Novena for the Culture

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Joel Salcido was born in the San Fernando Valley & raised in West Phoenix. He is the son of Mexican immigrants, a first-generation college graduate, a husband, & father of three sons. Joel characterizes his work as hood magical realism—a navigation between the grief & ecstasy of place & experience. His poetry & prose are not simply written to or about his culture & community—but from it. His work has been featured or is forthcoming in Winter Tangerine, YesPoetry, PidgeonHoles, Write On: Downtown, Public Pool, & Acentos Review among others. He is the recipient of a Virginia G. Piper Creative Research Fellowship & a Winter Tangerine workshop alum. Joel is the Editor-in-Chief of Hayden’s Ferry Review & an MFA candidate in poetry at Arizona State University.