Mayda del Valle

Mayda del Valle is a Chicago-born writer and multidisciplinary artist whose work lives at the intersection of poetry, performance, memory, and community. Rooted in the Puerto Rican diaspora and shaped by hip-hop, movement, and visual art, her practice transforms personal history into shared ritual. Whether on stage, in classrooms, or in public space, she creates work that invites people to see themselves reflected, work that asks us to remember where we come from and imagine what we can build together. A passionate arts educator, Mayda has taught poetry in schools, colleges, youth detention facilities and served as Program Director of Street Poets Inc. in Los Angeles. She is currently a Poet-in-Residence with The Chicago Poetry Center.