Xicanx Futurism: Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Essays Exploring Xicanx Sci-Fi

Join us for a night of readings from Xicanx Futurism: Gritos for Tomorrow, Codex I. Featuring Natalia Rivas, Elindioartscopyright1985, Peter Lechuga, Henry Madrid, Osmani Ochoa, Brenda Vaca, and Ernesto Ayala. Hosted by Anthology editor, Scótt Rusell Dúncan. The authors will present speculative futurist thought, art, flash fiction, poetry, and essays exploring the Xicanx tomorrow. Contributors include Xicanx sci-fi veterans, social justice thinkers, influential speculative artists, and trailblazing new writers charting the future of our gente.

Doors Open: 7:00 PM I Readings: 7:30 PM

About the authors

Scótt Russell Dúncan, a Xicano writer, edited the first Chicano sci-fi anthology, El Porvenir, ¡Ya!: Citlalzazanilli Mexicatl and is creator and editor of the Xicanxfuturism: Gritos for Tomorrow codex. He is director of Palabras del Pueblo writing workshop and co-creator of Maíz Poppin' Press. His novel, Old California Strikes Back, a magic memoir and meta-novel described as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas meets Yo Soy Joaquin, is published through FlowerSong Press. www.scottrussellduncan.com

Natalia Rivas is a 73-year-old survivor of revolutionary jargon and a retired substance abuse counselor, who found her voice again after retiring. Her style is surrealistic storytelling, and she loves the idea of weaving together her journey with myth and ancestral magic. She has been active in the poetry and art scene in San Francisco in the 70s when the murals were going up in the Mission district and started reading again two years ago in San Diego.

Elindioartscopyright1985
Peter Lechuga is a Xicano wordsmith, guerilla organizer, and romantic who speaks stories of love, grief, and resistance. He is a founder and editor of the quarterly literary journal, ILL Poetry and Art Anthology, and is the author of the books, Myth Opportunities & Billionaires for Breakfast.

A multifaceted artist, Henry Madrid (El Henry) won Best Play at the 2024 Short & Sweet Theater Festival. He crafts stories exploring Latino representation, Chicanofuturism, personal transformation, and spirituality. His portfolio includes full-length plays, poetry, short stories, and vibrant visual art (elhenryart.artspan.com) that blends psychedelic imagery with surrealism.

Osmani Ochoa (he/él/they) is a queer Mexican-Xicano poet, co-editor at Maíz Poppin’ Press, and long-time national organizer for immigrant and worker rights based in San Antonio, Texas. Their migrant futurist work has been accepted for publication in Space & Time Magazine, Star*Line Magazine, Windward Review, La Raíz Magazine, and VOICES de La Luna. They won the 2025-2026 Abode Press chapbook prize for their forthcoming How to Survive an Asthma Attack in a Climate Apocalypse. For more information: www.osmaniochoa.com.

Brenda Vaca is a Xicana poet, author, and independent publisher from Sejatnga, Unceded Tongva Territory, known as South Whittier, CA. She earned her B.A. in English at U.C. Berkeley with a Minor in Creative Writing and later earned a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Biblical Languages at the Pacific School of Religion/Graduate Theological Union. Riot of Roses is her debut collection of poetry published by her indie house, Riot of Roses Publishing House. She founded Riot of Roses Publishing House to amplify historically silenced voices and narratives. Writing and publishing are her joyful rebellion.

Ernesto Ayala is a lifelong member of el Partido Nacional de La Raza Unida, a proud Chicano father to a 17-year-old Chicanita and a 17-month-old Chicanito. He is an organizer and a future educator. In late 2019, Ernesto co-founded Telejaguar and in 2020 joined MeXicanos 2070. He and his family proudly reside in Pacoima, CaliAztlan.

About Beyond Baroque

is one of the United States' leading independent Literary | Arts Centers and public spaces dedicated to expanding the public's knowledge of poetry, literature and art through cultural events and community interaction. Founded in 1968 as an experimental literary magazine, Beyond Baroque is based out of the original City Hall building in Venice, California. The Center offers a diverse variety of literary and arts programming including readings and workshops. The building also houses a bookstore with a large collection of new poetry books for sale.

Livestream: If you can’t join us in person the event will be livestreamed on at the scheduled time of the event. If you are tuning in this way, no ticket purchase is necessary.

If you are attending in person, ticket purchase is required. Tickets will be available at the Beyond Baroque bookstore on the day of the event, but we recommend registering in advance through Eventbrite. Masks are encouraged while inside our center. Please arrive early.

Event attendees are expected to behave in a respectful and considerate manner while in our space. Beyond Baroque reserves the right to remove individuals from our events, virtual or otherwise, if they are not respecting the space, staff, fellow attendees, or performers.

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Host or Publisher Beyond Baroque Literary | Arts Center