Octaviano Merecias-Cuevas was born in Oaxaca, Mexico. A graduate of Oregon State University, Merecias also holds an MA in Contemporary Hispanic Studies from The School of Language, Culture and Society at Oregon State University. As a trilingual Mixtec poet, socio-linguist, researcher, filmmaker and community educator, Merecias has provided mentoring and guidance to youth and families in Mexico and the United States. His poetry has appeared in Prism, El Tecolote and La bloga. Mr. Merecias has taught bilingual poetry at Ethos Music Center, Centro Cultural of Washington County, en el barrio y en el rancho.