MARIA APONTE is a Poet/Performance Artist/ Community Arts Activist/Educator. Maria’s work focuses on Latino Theatre against racial discrimination and women’s rights. She has written and performs her two one woman shows, Lagrimas de mis Madres an autobiographical play based on the women in her family, and I Will Not be Silenced based on the life of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. Maria has performed her work at colleges/universities/ conferences locally and nationally. She has been featured on Bronx Net, News 12, NBC Latino and WABC-TV TIEMPO. Maria has been published in The Marymount Review, the literary magazine of Marymount Manhattan College. She studied at the Iowa University Summer Writer’s Workshop. Her one woman shows, Lagrimas de Mis Madres was published by Marquette University and Western Michigan University in Caribe Revista de Cultura y Literatura. She has been published in Phati’tude Literary Magazine’s issue; ¿What’s in a Nombre? Writing Latin@ Identity in America, The Nuyorican Women Writers Anthology published in Voice’s e/Magazine, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College- CUNY, an online literary journal, editor Dr. Nancy Mercado.
In May 2013 Maria’s first book, Transitions of a Nuyorican Cinderella won 2nd Place for Best Poetry in English at the International Latino Book Awards. Transitions of a Nuyorican Cinderella is listed on RockThoseReads selected books about Harlem by Total Equity Now. Maria’s second book, The Gift of Loss her memoir, won 2nd Place for Best Autobiography at the 2017 International Latino Book Awards. Maria has her Masters in Latin American/Latino Studies from Fordham University. Maria is the former Assistant Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion and Career Counselor in Career Services at Fordham University. Maria recently retired from Fordham University, but will continue to work with students in the Bronx Community in other programs.
Awards
2021 Bronx Book Fair Community Service & Literary Excellence
2019 Fordham University Archbishop Hughes Metal for 20 years of service
2018 The New York League of Puerto Rican Women, Inc Special Recognition for Career
2017 Honorary Madrina El Museo Del Barrio Three Kings 40th Parade
The 9th Annual Taino Awards Guaitiao/Friendship Award for Community
Comite Noviembre Lo Mejor de Nuestra Communidad
2016 Bronx Times 25 Bronx Influential Women
In 2010, Maria received the V-DAY Award for special recognition for her work with women in the arts from the Eve Ensler Foundation for “someone who has suffered or witnessed violence, and then does extraordinary work to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else in their community.
Readings and Performances At...
Arts Organizations
Bronx Museum of the Arts
Casita Maria Arts & Education Center
The New York Public Library
The Nuyorican Poet’s Café
New York Health & Hospitals Union DC 37
Local 237 New York City Teamsters Union Latin American Heritage Month
The Julia De Burgos Cultural Center
Arron Davis Hall’s Educational Programs at City College
El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice Brooklyn, NY
Colleges and Universities
LaGuardia Community College N.Y.
Montclair State, University N.J.
Marquette University, WI
Randolph Macon College, Ashland Virginia
The University of SUNY Potsdam N.Y.
Simmons College, Boston
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs N.Y.
Fordham University, Bronx N.Y.
Vassar College, Duchess County N.Y.
Hamilton College, Clinton N.Y>
Eastern Connecticut State University, Windham Connecticut
Middlebury College, Vermont
Duke University, Durham N.C.
Boricua College, N.Y.
Bronx Community College, Bronx N.Y.
C.W. Post, Brookville N.Y.
Ramapo College, N.J.
Conferences
100 Hispanic Women Body, Mind, Spirit Conference May 2018
The 10th Annual Women and Leadership Conference at Loyola Chicago, IL
Loyola Maryland, Baltimore
The Writing Center at Marymount Manhattan College
Hispanic Association of Higher Education of New Jersey,
The Higher Education Opportunity Program Professional Program in Albany, NY
The 19th Annual Association of Jesuit Colleges & Universities Conference on Multicultural Affairs Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA
Bronx Museum of the Arts
Casita Maria Arts & Education Center
The New York Public Library
The Nuyorican Poet’s Café
New York Health & Hospitals Union DC 37
Local 237 New York City Teamsters Union Latin American Heritage Month
The Julia De Burgos Cultural Center
Arron Davis Hall’s Educational Programs at City College
El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice Brooklyn, NY
Colleges and Universities
LaGuardia Community College N.Y.
Montclair State, University N.J.
Marquette University, WI
Randolph Macon College, Ashland Virginia
The University of SUNY Potsdam N.Y.
Simmons College, Boston
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs N.Y.
Fordham University, Bronx N.Y.
Vassar College, Duchess County N.Y.
Hamilton College, Clinton N.Y>
Eastern Connecticut State University, Windham Connecticut
Middlebury College, Vermont
Duke University, Durham N.C.
Boricua College, N.Y.
Bronx Community College, Bronx N.Y.
C.W. Post, Brookville N.Y.
Ramapo College, N.J.
Conferences
100 Hispanic Women Body, Mind, Spirit Conference May 2018
The 10th Annual Women and Leadership Conference at Loyola Chicago, IL
Loyola Maryland, Baltimore
The Writing Center at Marymount Manhattan College
Hispanic Association of Higher Education of New Jersey,
The Higher Education Opportunity Program Professional Program in Albany, NY
The 19th Annual Association of Jesuit Colleges & Universities Conference on Multicultural Affairs Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA
For more information and bookings please email maaponte55@gmail.com