Wendy Angulo Productions
‘I’ve been surrounded by independent women throughout my life. Having been raised by a single mother I’ve learned that resilience is innate. An independent woman is not above trial and tribulation. She makes mistakes, holds herself accountable and keeps it moving. Pa’lante is our mantra. I’m a mother and wife and sister and daughter and aunt and friend and fierce. I’m a provider and a nurturer but I’m also a go-getter. No to me just means it’s on. I get it from my momma.”~ Maria Rodriguez-Morales, Wife, Mother, Author and Poet.
I met Maria in the Summer of 2011 at her Open Mic Series in Queens. Maria is the type of person who makes you feel comfortable, who welcomes you with open arms and makes you feel at home.
That night she hosted the open mic, she told some jokes and introduced every poet to the mic with a warm greeting; it ain’t easy to get on stage and share a part of you with a room full of strangers. She also performed a piece that to date it’s my favorite of hers “Growing up Spanglish in Nuyorico” ; it reminded me of home, although I’m not Puertorican, she phrases the lifestyle of Latino households. Every time I hear that piece there’s a knot in my throat and my eyes fill with tears.
That night I congratulated her for a great show and for welcoming me the way she did. I expressed my interest in poetry and writing and the next day she inducted me into the New York City Latina Writers Group. Maria made sure to invite to every event and thanks to her invitation I attended my first meeting and from that day my life changed, it opened the doors to live the life I always wanted.
Maria was also very supportive of my Canvas of Words event and was one of the featured poets. She often shares advice and helpful tips; she also recommended many authors of different styles, workshops and invited me to read at my first out of state reading. We have developed a friendship and a business relationship; a year ago she took a chance with me and hired me as her manager. It has been a great experience for both us.
One of the things I admire about Maria is her relentless willingness to learn new things especially in her writing carrier and how supportive she is of everyone around her; as busy as her life is being a wife and a mother of four boys, she does her best to show up and always, always shows love.
I also admire her crusade for our Latino culture to be preserved and taught to other generations so that they know the infinite richness of it and to always pay homage to those who paved the way before us.
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