As National Hispanic Month winds down, University Resources for Latinos is presenting one more speaker.

Piri Thomas, a Puerto Rican poet, writer and speaker is travelling to NIU to speak in the Capitol Room of the Holmes Student Center Monday at 7 p.m. His lecture is entitled, “Unity Among Us.”

Chrissy Cortez, speaker’s coordinator for National Hispanic Month, said she invited Thomas because he is a very well-known writer and she wanted to get someone who was of Puerto Rican heritage.

“He is a very funny, easy-going speaker and he has a lot to say,” she said. “He has his own way of promoting the Puerto Rican heritage.”

Cortez said a friend of hers was visiting family down in Berkley, Calif., when he met Thomas, who was living there at the time.

“My friend found him to be a very inspiring speaker and thought his views would fit in nicely with the Unity and Diversity theme,” she said.

Cortez said her friend told Thomas he was from NIU and Thomas said he has relatives in Chicago and would enjoy speaking at the campus when he was here.

Thomas is the author of “Down These Mean Streets,” “Savior, Savior Hold My Hand,” “Seven Long Times” and “Stories From El Barrio.”

Cortez said his most recent book, “Down These Mean Streets,” is a biography of his life and he is expected to write a sequel sometime in the near future.

On Tuesday, Thomas will hold a book signing from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Student Center Bookstore.

Cortez said the Capitol Room will have seating for 150 people, and hopes that at least 100 come out to hear Thomas.

Cortez said that all of the events for National Hispanic Month have had a sizeable number of people in attendance.

“Everything turned out really well,” she said.

Cortez said she gives special thanks to University Resources for Latinos, Kellogg Grant and President John La Tourette’s office for all of their help in bringing Thomas to NIU.