Discover how the Colombian poet sought refuge in literature, and then used its power to make a difference to the LatinX community in the USA.
Many people have stories of how literature changed their lives – inspiring stories of the power of art and writing. All of these stories are valuable, and special in a personal way.
For Davina Agudelo-Ferreira, though, her own story is particularly remarkable. As a youngster growing up in Colombia, she experienced firsthand the trauma caused by organized crime and the global drug trade.
Literature became her refuge. But in time, it became more than that – it became a medium through which she could make a real difference to the world around her. This is Davina’s story.
Davina’s Early Years and the Refuge of Writing
Davina was actually born in Miami, Florida, but she spent most of her earliest years in the Colombian city of Medellín, where her family has its roots.
From the 1980s and well into the ‘90s, Medellín was in the grips of a vicious drug war that terrorized the city’s civilian population. Shootings, bombings, and kidnappings were regular occurrences, and even political assassinations became part of gang activities.
For a family like the Agudelos, just trying to survive, these were frightening years. They loved their hometown, but the violence put the entire city on edge.
“I am so grateful for my upbringing in Colombia, surrounded by mountains and mango trees, and for my Colombian family,” Davina has said about her childhood, but also explained how writing was a refuge in her darker moments.
“Journaling became a sacred practice, where I could leave on the page my dreams & longings as well as my joy and sadness.”
Davina’s grandfather was a big influence on her at that time. He was a poet himself, and his love of language and artistic creation rubbed off on his granddaughter.
“During those years, poetry came to me naturally,” Davina says.
A Flourishing Career in Writing and Literature
As Davina grew, her thoughts began to turn towards the future. In 1998, she made the move back to the United States, this time to California.
For a young woman leaving behind everything she knew, this was a nervous time, but Davina thrived. She studied theater arts and graduated with a degree. Next, she took a journalism course at UCLA, which exposed her to many of the issues and prejudices facing the USA’s LatinX community.
Once again, she returned to writing and literature as a driving force for positivity.
Only this time, she was using its transformative power not only for herself, but for an entire community.
“I know the power that storytelling and writing our own stories have and how creative writing can aid us in our own transformation,” Davina said.
This led to a new venture – Alegría Magazine. With this magazine, Davina found she had a platform to showcase the diversity and strength of LatinX authors, poets, and writers. But the magazine was just the beginning.
She purchased a van and set about transforming the vehicle into a bookstore on wheels. With this mobile center of literature and writing, Davina travelled across California, bringing the work of LatinX writers to new audiences around the state, and also hosting reading and writing programs for underprivileged children. It was an exciting time, and it seemed like nothing could stop the project.
Pandemic Struggles, and a New Project
However, COVID-19 had other ideas. As with many other projects around that time, the pandemic came close to derailing Davina’s dreams, essentially grounding her mobile bookstore.
But Davina wasn’t going to give up so easily. In fact, she ended up expanding her project, increasing the amplification of often marginalized voices in the United States.
“It became clearer to me that the lack of representation in the book publishing industry for BIPOC/LatinX writers & poets had to change,” Davina said. “I want to be an agent of change in the publishing industry and contribute to its transformation.”
This led to the creation of Alegría Publishing, where LatinX writers can find a home. She also hosts the Alegría Writing Collective, where she gives writers the skills and understanding they need to launch their own careers.
An Inspiring Tale of Resilience and Power
Davina has fulfilled the dreams of her youth. When she was young, writing was a refuge and an antidote – a way to keep on seeing the positivity around her, even when things got tough. As she got older, it became a way to help other people on their own journeys.
No matter our background, we can all relate to this somewhat. Whether literature completely changed our own lives, or its effects were a little more subtle, we’ve all experienced its transformative power to one extent or another. So when someone like Davina harnesses this power for the good of an entire community, it’s heartening to see.
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John Burns
John has been writing ever since he was small, and is delighted to be able to make his living as a writer now he’s not quite so small. Literature has always been a big part of John’s life, and he loves sharing this passion with readers from all over the world.
