Nearly 40 people gathered at the St. Joseph County Public Library on March 25 for a reading with author Ruben Reyes, Jr.—but what unfolded felt like much more than a typical book event.
The evening marked the second installment of the Letras Latinas Community Reading Series, led by Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies, and was designed to bring people together through conversation, storytelling, and shared experience.
The audience reflected exactly what the series is building: a stronger community between local residents and Notre Dame faculty, staff, students.
For Professor Francisco Aragón, that mix is intentional and rooted in a larger goal.
“The Letras Latinas Community Reading Series is a direct response to the University’s Strategic Framework, which calls upon the University to have more meaningful engagement with the city of South Bend,” said Aragón, director of Letras Latinas and professor of the practice for the Institute for Latino Studies.
This is only the second installment of the series, but the intention is already clear: bring powerful Latino voices into a shared community space. That’s exactly why Aragón invited Reyes to South Bend.
Reyes shared excerpts from his work before joining a public discussion led by Notre Dame English Ph.D. student Paulina Hernández-Trejo. The dialogue carried into the reception, where attendees stayed, asked questions, and continued the conversation.
By the end of the night, a line formed for book signings.
It was a special event for all, but especially for Reyes, who was impressed with the moderator’s questions and the audience’s deep engagement about the book during the reception.
“Not every book event feels as intimate and substantive as this one did,” says Reyes. “At a time when Central American politics and immigration are top of mind, it was particularly invigorating to explore how storytelling intersects with the defining social and political issues of our day.”
Work that reflects the moment
Reyes is part of a new wave of Latino writers who are gaining national attention. As the son of Salvadoran immigrants, much of his work centers on identity, migration, and the lasting impact of political conflict, often blending realism with more speculative storytelling.
He trained at Harvard and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and his writing has appeared in outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post. His debut collection, There Is a Rio Grande in Heaven, has already earned strong national recognition. His debut novel, Archives of Unknown Universes was released in 2025.
In 2026, he was named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” a reflection of how quickly his work is reaching a broader audience.
For Aragón, bringing a writer like Reyes to South Bend is not accidental. It is the kind of work he has been building toward for years.
The son of Nicaraguan immigrants, Aragón joined Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies in 2003 and launched Letras Latinas the following year, creating a platform to elevate Latino voices and connect them with broader audiences.
He sees events like this as an opportunity to do both at once. To bring nationally recognized voices into the community, while also creating space for stories that feel more personal and real.
Partnerships that open doors
The series is a collaboration between Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies and the St. Joseph County Public Library. It is rooted in a shared goal to bring meaningful programming into the heart of the community.
“We are honored to partner with Letras Latinas to connect award-winning authors and Notre Dame scholars with the greater South Bend community,” said Mel Lutz, community services senior manager at the St. Joe County Public Library.
“Our partnership supports the library’s mission to connect members of our diverse community to learning, resources and each other.”
There is also a strong connection back to the classroom on Notre Dame’s campus.
Each visiting writer spends time with Notre Dame students, offering a chance to engage directly with authors whose work they are studying. It adds a layer to their education that can’t be replicated on the page. It’s why Reyes was invited to serve as a writer-in-residence at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art the day after his library event. The writing he produced at the Museum, in response to its permanent collection, is part of a multi-year initiative and partnership between the ILS and the Museum, one which involves poets and writers creating art-inspired writings.
Building something that lasts
The Letras Latinas Community Reading Series is still in its early stages. This was just the second installment. The response to this year’s event suggests real momentum. Aragón’s vision is to make this an annual spring tradition. Each year, he wants to introduce a new prose writer and a new set of conversations.
Plans are already in motion for next spring’s author and more importantly, more opportunities for students to create deeper connections with the community.
The line up for the 2027 Letras Latinas Community Reading Series will be available on the Institute for Latino Studies’ website.
Photos provided by Michael Caterina, University photographer.
Originally published by at publicaffairs.nd.edu on April 01, 2026.