In this first episode of a two-part conversation, host Daniel Chacón sits down with Dr. Gabriela Baeza Ventura, director and publisher of Arte Público Press—widely recognized as the nation’s leading publisher of U.S. Latinx literature.
Their conversation begins on the U.S.–Mexico border, tracing Dr. Ventura’s upbringing between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, and quickly expands into a deeper exploration of how literary worlds are built, sustained, and preserved. She shares the unexpected path that led her into publishing—from a graduate research fellowship to discovering a passion for editing through a stack of “damaged” books—and how that moment evolved into a lifelong commitment to amplifying Latino voices.
Dr. Ventura reflects on the mentorship and vision of Arte Público founder Nicolás Kanellos, offering insight into the challenges and responsibilities of running a nonprofit press dedicated to cultural preservation. The discussion highlights the press’s mission to recover and elevate U.S. Hispanic literary heritage, bridging gaps between diasporic communities and their countries of origin while ensuring these works are recognized as part of the broader American canon.
This is part one of a two-part conversation, setting the stage for a deeper dive into archives, lost histories, and the ongoing work of literary recovery in the next episode.
Additional information
- For more information about Dr. Gabriela Baeza Ventura you can visit: https://www.uh.edu/class/spanish/faculty/baeza-ventura_g/index.php
Originally aired on May 3, 2026
