In the height of the economic meltdown of 2008, Aurora Anaya-Cerda founded La Casa Azul Bookstore, an online resource promoting children’s literature, educational programing and literature by Latino writers. As an independent bookseller, Ms. Anaya-Cerda has hosted more than sixty literary events in East Harlem and throughout New York City with renowned authors such as Esmeralda Santiago and Junot Díaz. She is the founder of the East Harlem Children’s Book Festival.
Ms. Anaya-Cerda has worked as a dynamic and passionate supporter of cultural events in the East Harlem community for more than 6 years. Ms. Anaya-Cerda is also the Family Programs and Cultural Celebrations Manager at El Museo del Barrio. She has organized major cultural events in East Harlem, including the annual Three Kings Day Parade and the Dia de los Muertos celebration.
Before moving to New York, Aurora Anaya-Cerda was a middle school English teacher, promoting art and literacy in her native East Los Angeles neighborhood. A UCLA graduate, Ms. Anaya-Cerda has a double Bachelor’s degree in History and Chicana/o Studies with a specialization in Education. She has been awarded the Juanita Centeno Leadership Award, the UCLA Women for Change Leadership Award, and the Casa Atabex Ache Women Warrior Award for outstanding dedication and service to her community. Aurora is a scholarship recipient of the New Start Fund, awarded to women entrepreneurs in New York City, and a member of the Young Hispanic Leaders Program and the National Young Latino Leaders in the Arts Task Force.
La Casa Azul Bookstore has been featured in the New York Daily News, NBC, The Huffington Post, El Diario la Prensa, Pie Derecho, American Latino TV, and CUNY TV.
Ms. Anaya-Cerda has worked as a dynamic and passionate supporter of cultural events in the East Harlem community for more than 6 years. Ms. Anaya-Cerda is also the Family Programs and Cultural Celebrations Manager at El Museo del Barrio. She has organized major cultural events in East Harlem, including the annual Three Kings Day Parade and the Dia de los Muertos celebration.
Before moving to New York, Aurora Anaya-Cerda was a middle school English teacher, promoting art and literacy in her native East Los Angeles neighborhood. A UCLA graduate, Ms. Anaya-Cerda has a double Bachelor’s degree in History and Chicana/o Studies with a specialization in Education. She has been awarded the Juanita Centeno Leadership Award, the UCLA Women for Change Leadership Award, and the Casa Atabex Ache Women Warrior Award for outstanding dedication and service to her community. Aurora is a scholarship recipient of the New Start Fund, awarded to women entrepreneurs in New York City, and a member of the Young Hispanic Leaders Program and the National Young Latino Leaders in the Arts Task Force.
La Casa Azul Bookstore has been featured in the New York Daily News, NBC, The Huffington Post, El Diario la Prensa, Pie Derecho, American Latino TV, and CUNY TV.
