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An exciting multicultural literature event takes place this weekend in Mesilla, New Mexico – the 14th Annual Border Book Festival . Started in 1995 by a group of writers, artists and community people committed to celebrating literature and the art of storytelling in the southern United States-Northern Mexico border region, the Border Book Festival began as a one day book fair and has since turned into a major literary festival, and resulted in the foundation of The Cultural Center de Mesilla.

Here are a few words from the festival director, Denise Chavez:

“We believe that literature and the arts can bridge the many boundaries –– racial, ethnic, generational, cultural, socio-economic, and gender-based –– that divide our community. Ours is a grassroots organization that impacts its community by offering programs that are blueprints of positive communication, interaction and connection between people in our borderland region.”

In conjunction with the yearlong events held at the Cultural Center de Mesilla, the Border Book Festival now brings the best of international literature, literacy and storytelling (with a focus on Mexican and Latin American writers) to audiences in the borderland region, including cities and towns in West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Northern Mexico.

From April 18-20 the historic Mesilla, New Mexico town plaza and surrounding sites will become the focal point of the festival, brimming with events for children and their families. The theme this year is “Return.” “A return to community, a return to family and the things that made us start the festival and the things we love about living here,” says Chavez. ” We want to bring the best of the world to where we are and take our energy out to the rest of the world. With this year’s theme we have invited extraordinary writers and artists who tell and sing the story of our world.” Participating writers and artists such as Cristina García, Quincy Troupe, Perla Batalla, Amy Costales, Xavier Garza, Alex Espinosa, Adalucía Quan and more will offer panels, workshops and readings throughout the festival and will take part in school outreach visits in the days leading up to the festival.

Special themed-tents will be set up in the plaza and offer free events for all. In the “Tent of Wonders”, for instance, children’s authors and storytellers Amy Costales, Adalucía Quan and Sudeshna Sengupta (festival poster and bookmark artist) will be telling all kinds of stories, from places far and near.

The “Lucha” tent, a bona fide wrestling ring, will feature “Lucha for Literacy,” where the audience will be able to see famous
Mexican wrestlers and listen to readings by author Xavier Garza,  Griselda “La RaNa” Muñoz, recognized slam poet and Osvaldo Ogaz, a  Mexican lucha poet.

“Libros y Más,” the festival trade show (one of New Mexico’s longest running book trade shows and one of very few in the larger region) will offer great selection of books and other literary goodies, but the festival organizers also thought of a little something anyone can take home for free: beautiful bookmarks with quotes from each artist. “These bookmarks will give beauty in a tangible way, and with corazón,” says Chavez. Indeed an idea (and a festival) full of heart.

Have you seen the "top 100 songs for the year you graduated" meme that's going around? I was so relieved when Kelly didn't tag me. Oh yes, I had fun looking at her list, and I knew almost all of the songs. But the truth is, there was only one gut level check I had for each song:

#51. Raspberry Beret, Prince (Just typing that makes me break out in a dance sweat.)

#38. Neutron Dance, Pointer Sisters (Come on, it has DANCE in the title!)

#43 Freeway of Love, Aretha Franklin (Even an idiot can groove to this one. Just imagine you're in that pink Cadillac and careen on down the dance floor.)

#57. De Do Do Do, De Da Da, The Police (What can I say? The title IS a dance beat.)

#94. Whip It, Devo (I can feel my head starting to bang already)

#68. While You See A Chance, Steve Winwood (Imagine me doing an embarrassing interpretive dance. Or running. Or cranking out pushups. Hey! Bonus! The YouTube video has Muppet commentary at the end!)