Yesterday, I went to a class at the Latino Collection and Resource Center about the power of autohistorías via embroidery by my dear comadre Bonnie, my amazing friend Sarah, and one of my favorite poets/writers, Laurie Ann Guerrero. I got to sit with Rebel and Agosto while we learned, did an activity about using our power in mantras/affirmations and learned how to embroider!
In my free time, I haven’t stopped stitching since & have looked up new techniques to try. Hopefully I’ll get better at it, but right now I’m really enjoying being present, focusing on one task, and allowing my mind to slow down and be deliberate. I chose “un día a la vez” because it’s a line from a song I remember my abuela singing a lot growing up. Taking things one day at a time is a mindset I’m trying to center so I worry less and enjoy my life as it’s happening. My therapist told me depression is rooted in the past and anxiety is worrying about the future, and I’ve seen how that appears in my life sometimes. As someone who enjoys planning (yes, a bullet journal post is coming soon) and likes to daydream into the future, I often find myself worrying about things that aren’t real yet to the point it’s unhealthy. Practicing embroidery has helped me already begin to slow down and focus, while everything else melts away. I’m excited to continue practicing and can’t wait to hang my first creation, “un día a la vez,” as a reminder to take time to be deliberate, present, and allow myself time to be a work in progress.
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Things We Should Have Learned But Maybe Didn't: How To Register to Vote and Research Candidates9/18/2018 I'm going to admit something that may shock some of you: I absolutely loathed my Government class in high school and skipped it every change I got. I only passed by the good graces of my teacher, who was honestly, pretty cool. (Thank you, wherever you are!) At the time I was aware of social issues and deeply wanting to make the world a better place, but connecting that to politics at any level was not even on my radar. Learning about branches of government and voting and blah blah blah was something I could not have cared less about! I know many, many of you felt or even still feel the same. I don't blame you! Civics is something that often isn't taught in an engaging manner or even highlighted as something important. 2009 (when I was a senior in HS) was a LONG time ago, it feels like. Obama was still President and a President, at least, with class and decorum! The world wasn't a complete dumpster fire like it is now! Following 2016's political cycle many people, especially, thankfully, young people became exponentially more interested in the political process. This year's elections (called mid-terms, because they happen mid-way of a president's term in office) are especially important because they determine who is in Congress - aka 1 branch of government that helps determine extremely important things for us citizens like what laws are passed, if we go to war, etc! In 2018, 35 of the 100 Senate seats are up for grabs, and all 435 seats in the lower House of Representatives are up for election! Democrats will need to regain majority of both houses in order to control the legislative agenda, block Supreme Court nominations (Kavanaugh would wreak havoc on basic rights many have fought and died for, and would serve for LIFE) and block Trump's xenophobic/racist/backwards tirade. YES, THIS IS A CRITICAL ELECTION. However, many folks still don't quite understand the ins-and-outs of making our voices heard through the voting process. I have to regularly look up voting laws, dates, and candidates. So I've tried to make it easier for you - here is a quick list of steps and resources to take, along with some important dates to remember! STEP 1 Am I registered to vote?
STEP 2 Great, you're registered! You can early vote any time in person beginning Monday, October 22 until November 2. November 6 is Election Day and the absolute last chance you have to vote.
STEP 2 A Register to vote by October 9! There are several options to do this (although it SHOULD be automatic when you receive your license, but I digress): Where to Register To Vote Once you're registered, look back to Step 2! Side note: I will be at La Botánica on September 23 from 12 - 6 pm registering people. Come by if you need to register or change your address! STEP 3 Find who is running to represent you in Texas: General Election Ballot Then research your candidates. This is my current favorite website to do so: VoteSmart.org Don't let other people determine who your enemies are. Decide what matters to you and how candidates have a record of actually supporting what you need or believe. STEP 4 Now that you're registered, have your proper forms of ID, and know where to go, make plans and go VOTE! Take your friends and make it a fun thing to do before you grab dinner or drinks. Share your pictures with your "I Voted" stickers, and let everyone know voting is important to a healthy democracy. The Texas State Board of Education approved Ethnic Studies: Mexican-American studies as an electives course after a tireless fight by many incredible folks. MIL GRACIAS TO ALL OF YOU CHANGING THE COURSE OF HISTORY AND FOR UNDERSTANDING SELF-EMPOWERMENT BEGINS WITH HONEST EDUCATION ABOUT SELF AND OTHERS! Unfortunately, today at the final reading of TEKS, (or Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills: standards set by the State Board for public school curriculum requirements) Republican representatives voted to eliminate the term "Latinx" as well as include "illegal" as an identity. This means students who take Ethnic Studies: Mexican American Studies in their public high schools will learn that Latinx people do not exist and "illegal" is a correct identifier for people who have crossed the border and are undocumented. Simply put, our future children will continue to be taught a false narrative implemented by the same old, White conservatives who have kept our true history from us for decades and instead fed us a Whitewashed one. It is critical we demand better for our students so they do not grow up with ignorant false senses of self the way many of us did, myself included. By removing LATINX, the SBOE is effectively ERASING an entire community of people that identify outside of the gender binary. This erasure also enforces a patriarchal structure of all people being lumped and identified as "Latinos," with a masculine pronoun. David Bradley, representative of Beaumont, stated "Latinx" is offensive because Wikipedia said so. (You can't make this up!) By teaching our students it is acceptable to identify human beings as "illegal" is dehumanizing and false. A human being CANNOT be illegal. This language perpetuates propaganda against people who cross manmade borders and labels them by actions, labeled to define their worth by laws created to enforce White Supremacy. This language is xenophobic. Instilling an idea that human beings are defined by a term so vitriolic as "illegal" ensures our students perpetuate ignorant biases. We've seen how these biases lead to hate crimes and the creation/support of detention centers where children and adults are being traumatized by the State for seeking a better, safer life. There is no such thing as an "illegal" person, especially on land that was stolen by genocide and continued racist violence. THE FINAL VOTE BY THE BOARD TO IMPLEMENT IS THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14. Read more information about the meeting here. Please write or call your representative - ESPECIALLY THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS: FIND YOUR REP LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES Credit: Lucero Saldaña via Facebook
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