1. "Growing up Chicana in Morenci, Arizona" - a platica about Morenci. Through a Power Point presentation* of what the town looked like before its destruction in the late sixties, readings from stories in my books: Suffer Smoke and Water from the Moon, and from oral history interviews I conducted for an Arizona Humanities Council project, I portray the lives of girls and women of Morenci in their own voices. It is a historically accurate picture of life for Mexican American women in a segregated copper mining town from the 1920's to the late sixties. With this presentation I pay tribute to four generations of Chicanas who in spite of discrimination, persevered and showed that “si se puede (it can be done).”

2. "Teresa Urrea: La Santa de Cabora" - a Chautauqua presentation in the character of Teresa Urrea, a curandera who was exiled to the U.S. from Mexico by President Díaz. I wear a costume from the 1900's and perform 30 minutes as Teresa, answer questions for 15 minutes as Teresa, and then answer questions as myself, the scholar who did the research.

3. "In the Shadow of the Smokestack" - in this Power Point presentation*, I trace the lives of Mexican miners who worked in the early underground copper mines of Morenci and those of their families who lived in a mining camp that went on to become a company owned town. I examine their social, political, and cultural experiences to explain how they met the every day challenges of living in a different environment without giving up their family values, language, or traditions.

4. "Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation" - Through an interactive presentation using Power Point*, the audience will explore Chicano Art and determine how it demonstrated resistance and affirmation. Chicano Art has its roots in the history of the Chicano community. Mexican American artists got their subject matter and audience from the social and political events of the early Chicano movement of the 60's and 70's.

4. Reading/booksigning - a full reading of a story from one of my books, Suffer Smoke or Water from the Moon or a new one from the manuscript I'm working on now, “Albóndiga Soup.” With this presentation, I usually do an introductory platica about Morenci and end with a discussion about writing.

*With these demonstrations, I bring my own lap top computer and LCD video projector. Host provides the screen.

February 6 at 6:00 PM - Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" at the Gila County Historical Museum in Miami, AZ

March 12 at 3:30 PM - SIROW Scholars Oral History Panel at the Poetry Center at the U of A in Tucson, AZ (I'll be reading oral histories from Shadow of the Smokestack and discussing the project.)

March 14 at 10:00 AM - "Memoir: The Art of Telling your Story," a panel with Evelyne Tannehill, Nancy Mairs and Rose Castillo Guilbault for Tucson Festival of Books at the U of A Kiva Auditorium in Tucson, AZ (I'll be reading from my books and talking about how I came to write them.)

March 19 at 6:30 PM -"Growing Up Chicana in Morenci" at Safford Library in Safford, AZ

April 9 at 1:45 PM -"Growing Up Chicana in Morenci" at Arizona Western College in Yuma, AZ (There may be another presentation at 6:00 PM)

October 13 at 5:30 PM - Chicano Art: Resistance & Affirmation at Bisbee Public Library in Bisbee, AZ

February 1 at 7:00 PM - Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" at the Graham County Museum in Thatcher, AZ

March 14 at 7:00 PM - Bookreading with Sowing the Seeds at Antigone Book Store in Tucson, AZ

March 30 at 2:00 PM - "In the Shadow of the Smokestack" at the Clifton Social Club in Clifton for Club Verde

June 21 at 12:00 PM - Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" at Western National Parks Association in Tucson, AZ

June 21 at 2:00 PM - Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" at Western National Parks Association in Tucson, AZ

July 24 at 11:15 AM - Corridos Workshop at the Santa Fe Writers Conference, St. Francis Hotel, Santa Fe, N.M.

July 25 at 9:00 AM - "Growing Up Chicana in Morenci" at the Santa Fe Writers Conference, St. Francis Hotel, Santa Fe, N.M.

September 11, 12:00 PM - "Growing Up Chicana in Morenci" at Joe Valdez Library in Tucson, AZ

February 14 at 7:00 PM - Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" at Arizona Historical Society

March 7 at 6:30 PM - Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" at Copper Queen Library, Bisbee, AZ

March 17 at 2:00 PM - Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" at Arivaca Library

March 21 at 6:30 PM - "Growing Up Chicana in Morenci" at Copper Queen Library, Bisbee, AZ

September 26 at 7:00 PM - Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" at Safford Library in Safford, AZ

December 14, 5:00-8:00 PM - Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" at Café Mayapan 2000 Texas Avenue in El Paso, Texas

Feb. 16 at 2:00 PM. - Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" at Nanini Branch Library 7300 N. Shannon Rd. Tucson, AZ

Apr. 2 at 2:00 PM - Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" at Pueblo Grande Museum, 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ

November 9 at 6:30 PM -Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" at La Pilita Museum, 420 S. Main, Tucson, AZ

Oct. 14 at 8:00 p.m. - Chautauqua "Teresita Urrea" for the Arizona Humanities Council Board of Directors, Phoenix, AZ

Oct. 15 from 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. - Book sale and signing at La Fiesta de las Calabazas at Oracle State Park, Oracle, AZ

Oct. 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Elena's art will be for sale in the Bella Vista Arts Booth at La Fiesta de las Calabazas at Oracle State Park, Oracle, AZ

Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. - "Growing up Chicana in Morenci" at the Sierra Vista Public Library. Sierra Vista, AZ

Nov. 12 from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. - Elena's art and books will be for sale at the Bella Vista Arts Booth at the Tanque Verde Arts & Crafts Show, Lew Sorensen Center, Tucson, AZ