Alvarez currently teaches creative writing and works as a consultant in public schools, universities, libraries, museums, and art centers. Her literary/artistic efforts have been recognized by the California Arts Council; National Endowment for the Arts; Cultural Affairs Department, City of L.A. (C.O.L.A. Individual Artist Fellowship award); and Poets & Writers, Inc., among others. She has published and read widely in the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. Her plays and librettos for opera, Los Biombos, Cuento de un Soldado/Story of a Soldier, and El Niño, have been produced internationally. Her books of poetry in English and Spanish include La Excusa/The Excuse and Emerging en un Mar De Olanes. Her poetry has been published in various anthologies and numerous periodicals.