• Marie Elena Cortés with Alma Flor Ada at CABE Award Winning Authors stage
    It was an honor to receive an award next to an author that I have admired and taught with her books for 15 yrs..
  • Marie Elena Cortés with Libro Traficante, Tony Diaz
    Marie Elena made signs for Librotraficante, Tony Diaz
  • Volunteering with MOCHA at Memorial Children's Hospital
    At Texas Children's Hospital supporting MOCAH.org and Artists of the Year, Reginald Adams
  • Kids Write to Know suporting "Toy GIve Away" at George R. Brown Convetion Center
    Volunteers celebrating Kids Write to Know Day, Dec. 2012
  • Volunteering with The Children's Music Foundation at Ronald McDonald House in Galveston
    Supporting "The Children's Music Foundation" at Ronald McDonald House in Galveston, Tx
  • Organized Black History Month at Pasadena-Memorial High School
    Coordinated Black History Month at Pasadena Memorial High School
  • Book Reading & puppet show at Spaulding for Children Adoption Center
    Book reading and puppet show at Spaulding for Children Adoption Center
  • Organized a community event for the Houston Institute for Culture
    Writing project at a Houston ISD school-2009
  • Book reading at "Neighborhood Centers" For Good!
    Kids Write to Know Jazz with Joe Sample and Bobby Lyle
  • SHaring my books with Fox 26 Hola Houston
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Latino Literacy Now

 

I love Latino Literacy Now, because they celebrate literature and support authors by giving them opportunities to shine. On June 28th, 2014, I had the honor to be recognized at the International Latino Book Awards. To see list of all winners please visit http://www.lbff.us/

 

I have been part of national author panels sharing my experience as a writer.


For more information please call Kirk Whisler at 

(760)434-1223

Southern Artists Foundation

 

Autism Awareness Through the Arts 

 

 


I collaborated with Jonathan Estes, Founder of Southern Artist Foundation, to decorate empty walls in Houston and beautify our city!

Kids Write to Know writes positive messages that inspire our community!

 

Together we discover the power of writing on art!

 

 

 

 I will continue the legacy in memory of

Johnathan Estes. RIP my friend.-August 19th, 2014.

 

 

Covenant House-Texas

 

On November 21st, 2013, I "Slept Out" to help raise money for the homeless youth. No teenager should be kicked out of their home and be homeless! Parents need to be more responsible, communicate with their children and be great role models.


http://covhou.convio.net/site/TR/SleepOut/SleepOutExecutiveEdition?px=1711002&pg=personal&fr_id=1171

 

 

 

Edward James Olmos

Family & Books Festival

 

In Hollywood, California, at the Edward James-Olmos Book & Family Festival with Univision reporter, Teresa Rodriguez, and author, Lucia DeGarcia-2005

 

http://www.edwardjamesolmos.com/wordpress1/latino-book-family-festival/ 



Thanking our veterans at Riverside Hospital in Houston, TX-2010

 

 

Spaulding for Children Adoption Center

 

High School students volunteer with Marie Elena at Spaulding for Children Adoption Center-Houston, TX 2010

 

 

...bringing smiles, books and writing to children!


Please visit www.spauldingforchildren.org and help adopt :)


 

 Veggie Pals 

 

Collaborating with Veggie Pals is so much fun!!  Kids got inspired to write healthy recipes and fun poetry.

 

 

Visit www.theveggiepals.org

 

Children's Music Foundation

 

Volunteering at Ronald MacDonald House in Galveston, Texas, with the Director of the Children's Music Foundation, Daren Hightower. What an amazing collaboration! I was so inspired!

For more information visit:
www.thechildrensmusicfoundation.org

Houston Institute for Culture

Supporting Houston Institute for Culture,  as Executive Director. For more information please go to www.houstonculture.org


Join us!


Become a member and enjoy monthly workshops and inspirational city events.




Picture of MOCAH's Queens of Creativity, Nia Jacobs, Artista Elizabeth, Rhonda Adams (not on picture), and Marie Elena Cortes, behind stage at Miller Outdoor Theatre in 2011 (donated our art as gifts to the performers).

 

 

 

Marie Elena with poet Blanca Alanis and  author Vuthy Kuon from Providence Publishing, at Libros Book Store in the Heights-Houston, TX -2009


For Publishing ideas go to:

www.providencepublishing.com


 

 

 

First Kids Write to Know Day with NASA Robotics team, Author Vuthy Kuon, Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, and Kids Write to Know Founder, Marie Elena Cortes-December 13, 2008

 

Meet Baldemar Rodriguez, movie producer and Houston entrepreneur. It's an honor working with him on our new writing workshop titled...

 

Writing for Hollywood!!!!

 

To find out more about this unique and inspiring workshop

please call (832) 388-8218 or email: kidswritetoknow@yahoo.com

 

Kids Write to Know supporting Financial Literacy Conference in Houston with John Hope Bryant, Founder of Project HOPE-2008

 

Marie Elena Cortes made signs for the Librotraficante Caravan 2012 with Tony Diaz.

 

For more info go to www.tonydiaz.com


 I am honored to be a Kids Sunshine Ambassador with Healing Hands for Kids International. My goal is to add light and positivity to children battling health illnesses or emotional trauma. For more information please visit:


www.manosquesanan.com

Special thanks to Vania Galindo with CBBA Radio www.CbbaRadio.com who invited me to their recording studio to start my first interviews with SHINE. Today, my son and I have a video podcast on YouTube called: SHINE with Marie and Mark where we highlight citizens who are light in this crazy world! Subscribe to our channel!

Collaborating with LATINO LITERACY NOW has been a blessing!


"Most people come into our lives for a temporary season, but others become part of our world and inspire us to shine! I met Jim Sullivan and Kirk Whisler in 2003 at The Latino Book & Family Festival in the George R. Brown Convention Center as I walked out of the festival that year. The workshops had inspired me and I told Jim that one day I would be back with a book...and I did a year later! Over the years the Latino Books & Family Festival has become a place where I get inspired and motivated to continue writing and publishing my books.  Dream Big! Keep the FAITH! Work hard and keep WRITING, so we can leave a legacy that our kids can be proud of!”-Marie Elena Cortés

I enjoyed organizing art workshops and planning inspirational murals with local and international artists all over the nation. If you are interested in commissioning an artist to paint on canvas or a mural, please call (832) 388-8218.

 

 International Latino Book Awards Tour

 

It's an honor to have been nominated by the International Latino Book Awards and be part of their 2014 tour. My first chapter book received second place in two categories: "Best Youth Latino Focused Chapter Book" and "Most Inspirational Youth Chapter Book".

 

Call Kirk Whisler at (760) 434-1223

Connecting with the Texas Covenant  House was so inspirational. Talking to young teens who have lived in an abusive home or who have been surrounded by alcohol and drugs as little children broke my heart. Volunteering for this non-profit organization inspires me to always try to be the best parent I can be. Writing heals a lot of teens and helps them plan a better future. I am honored to work with the teens when I can. If you want to volunteer please visit:

www.covenanthousetx.org

 

I am a friend and volunteer at Neighborhood Centers

A United Way Agency.

 

You can share your talents and join the FOR GOOD campaign  by going to www.iamforgood.org 

Special thanks to The Veggie Pals for all their support during "Kids Write to Know Health Awareness"!!

For more info go to www.theveggiepals.org


 

"Collaborating with other professionals makes my workshops unique and memorable for the students! Students never stop learning and every workshop is a new opportunity and adventure! On this workshop, Rhonda Adams, hygiene dentist and artist, was our special guest at our "Kids Write to Know Nutrition & Health"-Marie Elena Cortes

Visit her website at:

www.artrra.com

Creating art with the patients at Texas Children's Hospital...supporting MOCAH.org and Artists of the Year, Reginald Adams-2011

Visit www.ReginaldAdams.com