Mission
El Chante is a community space dedicated to art, culture, familia, and community based economic development. A place to promote New Mexico history. Our core values are to provide a space for the community and to promote ChicanA, Indigenous, New Mexico culture and community artists, as well as create a learning and teaching environment for the community.
Learn more about who we partner with in the community.
Bianca Encinias
Founder/Owner
Bianca Encinias is a Chicana/Nuevamexicana whose paternal and maternal ancestors were farmers and ranchers from Northeastern New Mexico, Wagon Mound, formerly called Santa Clara. Bianca is first generation born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico spending much of her time at her maternal family home in the South Valley growing up with traditional ways of farming and ranching, learning from grandparents who were master farmers, ranchers, land-based ways of living.
Manuel González
Founder & Facilitator of Low Writing at El Chante
Manuel González, City of Albuquerque Poet Laureate (2016-2018), began his career in poetry slam and has represented Albuquerque four times as a member of the Albuquerque poetry slam team.
Sarita Sol González
Host of WOC: Women of Color Open Mic
Sarita is a 14-year-old performance poet from Albuquerque, New Mexico currently attending New Mexico School for the Arts.
Marcial Delgado
Host of Voices of the Barrio
Poet, devoted husband and construction worker hosts and organizes the vibrant and welcoming space Voices of the Barrio Open Mic Poetry at El Chante Casa de Cultura in Albuquerque.
Yarida Estrada
Yarida Estrada was born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Albuquerque. Yarida grew up on the westside of Albuquerque and graduated from West Mesa High School.
Kirbie Platero
Kirbie Platero is a resilient 30 year-old Dine mother, graffiti/visual artist, social justice activist, and poet from northern New Mexico.
Leila Murrieta
Host & co-Founder Of librotraficante book club, social media director
Leila Sonora Murrieta born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. A graduate of the University of New Mexico and transplant to Albuquerque, NM.
Monie Trujillo
Monica 'Monie' Trujillo is a proud native New Mexican Chicana and lifelong resident of the small town of Bernalillo, NM.
Victoria Padilla
Victoria Padilla is Chicana, born and raised in New Mexico. She spent her childhood in Bernalillo and now resides in Albuquerque with her daughters, Lily and Irie. Victoria is a first generation college graduate, she received a BSN in Nutrition in 2014.
Contributors
Maryssa Rose Chavez is a Nuevo Mexicana who was born and raised in Española, New Mexico. Graduate of the University of New Mexico. Maryssa is the main contributor to the photographs, and one of the creators of the El Chante website. Recently moved to Austin, Texas, where she still makes art around her New Mexican Heritage, which is her main inspiration of her art today.