Davina Ferreira from Alegría Publishing interviews emerging LatinX Poet Alma Lizzette Cardenas about her book, “Groanings from the Desert”. A collection of English & Spanish teo-poemas, prayers, and thoughts that invite you into her pain, joy, hopes, and dreams. The pages are a sacred place that hold pieces of Alma that have been scary to share, but deadlier to think that she is alone and keep them to herself. They are a counter cultural response to her experience of navigating toxic mindsets and systems of her faith community and culture, and brings to life truths which have set her free. They were written between February and October of the year 2020. Writing them has released her voice in way’s she never knew was in her, which in turn has allowed her to heal and step into being fully her. This book is especially for youth, young adults, and women of color, but also for the parents, mentors, pastors, madrinas, and padrinos who are walking alongside them. May you always have people around you who create spaces that encourage you to speak, dream, and be unapologetically you. She's a Mexico-Estadounidense born and raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. She is proud to be a second generation Latina, and daughter of parents that migrated from Mexico’s Durango and Jalisco states. Her upbringing was heavily influenced by her protestant latina faith community whose unwillingness to engage or answer her questions led her to seminary school. Alma holds a Master of Arts in transformational Urban Leadership from Azusa Pacific University, an Urban Youth Workers Certificate from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor in Christian Ministry from Facultad de Teología. She is her own definition of a wife, mother, friend, mentor, mentee, pastora and teóloga who values truth, justice, and the prophetic voice of our youth and women of color. In her free time she enjoys hanging out at local coffee shops with a cup of iced coffee and in company of her daughters, family, friends, or a good book.
