Workshops
During the Fall and Spring semesters, Papagayo presents workshops each week on the arts and humanities at the Rio Grande campus of EPCC. Workshops are free and open to the public. Sometimes, we migrate to another of EPCC’s five campuses, or host an event off-site. Workshops provide an opportunity for both students and community members to learn something they would not otherwise learn in a classroom. Faculty, staff, students, authors, and local organizations present their work, and then guide attendees through a hands-on activity, discussion, or listening session. We encourage students in particular to present a workshop on something that interests them so that they gain presentation experience, and boost confidence in their oral English literacies as Second Language Learners.
Since 2016, Papagayo has hosted:
Over 200 Workshops
Over 30 Authors
When featuring authors, we give away free copies of their books to students who attend. We strive for talleres that are culturally, socially, or academically relevant to our student body, many of which cross the border every day to get to class. This then includes workshops on:
Literature
Art
Creative Writing
Music
History
Film
Philosophy
Activism
Dance
Theatre
Law
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Health & Wellness
Pop Culture
Community Orgs
EPCC Resources
If you are interested in presenting a workshop for us, please reach out through our Contact / Socials page!
Below are some highlights:
José Olivarez at EPCC - Papagayo Reading
Kali Fajardo-Anstine at EPCC - Papagayo Reading
EPCC Foundation staff presenting on scholarships
Podcasters presenting on the different mics
EPCC student at a Latine read-in winning a copy of Poet X after reading
EPCC student Vanessa Zuniga presenting on The Hate U Give
English Professor Donna Muñoz presenting on the film Encanto
EPCC students winning books after reading at the Black History Read-In
EPCC student presenting on writing poems on her life as an international student
Art Professor Marco Sanchez presenting his project with his students
EPCC student after presenting on Latin American music
Author José Olivarez reading from his work at the Papagayo open mic off-site
Author José Olivarez signing books
Author José Olivarez at his Papagayo reading
Author Kali Fajardo-Anstine before her Papagayo reading
EPCC student reading at a Latine Read-In
Local author Patty Orozco presenting on her poetry
Author Rigoberto González signing books after his workshop
EPCC Criminal Justice and Psychology faculty presenting on domestic violence
UTEP Faculty presenting on Dia de los Muertos
EPCC student reading at the Latine Read-In
EPCC Librarians presenting on conspiracy theories
Chemistry experiment by EPCC students for a presentation on Breaking Bad
EPCC students during Blind Date with a Book
English Professor Paty Flores-Hutson presenting on mindfulness
EPCC students at an African dance workshop by the El Paso Black Arts Association
De-stressing activity by EPCC students
Former Papagayo student Cassie Holguin-Pettinato returning to present on her book, The Five Stages of Stuttering
EPCC student winning a book after reading at an off-site open mic
Author Jose Hernandez Diaz signing books at his reading
EPCC students at a graffiti workshop
Janace Walker from the El Paso Black Arts Association presenting on spoken word
Author Evelyne Perez presenting her children's book on autism
EPCC student presenting her bachata dance workshop
EPCC student presenting on her Humans of El Paso project
EPCC student reading her writing
EPCC student and Chrysalis editor presenting on Feminist Rage
Author Natalia Sylvester signing her translated children's book, A Maleta Full of Treasures, after her reading
Christi Garcia from Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center presenting Know Your Rights training
Local reporter Jamie Warren after presenting how to be a reporter
Deanna Downes from UTEP Theatre and Dance after presenting on her play adaptation, Oedipus El Rey
Papagayo co-advisor Richie Marrufo presenting at Jefferson HS, Spring 2023
Author Silvia Moreno-Garcia signing books after her reading
Mural of deported migrants and veterans that EPCC students helped install under the international bridge as part of the Paso del Norte Mural Project by Dr Lizbeth de la Cruz Santana
EPCC students sharing their experience at Jefferson HS, Fall 2023
College Democrats at UTEP presenting on their student club
EPCC Mindfulness Club student presenting on mindful breathing
Immigrant Red Cards in stock at Papagayo
Hip-hop dance workshop by the El Paso Black Arts Association
Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid director Beto Mesta presenting how to be an attorney
EPCC students at the Tejano Art Expo
Artist Jaccob Watson from the El Paso Black Arts Association after presenting how to draw comics and conceptualize characters
UTEP and EPCC students from Texas Rising presenting on their organization
Author Miguel Briones presenting on advocacy, local history, and art
English professor Reyna Muñoz presenting on the book Chuco Punk about the El Paso punk scene
English Professor Yasmín Ramírez presenting her salsa recipe from her memoir, ¡Ándale Prieta!