Step away from the noise. Return to yourself.
Resonance is a community gathering designed to help you slow down, reconnect, and simply be. Through immersive sound healing led by Iyanga Intelez, you’ll be guided through a restorative experience using crystal singing bowls and resonant frequencies that invite deep rest, presence, and renewal.
Word Up welcomes Francis Mateo for a reading of Embers of Exile: A Poetic Exodus, a powerful new collection of poetry exploring memory, migration, identity, and the textures of contemporary urban life — out July 15, 2026.
This event is a $5 suggested donation ticket with a maximum of 100 attendees. Please register in advance.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Welcome to the labyrinth of Embers of Exile. Much like Philoctetes, marooned on an island foot up, crying foul play, and wrestling with isolation, the poems delve into the pervasive solitude and uncertainty entrenched in transnationalism and urban life. In the wounded hero Philoctetes, one can discern echoes of the disenfranchised, the forgotten, the solitude of the masses, and the marginalized denizens of the city. These verses aspire to encapsulate these spirits. Against the backdrop of a city that serves as both a labyrinth and canvas are the wounded hero and the collective heartbeat of the city.
ABOUT AUTHOR
Born in the Dominican Republic, Francis Mateo is a writer and multidisciplinary artist whose work moves fluidly between poetry, short fiction, vignettes, and photography books written in both English and Spanish. His published works include Ubre Urbe, El Alto, TropicalYork, and Sacarle Pétalos al Pavimento, books that have garnered international recognition for their lyrical exploration of memory, migration, and urban life. Holding a BA in English literature and an MFA in acting, Francis extends his artistic practice beyond the written page, remaining actively engaged in theater and captivating audiences through performance. His work also finds its way into classrooms, where it invites readers to reflect on language, identity, and the textures of contemporary experience.
Word Up welcomes award-winning filmmaker and prolific public speaker Denise Soler Cox to discuss her new book, ” What Will They Say?: Confront Cultural Taboos and Discover Your Inner Power”, which exposes nine common Latinx cultural taboos no one dares discuss and shares her road-tested advice to blast through them and reclaim your power.
The Spanish edition will be available on the same publication date: “¿Qué dirán?/What Will They Say?: Enfrenta los 10 tabúes culturales y descubre tu poder interior”
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Latino population in the United States is over 66 million today, with women representing approximately half that population. By 2030, this group is projected to be one in five US residents. Yet only one percent of the C-suite is Latina, and for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 74 Latinas advance. The math doesn’t add up, unless you understand the deeply embedded cultural patterns passed down through generations that remain unspoken.
Through raw personal stories and unflinching honesty, Cox reveals the cultural taboos that have been quietly sabotaging Latina success, drawing from thousands of one-on-one conversations with Latinas after her keynotes who recognize these unspoken patterns but never had language for what was holding them back. Each chapter exposes a taboo through Cox’s own vulnerability, creating space for readers to break through their own.
This isn’t just another leadership book, it’s your guide to liberation from the generational stories that have kept the fastest-growing demographic in America from claiming their power.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Denise Soler Cox is a cultural excavator: an award-winning filmmaker, keynote speaker and author who goes inside the cultures that shape how we lead, belong and who we become. Her debut book, What Will They Say? (Simon & Schuster, August 2026), uncovers the ten inherited cultural rules keeping Latina leaders shrinking and sidelined and shows them, finally, how to stop. A sought-after voice on culture, identity and belonging, Denise has spoken on 400+ stages including two TEDx talks and SXSW 2026. She has partnered with Ralph Lauren, Amazon, Microsoft, and L’Oréal, among others. In 2020, Apple Podcasts North America recognized her podcast The Self-ish Latina as both a Featured Podcast and Featured Host, with listeners in 32 countries. She has appeared as a culture expert on NBC Nightly News, and her work has been featured in Forbes, CNN and PBS.
Word Up welcomes New York Times bestselling author Naima Coster for her new book Take What You Can, a rich, panoramic exploration of friendship, class, new motherhood, and in attendees are encouraged to stay masked at all time.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Val and Milly fell in love with France at the same time they fell in love with each other and became immediate best friends. Then, they bonded as the only Black students on a study-abroad trip. Now they are in their thirties, each married and with a baby girl on the way. When Milly suggests Val move to New York so they can raise their daughters together after a decade apart, it’s a resounding yes.
Despite their excitement, the pair secretly wonders if their friendship has always worked best as a trio. On that first trip to France, these two motherless daughters were taken under the wing of an older woman named Helene. She showered them with money, love, and attention and showed them the possibilities of an independent and abundant future. But now, without Helene and her guidance, who are Milly and Val?
Weaving between Brooklyn brownstones and the glittering beaches of southern France, Take What You Can is a dazzling novel exploring what it means to be a mother when you have none, a sister without blood ties, and a woman in pursuit of the life she wants. With her signature sharply observed prose, Naima Coster illustrates how to be—and to stay—someone’s person through all phases of life.
A Saturday afternoon to move with intention, reconnect with yourself, and find joy through movement and community. Led by an experienced instructor, Joy in Motion is a soulful yoga flow designed to help you slow down, reconnect with your body, and return to the present moment.
Through mindful movement, breathwork, and gentle guidance, you’ll be invited to release tension, cultivate awareness, and create space for both grounding and renewal. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or stepping onto a mat for the first time, this experience is designed to meet you where you are. The session will be accompanied by a carefully curated soulful soundtrack, creating an atmosphere that encourages reflection, ease, and connection throughout the flow.
Bring a yoga mat, water bottle, and anything else that helps you feel comfortable. Modifications will be offered, and all experience levels are welcome.
What Makes This Different: It’s a community experience. You are entering a space where people come not only to move their bodies, but to reconnect with themselves and each other. There is no pressure to perform, no expectation to be perfect, and no need to keep up. Just an opportunity to show up exactly as you are.
Admission: Suggested donation of $5
Every contribution supports accessible, community-driven cultural and wellness experiences throughout New York City.
Space is limited. RSVP today to reserve your spot.
