WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Nov. 4, 2009 -- The Williams College Vista organization will kick off its month-long celebration of Latino Heritage Month with a surprise visit by spoken word poet and actress Mayda del Valle '00.  She will perform in Goodrich Hall at 7 p.m., tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 5.  The event is free and open to the public.

del Valle has been described by the Chicago Sun Times as having "a way with words. Sometimes they seem to flutter and roll off her lips. Other times they burst forth like a comet streaking across a nighttime sky."

A nationally known poet and performer, del Valle is the daughter of Puerto Rican parents and grew up in Chicago. 

In May, she was honored to perform at the White House for President Barack Obama and the First Lady.

del Valle has appeared on many high profile stages, including six episodes of Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on HBO and touring with Norman Lear's Declare Yourself Spoken Word Tour.

She was a contributing writer and original cast member of the Tony Award winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway and has appeared in Urban Latino, Latina Magazine, Mass Appeal, The Source, and The New York Times.

del Valle was named by Smithsonian Magazine as one of America's Young Innovators in the Arts and Sciences, and was featured in the September issue of Oprah's O Magazine as one of 20 women considered remarkable visionaries.

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