Nationally syndicated columnist and best-selling author Gustavo Arellano will headline this year’s “Writes of Spring” festival at Rio Hondo College, an event that celebrates the written word while allowing students to interact with professional writers and entertainers.

Arellano, editor of the OC Weekly whose famous “¡Ask a Mexican!” column spurred a

Successful literary career that includes three books and several writing awards, will give his presentation at 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23.

Other presenters scheduled for the festival include: poet Brendan Constantine, whose first book, “Letters to Guns,” is now taught extensively in schools across the nation (April 23, at 8:05 a.m.); Humanitarian Deo Niyizonkia, founder and CEO of Village Health Works (April 23, at 11:15 a.m.); Conceptual artist Yanira Cartagena, (April 24 at 8:05 a.m.); award-winning writer, director, producer and acting coach Anthony Meindl (April 24, at 9:40 a.m.); and Zohreh Ghahremani, author of “Sky of Red Poppies,” “The Moon Daughter” and “The Commiserator” (April 24, at 11:15 a.m.).

‘Writes of Spring’ will feature student and staff work that range from poetry and short stories to monologues and one-act plays.