Jean-Pierre Rueda is a poet, published author and cultural advocate born in San José, Costa Rica and currently based in Compton, CA. He is the author of Herencias and Amor entre aguaceros / Love Between Downpours, a bilingual poetry collection honoring the journey of reconnecting to one's homeland through imagination and language. His newest book is a finalist of the 2025 Juan Felipe Herrera Award for Best Poetry Book Bilingual through the International Latino Book Awards.