EPCC's 18th Literacy Fiesta celebrates local authors, art and community

El Paso Community College held the 18th annual Literacy Fiesta on Wednesday at its Valle Verde Campus, drawing readers and writers to celebrate books, writing and the literary arts. The event offered free book giveaways, workshops and appearances by award-winning authors, according to KVIA.

The celebration extended beyond books to encompass music and visual art. Local book organizations contributed to the giveaways, including Books Are Gems and the El Paso Public Library.

The Heart Gallery of El Paso and its Executive Director Vanessa Gurrola Leon received the EPCC Community Spirit Award for the gallery's "notable history of literacy and community service." Gurrola Leon said in a statement that the recognition validates the organization's work. "The Community Spirit Award means so much, just because it's an example of the work we're doing in the community is being recognized at a large level," she said. "We work so hard for students and knowing that the hard work since 2023 is being noticed."

Author Jazmine Ulloa earned the Literacy Legacy Award. Ulloa, who grew up in El Paso and graduated from Burgess High School, works for the New York Times.

EPCC student Samay Wilcox attended the event for the first time. "I'm receiving a lot of community here," Wilcox said, according to KVIA. "I think they're showing us the things that we have available to us at the campus. This is something that I've never been to, so I'm really glad that I've been invited."