Curriculum Vitae

Bio / Writings / Visual Art / Events & Classes / E-mail: xavierluisburgos@gmail.com / US+1-347-669-9421

A lasting, two-decade career in education, community organizing, public health, and the arts.

FORMAL EDUCATION:

I studied at Northeastern Illinois University, the University of Illinois-Chicago, and Stanford University. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

ART MEDIUMS:

Poetry | Performance | Multimedia Installation | Essay | Creative Nonfiction

WRITING & PUBLISHING:

Writings featured in Intervenxions, Claridad, and 80 Grados, among others. Read a selection.

Editor-in-Chief/ Chief Designer / Co-Founder | La Respuesta (magazine) | 2013- 2018

Contributing writer | Gozamos (magazine) | 2010-2017

Columnist and staff writer | La Voz del Paseo Boricua (newspaper) | 2007-2012

Editor-in-Chief and Chief Designer | Que Ondee Sola (magazine) | 2006-2010

RECENT ARTISTIC ENGAGEMENTS:

The Anti-Fascist Zine Fair
Featured Poet | Yerba Buena Arts Centre | San Francisco, CA | November 22, 2025

Noche Mística: Poetry + Music Jam Bembé Pachanga
Curator / host / poet-performer | 16th & Dolores | San Francisco, CA | October 26, 2025

Horror-Go-Round immersive experience
Actor (The Oracle) | Merry-go-round Co-Op | San Francisco, CA | October 4, 2025

Mission Arts Performance Project (MAPP)
Featured Poet | Pathos-on-Harrison | San Francisco, CA | October 4 & February 1, 2025; June 1, 2024, April 1, 2023

Residual: Irse sin dejar Astro
Co-exhibiting artist | El Schomburg contemporary art space | Chicago, IL | September 26, 2025

Calle 24 Queer Poetry
Featured Poet | Frisco Flavor | San Francisco, CA | June 13, 2025

Poolside Poets | Decentered Arts
Featured Poet | The Phoenix Hotel | San Francisco, CA | November 21, 2024

Lunada
Featured Poet | Galería de la Raza | San Francisco, CA | October 7, 2024

Bay Poets
Featured Poet | KALW 91.7FM Radio | San Francisco, CA | September 24, 2024

entre horizontes: Art and Activism Between Chicago and Puerto Rico | Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago | August 19, 2023-May 5, 2024

Featured work in archival presentation:

Design, Editing, & Writing: Que Ondee Sola magazine, November 2007 edition
Writing: “Fíjate” column in La Voz del Paseo Boricua newspaper, June 2007 edition

“1845, Cádaver”
Multimedia installation | Group exhibition: World Building course | Department of Art & Art History, Stanford University | December 2023

Instituto Sacatar
Performance and multimedia installation | Open Studios | Bahia, Brazil | August 2023

Speaking Axolotl: A Chicanx/ Latinx Literary Series y Open Mic
Featured Poet | Medicine for Nightmares | San Francisco, CA | May 18, 2023 and April 18, 2024

Poetry in the Window series
Featured Poet | Medicine for Nightmares | San Francisco, CA | January 29, 2023

“Dance of the Elephant / The Spirits’ Revenge”
Short Performance Art Film | Stanford University | December 2022

Ricans on My Mind
Creator and host | Chicago and New York | 2021 and 2025

PrEPárate campaign
Concept co-developer and photoshoot curator | AIDS Services of Austin / The Q | Austin, Texas | 2019

Rebranding Broadway Youth Center
Designer and illustrator | Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago, IL | 2014

¡Humboldt Park NO SE VENDE! / Humboldt Park is NOT FOR SALE!”
Curator of photography exhibition and director of documentary | Café Teatro Batey Urbano, Chicago, IL | November 2007

RECENT PUBLIC SPEAKING & CONFERENCES:

Caribbean Philosophical Association Conference
Panelist | Quintana Roo, Mexico | June 28, 2024

Religion on the Move Conference
Panelist | Department of Religious Studies at Stanford University | May 10, 2024

Graduate Scholar-in-Residence Research Forum
Panelist | El Centro Chicano y Latino at Stanford University | May 1, 2024

Maneas de Memoria Writing Workshop
Workshop presenter of a pre-print paper | Michigan State University (Taller Entre Aguas) / Hunter College, CUNY (Center for Puerto Rican Studies) | April 26, 2024

African and Diasporic Religious Studies Association Conference
Panelist | New York City | April 19, 2024

Race and Religion Working Group Writer’s Retreat
Workshop presenter of a pre-print paper | University of California, Berkeley | March 25-27, 2024

American Academy of Religion, Western Region Conference
Panelist | University of Nevada, Las Vegas | March 17, 2024

“Well, God Come Black”: Afro-Atlantic Religious Systems and The Black Divine
Invited panelist | Stanford University | November 14, 2023

“Faith in Blackness” Film Screening and Discussion
Invited respondent | El Centro Chicano y Latino at Stanford University | November 2, 2023

Caribbean Epistemologies Symposium
Co-organizer and moderator | Stanford University | May 17-18, 2023

Moderator of the panel “Thinking Through Hispaniola”

Caribbean Revelations speaker series
Creator and host | Center for Latin American Studies at Stanford University | December 2022-May 2023

Caribbean Questions
Invited speaker for undergraduate/ graduate course | Stanford University | March 2, 2023

Black & Spiritual speaker series
Invited lecturer | Institute for Diversity in the Arts at Stanford University | February 9, 2023 |

Class Act Aesthetics
Invited panelist | Department of Theatre, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | October 6, 2022

Hemispheric Racializations scholarly speaker series
Co-creator and co-host | Center for Latin American Studies at Stanford University | January-May 2022

The Queer Caribbean Symposium
Co-organizer, curator, and moderator | Stanford University | May 20, 2022

Curator and moderator of the panel “Queer Performance Practices in Puerto Rico & Its Diaspora.”
Co-curator of the panel “The Queer Caribbean at the End of The World.”

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee Town Hall
Invited presenter | Department of Art and Art History at Stanford University | April 5, 2022

Afrorriqueñes Symposium
Co-organizer, curator, and moderator | Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center | Chicago, IL | May 24-29, 2021

Curator and co-moderator of the panel “Afro-Rican International.”
Curator and moderator of the panel “Alianza in a Racial City.”

Negro Divino: Lucumí in Puerto Rican Chicago
Curator, presenter, and moderator | Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center | Chicago, IL | March 22, 2022

Rompiendo Prejuicios: afrolatinos y la identidad negra en la diáspora
Invited panelist | Univisión Chicago | July 7, 2020

View these event’s promotional materials, here.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION, PUBLIC HEALTH, & HOUSING:

University of Chicago | Chicago, IL
Health Educator | September 2019-July 2021

Assess the health needs of clients at UChicago’s Sexual Health Clinic.
Provide health education and resources with a sensitivity to youth, LGBTQA+ communities, couples, and older adults.

AIDS Services of Austin | Austin, TX
Coordinator | December 2017-September 2019

Co-developed the PrEP campaign, PrEPárate, focused on queer Latinx communities.
Organized and facilitated workshops and conversations on queerness and sexual and mental health.
Coordinated and facilitated weekly psycho-educational groups for diverse populations living with HIV. Also, updated and revised curriculum and collaborated with different agencies for recruitment and group hosting.
Design and distribute promotional materials for our services and events.

Broadway Youth Center | Howard Brown Health Center | Chicago, IL
Coordinator and designer | May 2014-July 2015

Facilitated workshops and conversations on queerness and sexual health.

Puerto Rican Cultural Center | Chicago, IL
Director | Barrio, Arts, Culture, and Communications Academy | January 2008-August 2012

Directed staff in executing local and state-funded youth programming initiatives.
Organized annual fundraisers to support our annual community music events, such as the Christmas-time Paseo Boricua Parranda and the Puerto Rican People’s Parade in collaboration with local elected officials, businesses, housing complexes, and organizations.
Coordinated an annual youth summer jobs program.
Coordinated collaboration with DePaul University’s Stean Center.
Instructed courses and planned community events.
Developed a Youth Leadership Institute in the new Community as a Campus initiative at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos and Roberto Clemente High Schools.

Coordinator | Participatory Democracy Project | January 2008-June 2012

Organized a march, a housing fair, free educational events, and workshops.
Recruited supportive members and volunteers for assistance.
Fundraised.
Developed partnerships with local and citywide grassroots organizations.
Researched and published an affordable housing list.
Wrote articles and a column in the local newspaper, La Voz del Paseo Boricua.
Advocated for affordable housing and the development of the Paseo Boricua cultural corridor.

Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation | Chicago, IL
Board Member | January 2008-June 2011

Twice-elected member of the governing Board that oversees all aspects of this organization that builds and manages affordable housing in Chicago’s Northwest side.

RECENT RESIDENCIES / FELLOWSHIPS / GRANTS:

Graduate Scholar-in-Residence | El Centro Chicano y Latino | Stanford University | September 2023-August 2025

Artist-in-Residence at Instituto Sacatar in Bahia, Brazil | Institute for Diversity in the Arts/ Black Committee on Performing Arts | July-August 2023

Principal Investigator | Tinker Graduate Field Research Grant | Stanford University | July-August 2022

ART RESEARCH & CURIOSITIES:

African, Caribbean, and Indigenous identities and spiritualities.

Do a Tarot Reading | Purchase a postcard

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