September 15- October 15 is Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month (also known as National Hispanic Heritage Month), a time to pay tribute to the remarkable stories and enriching contributions of Latinx and Hispanic Americans. From literary powerhouses to investigative journalists, these motivational speakers educate, connect, and inspire audiences. Contact us for more information about bringing one of these Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month speakers to your school, library, business, or association to celebrate. 

Javier Zamora  

Memoirist, poet, and speaker, and author of an award-winning memoir, Solito, Javier Zamora explores his harrowing journey to the US as an unaccompanied nine-year-old that gives a unique and unforgettable glimpse into the realities of child migration. In his talks, he shares the story of his trek to reunite with his family, and how therapy and writing were able to help him heal from the trauma that has haunted him ever since. 

 

Cristina Henríquez 

Cristina Henríquez is the author of the widely acclaimed novel The Book of Unknown Americans, which has been called, “a flawlessly written book about immigration,” and, most recently, The Great Divide, a TODAY show Read with Jenna Book Club pick. Henríquez brings to life the varied human stories behind the ongoing debate about immigration through the eyes of characters from all over Latin America. She speaks about identity and the immigrant experience as well as the craft and nature of the writing process. 

 

Hernan Diaz 

Hernan Diaz is the award-winning author of In the Distance, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award, and Trust, which was longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize and one of the winners for the 2022 Pulitzer Prizes for fiction. An emerging talent and brilliant new voice in literature, Diaz captivates audiences with witty conversations about foreignness, his theory of genre, literary history, and what it means to do research for a novel. 

 

Jason De León

Jason De León creates public dialogue, exhibitions, and media about undocumented migration and the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. He has been recognized with a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship for his work as an anthropologist and scholar examining the inequalities and brutalities of human migration through a variety of lenses. In his fireside chats and lectures, De León shines a light on the human consequences of U.S. immigration and border policies, offers a counterpoint to public media perception of migrants, and puts names, faces, and stories to the thousands of individuals who have died in their attempt to reach the United States.

 

Dan-el Padilla Peralta 

Dan-el Padilla Peralta, a Princeton University professor and Columbia University Fellow, came to the United States from the Dominican Republic with his family in 1989. In his memoir, Undocumented, and in his lectures, Peralta chronicles his journey from the rough streets of New York City to the top of his class at Princeton, offering an honest and inspiring glimpse of the American immigrant experience. 

 

Kali Fajardo-Anstine 

Kali Fajardo-Anstine is an author and National Book Award Finalist. Drawing from her Southern Colorado heritage and life experiences living across the American West, Fajardo-Anstine’s writing and lectures reflect her own heritage as a Colorado Chicana with roots in Indigenous, Latina, and Filipino cultures. Her most recent novel, Woman of Light, she crafts a stunning multi-generational look at her culture.  Her debut story collection, Sabrina & Corina, has made waves in the literary community for its honest, provocative look at life in the American West for women of Latina and Indigenous descent. In her talks, she puts intersectional Chicana narratives at the center, highlights the importance of identity, and breaks down her approach to the craft of writing. 

 

Lauren Markham 

Lauren Markham is the author of The Far Away Brothers, the true story of identical twins who, at the age of seventeen, traded El Salvador’s gang violence for the trials of life as undocumented immigrants in Oakland, California. Her newest book, A Map of Future Ruins, is a masterpiece of narrative journalism that explores how and when migration became a crime. An accomplished journalist, educator, and advocate for immigrants and refugees, Markham is an authority on international refugee issues and Central American and child migration in the United States. 

 

Francisco Cantú 

Former U.S. border patrol agent Francisco Cantú shares his intimate perspective of the everyday violence that permeates the U.S./Mexican border in his searing memoir, The Line Becomes a River. A third-generation Mexican-American raised near the border, he empathized with those trying to cross it, even as he detained them. Cantú speaks frankly, compassionately, and knowledgeably about the migrants who risk and lose their lives attempting to cross the border. In his keynotes, he gives faces to the nameless multitudes, refuting the incendiary policy and rhetoric aimed at them. 

 

Carlos Andrés Gómez 

Carlos Andrés Gómez is a Colombian American spoken word poet and author of the coming-of-age memoir Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhood. He headlines festivals worldwide, tackling true masculinity, ending youth violence, and building self-esteem. Drawing from his eclectic expertise, he creates sought-after and captivating programs and provides critical tools for audiences to navigate conversations around identity, bullying, self-esteem, and beyond. Gómez is frequently brought to schools and organizations to craft a keynote or performance that engages Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion or Healthy Masculinity and Gender Equity. 

 

Eduardo Porter 

Eduardo Porter is a New York Times economics reporter and the author of The Price of Everything and American Poison. Drawing from two decades of worldwide business and financial reporting, Porter delivers persuasive and insightful speeches to academic and corporate audiences about social justice, economic inequality, and the crucial role of immigration and diversity in a healthy economy. 

 

Matt de la Peña 

Matt de la Peña is a New York Times-bestselling author who has received numerous accolades for his young adult novels and picture books, including the prestigious Newbery Medal. He brings his books to life: detailing the “stories behind the stories” and explaining the inspiration behind his beloved books. Drawing on his own working-class background, he encourages students to find beauty in their everyday lives and explore timeless themes of wonder, gratitude, and love. Whether it’s introducing young audiences to the joys of storytelling or telling his own inspiring story that took him from a reluctant reader to celebrated author, his audiences are left with a greater appreciation for the power that literature can have on individuals and communities alike. His books include The Last Stop on Market Street, Love, and Carmela Full of Wishes. 

 

Ingrid Rojas Contreras 

Ingrid Rojas Contreras is the author of the critically-acclaimed novel Fruit of the Drunken Tree. Her critically acclaimed memoir, The Man Who Could Move Clouds, is a dazzling, intergenerational saga of familial love, history, and magic that was a National Book Award finalist. In moving talks, she brings audiences behind the scenes of her craft, detailing how she weaves the personal and political into her writing and the intersection between story and identity. 

  

Contact us for more information about Latinx Heritage Month speakers.