.
By the end of the series, you will have crafted at least one fully developed poem rooted in an artifact connected to your Filipino American experience — along with a repeatable creative process you can continue using long after the workshop ends.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
• Study contemporary Filipino American poetry and craft techniques
• Engage in generative writing prompts during each session
• Explore themes of diaspora, ancestry, belonging, and resistance
• Receive guided feedback and revision strategies
• Develop a stronger poetic voice rooted in cultural awareness
WHAT YOU WILL WALK AWAY WITH
• Multiple new poetry drafts
• At least one substantially revised poem
• Clear craft strategies for image, voice, structure, and line
• Greater confidence writing about Filipino American experience
• A deeper understanding of poetry as both art and cultural record
You will leave with poems in progress — not just theory.
COURSE FLOW
Over four sessions, participants will explore:
• Writing from family artifacts and archival materials
• Craft techniques for transforming history into poetry
• The role of image, voice, and form in shaping cultural memory
• Strategies for revision and deepening poetic intention
Specific readings and writing prompts will be provided by the instructor.
WHO THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR
This course is ideal for:
- Emerging poets exploring Filipino American identity
- Writers new to poetry who want structured guidance
- Experienced writers seeking a culturally grounded creative space
- Participants who value community dialogue and generative work
This workshop may not be ideal for those seeking lecture-only instruction or passive participation.
TUITION
Early Bird Tuition
Available through March 23, 2026 (11:59 PM CST)
| Non-Member |
|
Member |
| $175 | $229 | $99 |
⭐ For just $54 more, receive a full year of Founding Membership (a $150 value). Membership renews annually at $150 and can be canceled anytime before renewal.
Regular Tuition
March 24 – April 1, 2026 (11:59 PM CST)
| Non-Member |
|
Member |
| $195 | $279 | $125 |
⭐ Includes one full year of Founding Membership (regularly $150). Membership renews annually at $150 unless canceled prior to renewal.
Why Become a Founding Member?
Kuwento Co. Founding Members receive discounted tuition on specific Academy courses, priority enrollment for limited-capacity programs, and access to exclusive member-only events and programming.
Founding Membership is $150 annually and renews at the standard annual rate unless canceled prior to renewal.
If you plan to participate in future workshops or want to be part of a growing national cultural literary community, the Membership + Course Bundle offers the strongest long-term value.
ENROLLMENT & REGISTRATION
Enrollment closes on April 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Participation is limited to 20 participants, with a minimum enrollment of 10 participants required for the course to run.
All sessions will be held live on Zoom. Registration is confirmed upon receipt of full payment.
Zoom access details and course information will be sent via email prior to the first session. Please ensure your checkout email address is accurate.
If minimum enrollment is not met, Kuwento Co. reserves the right to reschedule or cancel the course. In such cases, a full refund will be issued to the original form of payment.
For questions, please contact hello@kuwentoco.com.
Response time: 1–3 business days.
By enrolling, you agree to the Kuwento Co. Policies & Terms, including our Registration Policy, Refund Policy, Accessibility Statement, Participant Expectations, Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Contact Information.
COMMUNITY EDUCATOR
Randy Gonzales
A native New Orleanian of Filipino descent, Randy Gonzales is a poet, writer, and community historian. His work and research have been featured on CNN, the BBC, Huff Post, HBO Max’s Take Out with Lisa Ling, Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien, and ABS-CBN.
Randy created the community media project Filipino La. (www.filipinola.com) to tell the story of Filipinos in Louisiana through archives.
His book Settling St. Malo won the 2024 Summerlee Book Award for making a significant contribution to the understanding of the Gulf Coast region, and his second collection There No More is forthcoming (UL Press, 2026).
He is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he holds the Dr. James Wilson/BORSF Eminent Scholar Endowed Professorship in Southern Studies.
You can find out more about Randy at www.randygonzales.com.
About The Kuwento Academy
The Kuwento Academy is the cultural and literary education platform of Kuwento Co.
Designed to support Filipino American writers at every stage, the Academy offers structured workshops, master classes, and community-based learning experiences grounded in both craft and cultural responsibility.
Rooted in LAHI — Legacy, Arts, Heritage, and Innovation — the Academy advances Filipino American storytelling through rigorous instruction, intergenerational dialogue, and creative accountability.
About Kuwento Co.
Kuwento Co. publishes, educates, and empowers underrepresented voices—transforming lived experience into books that preserve cultural memory and create lasting community impact.
As a national cultural and literary home for Filipino/a/x writers and storytellers across the United States and diaspora, Kuwento Co. builds long-term infrastructure for storytelling through publishing, education, and community-centered initiatives.
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