Maria Aponte

 
Poet/Performance Artist/ Community Arts Activist/Educator, Maria works in Latino Theatre against racial discrimination and women’s rights. She has written and performed 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 performs her work at colleges/universities conferences locally and nationally. She has been featured on Bronx Net, News 12 and NBC Latino. In 2010, Maria received special recognition 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.”    In May 2013 Maria’s book, Transitions of a Nuyorican Cinderella won 2nd Place for Best Poetry in English at the International Latino Book Awards. Maria is also the founder of Latina 50 Plus™ a program honoring Latina Pioneers. Currently, Maria is working on adapting the book Presumed Incompetent: The Intersections of Race and Class for Women in Academia into a full length play. She is the Diversity Initiatives Coordinator for Career Services at Fordham University.  Maria has a Masters in Latin American and Latino Studies from Fordham University.  

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