The McAllen Chamber of Commerce, Cultural Arts Department announces Ms. Victoria Lopez, as the City of McAllen’s Poet Laureate for 2022 and Mr. Daniel García Ordaz as the City of McAllen’s Poet Laureate for 2023.

The McAllen Poet Laureate is a ceremonial position meant to promote poetry and the arts in the City of McAllen and the larger Rio Grande Valley. The Poet Laureate serves as an ambassador for poetry and local writers and poets. They also engage the public with their own poetry, both in their own writings and through readings, events, and special projects.

Victoria Lopez is a published author and poet who inspires her message of ‘You Are Worthy’ to others through Poetry on Demand, a showcase of spontaneous writing using her typewriter; inspired by the requester and their topic, she writes a custom poem, allowing the community to bring home or share her poetry with their loved ones.

“Individuality is at the root of self-realization — if, through my writing, I am able to connect to just one other person, then I have done good work,” says Lopez “If you’d like to get to know yourself better, then write, write and see where your heart leans; because what you write, between those lines, you may very well find the sign or purpose that you have been looking for.”

Lopez has her writing studio at the McAllen Creative Incubator, she was a co-host of the McAllen Virtual Art Walk and actively participates in Art Walk and community events. Victoria will be formally presented at the Good Day McAllen Luncheon, where she will read some of her poems.

Daniel García Ordaz, a.k.a. The Poet Mariachi, is a McAllen-based writer originally from Mission, and is an English teacher at La Joya Early College High School. García is also a founder of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival.

“Poetry and beauty are all around us, and I hope to use this position to help budding artists and poets of all ages embrace their creative nature,” García said.

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce, Cultural Arts Department is delighted to announce these poets to our community and look forward to their impact during their tenures as Poets Laureate.