Gerald Cedillo was born in Rosenburg Texas in the second year of the second term of President Ronald Reagan. Having what he called a “checkered family,” his father remarried and had children, and his mother did the same. He was the isthmus that connected the two large families. His father was a lawyer, the first Latino in the field in his hometown. His brother also followed in his father’s footsteps as a lawyer. His mother was a nurse that transitioned into the business sector. Both of his parent’s families come from itinerant Mexico famers with his father spending his childhood picking cotton and lettuce in West Texas, and his mother’s family doing the same. Spanish was not spoken in his home when he was growing up. He says it turns out that he has no aptitude for languages, because he has tried many times and traveled to Spanish speaking countries. Gerald realizes that he will be a lifelong Spanish learner. He attended public schools while excelling in theatre, and was a text-book problem student. He attended the University of St. Thomas, and studied poetry for a brief time at the University of Houston under some of America’s leading writers. He was always writing stories and comic books and proto-poems. While in a dark place in high school, he discovered an online community of writers and began sharing his work there. It became an escape for him, and he discovered slam poetry through various channels and the performative aspects. For him, the energy was thrilling. Continuing inspiration for Gerald includes teaching writing on and off, and seeing a student say just how they feel and seeing a young person click – like a computer program boot up – and be interested, be curious, be moved. He also organizes reading series and festivals, and host a weekly radio show for spoken word artists. Cedillo enjoys putting others on, pushing artists he likes to the forestage. His favorite topic to write about is what Ginsberg called ‘private literature’. He hopes there is a deeper meaning to his work and likes being able to authentically communicate something with someone. For him, success is the idea or emotional transference, whether through the written word or performance, and being able to then share that mutual feeling.