Word Up invites you to a night of laughter, drinks, and tough love with Tragos game creators Carolina Acosta and Aralis Mejia to celebrate their new book Mamá Didn’t Raise a Pendeja: Anti-Affirmations Inspired by Tough-Love Abuelas, this no-nonsense & bold self-love book curates the witty tough love of generations of Latina ancestors.

The audience is invited to anonymously submit their “pendeja/o” love stories or burning relationship questions, to which we’ll be giving no-filter Latina advice. Enjoy the steamy discussion amongst drinks and play some spicy games to win prizes by the end. Pull up with your besties, your boo, or just yourself— it’ll be a book launch event like no other

Special guest host, Rachel ‘La Loca’ Strauss-Muniz, of We Are Latinos Out Loud, joins us through a unique live podcast recording, and adds el fuego to the already spicy discussions and activities we have in store for the audience.

Dinks and books will be available for purchase at the venue. Please drink responsibly.

Purchase tickets at WithFriends.co/WordUp.

Dyckamn Loft is located at 120 Dyckman St #2, New York, NY 10040 between Post Ave. and Nagle Ave. You can take the 1 train to Dyckman St. and the M100 and BxM1 to Dyckamn St. and Sherman Ave.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Carolina Acosta is the founder of Tragos Games, a tabletop game company dedicated to unique products that celebrate Latino culture. With a background in art and graphic design, Carolina found a passion in designing products that speak to her heritage and has made it her mission to use her company and products to give her community more representation in toys and games. Carolina has a MFA from Parsons The New School and is part of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2021.

Aralis Mejia, a first-gen Latina, seamlessly blends her cultural roots with a thriving career in marketing, strategy, and events. Currently, as the Head of Marketing at Tragos Game, she leads impactful campaigns and charts strategic roadmaps. In 2023, Aralis ventured into entrepreneurship, founding Silara Marketing—a dynamic firm specializing in bridging the gap between digital and traditional marketing for hospitality, entertainment, and lifestyle brands. With her strategic acumen, Aralis not only plays a pivotal role in Tragos’ success but also guides clients in creating comprehensive marketing initiatives, ensuring a seamless integration of modern and traditional approaches in the ever-evolving landscape. Her journey reflects a fusion of cultural heritage and professional excellence, leaving a lasting mark in both corporate and entrepreneurial spheres.

ABOUT THE BOOK

If you’re tired of fluffy, feel-good self-help books, Mamá Didn’t Raise a Pendeja is here to deliver real talk with a side of sass. This collection of unapologetically blunt, tough-love sayings—”anti-affirmations,” if you will—draws on generations of Latina wisdom to cut through the noise and offer hard-hitting advice on everything from relationships to careers.

Created by first-gen Latinas Carolina Acosta and Aralis Mejia, this book captures the no-nonsense guidance passed down from their abuelitas and tías. Mamá Didn’t Raise a Pendeja doesn’t sugarcoat—it delivers practical life lessons with humor, honesty, and a few verbal slaps of reality. Packed with culturally rich, real-world insights, it’s the perfect self-help book for anyone looking to level up without the fluff.

Whether you need a reminder to stay grounded or a push to tackle life’s challenges head-on, this collection will have you laughing, thinking, and getting your life together—all while keeping it real. Perfect for anyone in need of resilience, humor, and perspective, Mamá Didn’t Raise a Pendeja proves that sometimes the best advice comes straight from mamá.