Maegan Ortiz

Maegan “la Mamita Mala” Ortiz gives voice to what she has been typing on her blogs for years: the intersection of Latina politics, identity and culture. Born and bred in Queens, NYC, La Mala grew her activist wings at age 17 with under the guidance of her mentor Richie Perez in the Justice committee of the National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights.

>>  I’ll be speaking with Maegan about the development of her political consciousness, and how her creation of her media outlets are connected with her politics.

She is one of two children her father had with her mother. She has a younger sister three years her junior who is a pre-school teacher. Her parents separated when she was young and her mother had to work long hours to support the family, so in many ways Maegan’s younger sister looked to Maegan as a second mom.   (Her father has since remarried and had more children with his second wife.)

La Mala is co-owner of 2 Mujeres Media that publishes the popular daily Latino blog VivirLatino.com. She has covered events including the Democratic National Convention and has been featured in the Washington Post, Latina Magazine, Tu Vida Magazine. Maegan has lent her perspective and experience as Latina political blogger on National Public Radio and on HITN.

>>  What kinds of writing does she enjoy the most and what has she learned from the different kinds of writing she’s done?

La Mala is a member of SPEAK! Radical Women of Color Media Collective, that recently put out a CD and accompanying ‘zine and curriculum on women of color issues and activism.

La Mamita Mala is also a poet and spoken word artist, spitting her malaventuras as a radical ‘Rican living in the mami’hood in the Latino Cultural Festival and El Encuentro de Poetas en NY.

>>  I’ll be asking Maegan about her poetry, and maybe she’ll even share some of her spoken word with us!

Recognized as lo mejor de la comunidad by Comite Novembre, Maegan is currently writing a book about the politics of Latina mami’hood, while blogging, performing her poetry, and raising two hijas to become independent strong kick-ass mujeres.

Her hobbies, when she’s not writing/performing/presenting/protesting include dancing, going to museums and other such places with her kids. People are surprised to learn that she is an opera fan. She also enjoys cooking and likes watching movies, especially Latin American and Spanish art house/indy films.

>>  We’ll also be talking about Maegan’s various involvements and awards.

Maegan’s two daughters are a big part of her life and work.  Carolina Aysen is 11 and is named for two towns connected to her heritage: Carolina, Puerto Rico and Puerto Aysen, Chile.  She is half Mapuche (Mapuche are the indigenous inhabitants of Central and Southern Chile and Southern Argentina).  Maegan’s second daughter is Gabriela Paula, who is 2 and is named for the Chilean Nobel prize winning poets of Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda (Paula was their way of feminizing Pablo).  Maegan calls the two of them “ChileRicans” pero Carolina’s nickname is la Mapu, short for la MapucheRican and Gabi’s nickname is poroto.

>>  Join us as I ask Maegan about raising two daughters and the struggles and triumphs at the different ages.  What can we as Powerful Latinas learn from her?

Find out more about Maegan and her work by checking out her blogs at:  www.VivirLatino.com and www.mamitamala.com