Meet Karla Cordero | Award-Winning Published Poet, Storyteller, College Professor, Community Organizer, Organic Backyard Farmer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karla Cordero and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karla, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Balance is such an athletic word. I think about an acrobat or an Olympic gymnast, but isn’t that who we all are in our daily lives—learning how to walk along the tight rope or balance beam of life. And the tight rope or beam gets thinner on some days, or a gust of wind wants to push us down, or sometimes we can’t even see where we’re going. All this to say, I’m a poet who loves using metaphors to understand the world around me, in this case balance. I’m horrible at sports. But my mental and spiritual muscles have been working over time when it comes to my relationship with balance. Particularly in 2020 at the start of the pandemic, I began to shift my view on balance. I was trying to balance so many things: teaching as a college professor, my writing career, maintaining a household, self-care and time with my family. Balance is making time and also knowing when to politely say “no thank you” or “not today” to the forever checklist of things that need to get done without feeling shame. After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in the middle of COVID-19, I learned that balance means keeping my body healthy, working less hours in a day, making time to cook a meal, scheduling doctor appointments, putting pause to grading papers so I can go to physical therapy. I taught myself to say “no” to extra teaching gigs so I can spend time in the garden with my niece Zoey and watch her marvel at the butterflies. Balance is reminding myself that life is precious and I try not to let the demanding pressures of success or the violence of the world stop me from seeing the magic and joy that’s in front of me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a poet, storyteller, college professor, community organizer, auntie of  two wild nieces, contributing reader for the San Diego Poetry Annual, Executive Director of the non-profit open mic Glassless Minds in Oceanside and an organic backyard farmer. I published my first poetry book titled, How To Pull Apart The Earth, in 2018 with Not A Cult, a small press from Los Angeles, CA. My book of poems and myself have traveled the world, in person and virtually, from colleges to non-profit organizations, festivals and conferences. I was in awe to see my book gain the following recognitions: San Diego Book Award, and award-winning finalist for the International Latino Book Award and the International Book Award. It’s now 2022 and I’m still graciously invited to different universities to visit their school and talk to their students, facilitate writing workshops, or be a keynote speaker for their organization, all because of poems and the stories I tell about the injustices of my people, the joy we find despite oppression, border culture, and the complications and celebrations of being Chicana. I’m grateful to my community and the community I’m building along the way for supporting and seeing themselves in my work. Thank you to my community! I’ve definitely learned a lot about the publishing industry, how to be humble and accept failure as a learning opportunity. I’m learning every writer can create their own path in publishing, there isn’t one road but many, and that also includes patience and persistence. I’m learning community is everything. I’m learning not to just show up for myself, but to show up for others who are also pursuing their dreams in art and writing. I am where I am today because someone opened a door and invited me in and I try to reciprocate the same sentiment. I try to be a resource to young writers and artists when I can. I want the world to know that I am, as mentioned, a resource. Our conversation doesn’t stop at the end of this interview, find me on social media. My Instagram is @karlaflaka13 or find me on my website, www.karlacordero.com. Reach out and let’s chat about your art, your dreams, send me your poems and stories. I want to be part of your community and artistry and help in anyway I can.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

If I had a friend visiting from out of town for a week I’d probably start with a carne asada in my backyard surrounded by the garden. We’d eat tacos and queso fresco with homemade salsa made from our vegetable harvest and watch the hummingbirds zip through the mammoth sunflowers. And because I love food, we’d probably also make a stop to one of my favorite food joints in Oceanside, CA, Teri Cafe. We’d eat Samari Wraps with spicy tuna or enjoy a salmon plate with extra dressing. I also love my culture and my people, so we’d have to drive down to Chicano Park, walk and admire every mural and support the small local businesses and shop and eat all day.  And being a lover of books we’d spend hours checking out old and new books at my two favorite books stores, Libélula Books & Co and Verbatim Books. And at some point, we’d go thrifting, searching for treasures at some of my favorite stores in Oceanside. Buy some fresh vinyl at Love Bus Records in Carlsbad, and check out the comic books at any local Comics and Stuff store. Nerd stuff. And to close out the week strong, we’d probably go to a punk concert and enjoy a cocktail at the Belly Up Tavern at Solana Beach or The House of Blues in San Diego. 

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If given a forever word count, my list of gratitude to those who’ve helped me dream and keep dreaming and create and survive would be endless. I will do my best to mention some of the top contenders of this forever list. I want to give a big shout out to my partner, Mario DeMatteo. Mario is the love of my life, but he’s also my coach, agent, editor, and motivational speaker on the days I’m feeling my lowest. Mario isn’t my rock, he’s the whole damn mountain. I constantly question my potential or the possibilities of what I’m capable of as a writer and artist and Mario is the person pushing me to be better and to keep creating every day. I’m so grateful for his motivation and his ability to see greatness in me, especially on days I can’t see it at all. Thank you Mario! I have the most gratitude toward my parents. They are my superheroes and inpire me in all that I do. They have a tremendous work ethic and compassion for helping others, and I’m so happy to have inherited these morals and values in everything I do. My parents also gave me access to art, keeping books on the book shelf, took me to get my first library card, bought me all the glitter, paint and glue to create my own art. My parents worked their butts off to pay for Catholic School, math tutors, and helped send me off to college. My parents, Yolanda and Gerardo Cordero are my everything. My sisters, Karina, Kassandra, and Kathia for keeping me laughing. A thank you to my nieces Zoey and Freya, for constantly showing me how to be a poet everyday with their words, curiosities and fearless ability to experience the world. A shout out to my poetry family who took me under their wing, to Alfredo Aguilar who checks in with me and my writing and we workshop our work together. Thank you for your words of wisdom Alfredo! To the teachers and mentors in my college, graduate school and writing seminars, for seeing my potential. To all the books that found their way into my hands, inspiring me to see myself and pushing me to write my own story.

Website: www.karlacordero.com

Instagram: @karlaflaka13

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diddylokz

Image Credits
Kathia Cordero Trixie Torres Arlene Mejorado