Esperanza Cabrales

Esperanza Cabrales (she/they) is a queer Xicana slam poet, performer, pun enthusiast, and teaching artist based in Oakland, California. She works with the nonprofit Bay Area Creative, facilitating poetry workshops for elementary through high school students in the peninsula and east bay. Esperanza has been involved with Rich Oak Alchemy since 2022, organizing events such as the Berkeley and Oakland Poetry Slams, poetry showcases, and open mics. Her work centers the joy of being in community, exploring emotions with curiosity, and embracing her queer and cultural identities. When Esperanza isn't writing poetry, they enjoy baking, learning phrases in new languages, and making earrings.