Saturday, May 4, 2013

Internship opportunities at La Casa Azul Bookstore!


La Casa Azul Bookstore is currently looking for a few good interns who wish to learn the ins and outs of running a business while enriching lives through reading, writing, and the power of books!



All internships are unpaid, but there are a number of great perks, including free books, flexible hours, fun-loving co-workers, and more. Most importantly, you will learn the ins and outs of working at both a bookstore, and a locally-owned, independent business. Plus, it will earn you a number of professional contacts, and looks great on a resume!


The internships last for 12-16 weeks (longer internships available) and interns work 8 - 12 hours/week. Summer internship is June 5 – August 25, 2013. Opportunities are available for high school, undergraduate, graduate students and recent graduates who are considering careers in the arts, education, business, marketing and publishing.  College credit may be arranged.



Deadline to submit internship applications for Summer 2013 is Friday May 24, 2013 at 6pm.

Email: lucha.libros[at]gmail.com 





Desired qualities/skills:

Dynamic, self-motivated, outgoing, highly organized individual with good research skills, including exceptional written and verbal communication skills, and capacity for working with diverse populations. Ease with technology is a must, including knowledge of MS Excel, Word, and social media (Facebook and Twitter).

Bilingual (English & Spanish proficiency).

Must bring your own laptop or tablet to work



ALL applicants must submit:

1.      Creative cover letter

2.      Resume (with 2 references)

3.      Answer to question: Why are you interested in an internship at La Casa Azul Bookstore (1 page max, separate from cover letter)

4.      Schedule information (days/hours available from Monday – Sunday between the hours of 10am – 8pm) (shifts are: 10am - 2pm, 2pm - 6pm, 4pm - 8pm)





FOUR intern positions available for Summer 2013 (please read full descriptions below)

1. Marketing & Communications intern (2 positions)

2. Operations intern (1 position)

3. Events intern (1 position)





MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS INTERN (NEED 2)

Assist in Marketing/Public Relations for store events.

Requirement: must demonstrate proficiency in social media platforms.

Tasks may include but are not limited to: assisting with the promotion of various events, and a variety of in-house communications, processing and archiving media coverage; developing relationships with local and national journalists; and offering creative input in developing pitches. 
Additional support with marketing initiatives as needed.
Must be available for 4 hour shift between 10am - 4pm



Email: lucha.libros[at]gmail.com 

Subject line: MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS INTERN (Summer2013)





OPERATIONS INTERN (NEED 1) 

The Operations intern will have the unique opportunity to have direct contact with the general public, learn the ins and outs of working at both a bookstore, and a locally-owned, independent business.

Tasks include: Providing excellent customer service including greeting shoppers, locating sections or titles, recommending books, and helping with transactions. Assisting with daily store processes and procedures including sorting books and merchandise, stocking shelves, and creating displays. Helping to plan and execute events such as storytime, book clubs, author sessions in the store, sales, and other projects as assigned.

Must be available for 4 hour shift between 12pm- 8pm

Email: lucha.libros[at]gmail.com 

Subject line: OPERATIONS INTERN (Summer2013)





EVENTS INTERN (NEED 1)

Assist before, during, and after in-store and off-site events. Tasks will include:

      arrange seating and bookshelves

      set up book/item displays

      arrange for any necessary audio-visual equipment setup prior to the event
      conduct online research for events

      write reviews/shelf talkers for in-store displays


Must be available between 2pm - 8pm

Email: lucha.libros[at]gmail.com 

Subject line: EVENTS INTERN (Summer2013)



No incomplete applications will be considered.

Please do not contact the store with further questions or to inquire about selection.



Thank you!

La Casa Azul Bookstore





Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Be a book giver!!

World Book Night is approaching and we're looking for book givers to join our team!
    
What's World Book Night, you ask?
World Book Night is a celebration of books and reading held on April 23rd, when 25,000 passionate volunteers across the country give a total of half a million books within their communities to those who don't regularly read.   

World Book Night is about giving books and encouraging reading in those who don't regularly do so. But it also about people, communities and connections, about reaching out to others and touching lives in the simplest of ways - through sharing stories. 


   


Be a book giver!

This year La Casa Azul Bookstore has 20 copies of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros to give away.  

That's where you come in.  

We're looking for 20 givers to take these copies of The House on Mango Street into the world. Each giver will receive one sponsored copy of the book to pass along to a potential reader.


If you want to be a giver:
1) Make sure you can attend our World Book Night celebration at La Casa Azul Bookstore on Sunday, April 21 from 1pm to 3pm.  
You'll receive your book, meet the staff and fellow givers!


2) Send an e-mail to lucha.libros@gmail.com with the subject line 'I want to be a book giver' and answers to the questions below:

- Name:
- E-mail:
- Phone Number:
- Tell us a bit about yourself and The House on Mango Street. (When did you read it? Why do you want to share it?)
- Who would you give the book to?  


3) Give the book away on World Book Night!  
Tuesday April 23, 2013

Friday, March 22, 2013

Some notes on AWP



I hear that over 11,000 people attended this year’s AWP Conference (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) in Boston from March 6-9. Plenty of powerful latino authors participated in panels and readings. I didn’t get a chance to attend all events, but I did go to the presentation of NewBorder’s forthcoming Anthology: NewBorder: Contemporary Voices from the Texas/Mexico Border. I also got to hear poet Eduardo C.Corral in a panel entitled ‘The Divided Heart’.

At the NewBorder reading, Dalel Serda (http://newborder.org/masthead/dalel-serda/) read from her nonfiction piece documenting the lives of sex workers at the border, John O. Espinoza (http://www.john-olivares-espinoza.com/) shared poems about identity and border-crossings, and Sergio Troncoso (http://www.sergiotroncoso.com/) read an essay on taking his children to El Paso, waiting for the day when they might visit the Juarez of his childhood.  La Casa Azul Bookstore even got a mention from Sergio Troncoso when he described Mexican presence in El Barrio.

At the panel ‘The Divided Heart’, Eduardo C. Corral read his poem “In Colorado My Father Scoured and Stacked Dishes” (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/243752). He explained that being the 2011 winner of the Yale Series of Younger Poets competition was a bitter-sweet experience. Sweet for the recognition and for knowing he would help pave the way for further latino poets. Bitter for the realization that he’s the very first latino poet to win the award. Corral says that when a door opens for him, he’s careful not to move too quickly towards the center of the room, and instead tries to stay at the door for a moment, holding it open so that other talented latinos can enter the space and share their work (http://www.eduardocorral.com/).

(Ah, AWP. What a nourishing, ecstatic, overwhelming experience: https://www.awpwriter.org/awp_conference/overview)

See you in Seattle for AWP 2014! 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

‘Welcoming my Beauty’ at La Casa Azul Bookstore


Why is it that we tend to not keep our New Year’s resolutions?
How is it that the obstacles we face often come from within ourselves?
Can you imagine waking up in the morning and doing things for yourself with the energy and joy with which you help others?

Last Thursday at La Casa Azul Bookstore, life coach Beatriz Mieses posed these questions, sharing her own success story through the method she developed: “Welcoming My Beauty”.  At the workshop she invited us to write/share our resolutions and consider whether they were born from a place of love or fear.

The take-home lesson was: it's not your accomplishments that will help you love yourself, it's loving yourself that will help you reach your goals.

Beatriz spoke about cultural tendencies that point us towards shame, that keep us from developing self-love. Her coaching specializes in digging deeper into socialized behavior and developing the individual’s potential for self-appreciation.

If you’re interested in meeting Beatriz, check out the event she and other self-loving, successful women are organizing, our very own bookstore owner Aurora Anaya-Cerda is one of the featured panelists! 



Event details:

Love Yourself into Prosperity:
How Loving Yourself Leads to Unlimited Abundance

Wednesday March 6, 2013
6:00-9:00 PM
The Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Center
3940 Broadway, New York, NY 10032


Register:

Contact Beatriz Mieses


- Maria


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Open call for art submissions


ABOUT LA CASA AZUL BOOKSTORE EXHIBITION 
2013  SEASON

La Casa Azul Bookstore is pleased to announce an open call for submissions for our 2013 exhibition series that will take place in our bookstore gallery space.

There will be 3  shows to begin the 2013 season, each show running for 8 weeks, with 6-12 artists being chosen from entries to be included in the group exhibition based on a particular theme. Work submitted may be of any traditional or non-traditional mediums or genre (painting, drawing, collage, photography, printmaking, sculpture, new media, site specific installation, performance etc.).

We are seeking submissions or artwork that focuses on the following THREE themes:

El Barrio (April - May 2013 Exhibit)
East Harlem is is home to La Casa Azul Bookstore and part of our commitment to celebrating and cultivating Latino literature and art. Please submit work that is furthers this commitment, and focuses on the East Harlem community and neighborhood.

Frida (June - July 2013 Exhibit)
La Casa Azul is named after the home of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Frida has not only inspired the name of the bookstore, but touched thousands through her work since her death. In celebration of her work, please submit original work inspired by the art and life of Frida.

Children’s Book Illustrations (August - September 2013 Exhibit)
Childrens books are an important part of La Casa Azul Bookstore, particularly the art that tells the story to children, just as much as the words printed on the page. We are looking for art that has been used in childrens books, or is in the spirit of this style.

SPACE
Exhibition space is roughly: 400 Square feet
Maximum size of work: 20”x 20”
Artists will be notified by early March 2013 if their proposal is accepted, no phone calls  please.


ELIGIBILITY & TERMS
DEADLINE to submit for the 3 shows: February 28, 2013 at 11:00 pm
• Call for entries is open to established and emerging artists, illustrators, graphic designers, photographers, writers and art and design students. Students and professionals are equally encouraged to enter.
• All artwork submitted must be ready to hang / install.
• Artists are responsible for the delivery and pick-up of final work selected.
• Artists submitting work in new media, interactive, film, or video: you will be required to use your own equipment for the duration of the exhibition.
• Artist is responsible for assigning a retail price, from which La Casa Azul Bookstore claims 30% commission. Works do NOT need to be for sale to be considered

HOW TO APPLY
Please submit all of the following documents by attachment to: gallery.lacasaazul@gmail.com
Subject Line: 2013 ARTIST SUBMISSION / (THEME YOU ARE SUBMITTING FOR)
• Resume, artist statement (1-2 paragraphs) and bio (1-2 paragraphs) in a single PDF document
• Cover letter describing work/exhibit proposal in a single PDF document
• 2-5 Images/sketches of projected work (see image specifications below)
• Contact information, including link to website


Image Specifications:
• Image format: JPEG, 72dpi – 800K Maximum size.
Note: This equals 600 pixels on the longest side for horizontal images and 450 pixels on the shortest side for vertical images
• Rename each image with your first and last name (example: 01firstname_lastname.jpg)

Artist will be informed if their work has been chosen for an exhibit by March 8, 2013.

About La Casa Azul Bookstore:
Grounded in Latino culture, La Casa Azul Bookstore is dedicated to providing cultural, and educational programs via literature and art in East Harlem. It is our vision to foster public awareness and appreciation of the arts by being a focal point where people come to find unique gifts and participate in culturally-based workshops that celebrate Latino traditions.

La Casa Azul Bookstore
Visit: www.lacasaazulbookstore.com
Follow: @LaCasaAzulBooks