Karina Galvez

Karina Galvez is an Ecuadorian poet. She was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, July 7, 1964. She has lived in California, United States, since 1985. In 1995, she published her book “Karina Galvez – Poetry and Songs”, which includes both English and Spanish versions of her poems and a prologue written by León Roldós Aguilera, former vice-president of Ecuador. In 1996, her “Poem For My Mother” won 2nd place in the annual Latin American poetry contest organized by the "Casa de la Cultura" in Long Beach, CA. She is also a song writer and has written children's poems and short children's stories.

She studied economics at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil and obtained a degree in tourism at California Travel School. Her knowledge of Spanish, English, French, German, Italian and Portuguese allowed her to share her poetry in several languages. She has been a soprano and a talent for voice overs. One of the pioneers of the Ecuadorian American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles. Member of the Ibero-American Society of Poetry of Los Angeles. She is a national disaster trainer for the Orange County American Red Cross, member of the Catholic Detention Ministry in Orange County, CA, Member of DMAT CA-1. Community activist. She received a commendation by Mayor James Hahn of Los Angeles, CA, and by Mayor Miguel Pulido of Santa Ana, CA. On October 2008 she was part of the Ecuadorian delegation invited by the Vatican to the Canonization of Narcisa de Jesús Martillo.

Some of her poems may be found in print in several Hispano-American anthologies of Poetry and Narrative published in Spain, Mexico, El Salvador, Chile and Argentina. "The author was also awarded the "Crystal Condor", top recognition granted to Ecuadorians that have excelled outside national borders, at a ceremony known as the "Ecuadorian Achievement Awards". Karina Galvez was interviewed by Cristina Aceves at KMEX "Los Angeles Al Dia" morning show, and portrayed her poetry in KTNQ live radio shows.

In 2011 Karina Galvez was nominated to the First International Medal of Peace and Culture "Presidente Salvador Allende", in Chile. Also in 2011, Galvez, together with musician Pablo Goldstein and painter Luis Burgos Flor, was one of the only three non-Mexican artists to be invited to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, where her poem "Ave, Mi Guadalupana" debuted with Goldstein playing Franz Schubert's Ave Maria (Schubert) on bandoneón in the background.

Although her poetry is mostly romantic, Karina Gálvez often surprises the reader with poems that reflect an acute perception of social issues like abortion, social class clashes, and lack of tolerance, and with poems of profound historical content, like her epic poem "La Batalla del Pichincha" ('The Battle of Pichincha').