SWOPblogger

First Annual Latino Play Series

2009-07-07T13:44:00.003-07:00

What: First Annual New Latino Play Series
When: Thursday, July 23 at 7pm / Friday, July 24 and Saturday July 25 at 8 pm / Sunday, July, 26 at 2pm
Where: National Hispanic Cultural Center (4th and Avenida Cesar Chavez)

"Volver, Volver, Volver" directed by Ms. JoRae Taylor, by award-winning playwright Leonard Madrid.

Junie Holguine returns home to Portales, New Mexico and to the three most important people in his life: his mother, his wife, and his daughter. Each step leads him to figure out his life a little more. Each step helps him to reconcile his past. Not a bad day’s work for a dead guy. Volver Volver Volver explores one man’s regret and what one might return to when family magic can make anything possible.

Performed by: James Chavez, Beatriz Villegas, Sandra Marroquin-Evans, Manuel Aragon and Alicia Lueras Maldonado.

AND

"El Diablo y 40 Gallinas" (The Devil and 40 Chickens) directed and performed by José García Davis.

All performances will be FREE OF CHARGE to the community.

FCYO Gathering: NY

2009-07-06T10:06:00.005-07:00

I know this update is late, but June 11-14 Emma, Cheyenne, and myself were at a FCYO gathering in Brooklyn, NY. This was the third gathering.

We further built our relationships with the ten other organizations involved, and met some new people that were not at the prior gathering. So many things went on during those four days. We learned how to dance Bomba, a Puerto Rican dance, we held a panel on youth leadership and recruitment and retention in our organizations, we went on a toxic tour, participated in a messaging workshop, and we (the youth) decided to continue to work together. We plan to host a youth event at next years United States Social Forum

As always, seeing other young people fighting similar struggles empowers me and reminds me why I fight for justice. The most inspiring pieces were the panel discussion and the last session where we started our first steps in planning the USSF event. The other young people there really took leadership and stepped up. The adults at the gathering were supportive, and stepped back to let us take the lead. I have to say, it was pretty awesome! I hope we are able to get everyone to the USSF and host our youth event.

A Trip to New York

2009-07-02T08:47:00.007-07:00

Awesome would be the perfect word to describe my experience in New York City. It was an incredible journey that made me realize that there are so many new things for youth to explore. I could certainly say that I was able to gain many incredible skills as a person and as a future community organizer. One of the new skills that I obtained was learning how oppression is often portrayed through a game of tug-o-war, where it’s either a win or lose situation.

I was also able to comprehend that in reality, it doesn’t have to be like this, if we can all work together we can make it so that both sides win. I also had the opportunity to build many new friendships. I was able to have great conversations with many other youth who are also working towards a better community. I now know that even though we may not all come from the same background or even live in the same place, we all have common issues in our communities, which effect us all. All I can say is that this was a great experience and I want to thank SWOP for giving us this opportunity that we will be able to cherish for life.

By: Cecilia Frescas

SWOP Circle of Life fundraiser

2009-06-30T12:45:00.003-07:00

Here's a short little video of the fundraiser we held recently:

Free Minds Free People - Education for Liberation Reflections

2009-06-29T13:28:00.003-07:00

Here are some reflections from two delegates who attended Free Minds Free People in Houston:

The education for liberation conference was great. I participated in many good workshops but the one that caught my eye the most was the End Zero tolerance in school workshop. I learned a lot about the ways that we could educate our youth on how important it is to know your rights and know that the answer to making school environments better is not to kick out our young people from school. Which many times leaves young people with no other option but to be on the streets and many times they go to jail. It was great to be able to relate to so many youth at the conference that had the same views as I did. I met many young people that were dealing with the same issues we are dealing with in our communities which empowered me to come home and share this experience with all of the people back at the organization so that we can find new and innovative ways to educate our young people about social justice issues. Over all the conference was a very liberating experience and it meant so much to me that I was able to be a part of something this big.

Written by Tracy Chacon

We are in the Houston Air Port and I am reflecting on the Education for Liberation Conference. The overall outcome of the conference was positive, energetic and interesting. Our delegation took some time to debrief and think together on the aspects of the experience of attending this conference. There was a strong consensus that our delegation worked well together, was focused and all benefited personally by traveling together. We learned about each other but we also learned from and through each other.

There were several highlights that each member of the delegation expressed including a couple of inspiring workshops, critical thinking around the topic and networking with other people, and oh so many young people. Our analysis included thinking about what we would change if we could bring this conference to NM in 2011 (the next conference date). We would organize the conference with having youth not only lead workshops but also be part of the planning team so that young people’s needs and perspective would be designed into the planning. There might be a “Youth Track” or “Youth Space” similar to the US Social Forum of 2008. Also more info on each workshop would be sent out in advance with workshop descriptions giving more info on the workshop and the presenters, including which workshops are youth-led and which are not. We would also organize the conference that would provide an outcome of having delegates connect and share information. The other outcome we would attempt to plan into the conference would be more opportunities for the “big picture” national connection /movement to be thought about and strategized.

This has been a great experience for me personally and I am grateful to SWOP for this opportunity.

The Belly dancing for revolution was awesome fun too.

Written by Roberta Rael

SWOPistas represent at Pushback Network National Convening in Las Vegas, Nevada

2009-06-29T10:32:00.010-07:00

Listen to radio story:

The SWOP crew returned safe and sound from
3 days in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday.
We attended the Pushback Network's 2nd National Convening, "Pushing Back, Moving Forward". A group of 10 staff, board, and members came together with the SAGE Council to represent the New Mexico Pushback State Alliance. We taught, learned, shared, and strategized with other community organizers from around the country.

What brings us together as a Network is that we know that building true political power for our communities means continuing to organize our communities around the issues that most affect their lives AND strategically engaging in the current political/electoral system. This means that we all have a commitment to politically conscious base building and broad-based civic engagement campaigns.

Leadership development, while always a central part of our organizing work, has expanded to include candidate development. One way to be a leader in your community is to be their representative in the government. A key discussion during the convening was how to develop our members as candidates, and then what to do if they win: bringing community governance to an anti-community government. Check out the news stories about our trip below. More pictures coming soon.

NM Leaders Teach "Candidate Development" on National Stage

Demonstratators rally for Healthcare Reform

Education for Liberation

2009-06-26T17:42:00.003-07:00

Holla from Houston!

Inspiration abounds in Houston at the Free Minds Free People conference. The SWOP delegation includes parents, students, educators with varying levels of experience who are each finding different sources of inspiration and connection at the conference. Conference planners welcomed us to an opening event Thursday night at a local community center, where local spoken word artist Seven hosted an open mic session that brought out the best in young people from Salt Lake City, to Chicago, to Oakland, to Rhode Island. It was an interactive evening, and it was fun. We even got a chance to boogie to a couple of MJ songs!

A highlight of the first full day of workshops was a powerful session on Transformative Teaching. A high school educator out of San Francisco, Patrick Camangian, facilitated a workshop that exemplifies education as a means of liberation, and how to incorporate social justice into a high school English class. Using a critique of social oppression as motivation for transformative resistance in the classroom, his classroom is a space where critical literacy is at the top of the agenda. Camangian starts with what the state requires educators to teach, then identifies what’s missing to build a curriculum that encourages knowledge of self, solidarity, and political clarity. He teaches students to articulate a defense to the issues that destabilize the humanity of young people, and challenge them to keep their interests and images at the center of their intellectual journey.

The pedagogy* that he described starts with teachers recognizing that students bring a discourse that is different, but not inferior. Rather than silencing his students when they express misogynistic views, he listens to them, and challenges them to examine the causes and implications of their language. He explained how colonialism and white supremacy works to produce a consciousness of self-hate that dehumanizes people of color. He taught critical thinking by having his students write “autoethnographies,” which describe their lives as members of larger social groups. Teachers need to have clarity about their goals in teaching, so they can explain to their students the value of what they are learning.

*”What you teach, how you teach it, and for what reasons.”

Amazing stuff, we have to get this group of transformative teachers to Burque!

Written by Gail Lujan, Casandra Stewart, and Clayton Beverly

the general, he don't ride well anymore... (hit link for great Johnny Cash song)

2009-06-25T11:04:00.003-07:00

June 25th - Anniversary of the 1876 defeat of the Custer invasion by Lakota & Cheyenne fighters

SWU and Fuerza Unida protest in solidarity

2009-06-25T10:24:00.005-07:00

Our allies from the Southwest Workers Union, in San Antonio, and folks from another organization called Fuerza Unida, protested in solidarity against an expansion to the South Texas Project nuclear complex. Here's a report that came from the San Antonio Current:

Young protestors take nuke objections downtown
Greg Harman
gharman@sacurrent.com

Local activist organizations Southwest Workers Union and Fuerza Unida sent a shock troop of high-school-aged student interns into the breach today to protest developing plans to double the size of the South Texas Project nuclear complex.

Outside City-owned CPS Energy’s downtown office building they gathered to chant their opposition as a two-day hearing of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board down in Bay City was wrapping up.

Two years ago, CPS and NRG Energy were the first to break a 29-year gap in nuke power applications. Now the pair top the U.S. Department of Energy’s federal loan guarantee program and are on track to start into the multi-billion-dollar expansion unless San Antonio’s council fails to approve moving forward (and NRG can’t find a replacement partner) or federal regulators find fault with the pair’s plans.

While nuke opponents in Bay City rattled off a long list of objections they hoped would gain traction with regulators, SWU and Fuerza wanted to make sure the flavor of that protest was not lost on San Antonio.

“Over the long run, nuclear is much more expensive and there’s more at risk,” said Diana Lopez, of SWU. “The city is creating this whole sustainability plan that should include [renewables] more than nuclear.”

Read the rest here.

United States Social Forum 2010

2009-06-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

The United States Social Forum will be held next June in Detroit. Here's a report from the Center for Media Justice:

Detroit Selected as Host Site for 2010 US Social Forum
Detroit chosen as symbol of global economic collapse; Organizers hope to "stimulate hope" for people of Detroit

06.22.2009 – Detroit, seen by many as ground zero for the current economic crisis, has been named as the site for the 2nd United States Social Forum. As many as 20,000 are expected to participate in the Forum, which runs from June 22nd through June 26, 2010. A local kick off event is scheduled for today, June 22, 2009, in Detroit.

See the local press release here.

Organizers hail the Social Forum process as a powerful vehicle for change and as the next stage in community organizing, community governance and American democracy.

"Despite President Obama's historic election, our democracy continues to be hijacked by big money and a type of corporate governance that has resulted in the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer, and decreased services for everyone - Detroit embodies both the problem and potential for solutions," says Maureen Taylor, USSF staff coordinator. "We believe the Social Forum process will stimulate some hope for the people of Detroit and help the people turn this city around."

Read the rest here.

Here's a few of the blogs posted on the SWOPBlogger about the last USSF, just in case you need a reminder of what it's all about:

USSF Brings Optimism
US Social Forum Video & Pics
The People's Freedom Caravan & USSF: Summing Up

Pics from LittleGlobe visit to Carlsbad

2009-06-22T13:31:00.003-07:00

Circle of Life Fundraiser a Success

2009-06-22T10:49:00.004-07:00

Thanks to everyone who attended our Circle of Life event on Saturday! We auctioned some great artwork and got a lot of contributions to sponsor our summer youth interns.

Along with the good food and music, we also got to unveil our new youth building.

There was a good turn-out so thanks again to everyone for showing our interns what a great community we have here at SWOP!

LittleGlobe Visit to Carlsbad a Success!

2009-06-22T08:53:00.003-07:00

The recent visit by LittleGlobe to Carlsbad was a success! They arrived right on time and I immediately put things into motion. Our first stop was at the San Jose Senior Center, where we ate lunch. Cecilia Franco, the director of the center, was very gracious to us. She gave us a tour of the facility, and LittleGlobe was very impressed with her set-up. From there we went to the Carlsbad Recreation Center and met with the director, Renee' Madrid. She also showed generous hospitality to us. We then visited the Presidents Park, which is located on the Pecos River. Here locals fish, swim, water ski, picnic, play tennis, and it is where all the boating activities take place. It has a beautiful riverwalk as well.

Our next stop was the Carlsbad School Administration office where we met with Judy Dollar, assistant to Eric Franke-Manager, over facilities for the school district. Finally, the last stop on the tour of the city was Landsun Homes, a continuing care retirement community, and we met with two of the activities directors, Judy Royal and Heather Burton. They gave us the "grand tour" of their facility. We were able to talk to some of the residents there. In between all these stops I pointed out important places of interest throughout Carlsbad (Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, District Court, Library, City Museum, restaurants, motels/hotels and several of our schools) and gave them information on Carlsbad's history. Needless to say, LittleGlobe was impressed with Carlsbad's history, beauty, and its residents.

To end the day we went back to the SWOP office and set up for the gathering. The turnout was great! We had a total of 29 in attendance and got two new SWOP members in the process (Mrs. Lula M. Miller & Mrs. Jesse M. Gates) and many more are showing interest in joining us. Two of the local youth, Danielle Rogers & Charafalla Smith, sung for us and I must say they were amazing "little songbirds". They definitely will be major players in our Community Building Project. LittleGlobe provided us with videos of some of their current and past work. Everyone was captured by the artistry. We played a few games. T-shirts and bumper stickers were given out to the winners. The food was excellent and everyone seemed to have a really good time! LittleGlobe left for home around 8:30 pm and arrived safely. I got an email from Val Martinez the next morning thanking me for the hospitality while they were here in Carlsbad, and they are really looking forward to coming back to start the Community Building Project.

REMINDER: SWOP Circle of Life tomorrow!

2009-06-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

Where are they now?

2009-06-19T11:02:00.005-07:00

A young high school graduate wonders where the other 800 students who started high school with her, but didn't finish, went.

I looked around at my fellow graduates, and my only thought was “Holy crap! That’s a lot of kids”. My principal goes on to congratulate the 400 plus students graduating. 400?! West Mesa is happy that they’re graduating 400 students?! What is there to be happy about?

When I became a freshman, we were told that we had one of the biggest classes in several years. There were about 1,200 freshmen! How did 1,200 turn into 400? I can guarantee that the other 800 students were not moving from school to school. My logical conclusion would be that these 800 students were dropouts. That’s more than 50%! See a problem anyone? Does anyone care to try and fix it?

Our education system has yet to fail, so now what? Where does a young 19-year-old high school graduate go with a problem like this? I have too many questions with few answers. How can a situation so corrupt drive me with a frustration that I feel so helpless? I feel this frustration turning into passion that will soon turn to change.

By: Lucia Fraire

SWOP Youth went on EJ Tour

2009-06-17T13:59:00.009-07:00

Today all the SWOP Interns went on an Environmental Justice Tour. Some of the staff went as well, who taught us all the environmental issues going on. We went through the Mountain View neighborhood, Isleta Pueblo, and Pajarito Mesa. Here's what a few of the interns had to say about it:

"I thought it was very educational, and I learned more about the South Valley, which is my community." - Cheyenne Saiz

"I thought it was very educational and informative. It definitely changed my perspective of corporations working in New Mexico." - Lucia Martinez

"I thought it was fun and exciting." - Jacob Lovato

"It was very educational, and I learned a lot, but there's still a lot to learn. It's different experiencing it versus seeing it on the news." - Lucia Fraire

What's up with Gender

2009-06-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

This is a video of Bad Brya, who is an MC from Morocco:

I got this off the Feministing blog. It's a cool song, and it's inspiring to see a woman hit up the mic and say something real.

Little Globe to Visit Carlsbad

2009-06-15T13:32:00.006-07:00

Exciting news! Wednesday June 17, 2009 LittleGlobe will be in Carlsbad, NM for a gathering at the SWOP office, located 509 W. Mermod St., suite F. We are so happy to have Val Martinez and Molly Sturges come to visit us. They will be given a tour of the city for most of the day and later in the evening we will host a gathering to give our locals a chance to meet, greet, and get a chance to know LittleGlobe and what they are all about. LittleGlobe does Community Building Projects based off of the 'performing arts'. SWOP has been in dialogue with LittleGlobe over the last several months to do what we are calling a Carlsbad Community Building Project that will be a collaborative effort between Little Globe and SWOP. We are anticipating a great turnout for this gathering and encourage everyone to attend!

Keeping Native American Languages Alive

2009-06-10T12:51:00.002-07:00

In the ABQ Journal, they reported on this summer school program APS is doing. They have a summer school program that is teaching young Dine and Isleta children their native languages.

This month, 130 Albuquerque students of Navajo and Isleta descent are in summer school at Griegos Elementary learning their native languages and culture. Part of the group is also catching up on reading instruction through literacy classes.
“In APS, there are very few native language classes — maybe three in the elementary schools,” said Daisy Thompson, APS director of Indian Education.
This year, the APS Career Enrichment Center began offering Navajo I and II, in part to help students qualify for a $5,000 merit-based Manuelito Scholarship for college.
But parents have been clamoring for language and cultural instruction for years, and the summer school is in response to annual surveys.
“It’s very important they know the language and that they’re part of the culture,” said Nora Morris of To’hajilee, who has two children in the summer program. “They know they’ll be able to communicate with the elders in the community.”
There is also a small Tiwa class for Isleta Pueblo children. Isleta, whose language is unwritten, was the only pueblo to approve a curriculum in time for the summer program.

Rest of story here.

I think this is a great start, and hopefully they will continue this and expand the languages they teach. Language is a very important part of ones culture and has begun to disappear, especially among the younger generations. I know I've had my struggles with language when it comes to talking to my elders in Spanish or to my grandmother in Tagolog. I always feel a little embarrassed when I cannot respond in Spanish, but at least I understand it and plan on continuing to learn.

Reform Immigration For America Summit

2009-06-09T10:50:00.008-07:00

Join the Mobile Action Network by texting "Justice" or "Justicia" to the number 69866 to receive news and action alerts on your mobile phone.

As a continuation of our fight for comprehensive immigration reform, El CENTRO's leaders and a delegation comprised of the Albuquerque Partnership, Enlace NM, SWOP, Enlace Comunitario, and SW Creations Collaborative, worked hard in Washington DC this past week at the RIFA summit-- along with leaders from Northern and Southern NM and 700 other leaders from across the nation to lobby our Congressman to support comprehensive immigration reform.

Although you couldn't all be in Washington this past week, you can take action too! You are 1-click away from being in DC by FAX.

Please take 30 seconds to send a (free) fax to your Senators, Representatives, and Congressional leadership right now, just click here.

America's Future Now! Conference

2009-06-08T10:51:00.007-07:00

I just got back from Washington, D.C. this past Thursday. There I attended the America's Future Now! Conference, formally known as the Take Back America Conference. There I met tons of cool people and learned about a variety of different issues going on in the nation. I also heard great activists, organizers, and politicians speak about what they feel needs to be done in this country. The amount of information was overwhelming, but very important.A couple of things that stuck out to me were the Moms Rising panel, the panel that spoke about college debt, and some of the speakers, like Erica Williams from Campus Progress, and Graciela Sanchez from the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center.
From the Mom's Rising panel I learned about "Maternal Profiling". The women on the panel gave examples of when they, or someone they know, were discriminated against while applying for jobs, because they are mothers. I knew that women don't get the same chances as men in the workforce, but I didn't know women with children have an even harder time. What I enjoyed most was networking with people. I met so many great people and made a few solid connections that I know will last. It was a growing experience for me, in the sense that it was my first time attending a conference by myself, and the first time I was representing SWOP on my own. I think I did a pretty good job representin'. I have to give my love, respect, and appreciation to Generational Alliance for sponsoring me to go, and the Pushback Network for inviting me.

June 4, 1989

2009-06-04T09:14:00.004-07:00

20 years go today, while students were sitting in the UNM President's office for 14 days, across the globe in China a much more dramatic confrontation of power was taking place. There were several sit ins and protests from students in the US that were gaining inspiration from Tienanmen Square. This was a brief show of power of youth.

SWOP Circle of Life: Save the date!

2009-06-03T18:33:00.004-07:00

As we near our 30th anniversary, we can’t help but reflect on the passage of time and the “circle of life” our organization continually experiences. We feel incredibly fortunate to have had committed members and volunteers from the beginning, back in 1980, who’ve stayed with us, and helped mentor and develop the leadership of successive new waves of young organizers along the way.

One of the best ways to honor our elders is to ensure the creation of the next generation of community organizers. To that end, we are inaugurating a new, much more comprehensive youth intern program, as part of a multi-year national pilot project of the Civic Opportunities Initiative Network, or COIN.

Our goal is to provide support, resources, and leadership development to low income and youth of color, to prepare them to be community organizers and leaders. A major component of this program is to see them through college when they might not otherwise have gone that route.

And as we kick off the program with 14 paid summer youth interns, we’re taking a moment to honor our elders. We hope you will join us in our efforts.

On June 20, from 4:00 to 7:00pm, we’ll honor our elders for their commitment to social justice and welcome our incoming youth interns. We’ll also dedicate our newly renovated youth organizing building. There will be a silent auction, food, and music.

We’re also asking that you support our efforts, by sponsoring a summer youth intern at one of the following levels:

One day: $40.00
Two days: $80.00
One week: $200.00
Two weeks: 400.00
Full Six Weeks sponsorship: $1200.00

These are the costs of covering wages for the summer interns. We hope you will contribute, which you can do at our Network for Good page. Any amount you are able to contribute is greatly appreciated.

The COIN Youth Programs is an national innovative pilot project, meant to prepare young people to live a life grounded in community service. SWOP is one of a handful of community based organizations chosen to participate, based on our history with developing young leaders and providing internships.

In this first year, SWOP will have 10 summer youth COIN interns who have just completed their Sophomore year of high school, in addition to four other high school interns. The six week paid internships will provide an intensive, hands on introduction to grassroots community organizing.

During the school year, the COIN students will participate in SWOP activities, attend academic support sessions and meet regularly with a mentor dedicated to ensuring the academic success of students.

At the end of the school year, up to five of the students will continue into year two of the COIN program, which will again provide paid summer internships, leadership development, life skill building and academic support. And, we will also begin a new round of first year participants. So, next summer we will have 15 COIN interns.

SWOP is committed to continually provide support and leadership development to any young person not chosen for the second year internship but who still wishes to stay involved with SWOP.

Students who complete the COIN program through their senior year in high school will pursue university scholarships, and SWOP’s affiliated national partners have committed to provide “gap” funding to ensure COIN interns are able to attend the college of their choice.

Upon graduation from college, the students will be eligible for employment at the SouthWest Organizing Project for one year.

We hope you will support our efforts to keep our youth program going in conjunction with the COIN initiative, by sponsoring a summer youth intern today.

And, please join us for our Circle of Life event: Honoring our elders by developing new leaders

Saturday, June 20

4:00 to 7:00 pm at the SWOP office,

211 10th Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102.

For more information, please call 505-247-8832.

Melanin by Terry Gomez

2009-05-29T11:52:00.001-07:00

OmniRootz presents Terry Gomez’s hilarious and serious story of a Comanche family, an Indian health clinic, a Black head nurse, and a water fountain, offering us a slice of life from the turbulent sixties. Don’t miss it.

May 14-17 & May 28-30 (Thursdays-Saturdays @ 8pm / Sundays @ 2pm)

VSA North Fourth Art Center
4904 Fourth St, NW (Albuquerque, NM)

$12 general / $8 students and wise elders / NO ONE TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF $$

Call 344-4543 for reservations
OR
email shrayas_jatkar@yahoo.com for group rates and pre-sold tickets

Training on Campaigning and on becoming a Candidate

2009-05-28T12:51:00.002-07:00

I got the information for this training from the Raza Unida blog. I figured it might interest some people.

Direct Electoral Campaign and Candidate Training

"Staff Organizers, Team Leaders, Key Activists and Potential Progressive Candidates - If you're ready to become the most effective and dynamic campaign worker you can be, or a candidate that can successfully reach out to voters and connect, then this training is for you! Through this intensive and energetic program, you will develop practical skills and learn how to be a part of a professional and successful campaign team.

Training will cover Effective Campaign Planning & Budgeting, Developing and Delivering a Winning Message, Door-to-Door Canvassing, Electoral Basebuilding in addition to a second track for individuals who are preparing to run for elected office."