The Water We Swim In

Christian Aldana’s debut poetry collection, “The Water We Swim In,” is an ode to radical care.

For the NYC stop on their book tour, I programmed a full-day event at The People’s Forum, a venue known for providing a safe space for marginalized, working-class people to meet and learn from one another.

I invited organizations like Nourish NYC, Malikah Safety Center, Anakbayan, and Chrysalis Kali to table and share their commitment to providing community resources. We had a poetry open mic, followed by Christian reading from her book, and a performance by queer and trans-led salsa band Las Mariquitas.

Sanzo, an AAPI-owned beverage company, also gifted us product for our attendees.