Raquel Almazan: (They, she, her) I'm incredibly excited to meet the incredible group of educators, artists, guest speakers and scholars, looking forward to the unique collaboration! Bio: Almazan an interdisciplinary artist, facilitator and activist. (B.F.A. – Theatre, U of F. /M.F.A. – Playwriting, Columbia University). She is the Out of School Time program manager at City Lore, where she directs the Urban Explorers afterschool/summer program. Her eclectic career spans original multi-media solo performances, playwriting, devising and dramaturgy. Her work has been featured in New York City- including Off-Broadway, throughout the United States and internationally in Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala and Sweden; including several of her plays within the (Latin is America play cycle) writing bi-lingual plays in dedication to each Latin American country. Almazan's work has been featured at The Signature Theatre, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Bushwick Starr, Bric Arts, La Mama, New Georges, The Playwrights Center, Pregones- PRTT, La Micro Theatre and upcoming at New York Theatre Workshop- Next Door Series. She is Artistic Director of La Lucha Artsdedicated to producing her new works. Select credits as an activist: she has collaborated with The United Nations, Mayors Office to Combat Domestic Violence, JLUSA, Close Rikers Campaign and various organizations that serve incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and youth. She has taught at Columbia University, Harvard University, NYU, Pace University, Marymount Manhattan College, SUNY Purchase, Brooklyn Academy of Music and several other leading arts education organizations. Almazan currently teaches playwriting at Augsburg University through The Playwrights Center.