Christian and Manuel
Albuquerque, NM + Baker Lake, NU
Manuel González, City of Albuquerque - Poet Laureate (2016-2018), began his career in the poetry slam and has represented Albuquerque four times as a member of the Albuquerque poetry slam team. After working in Albuquerque’s poetry community for 6 yrs, Manuel began to use slam poetry to help local youth find positive and constructive ways to deal with life's pressures. Manuel began teaching workshops on self-expression through poetry in high schools, youth detention centers and also started facilitating art therapy programs to help at-risk and incarcerated youth. In 2014, Manuel started Low Writing at El Chante, a free bi-monthly writer’s group open to all members of the community. In 2016, Manuel was selected as Albuquerque's 3rd poet laureate and has continued his passion for helping others heal and express themselves through poetry. Manuel has appeared on the PBS show, ¡COLORES!: My word is my power and on ¡COLORES! 9/23/2017and has two collections of his poetry published entitled, But my friends call me Burque…. and Om Boy (Swimming with Elephants Press) His third book, Duende de Burque: Albuquerque Musings (UNM Press), just released February 2021 and is available now. Currently, Manuel is working with the University of New Mexico Chicana/Chicano Studies program as a consultant.
Christian Tagoona or "Tagoona" is an Inuk hip-hop artist/public speaker based out of Baker Lake Nunavut, Canada. Growing up in a very musical family, I was bound to find my own musical talent. I found hip-hop at a very young age & I grew interest for the craft. Growing a lot over the last 8 years, I've done opening acts for performers such as Don Burnstick, Twin Flames & Logan Staats to name a few. In the present day I do a lot of studio work such as mixing/mastering vocals & recording my own music to be released this year.
