We have completed our first NEA Big Read grant in conjunction with National Hispanic Heritage Month.  We served nearly 200 community members in these interactive workshops, as well as over 2000 views on our virtual Cuentos y Charlas conversations, and distributed over 800 copies of the book in English and Spanish.

Overview:

NEA Big Read: Alley Theatre/ El Zócalo is a creative community exploration of The House on Mango Street, the seminal 1984 novella by Mexican-American author Sandra Cisneros. Overlapping with National Hispanic Heritage Month, NEA Big Read: Alley Theatre/ El Zócalo drives the conversation into the community through an interactive line-up of bilingual events, using The House on Mango Street to explore Hispanic culture, traditions, and issues; and ignite discussion around the importance of heritage. 

About the Book
This coming-of-age classic tells the remarkable story of Esperanza Cordero, a 12-year-old Chicana girl discovering who and what she will become.  On September 15, collect a FREE copy of The House on Mango Street at Blanca's Cafe or Alley Theatre while supplies last. For more information on the book and Sandra Cisneros visit NEA Big Read's resources page.  

Content Advisory: L, S. For ages 13+. Contains some Language, brief Sexual situations and mature themes as the author earnestly invokes the world of her youth.