The National Association for Poetry Therapy Presents
When Words Become Refuge: Poetry Therapy for Immigrant Communities IN SPANISH
facilitated by Irania Macias
Workshop Description:
When Words Become Refuge: Poetry Therapy for Immigrant Communities IN SPANISH
This workshop provides practical tools for providers working with Spanish-speaking immigrant populations who are emotionally impacted by immigration-related stress, isolation, fear, and loneliness. Through the guided use of poems, short literary pieces, and songs, participants learn how to create safe spaces that encourage emotional expression, shared storytelling, and community building.
This workshop emphasizes cultural strengths and universal themes that foster stability, joy, and connection. Material is guided by eight core principles: dignity, resilience, contribution, collective care, bilingualism as an asset, cultural pride and joy, justice and fairness, and hope and imagination. These principles are woven into stories, poems, and songs to support reflection, emotional release, and collective healing.
Participants will gain practical strategies to facilitate group experiences that promote emotional regulation, cultural affirmation, and mutual support.
EN ESPAÑOL
Cuando las Palabras se Convierten en Refugio: Poesía Terapia para Comunidades Inmigrantes
Este taller ofrece herramientas prácticas para proveedores que trabajan con poblaciones inmigrantes hispanohablantes afectadas emocionalmente por el estrés relacionado con la inmigración, el aislamiento, el miedo y la soledad. A través del uso guiado de poemas, textos literarios breves y canciones, los participantes aprenden a crear espacios seguros que fomenten la expresión emocional, la narración compartida y la construcción de comunidad.
Este taller enfatiza las fortalezas culturales y los temas universales que promueven estabilidad, alegría y conexión. El contenido está guiado por ocho principios fundamentales: dignidad, resiliencia, contribución, cuidado colectivo, el bilingüismo como un recurso, orgullo y alegría cultural, justicia y equidad, y esperanza e imaginación. Estos principios se entrelazan en historias, poemas y canciones para apoyar la reflexión, la liberación emocional y la sanación colectiva.
Los participantes adquirirán estrategias prácticas para facilitar experiencias grupales que promuevan la regulación emocional, la afirmación cultural y el apoyo mutuo.
About the Facilitator:
Irania Macias is an author, Certified Biblio-Poetry Therapy Facilitator, and educator specializing in arts integration for multicultural and bilingual communities, with a focus in literacy and mental health. For more than 28 years, she has worked as an outreach program specialist with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, designing programs for educational and clinical settings.
A passionate advocate for schools, libraries, hospitals, and cultural organizations, she has presented widely on creative intercultural approaches to education and social transformation. Her bilingual children’s book Chipi Chipis, Small Shells of the Sea / Chipi Chipi Caracolitos del Mar received the International Reading Association Children’s Choice Award. She is also the author of Wings and Dreams: The Legend of Angel Falls and co-author of The Fragrance of Water, La Fragancia del Agua, and 27 Views of Charlotte.
Her recent works include The Boy in the Hammock (2024) and the play Mama Goose, presented internationally in 2024. Her latest project, Tatas Tales, Los Cuentos de las Tatas, a poetry-theater initiative co created with Dr. Beth Murray, amplifies the voices of breast cancer survivors through poetry therapy and performance. The project is currently the subject of a collaborative research paper in The Journal of Drama and Theatre Education in Asia (2026), exploring arts-based methods in nursing education.
Irania holds a Master of Literature from Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, a BA in Communication from UCAB (Caracas), and a BA in Education from UNC Charlotte. She is also a Teaching Artist certified by Wolf Trap and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. A Certified Applied Poetry Therapy Facilitator, she previously served as Chair of Diversity for the National Association for Poetry Therapy.
She is the founder of Criss Cross Mangosauce, an arts integration initiative offering bilingual performing arts programs for children and families, dedicated to bridging cultures and promoting literacy through the arts.
Date: May 7, 2026
Time: 6:00pm - 7:300pm (EST)
Venue: Zoom
Host: Ashley Schaaf ashley@poetrytherapy.org
Registration:
Members — $10
Non-Members — $25
* Funds from all our virtual events support our conference scholarship fund.
