Hostos Celebrates Three Decades of Dominican Writer Chiqui Vicioso’s Poetry, Encouraging Students to Discover Their Own Voices

On March 3, students at Hostos Community College gathered at the Hostos Research Center (HRC) for a literary event celebrating three decades of poetry writing by Dominican poet, essayist, and activist Chiqui Vicioso. Each attendee received a copy of “Chiqui Vicioso: Three Decades of Poetry, A Notebook for Students,” a new publication designed to introduce her work while encouraging students to write their own reflections and poems. Unlike a traditional poetry anthology, the publication includes blank pages where readers can respond creatively to Vicioso’s work.
President Daisy Cocco De Filippis opened the event by reflecting on her decades-long friendship and collaboration with Vicioso, describing the poet as a generous mentor whose work has influenced many writers and scholars. She shared personal stories illustrating Vicioso’s impact over the years, including their work documenting Dominican women writers and the spirit of collaboration that has defined Vicioso’s career.  
Turning to the students, Cocco De Filippis emphasized the purpose of the notebook. “This little notebook is for you,” she said. “Once you hear the poems, you’ll find pages with lines where you can write your thoughts or your own poems if you are inspired by anything you hear today.”

She also encouraged students to see reading poetry as the first step toward writing it. “You write poetry by reading poetry,” she said. “The more poetry you read, the more you will be inclined to write, and you may discover that there is a poet in your own heart as well.”
When Vicioso took the podium, she began not with a poem but with a gesture. She asked the audience to stand and embrace someone nearby. The request, she explained, came from a place of reflection on current world events. “For three days we have been watching the beginning of a war,” she said. “There are children dying of hunger, people suffering. So when I have the chance, I embrace people and I tell them: we are alive.”
She thanked the audience for being present and emphasized the importance of human connection. Before beginning her readings, Vicioso spoke about how poetry began in her life. She guided the explanation through one of the pieces included in the new publication, “Poetizar” (To Poetize). In this piece, Vicioso recalls with humor that her first attempts at poetry were motivated by a desire to impress her mathematics teacher. What began as a playful effort, she explained, gradually evolved into something far more meaningful.
 
She described poetry as a kind of inherent sensibility, a way of perceiving the world differently, where everyday experiences feel new and language opens unexpected possibilities of sound and meaning.
 
Over time, her voice as a poet was shaped by travel, political awareness, and encounters with different cultures. She noted that a journey to Africa was especially transformative, allowing her to reconnect with her heritage. After that experience, she said, writing came naturally and continuously, as if the poems were flowing like a river.

After sharing the story of what first inspired her to write poetry, Vicioso read several poems in Spanish as three students volunteered to present English translations from the booklet. Student readers included Alexander Cruz Isabel, Brandon Jamel Foster, and Lydia Marie Perez Rodriguez, all from the course “HUM 100: Global Humanities,” taught by Humanities Professor Thomas Beachdel.
 
The readings included the works “Haiti,” “New York, 1987,” and “The Wind Bore a Strange Howl.” As the poems were performed in both languages, the audience experienced the rhythm and imagery of Vicioso’s work across cultures and languages.
 
Throughout the reading, the poet also discussed Caribbean history, spirituality, and identity. She encouraged students to explore the cultural traditions reflected in her work. “Look at the traditions of Caribbean religions,” she said. “You will discover the wonderful gods and goddesses and learn more about who we are and where we come from.”
 
The event concluded with refreshments and conversation. Organizers presented Vicioso with flowers in recognition of her contributions to literature and community activism.
 
In her closing remarks, President Cocco De Filippis emphasized that Vicioso’s career represents decades of dedication not only to poetry but also to social engagement and the empowerment of women and communities. “This is a lifetime of dedication,” she said. “She has worked with writers, community groups, and women across many places, always supporting our identity and our people.”
 
For students, however, the most tangible legacy of the event may be the notebook placed in their hands. Inside its pages are three decades of poetry, and space for new voices to begin.