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Miguel Algarín

Considered the main promoter of the Nuyorican poetic movement, Algarín is well known for his involvement in a wide range of artistic endeavors. He is the cofounder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, an institution that since 1975 opened the doors to many young and unknown artists to share their work with their counterparts and with the community. The impact of the Cafe in New York's artistic life can be measured by the many Puerto Rican voices who got their "first break" at the Cafe and are now among the most prominent U.S. Latino writers.

Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Algarín's family moved to New York's Lower East Side (known in Spanish as Loisaida) in 1950. He received most of his schooling and college education in the United States. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, an MA from Pennsylvania State University, and a doctorate from Rutgers University specializing in languages, English, and comparative literature. He is currently a Professor of English at the latter institution.

Algarín combines his academic career with his creative work as a poet, playwright, and translator. He has published three collections of poetry: Mongo Affair (1974), On Call (1980), Body Bee Calling from the 21st Century (1982), The Time is Now/Ya es tiempo (1984), and Love is Hard Work: Memorias de Loisaida/Poems (1997). In 1975, Algarín collaborated with Miguel Piñero in the landmark publication Nuyorican Poetry: An Anthology of Words and Feelings, which introduced the work of several up and coming poets to readers and critics. Almost two decades later, he coedited with Bob Holman the volume, Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets' Cafe (1994), an extensive collection of the work of poets from many different nationalities who had performed at the Cafe. The volume was the recipient of a 1994 American Book Award.

An accomplished director, producer, and actor, Algarín is also the creative force behind the Puerto Rican Playwrights'/Actors' Workshop and the Nuyorican Theater Festival, activities that provide valuable opportunities to aspiring playwrights and actors to develop their craft. Several of the plays presented at the Nuyorican Theater Festival were compiled by Algarín in the volume Action (1997).