Who is Emilly Prado?
Emilly Prado is an award-winning writer, multidisciplinary artist, and speaker whose work explores identity, community, and the power of storytelling across mediums. With ancestral roots in the San Francisco Bay Area and Michoacán, Mexico, she now calls Portland, Oregon home.
Learn more about her work below, or jump ahead: Author | DJ | Speaker | Workshop Facilitator | Consultant | In the News
Emilly Prado is the author of Funeral for Flaca (Future Tense Books, 2021), a Pacific Northwest Book Award winner praised by Ms. Magazine as “utterly vulnerable, bold, and unique,” and Examining Assimilation (Enslow, 2019), a youth nonfiction book on the intersections of culture, identity, and U.S. history. Her writing and photography have appeared in NPR, Marie Claire, Bitch Media, Eater, and beyond.
As an educator and cultural organizer, Emilly has built spaces that center joy, resistance, and creativity, including co-founding the Latiné DJ collective Noche Libre and the BIPOC arts nonprofit Portland in Color. She teaches creative writing at the Pacific Northwest College of Art and offers workshops, keynotes, and custom talks on writing, creative career development, healing through storytelling, and more.
Rooted in the belief that creative expression is essential for liberation, Emilly’s work spans the page, the stage, and the dance floor—all in service of community and collective imagination.
Explore My Work:
Learn more about Emilly the Author | DJ | Speaker | Workshop Facilitator | Consultant | In the News + what others say about working with her!
What People Say About Working with Emilly
“Emilly was a highlight of our night! My family could not stop talking about how great the DJ was at the wedding which was something that was very important to us. The process in preparation was smooth and we fully felt included in the process. Overall 11/10 — We cannot recommend her enough!”
“Emilly provided the structure, follow through, and encouragement I needed in a one-on-one consultant. She met me as a working, woman of color trying to prioritize a writing practice, and her practical tips and thoughtful approach helped me level up creatively and professionally. Plus, she’s got the best spreadsheets. I highly recommend Emilly!”
“Emilly has the pulse on the local arts and cultural scene. We hired her to produce a storytelling event. It only took one call for her to know what elements we needed to provide a meaningful experience. Her connections opened doors for us to engage people in our work who previously did not know about us, and that makes her services unique.”