We were lucky to catch up with Jean-Pierre Rueda recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jean-Pierre, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Writing poetry that reflects my immigrant experience in the United States is deeply meaningful to me.

My poetry serves as a personal exploration of cultural identity, adaptation, and the journey of finding my place in a new country. Through my words, I aim to preserve and celebrate the richness of my Costa Rican heritage while shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of the immigrant experience in the United States.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a bilingual poet and writer from San José Costa Rica.

In 2021, I completed my first Spanish poetry collection, ‘Herencias,’ published by Alegría Publishing. This anthology delves into themes of love, family, heritage, and pays homage to significant Latinx figures, portraying them as pillars of artistic and cultural triumph.

My latest creation, ‘Amor entre aguaceros/Love between downpours,’ stands as a bilingual poetry collection. It is a heartfelt dedication to all those compelled to rely on their imagination to reconnect with their homelands when migration circumstances prevent physical return.

I’ve performed my poetry in film festivals, bookstores throughout Southern California, in Alegria Publishing’s bilingual show Latin América: A Spoken Word Play, as a guest on 88.5 fm The SoCal Sound’s Bilingual Sounds radio show with Byron Gonzalez and as part of the Dolores Huerta Foundation benefit concert lineup which included El David Aguilar, Fabiola Roudha, Irene Diaz, John Redlove and other artists.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

It’s in the shared spaces that I find inspiration and mutual enrichment, where conversations about language, identity, and storytelling flourish.

Learning from the journeys and insights of other writers and readers, not only enriches my own craft but also fosters a sense of community and solidarity within the literary community.

Together, we amplify our voices, celebrate our differences, and contribute to a more inclusive and vibrant artistic landscape where diverse narratives thrive.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I recently participated in a ceremony celebrating a group of people who became US citizens with the assistance of ImmigoLA, a non-profit organization that provides legal services and support through its team of immigration professionals and dedicated volunteers.

The poem that I shared during the ceremony, “Hoy me ves” (Today you see me), came straight from the feeling of regained purpose that I experienced when I became a permanent resident more than a decade ago.

Amidst the complexities of living without legal status as a Costa Rican teenager in California, poetry became my sanctuary—a space where I could articulate my hopes, fears, and dreams with honesty and courage. It provided a means to navigate emotional turbulence and find clarity amidst the chaos of legal battles and societal pressures.

Through the act of writing, I discovered resilience not only in expressing my own struggles but also in connecting with others who shared similar journeys. Poetry became a bridge to empathy and understanding, forging connections with readers who found solace in knowing they were not alone.

Even after achieving permanent residency in the United States, I kept the transformative power of poetry alive by continuing to use it as a profound outlet for expression and connection.

Poetry remained my steadfast companion, allowing me to preserve the depth of my immigrant experience while exploring new themes of belonging, identity, and cultural fusion. It became a tool to bridge my past with my present, maintaining empathy and understanding for others’ journeys while celebrating the resilience that defines the human spirit.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: poetatico