MARIA APONTE is a Poet/Performance Artist/ Community Arts Activist/Educator She is a three-time recipient of the International Latino Book Award for Transitions of a Nuyorican Cinderella (2013), The Gift of Loss (2017) and her third book, The Things That Shape Us (2025). Maria’s lifetime work as a Nuyorican Poet will be included in the upcoming Nuyorican Poets Café Legacy Project curated by Lois Griffin. 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 show, 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
Maria 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.
Maria has her Masters in Latin American/Latino Studies from Fordham University. The former Assistant Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion and Career Counselor in Career Services at Fordham University. Maria was a participant in the Fordham University Bronx COVID 19 Oral History Project. She is also a former HEOP Counselor. In November 2022, Maria was honored for her work at Fordham University's Career Center as Assistant Director of Global Diversity & Inclusion for her 22 years of service in Higher Education at Fordham.
May 21, 2022, Maria was honored by her Alma Mater, Marymount Manhattan College, the Mother Raymunde Mckay Award in recognition of distinguished service and outstanding contributions in the community, for her work in Diversity and Inclusion at Fordham University. Maria was the Founder and President of Latina 50 Plus, Inc. (2014-2023) a nonprofit honoring Latinas 50 and up dedicated to various professional career field. Please note: Latina 50 Plus, Inc. was closed in 2023. For more information, please see the Archival Page.
On May 12th, 2024, Maria was honored by the 14th annual Taino Awards by receiving the storyteller award renamed after her late husband Bobby Gonzalez, Taino Indian. Bobby Gonzalez is known for his dedication as Bronx Community leader. Bobby was the creator, founder and MC of the Annual Bronx Native Festival held annually at Pelham Bay Park. Bobby dedicated his life teaching Native American history and culture and the importance of Puerto Rican culture, identity and one of the founders of the Taino Movement.
On January 2024 Maria launched the Bobby Gonzalez Legacy Project to preserve Bobby’s legacy and teachings for the future generations to come. To learn. To give. To receive.
Maria 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.
Maria has her Masters in Latin American/Latino Studies from Fordham University. The former Assistant Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion and Career Counselor in Career Services at Fordham University. Maria was a participant in the Fordham University Bronx COVID 19 Oral History Project. She is also a former HEOP Counselor. In November 2022, Maria was honored for her work at Fordham University's Career Center as Assistant Director of Global Diversity & Inclusion for her 22 years of service in Higher Education at Fordham.
May 21, 2022, Maria was honored by her Alma Mater, Marymount Manhattan College, the Mother Raymunde Mckay Award in recognition of distinguished service and outstanding contributions in the community, for her work in Diversity and Inclusion at Fordham University. Maria was the Founder and President of Latina 50 Plus, Inc. (2014-2023) a nonprofit honoring Latinas 50 and up dedicated to various professional career field. Please note: Latina 50 Plus, Inc. was closed in 2023. For more information, please see the Archival Page.
On May 12th, 2024, Maria was honored by the 14th annual Taino Awards by receiving the storyteller award renamed after her late husband Bobby Gonzalez, Taino Indian. Bobby Gonzalez is known for his dedication as Bronx Community leader. Bobby was the creator, founder and MC of the Annual Bronx Native Festival held annually at Pelham Bay Park. Bobby dedicated his life teaching Native American history and culture and the importance of Puerto Rican culture, identity and one of the founders of the Taino Movement.
On January 2024 Maria launched the Bobby Gonzalez Legacy Project to preserve Bobby’s legacy and teachings for the future generations to come. To learn. To give. To receive.
Awards:
2024 The 15th Annual Taino Awards the Bobby Gonzalez Dujo Award for Storytelling
2023 Schneps Impact Award for Latina 50 Plus, Inc. Founder
2022 Distinguished Alumni Awards Mother Raymunde McKay Award Marymount Manhattan
2021 Bronx Book Fair Honoree for 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 Diversity & Inclusion Fordham University Career Services
2017 January Honorary Madrina El Museo Del Barrio Three Kings 40th Parade
April The 9th Annual Taino Awards Guaitiao/Friendship Award for Community
October Comité 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.
Publications
2024 Poem: South Bronx in Black and White, Ricky Flores South Bronx Family Album
2022 PLPR The Puerto Rican Literature Project. Arté Público Press, University of Houston
2022 Konch Magazine, A Special Tribute to Miguel Algarin, Guest Editor Nancy Mercado
2019 And Then Anthology Vol. 20. Editors Robert Roth and Myrna Nieves
2017 La Tolteca Poesia Boricua, Editor Ana Castillo
2015 The Nuyorican Women Writers Anthology published in Voices e/Magazine, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College- CUNY, an online literary journal, editor
Dr. Nancy Mercado.
2012 Phati’tude Literary Magazine’s issue; ¿What’s in a Nombre? Writing Latin@ Identity in America.
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.
Community Arts Work
Nov. 2025 Featured poet: H.E.ARTS Flowers for our Elders.
Brook Park Community Garden Bronx N.Y.
August 8, 2025 La Finca de Sur writing workshop:
Finding Calm Through Emotional Storms Bronx NY.
August 25,2025 Healing with ART Through Time. You are not alone
Art/Poetry exhibit, curator Arlene C. Amarante Santiago
Poe Center, Bronx, NY
October 2024 Pregones Theatre Stage Garden Rumba tribute for Elba Cabera
October 3, 2024: Fordham University presentation for Dr. Mark Nasion Bronx Class
Topic: The struggle for positive cultural identity about the Puerto Rican woman.
March 2023 Nosquedamos Yolanda Garcia Park 1st annual Spring Equinox storytelling.
October 2022 5th Annual Paterson Poetry Festival Virtual featured poet
September 2022 Evelina Antonetty 100 Committee: Poetry Coordinator
September 2022 Brooklyn Book Festival Book End Event “Narrative on Gray Magic: A Suite on Age and Aging” -Virtual
August 2022 Art at The Sound Poetry Writing Workshop. Host Lucy Aponte
Performances
May 2022 Lagrimas de mis Madres one woman show. El Barrio Art Space PS 109
February 2022 Sor Juan: I Will Not Be Silenced based on Octavio Paz’s biography-
Montclair University for Upward Bound Program.
October 2021 Guest Speaker Bronx County Bar Association Supreme Court Bronx County Civil Term
Hispanic Heritage Month
August 2021 Pregones Stage Garden Rumba
August 2021 Art at the Sound Poetry Reading. Host Lucy Aponte
Note: Older venues located on Media page.
Brook Park Community Garden Bronx N.Y.
August 8, 2025 La Finca de Sur writing workshop:
Finding Calm Through Emotional Storms Bronx NY.
August 25,2025 Healing with ART Through Time. You are not alone
Art/Poetry exhibit, curator Arlene C. Amarante Santiago
Poe Center, Bronx, NY
October 2024 Pregones Theatre Stage Garden Rumba tribute for Elba Cabera
October 3, 2024: Fordham University presentation for Dr. Mark Nasion Bronx Class
Topic: The struggle for positive cultural identity about the Puerto Rican woman.
March 2023 Nosquedamos Yolanda Garcia Park 1st annual Spring Equinox storytelling.
October 2022 5th Annual Paterson Poetry Festival Virtual featured poet
September 2022 Evelina Antonetty 100 Committee: Poetry Coordinator
September 2022 Brooklyn Book Festival Book End Event “Narrative on Gray Magic: A Suite on Age and Aging” -Virtual
August 2022 Art at The Sound Poetry Writing Workshop. Host Lucy Aponte
Performances
May 2022 Lagrimas de mis Madres one woman show. El Barrio Art Space PS 109
February 2022 Sor Juan: I Will Not Be Silenced based on Octavio Paz’s biography-
Montclair University for Upward Bound Program.
October 2021 Guest Speaker Bronx County Bar Association Supreme Court Bronx County Civil Term
Hispanic Heritage Month
August 2021 Pregones Stage Garden Rumba
August 2021 Art at the Sound Poetry Reading. Host Lucy Aponte
Note: Older venues located on Media page.
For more information and bookings please email [email protected]