events + readings

upcoming events

  • December 12, 2024, 7:15pm : 2nd Thursday feature reading & open mic at BookWoman, Austin, TX. Cindy Huyser, host.

past readings + events

  • April 20, 2024, 2pm : Panelist discussing nepantlera art by . San Benito Cultural Arts Center. San Benito, TX.

  • April 21, 2024, 1pm – 4pm : SUBMIT event hosted by UTRGV’s Creative Writing Department. Come by and pick up materials for creating a cover letter, bio, and a call sheet of current callls for submissions. Just bring your creative work and a device for submitting them. CommonSpace Coffee, McAllen, TX.

  • April 26, 2024, 6pm : University and College Poetry Reading. Co-host with Emmy Perez. Part of Valley International Poetry Festival’s 2024 lineup. CommonSpace Coffee, McAllen, TX.

  • May 9, 2024, 6pm : MFA Graduate Reading. Kreative Grounds, McAllen, TX.

  • April 6, 2024, 3pm – 6pm : Testimonios Workshop at Red Salmon Arts/Resistencia Bookstore, Austin, TX. $40 workshop includes a copy of the matchstick litanies. [Or, pay what you can – proceeds go toward the work that Red Salmon Arts does.] Email jrboitel@yahoo.com for more information.

  • April 1, 2024, 12 noon : Thesis defense, with a sneak preview of new work from the forthcoming book, the impracticality of silk (Gnashing Teeth Press, 2024).

  • March 9, 2024, 7pm : Reading as part of the Corazon Collective. Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, San Antonio, TX.

  • February 9, 2024, 11am CST : Next Page Press Reading with Faisal Mohyuddin at Lily Poetry Review Books, Book Fair Table T1722. AWP event.

  • February 9, 2024, 12noon CST : Author Signing at Mouthfeel Press, Book Fair Table 3021. AWP event.

  • February 8, 2024, 11am CST : Fake AWP Event with Brown Bag Lit. AWP event. Online. Register here.

  • December 6, 2023, 7pm : BookWoman, Austin, TX. Reading with Leticia Urieta.

  • November 30, 2023, 7pm : Online reading with poet Cesar L. De Leon and dj Joaquin Muerte.

  • November 15, 2023, 6pm : Reading at UTRGV MFA Program. With Esteban Rodriguez. Celebrating both our new books. In ELABS 107.

  • November 5, 2023, 5pm : The Mouth Dakota Poetry Project, San Antonio, TX.

  • October 14, 2023, 6pm : Pre-sale reading celebration with Aida Felicitas “Cuppycake” Rodriguez Barrera and Lace Garcia. Poetic Republic Coffee & Wine, San Antonio, TX.

  • October 11, 2023 : Open Mic and Local Giants Reading at Jandro’s, San Antonio, TX. With Eddie Vega and Stefan Sencerz. A Write Art Now event.

  • September 16, 2023, 7pm : part of the Lunadas del Valle series, curated by 2023 McAllen poet laureate Daniel Garcia Ordaz, CommonSpace, McAllen, TX.

  • August 26, 2023, Noon to 8pm : Part of the Corazon Collective group, reading with the VoxFem Network. Pre-recorded and available on YouTube. Visit their Facebook for more information.

  • May 13, 2023, 4pm CST : With TORCH Literary Arts. Groundbreaking Ceremony at Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, TX. RSVP here.

  • May 12, 2023, 6pm CST : Huizache Magazine reading with Vincent Cooper and Roberto Ontiveros. Guadalupe Latino Bookstore in San Antonio, TX. Sponsored by Nuestra Palabra.

  • November 15, 2022, 7:30pm : Opening reader for Niki Herd, Visiting Writer in Residence in Poetry in Millikin University.

  • November 12, 2022, 7pm : Panelist, “We remember you ese: Platicas and Storytelling”, part of The University of Texas and Resistencia Books’ 50 Years of Partial Freedom Symposium to celebrate the life and legacies of raulrsalinas. At Resistencia Books, Austin, TX

  • November 11, 2022, 5pm CST : Motherwork panel with queer artists. RSVP and more info here.

  • November 3-4, 2022 : Panelist at El Mundo Zurdo Conference @ UTSA Downtown Campus, San Antonio, TX

  • September 7, 2022, time TBD : Poetry reading for closing of the City of San Antonio’s Status of Women art exhibit. Cultural Commons Gallery.

  • July 14, 2022, 6:00pm : A reading in celebration of César L. de Léon‘s wonderful book, “Speaking with Grackles by Soapberry Trees,” In-person at Casa Azul Patio, 205 E. Conquest Blvd., Edinburg, TX. Other readers include Emmy Perez, Carolina Monsivais, Priscilla Celina Suarez, Edward Vidaurre, Rodney Gomez, Celina Gomez, Isaac Chavarria and Jackie Joy.

  • June 30, 2022, 7:00pm : Queer Voices, in collaboration with Pride Center SA and the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. 6pm : San Arte Healing and Cultura Clinic. In-person, 922 San Pedro Ave.

  • May 22, 2022, 7:00pm : Cultural Commons Gallery, as part of the City of San Antonio’s State of the Woman report.

  • May 13, 2022, 6:30pm CST : Guerilla Underground stream of “she wears bells“, a finalist at this annual event.

  • May 2, 2022, 6 – 7:30pm CST : Write About Now Writing workshop, “Conjuring Ghost Words to Deepen Our Poetry”. Register through my individual link here. $20/class or $60 for a month of Monday night workshops with a diverse group of writers.

  • April 6, 2022, 6pm : Macondo Scholarship Fundraiser Reading

  • March 31, 2022, time TBD : UTRGV Women’s History Month Reading

  • March 12, 2022, 7pm : Poetry reading at Artevivo art gallery, 535 E 12th Street, Brownsville, TX.

  • October 6, 2021, 6pm : In-class reading at UT-RGV.

  • September 23, 2021, 6pm : Live and in person at San Antonio College, at the Loflin Center Round, for “Mi Gente” Heritage Celebration. Also featuring Vicent Cooper and Gerard Robledo.

  • September 18, 2021, 8pm : DANDO reading with host and amazing poet Tammy Gomez. Virtual. Details And link available here.

  • August 19, 2021, zoom reading : RGV queer reading with ire’ne lara silva and Cesár L. de Léon, sponsored by Valley AIDS Council.

  • July 31, 2021, 6:30pm : Mexican American Bar Association Reading at their annual scholarship and community gala. Tickets available online to support scholarships, clinics, and other important work.

  • June 28, 2021, 4:00pm CST/2:00pm PST : La Palabra Poetry reading, hosted by Angelina Saenz. Zoom, meeting #881 0616 8718.

  • June 23, 2021, 6:00pm – 7:00pm : Pride Talk, in celebration of Pride Month. South Texas College. Register for this virtual reading and discussion at library.southtexascollege.edu/author-visit-with-jo-reyes-boitel/

  • June 22, 2021, 6:00pm : Cultivating Fields: An Introduction to Poetry workshop, through Gemini Ink. 4 weekly sessions. Register here.

  • June 19, 2021, 6:00pm – 8:00pm : World Refugee Day collaboration with poets and recent refugees and immigrants. Sponsored by the San Antonio Museum of Art. A virtual reading. Register at https://bit.ly/WRDSA21. FMI: www.poetrydeclaration.org.

  • June 17, 2021, 6:30pm : Reading with Gemini Ink, featuring San Antonio poets and instructors Christopher “Rooster” Martinez, Noel Bella Merriam, and Eric Cruz. Register for the event here.

  • May 22, 2021, 7:00pm CST : Neon Hemlock Press poetry reading, with Saida Agostini as MC. Limited virtual seats available! Register here.

  • May 5, 2020, 6:00pm CST : “Defend Democracy” Reading for Red Salmon Arts, in conjuction with Mexican American Cultural Arts Center (MACC) and the Amigos de Parque Zaragoza.

  • March 19, 2021, 7:00pm CST : Poets Know It, BAAD! Bronx presents an evening of poetry. FMI: http://www.baadbronx.org/.

  • February 5, 7:00pm : Memorias from the Beltway Book Launch for Mauricio Novoa. jo is MC and served as mentor/editor for Novoa through Red Salmon Press’ publishing efforts. RSVP in advance here.

  • January 30, 2020, 1:00pm : OyeDrum Magazine online launch party for Issue 3 : Sex. This features a great line up of powerful female-identified writers. RSVP here.

  • January 29, 2020, 8:30pm : MPP/Remain in Mexico Policy Vigil : Two years since Trump established this policy that people have been pushed back to Mexico to suffer neglect, abuse, inhospitable conditions, a hurricane, gangs, COVID, and other unknowable harm. Visit RAICES Action for details. Also, view Witness from the Border video for a view of the work being done and the challenges facing those who want to be a part of this country, who deserve a life free from hurt.

  • October 1, 2020, 7pm : Opening for Liliana Valenzuela’s virtual book launch at Malvern Books. With Edward Vidaurre also reading. Visit http://www.malvernbooks.com for the Zoom link.

  • September 29, 2020, 7pm : TLA Latino Caucus Presents An Evening of Plática: Literary Voices Breaking Down Barriers, with Celina Gomez, César L. de León, Erasmo Guerra, and jo reyes-boitel. Register to join at bit.ly/hhmplatica.

  • August 22, 1pm : FlowerSong Press Women’s Poetry Tardeada. On Zoom. Video will be available on http://www.flowersongpress.com.

  • June 26 & 27, 8pm : Jump-Start Performance Co. presents she wears bells, an Aztec operetta, an INKubator project. Tickets available here.

  • June 16 & 17, 2020, various times/campuses : South Texas Colleges Libraries, to celebrate Gay Pride Month in the valley! More details TBA. *Canceled due to COVID-19 quarantine.*

  • March 7, 2020, 5pm : Dignidad Literaria & Mitote, Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center, Courtyard by the Grassy Slope, (River Level) Market Street Entrance, 900 East Market St. San Antonio, TX 78205. Welcome and listen to 40 Latinx writers from around the country reading!

  • March 6, 2020, 7pm : Queer Voices, AWP off-site reading at Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, San Antonio, TX

  • February 27-29, 2020 : Panelist at People’s Poetry Festival, Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, TX

  • January 2020, 6pm : opening for Wendy Barker, Twig Bookstore, San Antonio, TX

  • December 7, 2019, 6pm : Sound Museum SATX, featuring new music, spoken word, and digital art, MBS Southtown, 1115 S Alamo. Presented by Darren Ryan | No Reality TV, San Antonio, TX

  • December 1, 2019, 3pm : Annual Peace Market at Esperanza Peace & Justice Center

  • November 15, 2019, 6pm : Reading at Bella la Brew, presented by Aransas County Poetry Society, Rockport, TX

  • November 1, 2019 : Panelist at Mundo Zurdo Conference (full program here), Trinity University, San Antonio, TX

  • October 26, 2019 weekend : annual Texas Book Festival, Austin, TX

  • October 24, 2019, 6pm : benefit reading for migrant justice through CIELO.

  • September 4, 2019, 7pm : Writers for Migrant Justice at Barrio Barista [part of a nationwide event with readings in 45+ cities, in response to the inhumane family separation policy at the US/Mexico Border. These readings serve as a fundraiser for Immigrant Families Together, with all funds supporting rapid response needs for family reunification and legal assistance]

  • August 17, 2019, 2pm : FlowerSong Books Showcase, Central Public Library, Latino Resource Center. Sponsored by Gemini Ink.

  • August 3, 2019, 3pm : reading with Natalia Trevino and Wendy Barker at Dead Tree Books. With Q&A afterward.

  • June 27, 2019, 7pm : Entre Mundos Night, Latino Cultural Center, Dallas, TX (with local performer and community limpia)

  • June 7, 2019, 8pm : LatinX Writers Showcase at Cafe Mayapan, El Paso, TX

  • June 1, 2019, 2pm : Red Salmon Arts/Casa de Resistencia, Austin, TX

  • May 23, 2019, 7pm : Hosting Queer Voices Speak Out at Pride Center, 1303 McCullough Ave, Ste 160

  • May 19, 2019, 3pm : Voices de la Luna reading, San Antonio Art League & Museum, 130 King William Ave.

  • May 10, 2019, 7pm : W-I-P Creme performance, Palo Alto College, Black Box Theatre

  • April 30, 2019, 6pm : Nuestra Palabra radio show guest, with Tony Diaz, host

  • April 26 – 28, 2019 : Rio Grande Valley Poetry Festival

  • April 20, 2019, 6pm : Queering Religion reading, BookWoman, Austin, TX

  • April 14, 2019, 2pm : This City Is A Poem reading, San Antonio Central Library, Latino Resource Area

  • April 13, 2019, 5pm : Mexican American Cultural Center, as part of Sor Juana Inez celebration, Austin, TX

  • April 6, 2019, 7pm : Latina authors showcase of new books, Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, 922 San Pedro Ave

  • March 31, 2019, 2pm : Book Launch at Galeria E.V.A.

  • March 13, 2019, 7pm : Featured Reader at Sun Poets, Rosella Coffee at Jones and Broadway

  • February 27, 2019, 7pm : W-I-P/Works In Progress San Antonio at Jump-Start Performance Company, 710 Fredericksburg Rd

  • February 21, 2019, 7pm : Queer Voices Speak Out at Pride Center, 1303 McCullough Ave, Ste 160