Daily Inspiration: Meet Raquel Reyes-Lopez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Raquel Reyes-Lopez.

Raquel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started writing poetry at a very young age. Even though I grew up facing food insecurity, frequent moves, and the instability that comes with living in a low-income household, my parents always made sure I had a pencil and a composition book. Those became my constants.

I began writing more seriously when my parents lost our first home during the 2008 housing collapse. We moved from Highland Park, CA for them to become home owners to Victorville, CA only to return to Whittier, CA, and for a while we were displaced—my parents and I shared a rented master bedroom in one of my dad’s friend’s home. In that time of uncertainty, writing became even more essential. It was the space where I processed everything happening around me and created something that felt like mine.

In 2010, I began reading and performing at the open-mic nights at Half Off Books Records Films—formerly in Whittier and now in Fullerton. The open mics were hosted by Eric Morago, poet, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Moon Tide Press, and author of What We Ache For. Those early performances were foundational. They taught me how to share my work publicly, how to engage with a writing community, and how powerful it is to be witnessed.

Poetry became my safe space and my outlet—a form of art that was accessible, grounding, and liberating. It helped me regulate my emotions, express myself with honesty, and gave me moments of joy when I needed them most. No matter where we lived or what we were facing, I could always return to the page.

I carry that gratitude with me today. Writing is still the gift that continues to shape my life, my work, and the community I hope to serve through my poetry.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey hasn’t been smooth, but it has been filled with moments of generosity that changed my life. A lot of opportunities have come to me through kindness. I’ve found that when you show up authentically, lead with kindness, and genuinely connect with people, you naturally find community with others who mirror your values.

One of the most pivotal moments happened when I met Sarah Thursday—founder of Sadie Girl Press and author of All the Tiny Anchors: a story in poems. We met at SHOUT!, the open-mic that Eric Morago hosted. She connected deeply with my work, and I felt the same about hers.

At one of the events, she asked if I had a book out yet. I remember shyly telling her, “Not yet,” and admitting that part of me wondered who would want to read poems written by a nineteen-year-old. She laughed and said, “I do. Your poetry is good. It doesn’t matter how old you are. I’ll publish your book. Send me your manuscript. Let’s do it.”

Her belief in me at such a young age was a turning point. It taught me that sometimes the biggest barriers are the ones we build ourselves—and that community, kindness, and mentorship can open doors you didn’t even believe you deserved yet.

Then Born to Electrify, my debut poetry chapbook was published in December 2014. I was completely blown away by the amount of support I received from my local community, friends, and family. I truly want to shout out everyone who has followed my journey from the beginning and stayed with me through all the seasons of my life. Their support carried me in ways they may never fully realize.

I took a hiatus in Winter 2016. The challenges I faced during that time were difficult and deeply personal. Between 2017 and 2018, I underwent four surgeries, almost back to back. Recovering and reclaiming my body and my health felt burdensome and overwhelming at times. I had to prioritize healing in a way that left little room for anything else—including poetry.

By 2019, I had regained enough of my health to start my Early Childhood Education career. Stepping into that field brought me a new sense of purpose and grounding. And then the pandemic hit, reshaping everything—my work, my sense of routine, and the world around me. Working in early childhood education during such an uncertain and historic moment was both challenging and eye-opening. It taught me resilience in a new way and reminded me how important it is to care for community, especially the smallest ones.

Those years were anything but smooth, but they brought me a deeper understanding of myself, my body, and the role poetry continues to have in my life. Each setback reshaped me, but none of them took away my voice.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an early childhood educator by profession, teaching preschool and transitional kindergarten at a child development center. That work comes first for me. It’s my primary career, my source of stability, and the reason I’m able to continue creating art without falling back into the housing or food insecurity I grew up with. I’m deeply grateful for the responsibility I have in shaping little lives and minds—it’s meaningful work that keeps me grounded, compassionate, and connected to my purpose.

Alongside my professional life, I’m a poet and author, and I’ve been part of the Southern California poetry community for over a decade. My writing often explores themes of survival, tenderness, family, memory, and the emotional landscapes we inherit and rebuild. People who know my work often describe it as honest, vulnerable, and emotionally resonant. I write in a way that feels accessible while still carrying depth, and I’m proud of how my poems connect with people who have lived through instability, displacement, or transition.

One of the things that sets me apart is the intersection of my two worlds—education and poetry. Working with young children has taught me to observe carefully, listen deeply, and communicate with clarity and heart. Those skills naturally shape my writing. And being a poet reminds me to bring creativity, empathy, and presence into the classroom every day.

I’m most proud of the resilience behind my work. I’ve taken breaks, faced health challenges, and rebuilt myself multiple times, but poetry has remained my throughline. I’m also proud of the ways my story reflects community—mentors, local poets, open mics, and readers who believed in me before I knew how to believe in myself. Everything I create comes from that place of gratitude, growth, and authenticity.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something surprising is that I’m a first-generation Chicana, the daughter of immigrants, and I was born in Highland Park. Like many Chicanos, I’ve always lived in that in-between space—ni de aquí, ni de allá—but on top of that, I’ve never had what most people think of as a childhood home.

I grew up moving constantly. From Highland Park to Victorville, to Hesperia, to Whittier, to Pico Rivera, to Montebello, to Oceanside, to Fallbrook, to Orange—my life has been shaped by transition. Each move came with its own challenges, but it also taught me how to adapt, how to observe, and how to find pieces of belonging wherever I landed.

People who know my poetry often see the tenderness and resilience in it, but they may not realize how deeply those themes come from the instability of my upbringing. The absence of a childhood home made writing my one steady place. Poetry became my anchor long before I ever realized it was my art form.

Pricing:

• Born to Electrify by Raquel Reyes-Lopez $12 (Amazon)

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @raquel4poet

Image Credits
@Kaplan.photographyy (Instagram) for photos with flower backdrop