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Renowned Mexican American poet, educator, and activist Lupe Mendez is well-known for his engaging narratives and contributions to the literary world. He was raised in Galveston, Texas, navigating the cultural terrain of African American and Mexican American communities after being born in Jalisco, Mexico, in 1976. His work, which frequently examines issues of identity, heritage, and social justice, is greatly influenced by his bicultural upbringing.

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"Why I Am Like Tequila" bold, unfiltered, and full of stories that stay with you.

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"Why I Am Like Tequila" bold, unfiltered, and full of stories that stay with you.

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Mendez's first poetry collection, "Why I Am Like Tequila," was published in 2019 and won the Texas Institute of Letters' John A. Robertson Award for Best First Book of Poetry. His experiences as a Mexican American on the Texas Gulf Coast are explored in the collection, which reflects his bicultural identity by fusing Spanish and English.

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Lifting voices, breaking barriers, Mendez writes, empowers, and fights for representation.

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Lifting voices, breaking barriers, Mendez writes, empowers, and fights for representation.

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In addition to being a writer, Mendez founded Tintero Projects, a program that helps up-and-coming Latinx and writers of color in the Houston area and the Texas Gulf Coast. Additionally, he has been active in the Librotraficante Movement, which opposes the prohibition of Mexican American studies programs.

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Common Experience Speaker Series: 2022 Texas Poet Laureate Lupe Mendez

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From Houston to Galveston to Jalisco, Lupe Mendez uses words to create connections.

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From Houston to Galveston to Jalisco, Lupe Mendez uses words to create connections.

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Guadalupe "Lupe" Mendez was born in 1976 in Jalisco, Mexico and came of age in Galveston. On the island, he spent his early years in the Mexican American Magnolia Homes and the African American Palm Terrace, two public housing projects that were destroyed during Hurricane Ike. Mendez attended Catholic schools and had to overcome the lack of bilingual education programs. He eventually relocated to Houston to attend the University of St. Thomas, where he as participated in several ethnic and cross-racial literary endeavors including Nuestra Palabra, the Word Around Town, and Tintero Projects.

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Enriquez, Sandra; Rodriguez, Samantha & Mendez, Lupe.

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Oral History Interview with Lupe Mendez on July 6, 2016

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Guadalupe “Lupe” Mendez was born in 1976 in Jalisco, Mexico and came of age in Galveston. On the island, he spent his early years in the Mexican American Magnolia Homes and the African American Palm Terrace, two public housing projects that were destroyed during Hurricane Ike. Mendez attended Catholic schools and had to overcome the lack of bilingual education programs. He eventually relocated to Houston to attend the University of St. Thomas, where he as participated in several ethnic and cross-racial literary endeavors including Nuestra Palabra, the Word Around Town, and Tintero Projects. Mendez talks about how the Latina/o community is the silent minority in Galveston, the political machine on the island, and how hurricanes have shaped the social, political, and economic landscape of Galveston. He also discusses the goal and purpose of Nuestra Palabra and Tinero Projects in providing a space for Latina/o poets and writers, how the World Around Town brings together ethnically diverse poets to present in several communities throughout Houston, his dedication to bilingual education, and the struggle for Mexican American Studies in K-12.

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'La Suavecita' by Lupe Mendez is a soul-stirring song that embraces rhythm and roots.

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'La Suavecita' by Lupe Mendez is a soul-stirring song that embraces rhythm and roots.

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In the video, Lupe Mendez performs his poem La Suavecita, a potent spoken word composition that delves into language, cultural identity, and individual recollections. Mendez considers his background, familial influences, and the meeting point of Mexican and American experiences through evocative storytelling. His emotional and rhythmic delivery perfectly captures the spirit of tradition, resiliency, and bilingualism. The poem emphasizes how heritage is still strongly ingrained in daily life and how language shapes identity. In addition to paying tribute to his heritage, Mendez's impassioned performance strikes a chord with viewers who experience comparable cultural contexts.

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Why I Am Like Tequila: Lupe Mendez in conversation with Analicia Sotelo

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Amplifying Latinx voices,Tintero Projects builds community through poetry.

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Amplifying Latinx voices,Tintero Projects builds community through poetry.

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Mendez founded Tintero Projects to support Latinx and writers of color in the Texas Gulf Coast. This event flyer showcases one of the many readings and workshops organized through this initiative.

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Lupe Mendez, bilingual poet, writer, activist and educator.

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From El Paso to the page, Mendez's words echo far and wide.

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From El Paso to the page, Mendez's words echo far and wide.

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Mendez earned his MFA in poetry from the University of Texas at El Paso. His work has appeared in the Kenyon Review, Gulf Coast Journal, the Texas Review, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Split This Rock, Poetry magazine, and Poem-a-Day from the Academy of American Poets, among others.

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Poems, readings, poetry news and the entire 110-year archive of POETRY magazine.

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Lupe Mendez shares his excitement about being a keynote speaker for the Poetry Foundation's Summer Poetry Teachers Institute. He highlights his preparation by reading works from notable poets, including Patricia Smith, Cristina Rivera Garza, and Luis Omar Salinas. His session, titled "Poetry as Archive," suggests a focus on poetry’s role in preserving history, culture, and personal narratives. Mendez also expresses appreciation for fellow poets, reinforcing his commitment to education, literary scholarship, and uplifting diverse voices in poetr

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Using these books to prep for @PoetryFound's  #SummerPoetryTeachersInstitute. I am a keynote speaker working w/ educators from across the US.  

Shout out to @pswordwoman + @criveragarza +
#LuisOmarSalinas for these treasures.

The session? "Poetry as Archive."  OH YES. https://t.co/xAxgS68Vh9

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Using these books to prep for @PoetryFound's  #SummerPoetryTeachersInstitute. I am a keynote speaker working w/ educators from across the US.  

Shout out to @pswordwoman + @criveragarza +
#LuisOmarSalinas for these treasures.

The session? "Poetry as Archive."  OH YES. https://t.co/xAxgS68Vh9

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Using these books to prep for @PoetryFound's #SummerPoetryTeachersInstitute. I am a keynote speaker working w/ educators from across the US.

Shout out to @pswordwoman + @criveragarza +#LuisOmarSalinas for these treasures.

The session? "Poetry as Archive." OH YES. pic.twitter.com/xAxgS68Vh9
— Lupe Mendez (@thepoetmendez) July 18, 2024

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Using these books to prep for @PoetryFound's  #SummerPoetryTeachersInstitute. I am a keynote speaker working w/ educators from across the US.  

Shout out to @pswordwoman + @criveragarza +
#LuisOmarSalinas for these treasures.

The session? "Poetry as Archive."  OH YES. https://t.co/xAxgS68Vh9

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Using these books to prep for @PoetryFound's  #SummerPoetryTeachersInstitute. I am a keynote speaker working w/ educators from across the US.  

Shout out to @pswordwoman + @criveragarza +
#LuisOmarSalinas for these treasures.

The session? "Poetry as Archive."  OH YES. https://t.co/xAxgS68Vh9

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Using these books to prep for @PoetryFound's  #SummerPoetryTeachersInstitute. I am a keynote speaker working w/ educators from across the US.  

Shout out to @pswordwoman + @criveragarza +
#LuisOmarSalinas for these treasures.

The session? "Poetry as Archive."  OH YES. https://t.co/xAxgS68Vh9

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In this Twitter post, Lupe Mendez enthusiastically celebrates Lena Khalaf Tuffaha’s win at the 2024 National Book Awards for Poetry. His excitement is evident in his use of "AHHHHHHH," emphasizing his admiration for her achievement. Mendez expresses pride and gratitude for Tuffaha’s work, acknowledging its impact and truth-telling nature. By quoting the National Book Foundation’s announcement, he amplifies recognition for her poetry while showing solidarity with fellow writers.

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AHHHHHHH - @LKTuffaha out here winning the flowers and speaking truth. So proud and grateful for this woman's work. https://t.co/PxKXI6dkOL

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AHHHHHHH - @LKTuffaha out here winning the flowers and speaking truth. So proud and grateful for this woman's work. https://t.co/PxKXI6dkOL

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Something About Living by Lena Khalaf Tuffaha has won the 2024 #NBAwards for Poetry!

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AHHHHHHH - @LKTuffaha out here winning the flowers and speaking truth. So proud and grateful for this woman's work. https://t.co/PxKXI6dkOL
— Lupe Mendez (@thepoetmendez) November 21, 2024

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AHHHHHHH - @LKTuffaha out here winning the flowers and speaking truth. So proud and grateful for this woman's work. https://t.co/PxKXI6dkOL

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Something About Living by Lena Khalaf Tuffaha has won the 2024 #NBAwards for Poetry!

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AHHHHHHH - @LKTuffaha out here winning the flowers and speaking truth. So proud and grateful for this woman's work. https://t.co/PxKXI6dkOL

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AHHHHHHH - @LKTuffaha out here winning the flowers and speaking truth. So proud and grateful for this woman's work. https://t.co/PxKXI6dkOL

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Something About Living by Lena Khalaf Tuffaha has won the 2024 #NBAwards for Poetry!

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“Poetry is the language of those who refuse to be silenced.” – Lupe Mendez

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Mendez's love of activism and storytelling is summed up in this quote. Through the use of poetry as a means of empowerment, healing, and resistance, his work elevates underrepresented voices.