PHA Honoree Stephanie Manriquez is Dedicated to Amplifying Marginalized Voices

“If we don’t own our stories, somebody else is going to appropriate them. And that’s not right. I feel privileged that I have a space to express myself.”

One of Manriquez‘s strengths is her ability to bring people together and build community. She has organized numerous literary events and workshops in Chicago, including the annual Lit & Luz Festival, which brings together writers and artists from both the U.S. and Mexico for a week-long celebration of literature, art, and culture. Manriquez is also a founding member of Proyecto Latina, a collective of Latina writers that host regular events and provide support and resources for women writers in the Chicago area.

In addition to her work with Contratiempo and other literary organizations, Manriquez is the Director of Lumpen Radio, where she serves as the lead producer for the community radio station and highlights multilingual content. She produces multiple programs such as “The Ponderers,” “Contratiempo Radio,” and “Lumpen Disruption.” She also leads the weekly youth radio show “Wattz Up!” as part of the audio-radio journalism youth program at Yollocalli Arts Reach, where she has been an educator for nearly a decade.

“The youth actually have a radio show, so we open doors for them. We open doors for people in the LGBTQ community. We have radio content that includes politics, arts, and culture,” Manriquez shared, noting the importance of creating space for different communities. “In one program you might have someone like me, a native of Mexico City, next to something else in Cantonese or Polish. We’re giving a platform for those that want to learn or express themself in their own language.”

As part of her many creative pursuits, Manriquez is also a DJ and teaching artist.

“I wear many hats, all of them are connected through storytelling. I mentor. Supporting the youth and the new generation of journalists and storytellers has really made me happy, as well as being part of a radio station that can open doors for many individuals from the community to amplify their voices,” she said.

Manriquez‘s dedication to amplifying marginalized voices and building community through literature is an inspiration to many in the Chicago literary scene and beyond. Her work with Contratiempo has helped to create a more inclusive and diverse cultural landscape, and her continued efforts to support emerging writers and artists ensure that the legacy of Latinx literature—and Latinx stories–will be carried forward for generations to come.