The son of Mexican immigrants, Luis J. Rodriguez grew up in Watts and East Los Angeles. He began writing in his early teens and eventually won national recognition. From 2014-2016, Luis served as the official Poet Laureate of Los Angeles. For Luis poetry is soul talk, a prophetic act, a powerful means to enlarge one's presence in the world. Luis is also a novelist/memoirist/short story writer/children's book writer/essayist as well as a community & urban peace activist, mentor, healer, youth & arts advocate, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Luis is dedicated to a clean, balanced, abundant, cooperative, healing world. No more capitalist private property relations, exploitation, war, or inequities. "In essential things, unity; in nonessential things, liberty. In all things compassion."

Join us for a moderated discussion with Luis J. Rodriguez and Dr. Bidhan Roy, Cal State LA Professor of English. Rodriguez will discuss his book "Always Running - La Vida Loca: Gang Days in LA," our 2020 One Campus, One Book official selection. The author talk will be followed by a Q&A session with the Cal State LA community.

For those who are unable to attend the event, a recording will be available online for one week following the event.

Zoom link to register: https://calstatela.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_83AJK5k-Sx-n8TX4tLxuUw