The Chicanx Writers & Artist Association (CWAA) will be launching their 26th volume of Flies, Cockroaches & Poets. The event will take place on April 11, 2026 in the Ellipse Gallery in the Fresno State library at 2 p.m.
The CWAA is a student led organization that provides a creative space that is centered around art, community, cultural awareness and social justice. One of the major events they put together is the journal launching of Flies, Cockroaches, and Poets.
This event is made up of Fresno State students and community members whose work is selected to be part of the journal. The journal features various types of art and creative writing.
Flies, Cockroaches, and Poets’ intention is to highlight the work and voices of historically marginalized groups through visual and literary art that speak of identity, culture and advocacy.
The launch provides space for the various photography and art pieces to be shown. As well as, time for writers to read their work to the public.
“I believe this launch and any previous launch allowed artists to share quiet stories in a loud way,” said Ava De La Cruz, a recent creative writing graduate. “Who am I in this big blue dot? However, when I see my contribution, a piece of myself, and then read and understand the works of others here, I recognize I am not alone in my identity, fears, and values. I think all we want as people is to be seen and heard. And I feel seen and heard.”
De La Cruz ‘piece uses the metaphor of the monarch to symbolize the journey of migration. Through this dotted method, she wanted to convey the people who wish to migrate but are “pinned” and unavailable to.
First year in the public administration graduate program, Sydney Firstman, is a contributor for this year’s journal. She started her photography five years ago when she moved from Mexico to the United States.
“I’ve never been able to showcase my photograph from Latin America,” Firstman said. “So for me, it was a way for me to share, portray my culture and stay connected to that aspect of my life.”
This year the journal is split into four sections that coincide with the club’s mission. These sections include social justice, community, culture and identity.
Amelia Holguin is a second year MFA student in the poetry genre for creative writing. This is her first time being published and is excited to share her work with friends and family.
With her writing, she elaborates on her identity, as she is a YTT Northern Chumash woman, navigating religion with her identity and processing death from a distance.
The poem she submitted speaks of her processing the death of her grandfather and talking about life and what death leads to as someone who was raised catholic and is Native.
“This situation was really pivotal to me because it was during COVID-19,” Holguin said. “So the social distancing and grief of losing someone from quite literally a distance is quite difficult for any family.”
Creative writing graduate student, Angelina Leaños is the president of the CWAA, as well as, part of the editor’s board, spoke of how this journal is noteworthy.
She is one of the main organizers who was involved in booking the space, event details, communicating with contributors and putting together the actual layout of the book. Even though there were difficulties along the way, Leaños is extremely proud that the launch was able to happen.
Leaños stated that this year the club was unable to receive their IRA funding, but with the support and generosity of the community CWAA was still able to organize this event.
“This year’s journal is super special because it was funded solely by our community,” Leaños said. “This journal was made with so much love, and I think that’s what makes this year more special.”
To move forward with their mission, CWAA wants to uplift multiple identities with writing, crafts and art. All students with various identities and any skill level are welcome to join the club and submit work to Flies, Cockroaches and Poets.
