WEBVTT

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OK,

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so

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we have

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wonderful Mr.

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Anthony Gathers who is a Phoenix legend.

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Uh,

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he owns and is a barber with AG's barbershop.

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Um,

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he's also a member of the Divine Nine,

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the Omega Psi Phi,

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um,

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so that's very important to this conversation.

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Uh,

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we have Lorena Austin who's rep.

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She's the rep for the LD,

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but she's my homie,

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and,

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uh,

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her family's been here for

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over 100 years.

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Um,

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I'm sure she'll tell you some about that

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and

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thank you for being here.

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Um,

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we also have,

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sorry,

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we have Doctor Jason Mendez.

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He is the co-founder of the Block Chronicles,

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a professor,

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um,

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multidisciplinary artist,

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and him and Juan go way back to the parking

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lot at Duke University where Jason invited Juan to,

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uh,

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give a guest lecture,

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and the rest is history for them,

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and you just met,

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uh,

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Doctor Juan Carrillo,

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so.

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I'm gonna go ahead and pass the mic now,

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but once I pass the mic,

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I'm gonna play your little snippet of

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music.

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I picked that song because it's always summertime in Arizona.

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And I'm from Arizona.

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I'm all uh.

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It's a long story.

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I'm from Phoenix,

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Arizona.

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I was born in Phoenix,

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Arizona.

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Parents ended up going to University of Arizona,

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so

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ended up moving to Tucson as a,

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a child

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and growing up at the University of Arizona campus basically,

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um.

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Where my dad reminds me that.

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The milk you got was from the cafeteria.

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So he ended up getting

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a scholarship at the University of Arizona and uh

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the rest is history.

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Um,

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stayed in Tucson

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until I was a sophomore.

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I went to Rincon High School,

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had a good time,

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a lot of friends.

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Then my dad was like,

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oh,

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we gotta move.

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I'm like,

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what?

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We gotta move,

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yeah.

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Well,

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He ended up getting stationed at Fort Huachuca,

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which was an hour away,

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so we ended up moving to Sierra Vista,

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Arizona.

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So I got to see a lot of Arizona.

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Um,

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ended up,

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and I'm moving kinda fast,

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ended up graduating from Buena High School,

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played football,

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ended up going to Prairie View A&M.

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Uh,

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which is an HBCU in Texas.

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I was accepted into their engineering program and I didn't even like math,

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but

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so uh let's try it.

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So I ended up going there,

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stayed in the program.

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Uh,

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got

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to Prairie View in the summer of '89,

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stayed in the program

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for the whole summer,

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then

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eventually,

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well,

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went to Prairie View in the fall as well,

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and I started cutting hair.

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One of these guys,

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uh,

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he was like,

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man,

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you cut pretty good.

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So I started building the clientele

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and one guy said,

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man,

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you're a little

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better than me.

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Why don't you

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Here,

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I got some extra clippers and a cape.

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Why don't you take over the business?

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That's all I'm saying,

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I'll take over the business,

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hey,

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25 bucks.

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Can we work it out in haircuts?

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He said,

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yeah,

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we'll work it out in haircuts.

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So I ended up

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cutting all this hair at Prairie View A&M and

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I was supposed to be going to school and get an education,

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engineer.

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Parents had all this,

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yeah,

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he's,

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he's gonna do this.

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Anthony's doing good.

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They're not knowing I'm

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not going to class.

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I'm cutting the hair.

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Um,

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so.

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I called my parents up.

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I said,

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hey,

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you know,

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I,

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I think I found my calling.

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I said,

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I,

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we know you found your calling.

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You're at Prairie View A&M

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to be an engineer.

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And I said,

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oh,

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OK.

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And so I had to break the news that,

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hey,

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I need y'all to come pick me up because I found

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out that I want to cut hair and be a barber.

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It got quiet.

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But they came and picked me up nevertheless.

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My dad was in the military,

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so at this point,

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he was at,

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in Louisiana.

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So they said,

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well,

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you'll come on home and stay with us for a little bit and

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you'll go to barber school and that's fine.

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If that's what you want to do.

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By God,

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you do that.

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Ended up

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being in Louisiana for a little bit.

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I really didn't,

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I,

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I didn't really like it.

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And I said,

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well,

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I looked for barber schools and I said,

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well,

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I don't know,

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I don't really like that one.

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So I had an aunt that lived right here in Mesa down the street

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from here.

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And she said,

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well,

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why don't you just come here and we'll find you a place.

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So I

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got in my Volkswagen Bug,

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1964 Volkswagen Bug,

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red.

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Got everything I own in this Volkswagen bug,

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and I just changed the engine cause I was

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uh

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making sure that it was good to make this long trip.

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That's a long trip.

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Louisiana.

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Leesville,

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Louisiana to Phoenix,

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Arizona.

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In a bug

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But I love my bugs,

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so I said,

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let's go.

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It made it.

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But um,

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so

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I,

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I put all my clothes and everything I own

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into this Volkswagen bug.

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I said,

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OK,

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then I prayed.

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I said,

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Laura,

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get me here,

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OK.

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So,

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got in,

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I,

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I was trying to become a man at this point.

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My,

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my,

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my dad said,

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hey,

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I'll help you drive.

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I said,

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no,

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you don't want to drive.

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I got stuff in the front seat.

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My passenger is a um

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A suitcase

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So I said,

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nah,

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I'm,

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I'm gonna do this myself.

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So I got in my Volkswagen bug.

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Headed to Phoenix,

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Arizona to go to barber school.

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Got to San Antonio

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and stayed overnight.

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Going 55,

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mind you.

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55 cause the guy that

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checked my engine out,

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he's a mechanic,

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he said,

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do not go over 55.

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You will not make it.

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So I was obedient and listened to him and I said,

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I want to make it.

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So I got to San Antonio and was like,

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yes.

256
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Parents gave me an Exxon credit card.

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I had some cash saved,

258
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saved up,

259
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and you know,

260
00:06:38.339 --> 00:06:38.690
I,

261
00:06:38.859 --> 00:06:39.019
you know,

262
00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:40.260
I tore that credit card up,

263
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you know,

264
00:06:41.459 --> 00:06:42.339
buying all kinds of stuff.

265
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But anyway,

266
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they saw the bill and was like,

267
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wow.

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So in the

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Ended up staying at an overnight in San Antonio and I said,

270
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I gotta get to Phoenix.

271
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Got up early,

272
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drove into Phoen drove from San Antonio,

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Texas.

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Doing 55.

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In a Volkswagen bug.

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With all my stuff piled up.

277
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Got to Phoenix,

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stopped at some friend's house.

279
00:07:06.609 --> 00:07:06.730
Hey,

280
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I'm here.

281
00:07:08.250 --> 00:07:09.010
What you doing here,

282
00:07:09.089 --> 00:07:09.209
man?

283
00:07:09.290 --> 00:07:10.410
You're supposed to be at school.

284
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No,

285
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I'm back,

286
00:07:11.209 --> 00:07:11.450
man.

287
00:07:11.570 --> 00:07:12.089
I'm back.

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So ended up,

289
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long story short,

290
00:07:15.440 --> 00:07:17.339
going to a barber school here in Phoenix.

291
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And I knew that one thing I had to do

292
00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:23.279
is if I left Prairie View A&M.

293
00:07:24.700 --> 00:07:25.700
I would have to

294
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really do well

295
00:07:27.059 --> 00:07:27.820
at what I'm doing,

296
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so.

297
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I had these visions

298
00:07:30.850 --> 00:07:32.170
of owning a barbershop.

299
00:07:33.269 --> 00:07:35.290
So I came here and went to barber school,

300
00:07:35.709 --> 00:07:37.130
and as I was coming

301
00:07:37.309 --> 00:07:37.850
over here,

302
00:07:37.910 --> 00:07:39.489
I lived in Mesa when I got here,

303
00:07:39.790 --> 00:07:40.339
mind you.

304
00:07:40.670 --> 00:07:44.429
So this brings back a lot of memories over in this area and I started thinking about,

305
00:07:44.549 --> 00:07:44.670
man,

306
00:07:44.709 --> 00:07:46.570
I was all up and down here.

307
00:07:47.660 --> 00:07:47.859
Man,

308
00:07:47.940 --> 00:07:48.339
this is,

309
00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:49.140
this is good.

310
00:07:49.260 --> 00:07:50.619
So my story kinda changed.

311
00:07:50.660 --> 00:07:52.100
I was just gonna tell you something else,

312
00:07:52.209 --> 00:07:53.440
but I'm just gonna tell you

313
00:07:53.940 --> 00:07:54.700
my story.

314
00:07:55.609 --> 00:07:57.170
Ended up going to barber school,

315
00:07:57.290 --> 00:07:58.600
building a clientele,

316
00:07:58.769 --> 00:08:00.549
acting like I was going to ASU.

317
00:08:01.170 --> 00:08:02.489
All my friends went to ASU,

318
00:08:02.570 --> 00:08:03.040
so I was like,

319
00:08:03.089 --> 00:08:03.570
hey,

320
00:08:03.859 --> 00:08:04.390
I'm there.

321
00:08:05.010 --> 00:08:05.609
So you would think,

322
00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:06.010
they was like,

323
00:08:06.100 --> 00:08:06.250
yeah,

324
00:08:06.390 --> 00:08:06.529
man,

325
00:08:06.730 --> 00:08:08.350
remember when we went to ASU?

326
00:08:09.010 --> 00:08:09.410
I was like,

327
00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:09.850
yeah,

328
00:08:10.010 --> 00:08:10.290
yeah,

329
00:08:10.489 --> 00:08:10.649
yeah,

330
00:08:10.809 --> 00:08:11.109
man.

331
00:08:12.559 --> 00:08:12.799
Yeah,

332
00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:13.119
man,

333
00:08:13.239 --> 00:08:13.869
come on.

334
00:08:14.239 --> 00:08:14.709
And so,

335
00:08:14.839 --> 00:08:15.040
you know,

336
00:08:15.119 --> 00:08:15.799
I enjoyed that.

337
00:08:15.880 --> 00:08:17.489
I really loved the college life,

338
00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:20.100
so I was around my college friends cutting all their hair,

339
00:08:20.589 --> 00:08:23.019
hair during barber school and finally got into a shop.

340
00:08:24.890 --> 00:08:27.000
Worked at a shop on Southern and Mill.

341
00:08:27.089 --> 00:08:29.630
How many of you know where Southern and Mill is?

342
00:08:30.500 --> 00:08:31.170
All right.

343
00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:32.359
So it was the first,

344
00:08:32.619 --> 00:08:32.890
uh,

345
00:08:32.900 --> 00:08:34.179
African-American barbershop,

346
00:08:34.219 --> 00:08:34.900
which is my most,

347
00:08:34.979 --> 00:08:36.159
some of you may remember,

348
00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:36.969
uh,

349
00:08:36.979 --> 00:08:37.700
the shop

350
00:08:38.099 --> 00:08:38.640
over there,

351
00:08:38.820 --> 00:08:39.289
uh,

352
00:08:39.380 --> 00:08:39.859
so.

353
00:08:40.818 --> 00:08:41.999
Started working with this guy,

354
00:08:42.008 --> 00:08:44.109
Mose and his wife and beautiful people,

355
00:08:44.528 --> 00:08:44.919
uh,

356
00:08:45.129 --> 00:08:46.539
treated me like a grandson.

357
00:08:47.429 --> 00:08:48.609
Show me the business.

358
00:08:48.989 --> 00:08:50.789
I worked for him for 4 years and he said,

359
00:08:50.830 --> 00:08:51.330
I'm done.

360
00:08:51.750 --> 00:08:52.669
I'm selling the shop.

361
00:08:54.119 --> 00:08:54.780
I'm old

362
00:08:56.330 --> 00:08:57.469
So I had my little,

363
00:08:57.729 --> 00:08:58.390
I had a

364
00:08:58.929 --> 00:08:59.530
little bit of money,

365
00:08:59.590 --> 00:09:00.679
but at this point,

366
00:09:01.010 --> 00:09:02.270
my parents were in

367
00:09:02.489 --> 00:09:03.179
Germany.

368
00:09:03.530 --> 00:09:03.929
Remember,

369
00:09:03.969 --> 00:09:05.330
my dad was in the military.

370
00:09:06.109 --> 00:09:06.750
So,

371
00:09:07.109 --> 00:09:08.460
I was trying to call Germany and say,

372
00:09:08.510 --> 00:09:08.630
hey,

373
00:09:08.710 --> 00:09:08.830
I,

374
00:09:08.909 --> 00:09:09.700
I need some money,

375
00:09:09.789 --> 00:09:10.219
man,

376
00:09:10.989 --> 00:09:12.109
to help me with the shop,

377
00:09:12.150 --> 00:09:12.659
and he was like,

378
00:09:12.710 --> 00:09:12.909
OK,

379
00:09:13.030 --> 00:09:13.750
we'll do it.

380
00:09:14.520 --> 00:09:18.400
And so I was supposed to buy the shop with another guy who worked with me.

381
00:09:18.809 --> 00:09:19.109
Well,

382
00:09:19.570 --> 00:09:20.950
the guy's parents said,

383
00:09:21.369 --> 00:09:21.799
look,

384
00:09:23.229 --> 00:09:24.429
We're gonna buy you this shop.

385
00:09:24.500 --> 00:09:25.280
This is your shop.

386
00:09:25.390 --> 00:09:26.669
So we had this big plan,

387
00:09:26.789 --> 00:09:27.390
we're friends,

388
00:09:27.429 --> 00:09:28.219
we're tight.

389
00:09:28.510 --> 00:09:29.440
We're gonna buy it together,

390
00:09:29.510 --> 00:09:30.469
we're gonna do this.

391
00:09:31.969 --> 00:09:33.469
I come to work one day,

392
00:09:34.049 --> 00:09:35.169
and he tells me,

393
00:09:35.330 --> 00:09:35.760
hey,

394
00:09:35.969 --> 00:09:37.869
my mom and dad bought the shop for me.

395
00:09:40.950 --> 00:09:41.200
Dang,

396
00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:43.690
punched me in the gut.

397
00:09:44.479 --> 00:09:44.760
But,

398
00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:45.119
yeah,

399
00:09:45.239 --> 00:09:45.440
they,

400
00:09:45.520 --> 00:09:46.109
they said that,

401
00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:46.760
so I was like,

402
00:09:46.830 --> 00:09:47.020
OK,

403
00:09:47.119 --> 00:09:47.479
I was cool.

404
00:09:47.559 --> 00:09:47.880
I was,

405
00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:48.619
I wasn't.

406
00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:49.859
I was like,

407
00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:50.479
OK,

408
00:09:50.640 --> 00:09:51.070
I got it.

409
00:09:51.119 --> 00:09:52.309
I had to go outside for a minute.

410
00:09:52.359 --> 00:09:52.599
I'm like,

411
00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:53.940
I don't believe he did this.

412
00:09:54.359 --> 00:09:55.700
Best thing that ever happened.

413
00:09:56.440 --> 00:09:57.059
That's OK.

414
00:09:57.190 --> 00:09:57.590
All right.

415
00:09:57.799 --> 00:09:58.690
I stayed there.

416
00:09:59.890 --> 00:10:01.929
I didn't argue with them because we're friends.

417
00:10:02.010 --> 00:10:02.369
I was like,

418
00:10:02.450 --> 00:10:02.909
hey,

419
00:10:03.530 --> 00:10:04.669
I understand your,

420
00:10:04.809 --> 00:10:07.109
that your parents are doing something

421
00:10:07.210 --> 00:10:07.570
for you,

422
00:10:07.609 --> 00:10:08.450
and I get that.

423
00:10:09.450 --> 00:10:09.929
I get it.

424
00:10:11.030 --> 00:10:11.559
And he was like,

425
00:10:11.640 --> 00:10:11.880
well,

426
00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:12.239
you know,

427
00:10:12.359 --> 00:10:13.000
that's how it goes.

428
00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:13.390
I was like,

429
00:10:13.479 --> 00:10:13.979
cool.

430
00:10:14.640 --> 00:10:15.159
So,

431
00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:16.419
about a month later,

432
00:10:16.760 --> 00:10:18.200
a young man came in,

433
00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.000
he was going to Chandler Prom.

434
00:10:21.059 --> 00:10:21.619
And he said,

435
00:10:21.700 --> 00:10:22.099
hey man,

436
00:10:22.150 --> 00:10:23.849
I know you've been cutting my hair for a long time.

437
00:10:25.010 --> 00:10:26.659
We need a black barbershop in Chandler.

438
00:10:28.760 --> 00:10:30.280
All these other people try to say,

439
00:10:30.400 --> 00:10:30.520
no,

440
00:10:30.599 --> 00:10:31.559
I told you to go there.

441
00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:31.799
No,

442
00:10:31.869 --> 00:10:32.780
it was a kid

443
00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:35.219
that went to Chandler High School

444
00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:36.679
and said,

445
00:10:36.719 --> 00:10:38.760
we need a black barbershop in Chandler.

446
00:10:39.650 --> 00:10:40.090
So I said,

447
00:10:40.169 --> 00:10:40.450
OK,

448
00:10:40.530 --> 00:10:41.789
I'm listening to this kid.

449
00:10:41.849 --> 00:10:42.789
I'm a kid myself.

450
00:10:42.849 --> 00:10:44.010
I'm 20 years old,

451
00:10:44.090 --> 00:10:45.289
1920 years old.

452
00:10:45.530 --> 00:10:45.900
No,

453
00:10:46.409 --> 00:10:47.250
24.

454
00:10:47.570 --> 00:10:48.739
I'm still a kid myself,

455
00:10:48.809 --> 00:10:49.580
cutting kids here.

456
00:10:50.169 --> 00:10:50.650
I'm like,

457
00:10:50.770 --> 00:10:52.289
I'm foolish to go listen to these kids,

458
00:10:52.369 --> 00:10:54.190
but I wanna go see what you're talking about.

459
00:10:54.729 --> 00:10:54.969
He said,

460
00:10:55.049 --> 00:10:56.049
I know a place,

461
00:10:56.289 --> 00:10:57.150
this guy

462
00:10:57.969 --> 00:10:59.369
even left the chair in there,

463
00:10:59.409 --> 00:11:00.489
it's perfect for you.

464
00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:01.780
I said,

465
00:11:01.900 --> 00:11:02.010
well,

466
00:11:02.070 --> 00:11:02.520
OK.

467
00:11:03.390 --> 00:11:03.940
So,

468
00:11:04.030 --> 00:11:05.950
I'm foolish enough to go and look.

469
00:11:06.469 --> 00:11:07.739
It's on Ray Road between

470
00:11:09.190 --> 00:11:11.590
Elma School and Arizona Avenue.

471
00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:17.380
There was a tumbleweed in the parking lot.

472
00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:19.109
I'm not,

473
00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:20.340
no exaggeration.

474
00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:22.580
There was a tumbleweed in the parking lot.

475
00:11:22.940 --> 00:11:23.299
I said,

476
00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:23.859
what am I,

477
00:11:23.929 --> 00:11:25.679
is this the wild west or what?

478
00:11:27.630 --> 00:11:28.280
So

479
00:11:28.510 --> 00:11:29.690
I called the company,

480
00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:29.960
uh,

481
00:11:30.030 --> 00:11:31.440
the property management company.

482
00:11:32.239 --> 00:11:32.719
And I said,

483
00:11:32.760 --> 00:11:33.440
I want to look at it.

484
00:11:33.479 --> 00:11:34.950
So I went in there and looked at it,

485
00:11:35.280 --> 00:11:35.640
and I said,

486
00:11:35.719 --> 00:11:35.840
well,

487
00:11:35.880 --> 00:11:36.349
I get it.

488
00:11:36.429 --> 00:11:37.020
How much

489
00:11:37.359 --> 00:11:38.500
do I need to put down?

490
00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:39.429
He said,

491
00:11:39.520 --> 00:11:39.859
and

492
00:11:40.690 --> 00:11:41.849
1000 down,

493
00:11:42.090 --> 00:11:43.409
the rent is 500 bucks.

494
00:11:43.489 --> 00:11:43.710
Now,

495
00:11:43.729 --> 00:11:45.289
you can't get rent like that anymore,

496
00:11:45.369 --> 00:11:45.849
I know that,

497
00:11:45.969 --> 00:11:46.369
but

498
00:11:46.890 --> 00:11:47.890
so 500 bucks,

499
00:11:48.010 --> 00:11:48.570
so I said,

500
00:11:48.640 --> 00:11:49.049
OK.

501
00:11:50.729 --> 00:11:53.130
I had a good friend of mine named Ken Countryman who said,

502
00:11:53.169 --> 00:11:53.580
uh,

503
00:11:53.770 --> 00:11:54.690
I'll look over your lease.

504
00:11:54.729 --> 00:11:55.369
He's an attorney.

505
00:11:55.409 --> 00:11:55.609
He said,

506
00:11:55.690 --> 00:11:55.799
man,

507
00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:57.450
I'll look over your lease for you and

508
00:11:57.729 --> 00:11:58.849
make sure everything is all right.

509
00:11:58.929 --> 00:12:00.200
I appreciate Ken cause

510
00:12:00.609 --> 00:12:02.739
he made sure all my stuff was right and correct,

511
00:12:02.849 --> 00:12:03.239
so.

512
00:12:03.880 --> 00:12:04.580
Ended up

513
00:12:05.609 --> 00:12:07.159
Only have 500,

514
00:12:07.770 --> 00:12:11.049
because I gave the other 3000 that I had saved

515
00:12:11.049 --> 00:12:13.409
up to a guy that was building cabinets for me.

516
00:12:15.049 --> 00:12:15.530
So I said,

517
00:12:15.650 --> 00:12:15.770
hey,

518
00:12:15.849 --> 00:12:16.969
I only got 500.

519
00:12:17.010 --> 00:12:17.250
He said,

520
00:12:17.330 --> 00:12:17.570
let's,

521
00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:18.789
let me tell you something.

522
00:12:19.289 --> 00:12:20.590
Give me the 500.

523
00:12:21.469 --> 00:12:24.809
And you better have that 500 back next week or I'm gonna lose my job.

524
00:12:27.280 --> 00:12:28.840
So I stopped what I was doing.

525
00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:30.890
I gave him that 500.

526
00:12:31.280 --> 00:12:32.559
I was working on a Friday,

527
00:12:32.599 --> 00:12:33.510
I'll never forget,

528
00:12:33.880 --> 00:12:36.559
went downtown Phoenix and paid him the 500.

529
00:12:36.679 --> 00:12:38.159
Me and him have been friends ever since.

530
00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:39.200
I've been looking for him.

531
00:12:39.479 --> 00:12:40.880
His name is Evans Van Angelo.

532
00:12:40.950 --> 00:12:42.830
I'll never forget because he trusted me,

533
00:12:42.880 --> 00:12:44.219
a 25 year old

534
00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:46.020
black kid from Tucson,

535
00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:46.679
Arizona.

536
00:12:47.640 --> 00:12:47.650
So,

537
00:12:48.390 --> 00:12:48.719
um,

538
00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:49.460
ended up.

539
00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:51.440
Opening the shop.

540
00:12:52.400 --> 00:12:52.640
Uh,

541
00:12:52.760 --> 00:12:54.799
got a few barbers in Chandler and man,

542
00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:55.299
I was,

543
00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:56.080
I was busy.

544
00:12:56.270 --> 00:12:57.299
But by the way,

545
00:12:57.919 --> 00:13:00.380
I gave them a month's notice that I was leaving.

546
00:13:01.109 --> 00:13:02.289
And they fired me.

547
00:13:04.059 --> 00:13:06.039
I had a little more clientele than he did,

548
00:13:06.179 --> 00:13:06.700
um.

549
00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:08.179
But they fired me.

550
00:13:08.219 --> 00:13:08.820
I wasn't mad,

551
00:13:08.859 --> 00:13:09.049
and,

552
00:13:09.059 --> 00:13:10.700
and these are the same people I went

553
00:13:10.700 --> 00:13:12.700
over their house for Christmas and Thanksgiving.

554
00:13:14.150 --> 00:13:14.489
But I,

555
00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:15.460
I'm still not mad at him.

556
00:13:15.570 --> 00:13:16.809
I still got love for him.

557
00:13:17.169 --> 00:13:17.729
But anyway.

558
00:13:19.719 --> 00:13:19.729
OK.

559
00:13:21.640 --> 00:13:21.989
So,

560
00:13:22.119 --> 00:13:24.780
ended up being the first black barbershop in Chandler.

561
00:13:25.280 --> 00:13:26.239
I'm still there today,

562
00:13:26.349 --> 00:13:28.580
2828 years later.

563
00:13:29.669 --> 00:13:31.150
Watch Chandler grow,

564
00:13:31.309 --> 00:13:31.950
um,

565
00:13:32.780 --> 00:13:34.969
The one thing I will leave you with is this.

566
00:13:35.020 --> 00:13:36.280
I went to every

567
00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:39.799
I went to every barbershop in Chandler.

568
00:13:41.710 --> 00:13:44.789
And I introduced myself before I started any cutting anything.

569
00:13:44.830 --> 00:13:45.630
The shot was done,

570
00:13:45.750 --> 00:13:46.409
ready to go.

571
00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:49.119
I introduced myself to every

572
00:13:49.780 --> 00:13:51.460
barber that was in Chandler,

573
00:13:51.780 --> 00:13:53.820
and that was the best thing I did because it was,

574
00:13:53.929 --> 00:13:55.200
it's a form of respect,

575
00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:57.940
and I shook their hand and I looked them in the eye,

576
00:13:58.299 --> 00:13:59.619
and I let them know that,

577
00:13:59.700 --> 00:13:59.940
hey,

578
00:14:00.020 --> 00:14:01.039
if you have somebody

579
00:14:01.359 --> 00:14:02.400
that you can't cut,

580
00:14:02.739 --> 00:14:03.679
send them to me.

581
00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:04.690
And that

582
00:14:05.409 --> 00:14:06.109
That's history.

583
00:14:06.530 --> 00:14:09.559
I got to be friends with all those old guys that are gone now,

584
00:14:09.780 --> 00:14:11.369
but we became good friends

585
00:14:11.729 --> 00:14:14.309
and we would meet at a little spot called Hoosiers

586
00:14:14.849 --> 00:14:17.890
right there in Chandler and uh break bread and have breakfast.

587
00:14:21.729 --> 00:14:23.489
We can't wait to hear more of your story,

588
00:14:23.650 --> 00:14:24.450
so I hope you'll,

589
00:14:24.650 --> 00:14:24.849
you know,

590
00:14:24.969 --> 00:14:25.520
afterwards,

591
00:14:25.570 --> 00:14:28.309
we'll have a chance to chat with people and so

592
00:14:28.770 --> 00:14:30.070
ask all the questions you want.

593
00:14:43.359 --> 00:14:43.799
I don't wanna talk.

594
00:14:43.880 --> 00:14:44.780
I'm gonna listen to the riffs.

595
00:14:47.390 --> 00:14:48.200
Um,

596
00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:52.010
I picked that song because I come from the barrio.

597
00:14:52.140 --> 00:14:53.830
My family comes from the barrio,

598
00:14:54.140 --> 00:14:54.840
um,

599
00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:57.340
and it just reminds me of low riders and cruising and,

600
00:14:57.450 --> 00:14:57.700
and,

601
00:14:57.780 --> 00:15:00.000
and my family and kicking back and have a good time.

602
00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:01.859
So every time I hear that song,

603
00:15:01.940 --> 00:15:03.940
it immediately puts me in a better mood and kind of

604
00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:06.080
just reminds me where I'm from and gives me like grounding

605
00:15:06.400 --> 00:15:06.619
place,

606
00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:07.020
right?

607
00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:07.679
So,

608
00:15:07.760 --> 00:15:08.239
hey everyone,

609
00:15:08.359 --> 00:15:09.239
thank you for coming.

610
00:15:09.520 --> 00:15:11.900
I am State Representative Lorena Austin,

611
00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.859
and I have the honor and privilege of serving

612
00:15:14.239 --> 00:15:17.270
my community where my family has lived here for over 100 years in Mesa,

613
00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:17.919
Arizona.

614
00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:18.669
So,

615
00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:20.340
my roots run super deep,

616
00:15:20.640 --> 00:15:22.200
but I come from two.

617
00:15:22.750 --> 00:15:23.270
I'm so lucky,

618
00:15:23.429 --> 00:15:24.710
especiallyillos Muertos.

619
00:15:24.789 --> 00:15:25.869
So for all that celebrate,

620
00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:26.369
um,

621
00:15:26.549 --> 00:15:28.309
we welcome all of our ancestors back here.

622
00:15:28.390 --> 00:15:29.489
We take their legacies

623
00:15:29.950 --> 00:15:33.469
and we honor them in hopes that we can live the lives that lead us back to them one day.

624
00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:35.179
And this is a super important day for me

625
00:15:35.549 --> 00:15:37.250
because I come from two incredible,

626
00:15:38.349 --> 00:15:39.190
amazing families.

627
00:15:39.250 --> 00:15:41.700
I don't know how I was so lucky and fortunate to be born to,

628
00:15:41.869 --> 00:15:42.909
to both sides of my family,

629
00:15:42.989 --> 00:15:43.419
but I'm,

630
00:15:43.549 --> 00:15:44.880
I take them with me every single day.

631
00:15:45.190 --> 00:15:45.869
If you look at my arm,

632
00:15:45.909 --> 00:15:48.729
it's just filled with my grandmothers and the women in my family who,

633
00:15:49.270 --> 00:15:49.650
um,

634
00:15:49.710 --> 00:15:51.109
have just been so instrumental,

635
00:15:51.219 --> 00:15:51.969
and that's what I bring.

636
00:15:53.169 --> 00:15:54.650
Every single day to my community and,

637
00:15:54.729 --> 00:15:56.039
and it's an honor to,

638
00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:59.809
to be recognized as a friend of Cristina because she's got real high standards,

639
00:15:59.890 --> 00:16:01.000
deservedly so,

640
00:16:01.210 --> 00:16:02.010
and she just does,

641
00:16:02.130 --> 00:16:02.679
does not,

642
00:16:02.729 --> 00:16:03.750
if you're a friend of Christina,

643
00:16:03.770 --> 00:16:04.349
raise your hand,

644
00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.650
wow,

645
00:16:05.729 --> 00:16:06.169
dang,

646
00:16:06.250 --> 00:16:07.250
that's a shoot,

647
00:16:07.330 --> 00:16:08.349
that's a big deal,

648
00:16:08.890 --> 00:16:09.549
um,

649
00:16:10.169 --> 00:16:10.570
because,

650
00:16:10.849 --> 00:16:12.409
because I think that's part of,

651
00:16:12.530 --> 00:16:12.690
you know,

652
00:16:12.890 --> 00:16:13.869
community and really.

653
00:16:14.640 --> 00:16:16.359
You can tell when someone is from your community and you

654
00:16:16.359 --> 00:16:17.950
can tell when they give a damn about their community,

655
00:16:18.030 --> 00:16:18.200
right?

656
00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.229
And so thank you,

657
00:16:19.469 --> 00:16:20.299
thank you for that.

658
00:16:20.640 --> 00:16:23.520
And I actually would not be a state representative if it wasn't for Christine.

659
00:16:23.590 --> 00:16:25.059
This is now the Christina Bustos show,

660
00:16:25.599 --> 00:16:26.719
future Doctor Bustos,

661
00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:27.539
because,

662
00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:28.049
uh,

663
00:16:28.150 --> 00:16:31.820
I was a teacher at the time in MPS and took me to knock my very first door,

664
00:16:31.890 --> 00:16:32.150
uh,

665
00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:35.080
in the district here as I started my campaign in 2022,

666
00:16:35.479 --> 00:16:36.359
but way before that,

667
00:16:36.599 --> 00:16:37.640
before I was even born.

668
00:16:38.169 --> 00:16:39.000
On my,

669
00:16:39.010 --> 00:16:39.409
uh,

670
00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:40.270
mom's side,

671
00:16:40.690 --> 00:16:41.859
my great grandparents,

672
00:16:41.929 --> 00:16:44.919
Bartolo and Felicia Navarro came here from Guanajuato and the FA,

673
00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:45.890
which is Mexico City,

674
00:16:46.090 --> 00:16:46.750
to

675
00:16:46.950 --> 00:16:47.409
Kansas.

676
00:16:47.489 --> 00:16:49.369
They crossed the border for 3 cents,

677
00:16:49.729 --> 00:16:49.960
uh,

678
00:16:49.969 --> 00:16:51.429
into the United States

679
00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:52.349
and

680
00:16:52.650 --> 00:16:53.880
they landed in Manhattan,

681
00:16:54.010 --> 00:16:54.750
Kansas,

682
00:16:54.969 --> 00:16:58.770
where my great grandfather was in charge of inspecting,

683
00:16:59.090 --> 00:16:59.520
I think,

684
00:16:59.530 --> 00:17:01.390
about 8 miles of track a day.

685
00:17:02.450 --> 00:17:02.789
Uh,

686
00:17:02.880 --> 00:17:03.690
for the railroad.

687
00:17:04.469 --> 00:17:06.069
And my grandmother,

688
00:17:06.170 --> 00:17:07.040
who is my,

689
00:17:07.430 --> 00:17:09.050
my everything and the person

690
00:17:09.229 --> 00:17:11.969
I honor most on this day because um

691
00:17:12.589 --> 00:17:15.150
she was my best friend and her name was Margarita Navarro

692
00:17:15.430 --> 00:17:18.689
and she was born in a boxcar the day after Christmas in Manhattan,

693
00:17:18.739 --> 00:17:20.348
Kansas in 1925

694
00:17:20.630 --> 00:17:21.489
in a boxcar

695
00:17:21.829 --> 00:17:24.930
and she would go on to become the oldest of seven kids,

696
00:17:25.150 --> 00:17:25.310
uh,

697
00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:25.699
to my,

698
00:17:25.770 --> 00:17:27.608
my great grandparents and they would,

699
00:17:27.630 --> 00:17:28.199
uh,

700
00:17:28.469 --> 00:17:29.020
leave Manhattan,

701
00:17:29.060 --> 00:17:31.750
Kansas and migrate to California and they became farm workers,

702
00:17:31.810 --> 00:17:32.630
so they followed the,

703
00:17:32.670 --> 00:17:33.369
the fields.

704
00:17:33.849 --> 00:17:35.469
And they eventually landed

705
00:17:35.849 --> 00:17:37.349
in uh Santa Paula,

706
00:17:37.729 --> 00:17:38.109
California,

707
00:17:39.010 --> 00:17:40.130
on their way to San Jose,

708
00:17:40.199 --> 00:17:42.910
but my grandmother would tell me these really grand stories of how

709
00:17:43.410 --> 00:17:46.550
they would just endure backbreaking work in the sun and they would pick,

710
00:17:46.729 --> 00:17:46.890
you know,

711
00:17:47.040 --> 00:17:50.510
fruits in the fields and they lived under a tarp for 3 years.

712
00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:51.339
Um,

713
00:17:51.349 --> 00:17:53.050
and endured so many things

714
00:17:53.390 --> 00:17:54.670
until finally landing in San Jose,

715
00:17:55.030 --> 00:17:55.270
California,

716
00:17:55.349 --> 00:17:56.829
where my uh mother was born.

717
00:17:56.910 --> 00:17:57.849
So she's the second,

718
00:17:58.150 --> 00:17:58.339
uh,

719
00:17:58.349 --> 00:17:59.719
child born to my grandmother

720
00:18:00.030 --> 00:18:03.829
and uh my grandmother would go on to raise uh six kids by her own.

721
00:18:03.910 --> 00:18:05.369
She would flee domestic violence

722
00:18:05.630 --> 00:18:09.050
and she would divorce my grandfather at a time when it was not popular

723
00:18:09.349 --> 00:18:10.939
um in the 50s and 60s,

724
00:18:11.390 --> 00:18:12.250
and she

725
00:18:12.630 --> 00:18:15.099
would work three jobs and she worked in the cannery,

726
00:18:15.310 --> 00:18:18.020
she cleaned strangers' houses and she stocked shelves at midnight

727
00:18:18.020 --> 00:18:20.270
when all of her kids were sleeping and so.

728
00:18:20.849 --> 00:18:23.229
I know I got my work ethic from her.

729
00:18:23.410 --> 00:18:23.849
Um,

730
00:18:24.050 --> 00:18:24.890
my mom jokes with me,

731
00:18:24.930 --> 00:18:25.910
if I don't have more than

732
00:18:26.170 --> 00:18:26.719
2 jobs,

733
00:18:26.810 --> 00:18:27.089
she's like,

734
00:18:27.170 --> 00:18:27.569
Are you OK,

735
00:18:27.650 --> 00:18:27.969
Mija?

736
00:18:28.010 --> 00:18:28.160
Like,

737
00:18:28.170 --> 00:18:28.849
are you good?

738
00:18:29.250 --> 00:18:31.050
Because I always have like multiple jobs,

739
00:18:31.130 --> 00:18:31.369
uh,

740
00:18:31.650 --> 00:18:32.189
because

741
00:18:32.810 --> 00:18:33.689
I was just taught to,

742
00:18:33.770 --> 00:18:34.280
to work hard.

743
00:18:34.329 --> 00:18:34.989
And so

744
00:18:35.650 --> 00:18:36.589
my mom

745
00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:37.750
is

746
00:18:38.130 --> 00:18:39.849
the fiercest woman you'd ever meet.

747
00:18:40.130 --> 00:18:42.170
She's the person in the grocery store that will call someone out

748
00:18:42.170 --> 00:18:44.469
for being racist in front of everybody and does not care.

749
00:18:44.810 --> 00:18:46.170
She also made me do push-ups in public,

750
00:18:46.290 --> 00:18:46.949
did not care.

751
00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:48.510
Um,

752
00:18:48.829 --> 00:18:49.569
but she

753
00:18:49.709 --> 00:18:51.819
was really active in the civil rights movement.

754
00:18:51.949 --> 00:18:52.310
Uh,

755
00:18:52.510 --> 00:18:53.010
she,

756
00:18:53.449 --> 00:18:53.739
uh,

757
00:18:53.869 --> 00:18:54.390
was very,

758
00:18:54.510 --> 00:18:56.349
very active in the Chicano movement

759
00:18:56.670 --> 00:18:57.420
and,

760
00:18:57.670 --> 00:18:58.130
you know,

761
00:18:58.550 --> 00:19:00.010
talks about her story,

762
00:19:00.189 --> 00:19:01.459
and it's absolutely incredible,

763
00:19:01.469 --> 00:19:03.449
and she actually was offered a full ride

764
00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:04.810
to the University of Washington,

765
00:19:05.310 --> 00:19:06.550
coming from the barrio in San Jose,

766
00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:07.369
California,

767
00:19:07.459 --> 00:19:08.770
and to the nursing program.

768
00:19:09.520 --> 00:19:09.969
And

769
00:19:10.170 --> 00:19:10.849
is so smart,

770
00:19:10.930 --> 00:19:11.930
is the smartest person I know.

771
00:19:12.010 --> 00:19:13.469
She was offered a full ride to medical school,

772
00:19:13.609 --> 00:19:16.810
but she turned it down because she became very involved in activism but

773
00:19:16.810 --> 00:19:18.530
also really relate to me the importance

774
00:19:18.530 --> 00:19:20.989
of understanding that she wasn't really supported

775
00:19:21.290 --> 00:19:21.479
to,

776
00:19:21.630 --> 00:19:22.030
to,

777
00:19:22.449 --> 00:19:22.800
you know,

778
00:19:22.949 --> 00:19:23.349
go

779
00:19:23.650 --> 00:19:24.410
seek out education,

780
00:19:24.520 --> 00:19:25.010
higher education,

781
00:19:25.089 --> 00:19:25.510
right?

782
00:19:25.969 --> 00:19:26.329
Unfortunately,

783
00:19:26.369 --> 00:19:27.189
culturally it was,

784
00:19:27.250 --> 00:19:27.630
you know.

785
00:19:28.540 --> 00:19:29.339
Go get married,

786
00:19:29.459 --> 00:19:29.920
have kids,

787
00:19:30.209 --> 00:19:31.900
or be a secretary or something like that,

788
00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:32.920
but um.

789
00:19:33.650 --> 00:19:34.150
My mom,

790
00:19:34.410 --> 00:19:35.030
I think

791
00:19:35.569 --> 00:19:37.130
to this day understood the value of education.

792
00:19:37.170 --> 00:19:39.089
I'm so grateful she would end up becoming

793
00:19:39.250 --> 00:19:40.449
my Montessori teacher

794
00:19:40.650 --> 00:19:41.390
as a young kid.

795
00:19:41.489 --> 00:19:42.119
She traded,

796
00:19:42.209 --> 00:19:42.479
uh,

797
00:19:42.489 --> 00:19:42.989
cleaning,

798
00:19:43.010 --> 00:19:43.459
uh,

799
00:19:43.770 --> 00:19:46.400
someone's house who hosted a Montessori school and taught Spanish

800
00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.810
lessons so myself and my brothers could go to Montessori.

801
00:19:48.849 --> 00:19:49.189
So

802
00:19:49.300 --> 00:19:50.180
she's ever the teacher,

803
00:19:50.369 --> 00:19:51.670
still teaches to this day,

804
00:19:52.089 --> 00:19:52.599
and,

805
00:19:52.609 --> 00:19:53.310
um,

806
00:19:53.689 --> 00:19:56.969
so that's on my mother's side of the family on my father's side rooted here,

807
00:19:57.030 --> 00:19:58.569
I'm a 5th generation Arizonan.

808
00:19:59.239 --> 00:20:01.670
Family has lived here again for over 100 years,

809
00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:02.319
um,

810
00:20:02.479 --> 00:20:03.140
started in

811
00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:04.209
Pinal County,

812
00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:04.520
uh,

813
00:20:04.569 --> 00:20:05.520
my great grandfather,

814
00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:05.969
people are like,

815
00:20:06.020 --> 00:20:07.079
how is your last name Austin?

816
00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:07.390
I said,

817
00:20:07.560 --> 00:20:07.939
listen,

818
00:20:08.560 --> 00:20:09.239
it was my great,

819
00:20:09.260 --> 00:20:10.500
great grandfather

820
00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:13.160
was Frederick Levi Austin,

821
00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:14.030
and he was a,

822
00:20:14.150 --> 00:20:14.699
a merchant.

823
00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.000
And if anyone knows that book,

824
00:20:16.040 --> 00:20:17.180
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee,

825
00:20:17.239 --> 00:20:18.560
he's actually mentioned in there,

826
00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.420
um,

827
00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.229
uh,

828
00:20:20.239 --> 00:20:21.099
for a good reason

829
00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:21.839
and

830
00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:23.729
Thankfully,

831
00:20:23.949 --> 00:20:24.790
I'm really happy about that.

832
00:20:25.030 --> 00:20:27.140
Um but he married my great grandmother who was Yaqui in,

833
00:20:27.170 --> 00:20:27.780
in Mexicana,

834
00:20:27.869 --> 00:20:29.260
so indigenous here to this area,

835
00:20:29.510 --> 00:20:30.910
and they would move their family here in

836
00:20:30.910 --> 00:20:33.949
the twenties and so their son was my grandfather

837
00:20:34.229 --> 00:20:37.359
and uh so his name was Albert Beto Austin

838
00:20:37.670 --> 00:20:39.589
and uh he married my grandmother,

839
00:20:39.699 --> 00:20:40.949
Margarita Rodriguez,

840
00:20:41.030 --> 00:20:41.750
who was from Chandler.

841
00:20:41.829 --> 00:20:43.729
She's from uh South Si Puedes Chandler,

842
00:20:43.750 --> 00:20:44.849
which means get out if you can.

843
00:20:45.349 --> 00:20:45.989
So very,

844
00:20:46.030 --> 00:20:46.410
uh,

845
00:20:46.510 --> 00:20:47.140
humble roots,

846
00:20:47.150 --> 00:20:49.790
and they would establish a grocery store here right

847
00:20:49.790 --> 00:20:52.500
literally across the street in Washington Escobedo Park,

848
00:20:52.550 --> 00:20:53.890
which was the segregated

849
00:20:54.109 --> 00:20:54.959
part of Mesa.

850
00:20:55.390 --> 00:20:55.589
Uh,

851
00:20:55.670 --> 00:20:57.280
they would establish Albert's Market,

852
00:20:57.310 --> 00:20:59.069
which was well known in the community for

853
00:20:59.069 --> 00:21:01.369
serving everyone regardless of who you were.

854
00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:04.229
Myatta even learned Papago so he could trade

855
00:21:04.229 --> 00:21:06.479
with the Native American tribes we have here,

856
00:21:06.750 --> 00:21:09.109
and they were known for coming in and because he would,

857
00:21:09.229 --> 00:21:10.130
he would let them

858
00:21:10.310 --> 00:21:11.250
take things on credit,

859
00:21:11.260 --> 00:21:12.530
and that wasn't very common.

860
00:21:12.989 --> 00:21:13.479
And so.

861
00:21:13.979 --> 00:21:14.540
They would come in.

862
00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:17.479
My dad said he wondered if my thought they lost sleep at night because

863
00:21:17.979 --> 00:21:19.420
they would come and wipe the whole store out and

864
00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:21.010
then just hope they came back the next week,

865
00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:21.290
you know,

866
00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:21.609
to pay,

867
00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:21.729
and,

868
00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:23.760
and they did because he developed such a rapport

869
00:21:23.969 --> 00:21:25.900
with them and was well known in the community and I

870
00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:28.140
know my dad is such a good extension of him.

871
00:21:28.609 --> 00:21:28.729
Uh,

872
00:21:28.810 --> 00:21:29.689
I never got to meet my dad.

873
00:21:30.130 --> 00:21:30.239
Uh,

874
00:21:30.290 --> 00:21:31.400
my nana was wonderful,

875
00:21:31.729 --> 00:21:34.640
but my dad was born in a segregated neighborhood.

876
00:21:34.890 --> 00:21:35.949
My dad is alive.

877
00:21:36.689 --> 00:21:37.989
He is 73 years old,

878
00:21:38.530 --> 00:21:40.290
still as active as ever in our community,

879
00:21:40.369 --> 00:21:40.689
but

880
00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:42.810
I think it really speaks to the understanding of,

881
00:21:42.969 --> 00:21:43.400
of,

882
00:21:43.609 --> 00:21:43.849
you know,

883
00:21:43.969 --> 00:21:46.650
we have to understand our history to understand why we got

884
00:21:46.650 --> 00:21:48.709
here and how we can move forward in a positive way,

885
00:21:48.969 --> 00:21:50.069
in a collective way.

886
00:21:50.489 --> 00:21:52.270
And so he would go on to,

887
00:21:52.290 --> 00:21:52.890
um,

888
00:21:53.689 --> 00:21:54.209
Uh,

889
00:21:54.410 --> 00:21:55.489
he went to Catholic school here.

890
00:21:55.530 --> 00:21:56.609
He would go on to Jesuit College.

891
00:21:56.689 --> 00:21:58.150
He ended up in Santa Clara University,

892
00:21:58.329 --> 00:21:59.979
also became really involved in the Chicano movement,

893
00:22:00.069 --> 00:22:00.810
separate from my mother.

894
00:22:00.890 --> 00:22:02.050
They didn't know each other at the time,

895
00:22:02.250 --> 00:22:03.550
but he got arrested at a protest,

896
00:22:03.800 --> 00:22:05.569
and he decided he never wanted to get arrested,

897
00:22:05.689 --> 00:22:06.869
so he applied for law school

898
00:22:07.369 --> 00:22:08.359
and he ended up,

899
00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.030
uh,

900
00:22:09.569 --> 00:22:12.599
going to Berkeley and so he went to Berkeley Law School and,

901
00:22:12.650 --> 00:22:13.250
um.

902
00:22:13.670 --> 00:22:17.329
Was had a really budding great law career at Santa Clara County

903
00:22:17.540 --> 00:22:20.030
Attorney's Office and then my thought developed Alzheimer's

904
00:22:20.229 --> 00:22:21.229
really bad at a young age.

905
00:22:21.310 --> 00:22:22.089
So he came back

906
00:22:22.709 --> 00:22:22.869
to,

907
00:22:22.989 --> 00:22:23.550
to Mesa.

908
00:22:23.589 --> 00:22:25.750
He met my mom right before coming back and they moved back

909
00:22:25.750 --> 00:22:29.510
here in the late 70s and my dad uh became really involved.

910
00:22:29.869 --> 00:22:31.689
He ended up working for the Attorney General's office.

911
00:22:31.750 --> 00:22:33.989
He actually helped implement the first affordable housing

912
00:22:33.989 --> 00:22:35.310
policy here in the state of Arizona.

913
00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:37.849
He also established the mediation program here from the state

914
00:22:38.189 --> 00:22:38.790
of Arizona,

915
00:22:38.910 --> 00:22:40.410
but you would never know that because

916
00:22:40.589 --> 00:22:42.719
he's a man who doesn't desire uh

917
00:22:43.089 --> 00:22:44.270
Adoration or acknowledgement,

918
00:22:44.280 --> 00:22:45.579
you do it because it's the right thing

919
00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:48.119
and so I come from these incredible roots.

920
00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:48.819
He came back,

921
00:22:49.150 --> 00:22:49.349
uh,

922
00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:52.189
helped establish the Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens,

923
00:22:52.199 --> 00:22:54.349
and also established the East Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

924
00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:54.780
So

925
00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:56.640
I'm sure you're so surprised that I caught

926
00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:59.109
the bug for community advocacy and wanting to,

927
00:22:59.280 --> 00:23:00.069
to make a difference,

928
00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:00.479
but,

929
00:23:00.760 --> 00:23:01.099
um,

930
00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:02.880
went through a lot as a kid though too.

931
00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:04.160
Parents divorced at a young age.

932
00:23:04.300 --> 00:23:05.339
Families are very complicated.

933
00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:07.459
I landed in Fresno for a while with my mom.

934
00:23:07.930 --> 00:23:08.729
And um

935
00:23:09.089 --> 00:23:10.329
experienced a lot of hardships there

936
00:23:10.609 --> 00:23:13.089
uh she dated someone who wasn't really positive in our

937
00:23:13.089 --> 00:23:15.719
lives that landed us in domestic violence housing and,

938
00:23:15.729 --> 00:23:16.310
um,

939
00:23:16.810 --> 00:23:17.300
uh,

940
00:23:17.369 --> 00:23:20.829
thankfully we were able to receive Section 8 housing because we went to the shelter

941
00:23:20.979 --> 00:23:22.829
and got resources that we needed and so

942
00:23:22.969 --> 00:23:24.109
that really shapes a lot of

943
00:23:24.369 --> 00:23:24.719
how I,

944
00:23:24.770 --> 00:23:24.959
you know,

945
00:23:25.040 --> 00:23:26.290
navigate policy and,

946
00:23:26.369 --> 00:23:26.869
and,

947
00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.050
you know,

948
00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:28.609
how I serve my community so.

949
00:23:29.170 --> 00:23:29.579
Um,

950
00:23:29.739 --> 00:23:30.099
did that,

951
00:23:30.219 --> 00:23:31.540
came back here in 2006,

952
00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.880
moved back to Arizona,

953
00:23:33.459 --> 00:23:34.359
tried to enter college.

954
00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.060
I was already,

955
00:23:35.069 --> 00:23:37.060
really involved in high school and stuff and leadership,

956
00:23:37.130 --> 00:23:38.339
but I sucked at math,

957
00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:39.500
so I thought I wasn't smart.

958
00:23:39.780 --> 00:23:41.329
So I dropped out of college five times,

959
00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:41.729
um,

960
00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:43.209
started just working on jobs,

961
00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:43.920
moved

962
00:23:44.069 --> 00:23:46.400
to Saint Louis with my brother in 2012,

963
00:23:46.979 --> 00:23:49.420
experienced Ferguson in 2014 when Michael Brown was killed.

964
00:23:49.479 --> 00:23:50.849
That was 15 minutes from where I lived,

965
00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:52.420
and that changed my life completely.

966
00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.410
Came back to Arizona,

967
00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:54.479
got super involved,

968
00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:55.300
um.

969
00:23:56.219 --> 00:23:57.140
Re-attending college,

970
00:23:57.469 --> 00:23:57.589
uh,

971
00:23:57.709 --> 00:23:58.709
took my first sociology class,

972
00:23:58.810 --> 00:23:59.030
boom,

973
00:23:59.140 --> 00:23:59.609
changed my life,

974
00:23:59.829 --> 00:24:00.729
became student body president,

975
00:24:00.790 --> 00:24:01.849
graduated in 2018,

976
00:24:02.189 --> 00:24:02.569
uh,

977
00:24:02.709 --> 00:24:04.069
got a Fulbright scholarship to ASU,

978
00:24:04.229 --> 00:24:05.670
received my degree in immigration policy and

979
00:24:05.670 --> 00:24:07.219
economy from the School of Transborder Studies,

980
00:24:07.349 --> 00:24:08.619
graduated number of my class.

981
00:24:08.790 --> 00:24:09.310
May 2020,

982
00:24:09.369 --> 00:24:09.989
COVID hit,

983
00:24:10.270 --> 00:24:10.750
um.

984
00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:12.780
Jumped back into community advocacy,

985
00:24:12.959 --> 00:24:13.969
United Food Bank work,

986
00:24:14.280 --> 00:24:17.089
did COVID-19 work with uh my family and local restaurant here,

987
00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:17.959
Republic Empanada.

988
00:24:18.040 --> 00:24:21.560
We took food PPE supplies all the way up to Navajo Nation when

989
00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:22.359
everything is closed.

990
00:24:22.479 --> 00:24:23.920
Doctors at the border were coming here.

991
00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.819
DC didn't give

992
00:24:25.239 --> 00:24:25.900
a hoot.

993
00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:26.579
Um,

994
00:24:27.239 --> 00:24:28.979
and then never wanted to run for politics,

995
00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:30.900
was applying for law school in 22,

996
00:24:30.959 --> 00:24:32.089
and a friend called me,

997
00:24:32.199 --> 00:24:32.280
said,

998
00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:33.069
you should run for office,

999
00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:33.400
and I said,

1000
00:24:33.439 --> 00:24:34.030
hell no.

1001
00:24:34.430 --> 00:24:34.739
Um,

1002
00:24:34.810 --> 00:24:35.500
I'm going to law school.

1003
00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.459
My life is finally,

1004
00:24:36.609 --> 00:24:36.699
you know,

1005
00:24:36.780 --> 00:24:38.599
in this trajectory that was positive,

1006
00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.209
and she said,

1007
00:24:39.300 --> 00:24:39.579
Lorena,

1008
00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.770
no one from Mesa is running.

1009
00:24:40.979 --> 00:24:42.939
People are moving from crowded primaries,

1010
00:24:43.300 --> 00:24:45.660
and no one understands our community.

1011
00:24:45.699 --> 00:24:46.280
And so,

1012
00:24:47.290 --> 00:24:48.010
She convinced me.

1013
00:24:48.130 --> 00:24:49.800
I pulled my law school applications,

1014
00:24:49.959 --> 00:24:52.040
ran for office with a month left of signatures,

1015
00:24:52.130 --> 00:24:53.280
got the most signatures

1016
00:24:53.609 --> 00:24:55.369
because of people like Christina and people in this room

1017
00:24:55.369 --> 00:24:57.339
like Michelle and Lita and so many others here,

1018
00:24:57.719 --> 00:25:00.089
and in 2022 I was elected unknowingly as the

1019
00:25:00.089 --> 00:25:02.449
first Chicane non-binary legislator in the entire country.

1020
00:25:02.569 --> 00:25:02.949
So,

1021
00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:03.619
um.

1022
00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.760
That's how I got here.

1023
00:25:09.989 --> 00:25:10.689
Long story short.

1024
00:25:11.650 --> 00:25:13.489
There's so much more to her and

1025
00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:16.939
shout out to Republica Empanada who's the people that gave us,

1026
00:25:17.290 --> 00:25:17.729
well,

1027
00:25:18.410 --> 00:25:18.790
we

1028
00:25:18.930 --> 00:25:20.020
purchased fruit from,

1029
00:25:20.329 --> 00:25:20.560
um,

1030
00:25:20.569 --> 00:25:21.349
also

1031
00:25:21.489 --> 00:25:26.560
panaderiay Carneseria Estrella which is on horn and,

1032
00:25:26.569 --> 00:25:26.880
uh,

1033
00:25:26.890 --> 00:25:27.380
Broadway,

1034
00:25:27.530 --> 00:25:28.430
so check it out,

1035
00:25:28.849 --> 00:25:29.119
um,

1036
00:25:29.130 --> 00:25:29.949
and mangoes

1037
00:25:30.239 --> 00:25:33.290
on Main for the horchata the agu frescos.

1038
00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:34.709
Um,

1039
00:25:34.800 --> 00:25:35.300
and

1040
00:25:36.040 --> 00:25:36.670
here you go.

1041
00:25:50.810 --> 00:25:55.329
That song begins with the line of just manifesting everything in my whole life,

1042
00:25:55.369 --> 00:25:57.949
and I think I'm in a season now at 44 years old

1043
00:25:58.650 --> 00:25:59.449
that coming here,

1044
00:25:59.489 --> 00:25:59.930
what I,

1045
00:26:00.010 --> 00:26:00.130
oh,

1046
00:26:00.170 --> 00:26:00.489
excuse me,

1047
00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.280
coming here,

1048
00:26:01.609 --> 00:26:04.290
I carry with you an 8 year old little kid who

1049
00:26:04.290 --> 00:26:06.680
used to dream from his fire escape in the South Bronx,

1050
00:26:06.930 --> 00:26:07.969
and now 44,

1051
00:26:08.050 --> 00:26:08.209
you know,

1052
00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.550
35 years later,

1053
00:26:09.770 --> 00:26:10.349
uh,

1054
00:26:10.979 --> 00:26:13.599
manifesting those dreams that that young kid had on a fire escape.

1055
00:26:13.650 --> 00:26:14.760
So I bring that with you,

1056
00:26:15.040 --> 00:26:15.280
uh,

1057
00:26:15.290 --> 00:26:15.670
here,

1058
00:26:15.689 --> 00:26:16.099
um.

1059
00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:17.989
That little kid,

1060
00:26:18.040 --> 00:26:21.339
what he learned over the course of his life about storytelling

1061
00:26:21.560 --> 00:26:23.540
was he assumed it was always about remembering.

1062
00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:28.500
And remembering has to do with nostalgia and nostalgia has to do with loss

1063
00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:30.579
and what I realized those things are still

1064
00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:32.420
alive because we carry them wherever we are

1065
00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:35.250
and so part of our storytelling is about witnessing

1066
00:26:35.479 --> 00:26:37.180
and so I wanna pause for a moment

1067
00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:39.900
to think about the reda that we have here.

1068
00:26:40.369 --> 00:26:42.780
And just to pause for about maybe 30 seconds a minute and

1069
00:26:42.780 --> 00:26:46.079
just give an opportunity for you to bring those names into the space

1070
00:26:46.219 --> 00:26:46.459
of,

1071
00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:47.540
of who you carry,

1072
00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.569
those places you carry,

1073
00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:48.920
whether

1074
00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:49.800
it's physical,

1075
00:26:49.939 --> 00:26:50.930
logistic places,

1076
00:26:50.939 --> 00:26:51.719
or they're just

1077
00:26:51.939 --> 00:26:53.660
people who are living or have passed.

1078
00:26:53.739 --> 00:26:54.359
So for me,

1079
00:26:54.739 --> 00:26:57.180
I carry my grandfather Jamon Mendez.

1080
00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.260
I carry my father,

1081
00:26:58.300 --> 00:26:59.339
Jose Antonio Mendez,

1082
00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:00.199
I carry my kids.

1083
00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:01.359
So I open it up,

1084
00:27:01.560 --> 00:27:01.729
you know,

1085
00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:03.420
fill this space with those people that you carry.

1086
00:27:03.540 --> 00:27:03.739
I'll,

1087
00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:05.260
I'll pause for just 30 seconds.

1088
00:27:15.569 --> 00:27:16.869
As far as place,

1089
00:27:17.369 --> 00:27:18.890
I carry the South Bronx with me,

1090
00:27:19.089 --> 00:27:21.319
particularly the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx.

1091
00:27:21.810 --> 00:27:22.000
Uh,

1092
00:27:22.010 --> 00:27:22.770
as a young kid,

1093
00:27:22.810 --> 00:27:24.109
I was always enamored by

1094
00:27:24.449 --> 00:27:26.989
just MCs who used to rock the mic and always wanted to do that,

1095
00:27:27.010 --> 00:27:28.560
but never thought that it could be my,

1096
00:27:28.770 --> 00:27:29.910
what I do for a living.

1097
00:27:30.170 --> 00:27:31.609
And so my grandfather,

1098
00:27:31.650 --> 00:27:32.680
whose picture is over there,

1099
00:27:32.890 --> 00:27:35.079
he was a plumber who moved from Puerto Rico to the,

1100
00:27:35.290 --> 00:27:37.229
to the Lower East Side in the 50s

1101
00:27:37.369 --> 00:27:39.849
and he moved from the Lower East Side to the South Bronx because.

1102
00:27:39.949 --> 00:27:40.650
It was a better

1103
00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:42.310
uh environment for his kids.

1104
00:27:42.349 --> 00:27:43.199
And I always wonder

1105
00:27:43.310 --> 00:27:44.709
what the hell is going on in the Lower East

1106
00:27:44.709 --> 00:27:46.510
Side where South Bronx when the Bronx was burning,

1107
00:27:46.550 --> 00:27:47.839
was like a better movement,

1108
00:27:47.849 --> 00:27:48.160
uh,

1109
00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:48.550
you know,

1110
00:27:48.630 --> 00:27:49.369
for my family.

1111
00:27:49.790 --> 00:27:52.390
Um but that I grew up in the same block that

1112
00:27:52.390 --> 00:27:55.130
my mother's family uh who moved in the Bronx in the 70s

1113
00:27:55.270 --> 00:27:55.619
all grew.

1114
00:27:55.709 --> 00:27:58.089
So my family across the street from one another.

1115
00:27:58.410 --> 00:27:58.920
Um,

1116
00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:00.939
I want to start by just sharing

1117
00:28:01.219 --> 00:28:02.439
a poem that I have written,

1118
00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:02.849
uh,

1119
00:28:02.939 --> 00:28:05.060
when I began to exit academia.

1120
00:28:05.260 --> 00:28:07.410
I spent about two decades of my life in academia,

1121
00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.199
but always felt

1122
00:28:08.540 --> 00:28:10.239
that my voice was constrained without

1123
00:28:10.739 --> 00:28:12.560
the structures of how academia usually,

1124
00:28:12.869 --> 00:28:13.069
uh,

1125
00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:13.619
operates.

1126
00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:14.199
And so,

1127
00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:14.680
uh,

1128
00:28:14.699 --> 00:28:15.420
to have that freedom,

1129
00:28:15.459 --> 00:28:18.020
I kind of walked away from academia to give more privilege to that,

1130
00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:20.280
that 8 year old little kid who wanted to be an artist.

1131
00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:20.819
Uh,

1132
00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:22.300
one of my favorite writers,

1133
00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:22.800
poets,

1134
00:28:22.890 --> 00:28:23.569
artists is,

1135
00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:23.949
uh,

1136
00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:24.410
uh,

1137
00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.099
Joy Harjo,

1138
00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:27.380
and so she has this poem called Remember the Wind.

1139
00:28:27.739 --> 00:28:29.160
And so after Remember the Wind,

1140
00:28:29.270 --> 00:28:29.910
I wrote this,

1141
00:28:30.089 --> 00:28:30.709
this poem.

1142
00:28:30.979 --> 00:28:31.229
Uh,

1143
00:28:31.270 --> 00:28:31.689
it's

1144
00:28:31.949 --> 00:28:33.780
kind of based upon the life cycle of a dandelion.

1145
00:28:33.829 --> 00:28:34.750
It's available online,

1146
00:28:34.790 --> 00:28:36.250
it's published in Poetry magazine.

1147
00:28:36.589 --> 00:28:38.770
So the way I wrote it was the actual life cycle

1148
00:28:39.069 --> 00:28:40.030
of a dandelion.

1149
00:28:40.829 --> 00:28:42.510
So the story about impermanence,

1150
00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.569
mindfulness,

1151
00:28:44.069 --> 00:28:44.709
um,

1152
00:28:46.069 --> 00:28:47.930
And just pausing for a moment

1153
00:28:48.150 --> 00:28:49.630
to kind of think about everything that's going on.

1154
00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:52.369
I wrote this because I actually went back to get a master's

1155
00:28:52.550 --> 00:28:53.609
in creative writing,

1156
00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:53.890
uh,

1157
00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:56.449
10 years after I got my PhD because I just want to

1158
00:28:56.699 --> 00:28:57.790
grow as a storyteller,

1159
00:28:58.030 --> 00:28:59.150
but then COVID hit,

1160
00:28:59.270 --> 00:28:59.550
so I,

1161
00:28:59.630 --> 00:29:00.770
I knew what the experience

1162
00:29:00.910 --> 00:29:04.010
of my students was like of being a student during the pandemic where.

1163
00:29:05.089 --> 00:29:05.719
Just couldn't do it.

1164
00:29:05.770 --> 00:29:06.510
I got 3 kids.

1165
00:29:06.689 --> 00:29:07.209
I got life.

1166
00:29:07.290 --> 00:29:08.229
I got students

1167
00:29:08.530 --> 00:29:08.930
who are saying,

1168
00:29:09.010 --> 00:29:09.130
hey,

1169
00:29:09.209 --> 00:29:10.849
my best friend just tried to commit suicide,

1170
00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:12.569
but I can't help him because we're confined.

1171
00:29:12.849 --> 00:29:15.869
And so this was a poem that I wrote because I was actually in my yard

1172
00:29:15.969 --> 00:29:18.030
and I looked next to me and there was a dandelion.

1173
00:29:19.209 --> 00:29:20.189
Observation

1174
00:29:20.910 --> 00:29:21.800
Under the warm sun,

1175
00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:25.300
I laid a twill blanket across the lime and pear colored grass.

1176
00:29:26.089 --> 00:29:28.250
Near the edge of the blanket stood a dandelion.

1177
00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:31.790
I had seen plenty of dandelions before but never paid them much attention.

1178
00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:34.380
And then I think of Joy Harjo in her poem

1179
00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:35.280
Remember,

1180
00:29:35.780 --> 00:29:37.449
we are called to remember the plants,

1181
00:29:37.699 --> 00:29:38.219
trees,

1182
00:29:38.520 --> 00:29:39.079
animal life,

1183
00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:40.119
and all their tribes,

1184
00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:40.739
their families,

1185
00:29:40.780 --> 00:29:41.640
their histories too.

1186
00:29:42.260 --> 00:29:45.689
And so I remember a single dandelion plant will live up to 3 cycles.

1187
00:29:45.979 --> 00:29:47.910
That's 3 generations of dandelions.

1188
00:29:48.189 --> 00:29:51.189
Remembering a dandelion is not just remembering its life cycle,

1189
00:29:51.430 --> 00:29:53.489
but remembering every dandelion cycle

1190
00:29:53.829 --> 00:29:55.270
that has led to its germination.

1191
00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:56.229
Stage 1.

1192
00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:59.329
A dandelion begins life at the seedling.

1193
00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:02.099
Each seed is attached to a single feather called a pappus,

1194
00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:04.819
the hair-like bristles that help it fly.

1195
00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.390
Carried by the wind,

1196
00:30:06.469 --> 00:30:09.099
the a sea can drift up to 30 ft before

1197
00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:12.449
landing on soil and producing close to another 2000 dandelions.

1198
00:30:12.910 --> 00:30:15.349
Stage 28 to 15 weeks later,

1199
00:30:15.430 --> 00:30:16.579
the bud blossoms.

1200
00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:18.989
The round flower head looks like a little sun.

1201
00:30:19.349 --> 00:30:20.989
The dandelion's petals are bright yellow,

1202
00:30:21.069 --> 00:30:22.880
and their tooth-like shapes give them their name,

1203
00:30:23.050 --> 00:30:24.969
dent de leon or lion's tooth.

1204
00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:27.640
The plant's leaves grow closer to the ground,

1205
00:30:27.869 --> 00:30:30.000
spread 3 to 10 inches across the surface,

1206
00:30:30.239 --> 00:30:32.699
while the roots continue growing 6 to 18 inches deep.

1207
00:30:33.310 --> 00:30:34.099
Stage 3.

1208
00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:38.339
A mature dandelion plant produces about 12 flower stems.

1209
00:30:38.670 --> 00:30:41.770
Each grow about 12 inches tall and produces a single bud.

1210
00:30:42.189 --> 00:30:43.449
The flower stem has,

1211
00:30:43.890 --> 00:30:44.819
has about 7

1212
00:30:45.109 --> 00:30:49.030
days before it dies and becomes a puffball or what is commonly called a wish flower.

1213
00:30:49.510 --> 00:30:50.339
Stage 4,

1214
00:30:50.589 --> 00:30:51.790
the flower head closes,

1215
00:30:51.869 --> 00:30:53.540
the yellow petals fade in color,

1216
00:30:53.750 --> 00:30:57.130
and the bud reopens into a little tiny moon of white feathers.

1217
00:30:57.550 --> 00:31:00.949
A wish flower can produce up to 175 windborne seeds.

1218
00:31:01.439 --> 00:31:05.209
Folklore superstitions believe wish flowers are dreams or messages delivered

1219
00:31:05.349 --> 00:31:06.959
by the wind to our loved ones.

1220
00:31:07.530 --> 00:31:08.189
Reflection.

1221
00:31:09.170 --> 00:31:11.189
I remember the dandelion I sat next to.

1222
00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.209
In a few days,

1223
00:31:12.290 --> 00:31:14.630
its petals will fade and its bud will close.

1224
00:31:15.050 --> 00:31:16.790
When it reopens a wish flower,

1225
00:31:17.050 --> 00:31:18.489
and the wind will come and carry its

1226
00:31:18.489 --> 00:31:21.030
seeds off to begin another generation of dandelions.

1227
00:31:21.489 --> 00:31:22.650
In the story of the dandelion,

1228
00:31:22.729 --> 00:31:23.949
the wind is the knowing.

1229
00:31:24.530 --> 00:31:26.160
The wind's voice can be calming,

1230
00:31:26.369 --> 00:31:28.380
a soft breeze on a warm spring afternoon,

1231
00:31:29.310 --> 00:31:30.800
or unpredictable and violent,

1232
00:31:31.050 --> 00:31:31.689
una tormenta,

1233
00:31:31.760 --> 00:31:33.060
as Miabuguilta would say.

1234
00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:36.089
Sometimes we are the wind in the dandelion's life cycle.

1235
00:31:37.010 --> 00:31:37.319
Sometimes,

1236
00:31:37.410 --> 00:31:37.729
excuse me,

1237
00:31:37.810 --> 00:31:39.229
a breath of air making a wish,

1238
00:31:39.569 --> 00:31:43.369
watching the seas float away like miniature umbrellas that have folded inside out,

1239
00:31:43.810 --> 00:31:44.449
inside us,

1240
00:31:44.650 --> 00:31:45.130
out.

1241
00:31:45.449 --> 00:31:45.819
Note,

1242
00:31:46.170 --> 00:31:46.969
Harjo writes,

1243
00:31:47.089 --> 00:31:48.040
Remember the wind.

1244
00:31:48.410 --> 00:31:49.189
Remember her voice.

1245
00:31:49.810 --> 00:31:51.790
She knows the origin of this universe.

1246
00:31:52.520 --> 00:31:54.920
I wanna pause just to say thank you to the folks

1247
00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:57.849
who put together this event because this is an anomaly,

1248
00:31:58.119 --> 00:32:00.579
like it doesn't exist in many academic spaces

1249
00:32:00.719 --> 00:32:03.619
where you can have a genuine space where you just tell stories.

1250
00:32:04.150 --> 00:32:04.859
And so

1251
00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:08.020
it was one of the reasons why I walked away from academia

1252
00:32:08.280 --> 00:32:08.900
and uh.

1253
00:32:09.709 --> 00:32:10.969
The last semester

1254
00:32:11.189 --> 00:32:11.949
that I walked away,

1255
00:32:11.989 --> 00:32:13.609
I remember doing the annual review,

1256
00:32:13.739 --> 00:32:13.989
uh,

1257
00:32:14.020 --> 00:32:14.319
with,

1258
00:32:14.469 --> 00:32:14.630
you know,

1259
00:32:14.670 --> 00:32:15.770
the chair of my department,

1260
00:32:16.069 --> 00:32:18.810
and I had published a number of things that year of articles

1261
00:32:19.189 --> 00:32:19.410
and,

1262
00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:20.089
uh,

1263
00:32:20.099 --> 00:32:20.199
uh,

1264
00:32:20.229 --> 00:32:21.890
essays and different chapters,

1265
00:32:21.910 --> 00:32:23.729
and I published that that same poem

1266
00:32:24.030 --> 00:32:26.239
and when I was going through the my annual review,

1267
00:32:26.430 --> 00:32:27.069
the chair was like,

1268
00:32:27.109 --> 00:32:27.410
oh yeah,

1269
00:32:27.510 --> 00:32:28.989
and you published and the poem.

1270
00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:29.910
And for me,

1271
00:32:29.959 --> 00:32:30.540
I was saying

1272
00:32:30.719 --> 00:32:34.089
that and the poem will be read by more people than anything I ever produced.

1273
00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:36.329
And so that was what was held to me close.

1274
00:32:36.520 --> 00:32:38.420
And so here's another poem I wanna read.

1275
00:32:38.760 --> 00:32:40.060
It's called And the Poem.

1276
00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:42.479
This is for Doctors Darah De Mendez,

1277
00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:43.040
uh,

1278
00:32:43.109 --> 00:32:43.739
my wife,

1279
00:32:43.829 --> 00:32:44.150
uh,

1280
00:32:44.520 --> 00:32:46.780
three brilliant black women that have shaped

1281
00:32:46.930 --> 00:32:48.060
my artistry and my voice,

1282
00:32:48.560 --> 00:32:48.670
uh,

1283
00:32:48.760 --> 00:32:51.680
Doctor Alexis Pauling Gums and Doctor Tamika Cage Conley.

1284
00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:53.339
You can't visually see.

1285
00:32:53.859 --> 00:32:55.010
But the way it was written,

1286
00:32:55.180 --> 00:32:56.420
one of my other favorite poems,

1287
00:32:56.530 --> 00:32:56.650
uh,

1288
00:32:56.699 --> 00:32:56.969
poets,

1289
00:32:57.010 --> 00:32:57.260
excuse me,

1290
00:32:57.300 --> 00:32:58.410
is Lady Long Soldier,

1291
00:32:58.579 --> 00:33:00.500
and she plays with a lot of white space on

1292
00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:02.640
the page in terms of how she structures her language.

1293
00:33:03.060 --> 00:33:04.119
So one side

1294
00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:05.400
is either

1295
00:33:05.609 --> 00:33:06.459
conversations or Alexis,

1296
00:33:06.540 --> 00:33:08.099
Doctor Alexis Pauline Gunn's poems,

1297
00:33:08.140 --> 00:33:09.640
which is called The Shape of My Impact,

1298
00:33:09.969 --> 00:33:11.510
and on the other side is my response.

1299
00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:12.229
So I put

1300
00:33:12.380 --> 00:33:15.079
all three of them in conversation with me on the page.

1301
00:33:17.109 --> 00:33:17.510
Uh,

1302
00:33:17.750 --> 00:33:18.810
so I'll start off.

1303
00:33:19.109 --> 00:33:20.250
Have you written poetry?

1304
00:33:21.349 --> 00:33:22.560
I don't know if I can

1305
00:33:23.390 --> 00:33:24.469
If you can tell the truth,

1306
00:33:24.550 --> 00:33:25.719
then you can write poetry.

1307
00:33:26.469 --> 00:33:27.300
Truth is,

1308
00:33:27.390 --> 00:33:28.609
I needed to breathe,

1309
00:33:29.030 --> 00:33:30.170
a mindful breath,

1310
00:33:30.469 --> 00:33:31.500
eyes closed,

1311
00:33:31.750 --> 00:33:32.609
inhale

1312
00:33:32.989 --> 00:33:33.670
through your nose,

1313
00:33:33.750 --> 00:33:34.540
3 seconds,

1314
00:33:34.670 --> 00:33:35.140
hold,

1315
00:33:35.150 --> 00:33:35.979
2 seconds,

1316
00:33:36.069 --> 00:33:36.650
exhale

1317
00:33:37.069 --> 00:33:37.689
through your mouth,

1318
00:33:38.109 --> 00:33:38.869
4 seconds,

1319
00:33:39.069 --> 00:33:39.599
repeat.

1320
00:33:40.109 --> 00:33:41.729
Conscious breathing becomes awareness,

1321
00:33:41.989 --> 00:33:43.989
awareness becomes clarity in focus,

1322
00:33:44.030 --> 00:33:45.410
I see the shape of my impact.

1323
00:33:46.699 --> 00:33:49.479
The university was not created to save my life.

1324
00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:53.500
My department annual review read you publish X amount of articles,

1325
00:33:53.689 --> 00:33:54.859
X amount of chapters,

1326
00:33:54.969 --> 00:33:55.859
and a poem.

1327
00:33:56.380 --> 00:33:56.770
The universe,

1328
00:33:56.780 --> 00:34:00.680
the university is not about the preservation of a bright bright brown body

1329
00:34:00.859 --> 00:34:01.939
circa 88.

1330
00:34:02.099 --> 00:34:03.849
The exception of that and the poem.

1331
00:34:04.050 --> 00:34:04.760
8 years old,

1332
00:34:04.859 --> 00:34:06.010
consumed with what ifs,

1333
00:34:06.020 --> 00:34:08.100
and how about that and how about this,

1334
00:34:08.580 --> 00:34:12.000
would sit on a 3 by 5 rode on fire escape dreaming of possibility.

1335
00:34:14.149 --> 00:34:17.239
The university will use me alive and use me dead.

1336
00:34:17.600 --> 00:34:18.040
No.

1337
00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:21.458
Definition an active instance of refusing

1338
00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:23.580
examples of no in a sentence

1339
00:34:23.918 --> 00:34:24.360
no

1340
00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:26.860
because no is a complete sentence.

1341
00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:29.219
A no to them is a yes to you.

1342
00:34:29.600 --> 00:34:31.478
The university does not intend to love me.

1343
00:34:31.600 --> 00:34:32.679
I intend to love me.

1344
00:34:32.958 --> 00:34:34.780
The university does not know how to love me.

1345
00:34:34.918 --> 00:34:36.000
I know how to love me.

1346
00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:38.139
The university in fact does not love me.

1347
00:34:38.399 --> 00:34:39.639
The university,

1348
00:34:40.290 --> 00:34:40.389
you're,

1349
00:34:40.478 --> 00:34:41.228
if you're from the Bronx,

1350
00:34:41.239 --> 00:34:42.030
you get that one,

1351
00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:42.938
or New York.

1352
00:34:43.520 --> 00:34:44.020
In fact,

1353
00:34:44.179 --> 00:34:44.918
does love me,

1354
00:34:45.120 --> 00:34:46.570
but the universe does.

1355
00:34:46.879 --> 00:34:49.120
If the universe is energy and everything,

1356
00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:50.080
then I am

1357
00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:52.719
the manifestation of a constellation of stars whose

1358
00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:54.688
shape is not bound by space and time

1359
00:34:54.949 --> 00:34:56.580
circa 2022.

1360
00:34:56.918 --> 00:35:01.209
I was black on my block in front of the same house my Abulita purchased in the 1950s

1361
00:35:01.399 --> 00:35:03.129
after her mother Elda Mira Malave,

1362
00:35:03.239 --> 00:35:04.629
her father Tomamas Malabe,

1363
00:35:04.830 --> 00:35:06.280
and her brothers moved from Ayibonito,

1364
00:35:06.360 --> 00:35:07.620
Puerto Rico to the States.

1365
00:35:08.110 --> 00:35:11.679
Although my family no longer owns the property 660 Menaa Street,

1366
00:35:11.780 --> 00:35:12.030
Bronx,

1367
00:35:12.080 --> 00:35:12.399
New York,

1368
00:35:12.429 --> 00:35:13.739
10474

1369
00:35:13.879 --> 00:35:15.459
will forever be Virginia's house.

1370
00:35:17.649 --> 00:35:18.669
My universe,

1371
00:35:18.929 --> 00:35:19.770
my everything.

1372
00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:21.840
That and the poem

1373
00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.679
was needed to.

1374
00:35:25.389 --> 00:35:28.310
Was the therapy needed to heal generations of Mendezes,

1375
00:35:28.429 --> 00:35:28.939
Malaves,

1376
00:35:29.020 --> 00:35:31.979
Riveras all died knowing what the front entrance

1377
00:35:31.979 --> 00:35:34.149
of the First National City Bank looks like.

1378
00:35:34.389 --> 00:35:35.729
I told them from the inside,

1379
00:35:35.989 --> 00:35:36.709
it ain't shit.

1380
00:35:37.379 --> 00:35:40.639
That and the poem is a promise fulfilled to realize I am.

1381
00:35:41.419 --> 00:35:43.739
I told Juan I'm gonna cut into his time a little bit

1382
00:35:43.939 --> 00:35:46.139
only because I want to pay homage to my grandfather.

1383
00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:47.100
This was

1384
00:35:47.250 --> 00:35:48.709
a brief monologue that I,

1385
00:35:48.750 --> 00:35:48.979
I,

1386
00:35:49.060 --> 00:35:52.020
I had opened my play Sons of the Boogie with this past summer.

1387
00:35:52.060 --> 00:35:53.179
We had a stage reading.

1388
00:35:53.409 --> 00:35:53.860
Um,

1389
00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:54.760
before I begin,

1390
00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:57.189
I wanted to share another excerpt from Joy Hargo's,

1391
00:35:57.340 --> 00:35:57.449
uh,

1392
00:35:57.459 --> 00:36:00.979
poem Calling for the Spirit Back from wandering the Earth in its human feet.

1393
00:36:01.830 --> 00:36:03.530
The journey might take you a few hours,

1394
00:36:03.550 --> 00:36:03.870
a day,

1395
00:36:03.989 --> 00:36:04.310
a year,

1396
00:36:04.419 --> 00:36:04.989
a few years,

1397
00:36:05.070 --> 00:36:05.429
100,

1398
00:36:05.530 --> 00:36:05.989
1000,

1399
00:36:06.010 --> 00:36:06.709
or even more.

1400
00:36:06.989 --> 00:36:09.070
Let go of the pain you are holding in your mind,

1401
00:36:09.149 --> 00:36:09.750
your shoulders,

1402
00:36:09.830 --> 00:36:10.379
your heart,

1403
00:36:10.620 --> 00:36:11.739
all the way to your feet.

1404
00:36:11.949 --> 00:36:13.790
Let go of the pain of your ancestors to make

1405
00:36:13.790 --> 00:36:15.709
way for those who are heading in our direction.

1406
00:36:15.979 --> 00:36:17.209
Then you must do this

1407
00:36:17.350 --> 00:36:19.489
help the next person find their way through the dark.

1408
00:36:20.879 --> 00:36:21.689
On May 18th,

1409
00:36:21.770 --> 00:36:22.530
1970,

1410
00:36:22.610 --> 00:36:24.889
the eastern bluebird was adopted as the New York State

1411
00:36:24.889 --> 00:36:27.790
bird by a Senate vote of 144 to 1.

1412
00:36:28.750 --> 00:36:29.389
This is all true.

1413
00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:34.060
The one was Assemblyman Seymour Parsonna of the Bronx,

1414
00:36:34.340 --> 00:36:37.060
who stood in front of Senate and in all his Bronxness was like,

1415
00:36:37.179 --> 00:36:37.459
Nah,

1416
00:36:37.540 --> 00:36:37.820
son,

1417
00:36:37.899 --> 00:36:38.340
get

1418
00:36:38.620 --> 00:36:39.520
out of here.

1419
00:36:39.939 --> 00:36:41.139
He ain't quite say it like that,

1420
00:36:41.219 --> 00:36:41.939
but what he did say,

1421
00:36:41.989 --> 00:36:42.570
and I quote,

1422
00:36:42.860 --> 00:36:44.020
Who has seen a blue jay,

1423
00:36:44.139 --> 00:36:44.540
bluebird,

1424
00:36:44.610 --> 00:36:45.340
whatever they are,

1425
00:36:45.459 --> 00:36:48.379
except on greeting cards and people who live in rural America?

1426
00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:52.239
People who live in the Lower East Side and West Side and North Side and South Side,

1427
00:36:52.500 --> 00:36:54.600
How are we going to go along with a bird we never saw?

1428
00:36:54.969 --> 00:36:56.449
So as an alternative to the bluebird,

1429
00:36:56.520 --> 00:37:01.110
a 70-man posa suggested a bird which represented the city as familiar to the people.

1430
00:37:01.209 --> 00:37:01.969
Y'all want to take a guess?

1431
00:37:02.699 --> 00:37:03.439
What's that?

1432
00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:03.939
Yeah,

1433
00:37:04.060 --> 00:37:04.290
pigeon,

1434
00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:05.560
I got a tattoo right here.

1435
00:37:06.739 --> 00:37:07.219
He ain't,

1436
00:37:07.340 --> 00:37:07.780
excuse me.

1437
00:37:07.899 --> 00:37:08.110
Uh,

1438
00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:09.179
growing up in the Bronx,

1439
00:37:09.300 --> 00:37:11.120
pigeons were just a part of everyday life,

1440
00:37:11.699 --> 00:37:12.760
almost invisible.

1441
00:37:13.100 --> 00:37:14.060
But my mom's,

1442
00:37:14.540 --> 00:37:15.260
she saw them.

1443
00:37:16.290 --> 00:37:17.659
When my sister and I were kids,

1444
00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:20.600
Mommy used to tell us stories about this pigeon park in Old San Juan

1445
00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:22.409
called Parca de las Palomas.

1446
00:37:22.699 --> 00:37:24.580
She said the park sat at the top of the city wall

1447
00:37:24.580 --> 00:37:27.600
surrounded by shades of blueness from the ocean to the sky.

1448
00:37:28.260 --> 00:37:30.379
Her father would sell small bags of dried corn

1449
00:37:30.379 --> 00:37:32.429
to visitors so they could feed the hundreds of pigeons

1450
00:37:32.540 --> 00:37:33.800
that called the park home.

1451
00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:35.260
She would get all animated,

1452
00:37:35.300 --> 00:37:38.139
telling us how the pigeons will land all over you cimeto cabeza,

1453
00:37:38.250 --> 00:37:39.149
Porto braso.

1454
00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:43.129
When she wasn't helping her father,

1455
00:37:43.250 --> 00:37:44.949
she would climb the tallest tree in the park,

1456
00:37:45.330 --> 00:37:46.449
unable to fly herself,

1457
00:37:46.530 --> 00:37:49.229
that was the closest she could come to feeling as free as the birds.

1458
00:37:49.689 --> 00:37:51.580
Did you know before pigeons were called pigeons,

1459
00:37:51.610 --> 00:37:53.330
they were crowned with the name Rock Dove?

1460
00:37:53.729 --> 00:37:54.600
I kind of rock with that,

1461
00:37:54.669 --> 00:37:55.570
no pun intended.

1462
00:37:55.850 --> 00:37:57.870
The rock dove carries a sense of nobility,

1463
00:37:57.929 --> 00:37:58.689
like royalty.

1464
00:37:58.889 --> 00:38:02.070
They even look the part with their iridescent necks and sleek gray bodies

1465
00:38:02.209 --> 00:38:04.110
and those two black bars across their wings,

1466
00:38:04.129 --> 00:38:05.070
stripes of honor.

1467
00:38:05.459 --> 00:38:06.820
Mommy wasn't really religious,

1468
00:38:06.899 --> 00:38:08.860
but she believed rock dugs were good omens,

1469
00:38:09.260 --> 00:38:12.870
delivering messages to us from loved ones both far away and condidos.

1470
00:38:13.280 --> 00:38:14.750
She even tried to convince my sister and

1471
00:38:14.750 --> 00:38:16.760
I that the pigeons chilling on the fire escape

1472
00:38:16.899 --> 00:38:19.939
right outside our kitchen window had actually flown all the way from

1473
00:38:19.939 --> 00:38:22.239
Puerto Rico to the South Bronx just to pay her a visit.

1474
00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:25.959
I read Rock does navigate using landmarks and roads,

1475
00:38:26.110 --> 00:38:29.379
rarely getting lost when returning home because of their exceptional memory.

1476
00:38:29.750 --> 00:38:31.659
They can fly up to 100 miles without food,

1477
00:38:32.040 --> 00:38:33.659
only occasionally stopping for water.

1478
00:38:34.120 --> 00:38:34.520
In fact,

1479
00:38:34.600 --> 00:38:36.919
the longest recorded journey lasted 55 days,

1480
00:38:37.040 --> 00:38:38.500
covering over 7000 miles

1481
00:38:38.760 --> 00:38:40.100
from London to South Africa.

1482
00:38:40.600 --> 00:38:42.820
I guess there was some truth to mommy's visitors.

1483
00:38:43.399 --> 00:38:45.919
Mommy would say pigeons are symbolos de voluntar Fuerte,

1484
00:38:46.129 --> 00:38:47.469
symbols of strong will,

1485
00:38:47.679 --> 00:38:49.040
and if one were to cross your path,

1486
00:38:49.080 --> 00:38:50.459
it's a sign to keep flying.

1487
00:38:51.030 --> 00:38:51.949
Despite their will,

1488
00:38:52.229 --> 00:38:54.620
sometimes a rock dove loses its way during a storm,

1489
00:38:54.909 --> 00:38:55.699
or as mommy put it,

1490
00:38:55.790 --> 00:38:56.639
un tormenta.

1491
00:38:57.110 --> 00:38:59.739
Force winds and heavy rains can disorient a rock dove,

1492
00:39:00.030 --> 00:39:01.489
making it hard to find its way home.

1493
00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:02.189
Thank you.

1494
00:39:20.350 --> 00:39:20.909
So

1495
00:39:22.010 --> 00:39:24.169
I'm gonna talk about my connection to water.

1496
00:39:24.250 --> 00:39:25.010
I wrote something.

1497
00:39:25.090 --> 00:39:25.929
Let's see how this goes,

1498
00:39:26.050 --> 00:39:26.370
all right?

1499
00:39:27.340 --> 00:39:29.580
In the words of Pablo Neruda,

1500
00:39:29.790 --> 00:39:32.449
I need the sea because it teaches me.

1501
00:39:32.790 --> 00:39:35.469
In the story and reflection of fragments,

1502
00:39:35.550 --> 00:39:39.429
I will speak about water and how it connects to my notion of home.

1503
00:39:40.169 --> 00:39:41.810
Rumors and misgivings,

1504
00:39:42.209 --> 00:39:44.530
community and information lesson

1505
00:39:45.010 --> 00:39:45.600
wind

1506
00:39:46.129 --> 00:39:46.570
creeks,

1507
00:39:46.739 --> 00:39:47.199
coves,

1508
00:39:47.250 --> 00:39:47.879
turtles,

1509
00:39:48.050 --> 00:39:48.840
seagulls,

1510
00:39:49.090 --> 00:39:52.290
imaginary and real soccer games that may or may not have

1511
00:39:52.290 --> 00:39:55.879
been played on the sand that particular day in California beaches,

1512
00:39:56.290 --> 00:39:57.139
we were there.

1513
00:39:58.060 --> 00:39:59.310
And I'm still there.

1514
00:39:59.479 --> 00:40:01.110
We are all still there.

1515
00:40:01.620 --> 00:40:02.649
Between the city,

1516
00:40:02.790 --> 00:40:03.580
Los Angeles,

1517
00:40:03.590 --> 00:40:04.500
where I grew up,

1518
00:40:04.750 --> 00:40:05.750
the Pacific Ocean,

1519
00:40:05.830 --> 00:40:07.649
there was something called childhood.

1520
00:40:07.989 --> 00:40:08.949
In that childhood,

1521
00:40:08.989 --> 00:40:11.310
in the in between in the nepanla space,

1522
00:40:11.669 --> 00:40:15.260
I also had a place called the sofa with flowers all over it,

1523
00:40:15.270 --> 00:40:16.790
as my mom told me

1524
00:40:17.189 --> 00:40:18.709
about this place called Mexico,

1525
00:40:18.790 --> 00:40:20.350
the state called Sinaloa,

1526
00:40:20.629 --> 00:40:22.790
and the beautiful creeks that she grew up in.

1527
00:40:23.570 --> 00:40:25.770
Then we also did something called Take a bus.

1528
00:40:25.850 --> 00:40:27.919
It was called the RTD bus.

1529
00:40:28.129 --> 00:40:30.659
It was in that RTD bus in LA

1530
00:40:31.090 --> 00:40:33.719
that we packed plastic sandwich bags.

1531
00:40:33.969 --> 00:40:35.050
My sister Cindy,

1532
00:40:35.169 --> 00:40:35.290
me,

1533
00:40:35.449 --> 00:40:36.010
Juanito,

1534
00:40:36.090 --> 00:40:36.520
my mom,

1535
00:40:36.530 --> 00:40:37.139
Cellia,

1536
00:40:37.580 --> 00:40:38.639
sometimes my dad Juan,

1537
00:40:38.840 --> 00:40:40.969
and we went to the place called the Ocean.

1538
00:40:41.330 --> 00:40:42.810
In this place called the Ocean,

1539
00:40:42.889 --> 00:40:43.850
they had names.

1540
00:40:44.120 --> 00:40:45.840
There were places called Hermosa Beach,

1541
00:40:45.959 --> 00:40:46.879
Hermosa Beach,

1542
00:40:46.969 --> 00:40:47.729
I should say it right.

1543
00:40:48.120 --> 00:40:49.949
There was a place called Manhattan Beach.

1544
00:40:50.120 --> 00:40:51.860
There was a place called Long Beach.

1545
00:40:52.120 --> 00:40:53.060
My sister,

1546
00:40:53.419 --> 00:40:53.909
me,

1547
00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:57.300
we would see these waves crash into the glare

1548
00:40:57.439 --> 00:41:00.260
as we smelled our coconut sunblock.

1549
00:41:00.800 --> 00:41:05.439
I remember this one day I found a boogie board in the city of Long Beach in the sand,

1550
00:41:05.639 --> 00:41:07.979
and I swam without knowing how to swim.

1551
00:41:08.399 --> 00:41:10.969
I rode a wave without knowing how to surf

1552
00:41:11.399 --> 00:41:14.300
with a billabong t-shirt that was missing letters.

1553
00:41:14.750 --> 00:41:16.429
I was both from Compton,

1554
00:41:16.550 --> 00:41:17.149
from Lynnwood,

1555
00:41:17.229 --> 00:41:18.100
from the hood,

1556
00:41:18.510 --> 00:41:20.090
and I was also alone

1557
00:41:20.389 --> 00:41:22.110
in a big crowd at sea.

1558
00:41:22.989 --> 00:41:23.969
So I remember

1559
00:41:25.020 --> 00:41:25.449
You know,

1560
00:41:25.540 --> 00:41:28.320
I used to go to this place called the Mayfair Pool.

1561
00:41:28.500 --> 00:41:30.169
It was maybe in Bellflower,

1562
00:41:30.379 --> 00:41:32.379
maybe it was a city called Lakewood.

1563
00:41:33.060 --> 00:41:34.810
I remember having one quarter,

1564
00:41:34.939 --> 00:41:35.590
Unaorra,

1565
00:41:36.179 --> 00:41:38.620
and we biked and biked and biked for

1566
00:41:38.620 --> 00:41:41.969
miles into the summer California nostalgia of youth,

1567
00:41:42.260 --> 00:41:44.399
and we would get on these things called diving boards,

1568
00:41:44.409 --> 00:41:46.479
and we would like jump off the diving boards

1569
00:41:46.580 --> 00:41:47.959
and we crash into the water,

1570
00:41:48.090 --> 00:41:51.580
but it wasn't about the water being 8 ft 6 ft 7 ft 5 ft,

1571
00:41:51.739 --> 00:41:53.060
it was about going home.

1572
00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:57.429
Right there at 8 ft is where we learned about community.

1573
00:41:57.610 --> 00:41:59.560
Right there at 8 ft is where we joked about

1574
00:41:59.560 --> 00:42:01.879
who was gonna splash water into each other's eyes.

1575
00:42:02.239 --> 00:42:03.580
Right there at 8 ft,

1576
00:42:03.879 --> 00:42:04.780
we wrote a journal.

1577
00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:06.600
It was a journal of friendship,

1578
00:42:06.669 --> 00:42:07.760
a journal of community,

1579
00:42:07.830 --> 00:42:10.040
and a journal of love and metaphor.

1580
00:42:10.899 --> 00:42:13.419
It was then without knowing um

1581
00:42:13.760 --> 00:42:16.679
that someday I would end up in these oceans

1582
00:42:16.979 --> 00:42:18.669
as I looked at the sunset,

1583
00:42:18.899 --> 00:42:19.209
you know,

1584
00:42:19.260 --> 00:42:22.100
I remember that we could not afford food at the

1585
00:42:22.100 --> 00:42:24.350
Long Beach Pier when my father was a cook.

1586
00:42:24.500 --> 00:42:25.919
We didn't have that kind of money,

1587
00:42:26.580 --> 00:42:27.060
but

1588
00:42:27.300 --> 00:42:30.560
I remember the middle and upper class people that would eat lobster

1589
00:42:30.909 --> 00:42:34.050
and it didn't matter because we had Walgreens sandwich bags.

1590
00:42:34.100 --> 00:42:34.800
That was enough.

1591
00:42:35.340 --> 00:42:35.899
That was enough.

1592
00:42:35.939 --> 00:42:37.189
We didn't need to eat lobster.

1593
00:42:38.459 --> 00:42:39.199
Um,

1594
00:42:39.459 --> 00:42:43.659
I also think about the power of that in creating my notion of the underground,

1595
00:42:43.780 --> 00:42:44.739
the outsider.

1596
00:42:44.820 --> 00:42:46.939
We were always near a pier.

1597
00:42:47.020 --> 00:42:48.379
We were parallel humans,

1598
00:42:48.500 --> 00:42:49.719
parallel lives

1599
00:42:49.939 --> 00:42:50.739
to the insider,

1600
00:42:50.810 --> 00:42:51.699
to the outsider.

1601
00:42:52.679 --> 00:42:53.159
Um,

1602
00:42:53.360 --> 00:42:54.639
but it was in this space,

1603
00:42:54.719 --> 00:42:56.389
the sea where we had joy,

1604
00:42:56.679 --> 00:42:59.459
where we examine and change ourselves in ways,

1605
00:42:59.919 --> 00:43:00.280
um,

1606
00:43:00.439 --> 00:43:03.280
that create a knowledge outside of professional norms.

1607
00:43:03.520 --> 00:43:04.979
We can get access there

1608
00:43:05.310 --> 00:43:06.090
to the sentence,

1609
00:43:06.189 --> 00:43:07.040
to emotion,

1610
00:43:07.239 --> 00:43:09.189
to any lesson that came our way.

1611
00:43:09.439 --> 00:43:12.419
We would make friends at the beach with the seashells.

1612
00:43:12.560 --> 00:43:15.600
We would walk into foggy beaches that had dogs

1613
00:43:15.600 --> 00:43:18.239
running around cause dogs were part of it too.

1614
00:43:18.620 --> 00:43:19.820
It was biodiverse.

1615
00:43:19.889 --> 00:43:20.600
It was sustainable,

1616
00:43:21.280 --> 00:43:21.639
right?

1617
00:43:21.899 --> 00:43:24.739
It was us running ahead of ourselves into who we

1618
00:43:24.739 --> 00:43:26.800
were thinking we were one day going to be.

1619
00:43:27.419 --> 00:43:28.939
But when I think about water,

1620
00:43:29.100 --> 00:43:30.639
I also think of abuelita.

1621
00:43:31.020 --> 00:43:32.219
I think about language.

1622
00:43:32.260 --> 00:43:33.219
I think about memory.

1623
00:43:33.250 --> 00:43:34.179
I think about loss.

1624
00:43:34.219 --> 00:43:35.449
I think about gain.

1625
00:43:35.810 --> 00:43:39.699
I think about the little cheeseburgers we ate when we shared it among many friends,

1626
00:43:39.850 --> 00:43:40.169
Manny,

1627
00:43:40.260 --> 00:43:40.620
Edgar,

1628
00:43:40.699 --> 00:43:41.020
Hector,

1629
00:43:41.139 --> 00:43:41.459
me.

1630
00:43:42.090 --> 00:43:43.090
But it was water,

1631
00:43:43.100 --> 00:43:43.860
the sunburned,

1632
00:43:43.939 --> 00:43:47.399
the bike ride back to the apartment complex in North Long Beach,

1633
00:43:47.780 --> 00:43:49.479
that bike ride mattered too,

1634
00:43:50.139 --> 00:43:50.340
you know,

1635
00:43:50.419 --> 00:43:52.820
we had stickers that we put on the bike and we had

1636
00:43:52.820 --> 00:43:55.560
these cans that we would put on the tires to make noise.

1637
00:43:55.939 --> 00:43:57.260
I still remember that,

1638
00:43:57.500 --> 00:43:57.860
right?

1639
00:43:58.280 --> 00:44:00.199
So we talked and talked and talked

1640
00:44:00.469 --> 00:44:00.929
and.

1641
00:44:01.550 --> 00:44:04.550
I'm gonna read a little bit of uh Pablo Neruda's poem

1642
00:44:04.550 --> 00:44:06.780
about the sea that maybe kind of wheelves in here too.

1643
00:44:07.030 --> 00:44:07.189
You know,

1644
00:44:07.350 --> 00:44:08.530
Pablo Neruda says,

1645
00:44:08.830 --> 00:44:10.699
I need the sea because it teaches me.

1646
00:44:10.750 --> 00:44:11.260
I said that,

1647
00:44:11.270 --> 00:44:11.590
right?

1648
00:44:11.830 --> 00:44:14.290
I don't know if I learned music or awareness,

1649
00:44:14.350 --> 00:44:17.110
if it's a single wave or a vast existence.

1650
00:44:17.590 --> 00:44:20.550
I only know that it has a harsh voice and it's shining.

1651
00:44:20.750 --> 00:44:23.070
It's a suggestion of fishes and ships.

1652
00:44:23.429 --> 00:44:24.169
The fact

1653
00:44:24.389 --> 00:44:25.219
is that I,

1654
00:44:25.510 --> 00:44:27.689
until I fall asleep in some magnetic way.

1655
00:44:28.070 --> 00:44:30.709
I move in the university of waves.

1656
00:44:31.030 --> 00:44:32.919
I'll paraphrase it not not read too much longer with that,

1657
00:44:33.909 --> 00:44:34.350
um,

1658
00:44:34.510 --> 00:44:36.929
so I know that I still have to wake up

1659
00:44:37.510 --> 00:44:39.389
and smell the polluted air of the city,

1660
00:44:39.469 --> 00:44:40.709
whatever city I live in.

1661
00:44:40.830 --> 00:44:43.709
I know that I still turn on the television news and that I

1662
00:44:43.709 --> 00:44:46.830
have to eat and work and supposedly work out to stay alive,

1663
00:44:47.110 --> 00:44:47.429
right?

1664
00:44:47.830 --> 00:44:51.290
Yet this is all part of the sea or the water's movement.

1665
00:44:51.350 --> 00:44:52.429
We are connected.

1666
00:44:52.590 --> 00:44:53.790
We are associated.

1667
00:44:54.030 --> 00:44:57.030
This is the classroom wall that opens up to the seaweed

1668
00:44:57.310 --> 00:44:59.370
that will sometimes ride up to the shore

1669
00:44:59.550 --> 00:45:02.489
and that sometimes I eat because my wife buys it at Costco,

1670
00:45:02.850 --> 00:45:03.189
right?

1671
00:45:04.770 --> 00:45:05.899
She taught me how to eat seaweed.

1672
00:45:07.399 --> 00:45:07.820
So,

1673
00:45:08.360 --> 00:45:10.429
home to me is like a compass,

1674
00:45:10.469 --> 00:45:10.639
you know,

1675
00:45:10.800 --> 00:45:11.149
home,

1676
00:45:11.320 --> 00:45:11.760
the sea,

1677
00:45:11.840 --> 00:45:13.239
the song was about water,

1678
00:45:13.320 --> 00:45:13.629
right?

1679
00:45:14.120 --> 00:45:16.399
The sea and the water for me provided some of the

1680
00:45:16.399 --> 00:45:19.419
sense of place that brought me in a sense of vulnerability

1681
00:45:19.600 --> 00:45:20.419
and awareness.

1682
00:45:20.439 --> 00:45:21.020
And maybe

1683
00:45:21.399 --> 00:45:23.360
I think the sea also provided for me a

1684
00:45:23.360 --> 00:45:26.780
lens into being a disillusioned person and a pessimist

1685
00:45:27.310 --> 00:45:30.260
at times because eventually the bus has to go home

1686
00:45:30.760 --> 00:45:33.050
and the rituals of evaluations,

1687
00:45:33.080 --> 00:45:34.080
to Jason's point.

1688
00:45:34.439 --> 00:45:34.600
Uh,

1689
00:45:34.649 --> 00:45:38.219
the rituals of pain and results are always down the street.

1690
00:45:38.320 --> 00:45:41.429
They're always there at your house and at your job down the block,

1691
00:45:41.719 --> 00:45:43.679
but the sea remains a reminder

1692
00:45:43.879 --> 00:45:47.879
that it is also near and it asks very little of me.

1693
00:45:48.379 --> 00:45:49.090
It does not,

1694
00:45:49.229 --> 00:45:51.429
the sea does not confine me to state standards.

1695
00:45:51.510 --> 00:45:53.610
It also says enough

1696
00:45:53.780 --> 00:45:55.090
from the view of the cliff.

1697
00:45:55.350 --> 00:45:56.300
I lean on a tree,

1698
00:45:56.350 --> 00:45:57.149
I can look down.

1699
00:45:57.209 --> 00:45:59.409
I can make decisions as I look at the past

1700
00:45:59.510 --> 00:46:01.820
and as I look at a little boat in the distance,

1701
00:46:02.070 --> 00:46:04.810
the boat gets closer and closer and so does the seagull.

1702
00:46:05.620 --> 00:46:07.120
This pendulum afar,

1703
00:46:07.659 --> 00:46:12.179
close are reminders of how art and education and the everyday

1704
00:46:12.419 --> 00:46:13.570
has this sense of movement.

1705
00:46:13.580 --> 00:46:14.709
It's never static.

1706
00:46:15.129 --> 00:46:16.360
Anything will eventually

1707
00:46:16.899 --> 00:46:20.040
have this little paper in my hand that served as a little ticket

1708
00:46:20.340 --> 00:46:21.439
to get on the bus.

1709
00:46:21.780 --> 00:46:22.459
It's movement,

1710
00:46:22.540 --> 00:46:22.840
right?

1711
00:46:24.159 --> 00:46:25.000
How am I doing on time?

1712
00:46:25.689 --> 00:46:26.149
OK.

1713
00:46:27.090 --> 00:46:27.729
Similarly,

1714
00:46:27.850 --> 00:46:28.310
um,

1715
00:46:28.449 --> 00:46:33.250
I remember many years ago taking a good friend to my mom's hometown in rural Mexico

1716
00:46:33.489 --> 00:46:36.570
and as our grandparents gathered to dance through the night,

1717
00:46:36.810 --> 00:46:39.310
we tried driving trucks up dirt hills

1718
00:46:39.530 --> 00:46:40.689
as horses raced.

1719
00:46:40.754 --> 00:46:42.675
And seemed to go nowhere in seconds.

1720
00:46:43.034 --> 00:46:45.935
I remember my friend told me that it was time to go back to the US.

1721
00:46:46.354 --> 00:46:47.544
I remember that day.

1722
00:46:47.784 --> 00:46:52.774
I remember that day because in his 1983 Toyota Celica we hit the open road

1723
00:46:53.004 --> 00:46:54.514
and in the state of Sonora,

1724
00:46:54.635 --> 00:46:54.955
he said,

1725
00:46:54.995 --> 00:46:55.935
I'm tired.

1726
00:46:56.155 --> 00:46:57.534
And when we got tired

1727
00:46:57.715 --> 00:46:58.895
I remember

1728
00:46:59.475 --> 00:47:01.764
um in that open road to Sonora

1729
00:47:02.024 --> 00:47:06.495
that we rented a unit for one night as we almost got bit by a German shepherd.

1730
00:47:07.169 --> 00:47:11.449
And I remember the owner was on the 2nd floor and she threw a key to us and said,

1731
00:47:11.530 --> 00:47:12.649
your room's over there.

1732
00:47:14.409 --> 00:47:17.899
As the dog was barking and barking and I was on I think on the,

1733
00:47:18.060 --> 00:47:19.330
what's that thing called the front of the car,

1734
00:47:19.540 --> 00:47:20.000
the hood.

1735
00:47:20.709 --> 00:47:22.570
I eventually made my way into the car

1736
00:47:22.909 --> 00:47:24.370
and I remember we said,

1737
00:47:24.389 --> 00:47:25.709
let's not go into the room yet.

1738
00:47:25.949 --> 00:47:27.790
We went into an abandoned resort.

1739
00:47:27.949 --> 00:47:28.909
I opened the gate.

1740
00:47:28.989 --> 00:47:32.310
He took his tripod and cameras out cause he said one day he's gonna work in Hollywood,

1741
00:47:32.510 --> 00:47:33.889
so he takes pictures of everything.

1742
00:47:34.270 --> 00:47:34.810
And

1743
00:47:35.229 --> 00:47:37.550
as I made it to the back and opened the gate.

1744
00:47:38.429 --> 00:47:39.040
Um,

1745
00:47:40.270 --> 00:47:41.149
As I made it to the gate,

1746
00:47:41.199 --> 00:47:41.590
there it is.

1747
00:47:41.840 --> 00:47:42.719
As I made it to the back,

1748
00:47:42.840 --> 00:47:44.179
I saw a private beach.

1749
00:47:44.760 --> 00:47:48.030
And I remember the secluded way in which the seals

1750
00:47:48.030 --> 00:47:50.800
joined us at these very low prices called free.

1751
00:47:52.280 --> 00:47:55.219
I remember the feeling of being at a port kinda like the song.

1752
00:47:55.399 --> 00:47:57.199
I remember how time stood still.

1753
00:47:57.280 --> 00:47:58.060
I remember

1754
00:47:58.320 --> 00:48:02.120
the anxiety I felt because of the adrenaline of the drive

1755
00:48:02.280 --> 00:48:05.750
and how I was supposed to always be doing quote unquote something,

1756
00:48:06.080 --> 00:48:08.739
but in fact it was here in the water

1757
00:48:08.840 --> 00:48:11.520
where doing something was happening on its own.

1758
00:48:11.760 --> 00:48:13.320
It was where joy got an electric.

1759
00:48:13.550 --> 00:48:14.100
Of credit,

1760
00:48:14.320 --> 00:48:17.300
it was where I saw my childhood in black and white photography.

1761
00:48:17.439 --> 00:48:21.979
It was where I imagined what it would mean to be still and yet always move

1762
00:48:22.159 --> 00:48:24.939
all the places I continue to go to and have moved to

1763
00:48:25.120 --> 00:48:25.639
the sea,

1764
00:48:25.719 --> 00:48:26.520
the cove,

1765
00:48:26.879 --> 00:48:29.500
similar places like that are like statue dedications

1766
00:48:30.260 --> 00:48:30.639
for you,

1767
00:48:30.739 --> 00:48:31.159
for me,

1768
00:48:31.199 --> 00:48:33.020
and for all those that walked

1769
00:48:33.239 --> 00:48:34.679
so that I could be there that day.

1770
00:48:36.209 --> 00:48:38.050
I guess I'm closing here almost.

1771
00:48:38.439 --> 00:48:39.449
Someone told me,

1772
00:48:39.459 --> 00:48:39.830
uh,

1773
00:48:39.850 --> 00:48:40.469
once

1774
00:48:41.050 --> 00:48:41.550
that

1775
00:48:41.770 --> 00:48:43.530
I moved to this place called the desert.

1776
00:48:44.350 --> 00:48:45.389
But that was Monday.

1777
00:48:45.540 --> 00:48:46.719
Maybe that was Tuesday,

1778
00:48:47.000 --> 00:48:48.760
maybe that was Wednesday,

1779
00:48:49.080 --> 00:48:51.760
and on some Saturdays I can still find sand.

1780
00:48:51.800 --> 00:48:53.330
I could still find creeks.

1781
00:48:53.639 --> 00:48:56.080
Some days I could still drive to the Pacific Ocean.

1782
00:48:56.399 --> 00:48:58.139
Some days I am reminded

1783
00:48:58.280 --> 00:49:00.709
that the desert too has water and growth.

1784
00:49:01.040 --> 00:49:04.040
I am reminded from the top of Papago Park that the planes,

1785
00:49:04.159 --> 00:49:07.300
the planes that I sense that I can almost grab as they depart

1786
00:49:07.560 --> 00:49:08.500
Sky Harbor

1787
00:49:08.879 --> 00:49:10.439
may be going to LA.

1788
00:49:11.010 --> 00:49:12.429
I am in that plane.

1789
00:49:12.689 --> 00:49:14.790
I am in that arrival and departure.

1790
00:49:15.010 --> 00:49:15.520
Together,

1791
00:49:15.530 --> 00:49:17.629
there's a sense of unresolved transience

1792
00:49:17.879 --> 00:49:18.550
that is home.

1793
00:49:19.050 --> 00:49:21.229
I like how the interior of the Saguaro

1794
00:49:21.370 --> 00:49:23.389
is filled with tissue that holds water.

1795
00:49:23.979 --> 00:49:25.590
In a 120 degree heat,

1796
00:49:25.629 --> 00:49:29.100
it has hidden water and stands and stands and stands.

1797
00:49:29.310 --> 00:49:31.939
It has intrinsic water systems that are here too.

1798
00:49:32.229 --> 00:49:35.610
A saguaro can hold over 1000 gallons of water.

1799
00:49:35.909 --> 00:49:37.060
Fighting against drought.

1800
00:49:37.469 --> 00:49:41.449
Water offers subversive aspects of continuity all around us.

1801
00:49:42.040 --> 00:49:42.219
In,

1802
00:49:42.310 --> 00:49:43.270
in the end for me,

1803
00:49:43.389 --> 00:49:43.459
uh,

1804
00:49:43.540 --> 00:49:44.389
when I think about home,

1805
00:49:44.510 --> 00:49:45.370
water and homes,

1806
00:49:45.469 --> 00:49:45.669
and,

1807
00:49:45.750 --> 00:49:46.300
um,

1808
00:49:46.310 --> 00:49:47.169
storytelling.

1809
00:49:47.939 --> 00:49:51.379
And the the idea of water has long provided a catharsis,

1810
00:49:51.699 --> 00:49:52.699
a set of memories,

1811
00:49:52.770 --> 00:49:55.899
a palette of memories for what could be in places that offer,

1812
00:49:55.979 --> 00:49:59.239
offer multiple meanings and messages and ongoing lessons.

1813
00:49:59.699 --> 00:50:02.500
And even as recently when I took my kids to Disneyland,

1814
00:50:02.739 --> 00:50:05.500
when I saw a gentleman in Laguna Beach struggling to get on

1815
00:50:05.500 --> 00:50:08.020
a rock to take a picture for his family in Iran,

1816
00:50:08.500 --> 00:50:09.030
you know,

1817
00:50:09.379 --> 00:50:10.379
I could still be close,

1818
00:50:10.459 --> 00:50:10.770
you know,

1819
00:50:11.020 --> 00:50:15.500
people or teachings still are reachable in this place called the sea.

1820
00:50:15.790 --> 00:50:19.389
In the unknowing aspects of mystery beyond what I could see at shore,

1821
00:50:19.550 --> 00:50:21.010
I'm always learning something.

1822
00:50:21.800 --> 00:50:21.810
So,

1823
00:50:22.840 --> 00:50:22.919
in,

1824
00:50:23.040 --> 00:50:23.360
in,

1825
00:50:23.439 --> 00:50:24.000
in conclusion,

1826
00:50:24.080 --> 00:50:25.320
I'm open to the songs.

1827
00:50:25.439 --> 00:50:26.629
I am open to listen,

1828
00:50:26.800 --> 00:50:27.560
to move with it,

1829
00:50:27.679 --> 00:50:28.060
wonder,

1830
00:50:28.229 --> 00:50:28.449
learn,

1831
00:50:28.520 --> 00:50:29.219
and reflect

1832
00:50:29.709 --> 00:50:31.780
the more I get an opportunity to go home.

1833
00:50:32.479 --> 00:50:32.840
So,

1834
00:50:33.010 --> 00:50:33.600
thank you.

1835
00:50:38.260 --> 00:50:41.709
Can we do a last word of everybody on the panel of what

1836
00:50:41.850 --> 00:50:42.300
home is

1837
00:50:42.449 --> 00:50:43.090
to you?

1838
00:50:43.290 --> 00:50:44.540
Home to me is.

1839
00:50:45.709 --> 00:50:48.199
When I go home and visit my parents.

1840
00:50:49.419 --> 00:50:50.419
And spend a good

1841
00:50:51.169 --> 00:50:51.409
You know,

1842
00:50:51.530 --> 00:50:52.510
go to church

1843
00:50:52.729 --> 00:50:53.590
with them and

1844
00:50:53.780 --> 00:50:55.419
be able to drive them and

1845
00:50:56.010 --> 00:50:56.629
then go

1846
00:50:56.770 --> 00:50:59.729
break bread with them and see some of my old friends,

1847
00:51:00.000 --> 00:51:00.320
uh,

1848
00:51:00.370 --> 00:51:02.090
when I go back to Tucson.

1849
00:51:02.169 --> 00:51:06.830
I was at homecoming for the UFA although I graduated from ASU.

1850
00:51:07.530 --> 00:51:08.629
They dogged me on that.

1851
00:51:09.090 --> 00:51:09.399
I,

1852
00:51:09.489 --> 00:51:10.090
uh.

1853
00:51:11.639 --> 00:51:15.360
A couple of weeks ago and I got to see a lot of my friends and they was like,

1854
00:51:15.479 --> 00:51:15.600
man,

1855
00:51:15.719 --> 00:51:16.520
we used to do this,

1856
00:51:16.639 --> 00:51:17.610
that's home to me.

1857
00:51:17.840 --> 00:51:19.090
We used to do that

1858
00:51:19.520 --> 00:51:20.250
and then I'm a,

1859
00:51:20.320 --> 00:51:22.820
I'm the type of guy that I go by the old house.

1860
00:51:24.149 --> 00:51:27.669
I go by where I used to stay and I have memories and uh

1861
00:51:28.070 --> 00:51:29.169
home to me

1862
00:51:29.510 --> 00:51:31.399
and what really touched me

1863
00:51:31.709 --> 00:51:32.080
is Ms.

1864
00:51:32.229 --> 00:51:35.129
Lugo lived two doors down from me

1865
00:51:35.550 --> 00:51:37.889
and as I was going by my old house.

1866
00:51:39.439 --> 00:51:40.889
Her and uh Marty,

1867
00:51:41.090 --> 00:51:42.129
which is her son.

1868
00:51:43.340 --> 00:51:44.479
We're still in the neighborhood.

1869
00:51:45.310 --> 00:51:46.750
And before I got out of the car,

1870
00:51:46.870 --> 00:51:47.189
she said,

1871
00:51:47.300 --> 00:51:47.909
Anthony.

1872
00:51:48.639 --> 00:51:50.399
And she's 90-something years old,

1873
00:51:50.479 --> 00:51:51.500
so that's home to me.

1874
00:51:53.129 --> 00:51:53.489
OK.

1875
00:51:53.689 --> 00:51:56.929
Home is being able to go to Thanksgiving dinner with your parents.

1876
00:51:57.010 --> 00:51:58.709
I still got both my parents,

1877
00:51:59.169 --> 00:51:59.810
uh,

1878
00:52:01.100 --> 00:52:02.399
I get to go down there.

1879
00:52:04.379 --> 00:52:05.139
And that's home.

1880
00:52:06.219 --> 00:52:06.629
Um,

1881
00:52:06.709 --> 00:52:07.510
it's a great question.

1882
00:52:07.620 --> 00:52:10.090
I think immediately I thought of

1883
00:52:10.510 --> 00:52:12.889
my grandmother and I thought of her laughter,

1884
00:52:13.429 --> 00:52:16.010
and that I can close my eyes and I can hear it.

1885
00:52:16.469 --> 00:52:16.969
Um,

1886
00:52:17.070 --> 00:52:19.350
and then I started to recognize all everyone else's,

1887
00:52:19.629 --> 00:52:20.469
if I can close my eyes,

1888
00:52:20.510 --> 00:52:21.350
I can hear my mom,

1889
00:52:21.469 --> 00:52:22.510
I can hear my dad,

1890
00:52:22.790 --> 00:52:24.270
I can hear my theos that have passed,

1891
00:52:24.350 --> 00:52:25.149
I can hear my brothers,

1892
00:52:25.179 --> 00:52:26.050
and I think,

1893
00:52:26.389 --> 00:52:27.010
um,

1894
00:52:27.399 --> 00:52:27.590
yeah,

1895
00:52:27.669 --> 00:52:30.090
that's like the best place

1896
00:52:30.709 --> 00:52:30.899
to,

1897
00:52:31.040 --> 00:52:33.110
to have that feeling that feels like home to me,

1898
00:52:33.189 --> 00:52:34.070
is my grandma's lap.

1899
00:52:35.780 --> 00:52:37.560
And just to echo of that I think home

1900
00:52:38.100 --> 00:52:39.439
for me in the last

1901
00:52:39.580 --> 00:52:40.110
year or so,

1902
00:52:40.179 --> 00:52:42.639
just being able to practice the idea of mindfulness and being

1903
00:52:43.129 --> 00:52:43.659
a moment in,

1904
00:52:43.739 --> 00:52:43.899
in,

1905
00:52:43.979 --> 00:52:44.780
in the now.

1906
00:52:45.139 --> 00:52:46.959
And so wherever I feel free,

1907
00:52:47.340 --> 00:52:48.300
when I think about as a kid,

1908
00:52:48.340 --> 00:52:49.239
that freedom of

1909
00:52:49.459 --> 00:52:50.360
whether it's riding

1910
00:52:50.489 --> 00:52:51.879
bikes through the block or just

1911
00:52:52.060 --> 00:52:52.379
hanging out,

1912
00:52:52.419 --> 00:52:54.649
I think that's why Juan and I connected because we both were,

1913
00:52:54.899 --> 00:52:55.540
I was at Duke,

1914
00:52:55.620 --> 00:52:56.840
he was at UNC Chapel Hill,

1915
00:52:56.899 --> 00:52:57.219
but

1916
00:52:57.459 --> 00:52:58.860
our friendship started out because we would

1917
00:52:58.860 --> 00:53:01.179
talk crap about Lakers and the Knicks and

1918
00:53:01.419 --> 00:53:03.659
I don't want to say nothing about the Yankees and Dodgers because whatever,

1919
00:53:03.820 --> 00:53:04.439
whatever.

1920
00:53:05.669 --> 00:53:05.989
Whatever,

1921
00:53:06.070 --> 00:53:06.669
but you know,

1922
00:53:06.870 --> 00:53:09.100
we brought humanity to what was lacking,

1923
00:53:09.110 --> 00:53:11.030
I think in the academic spaces we were.

1924
00:53:11.110 --> 00:53:11.330
So

1925
00:53:11.870 --> 00:53:13.479
Juan a lot reminded me of my friends,

1926
00:53:13.550 --> 00:53:15.149
although we grew up on two different coasts

1927
00:53:15.429 --> 00:53:16.449
about just being free,

1928
00:53:16.780 --> 00:53:16.949
you know,

1929
00:53:17.070 --> 00:53:17.189
in,

1930
00:53:17.250 --> 00:53:17.659
in those moments.

1931
00:53:17.729 --> 00:53:18.629
I think wherever I feel free,

1932
00:53:18.669 --> 00:53:19.020
even,

1933
00:53:19.229 --> 00:53:19.750
even tonight,

1934
00:53:19.830 --> 00:53:20.449
I'm not

1935
00:53:20.909 --> 00:53:21.429
from this area,

1936
00:53:21.469 --> 00:53:23.489
this is my 3rd time visiting because of Juan,

1937
00:53:23.750 --> 00:53:25.590
but just being able to share my stories and bring

1938
00:53:25.590 --> 00:53:27.649
that to you feeling free in this moment just feels,

1939
00:53:27.820 --> 00:53:27.989
you know,

1940
00:53:28.110 --> 00:53:28.500
feels right,

1941
00:53:28.629 --> 00:53:29.149
feels good.

1942
00:53:29.989 --> 00:53:30.000
Yeah,

1943
00:53:30.969 --> 00:53:31.919
before I read my story,

1944
00:53:31.969 --> 00:53:32.250
I was like,

1945
00:53:32.370 --> 00:53:32.489
man,

1946
00:53:32.610 --> 00:53:34.729
I played basketball in my 40s and sitting in these

1947
00:53:34.729 --> 00:53:36.790
chairs remind me that I played basketball in my 40s.

1948
00:53:37.290 --> 00:53:37.629
I was like,

1949
00:53:37.889 --> 00:53:38.330
everything's hurting.

1950
00:53:38.510 --> 00:53:38.520
Hey,

1951
00:53:38.560 --> 00:53:38.820
Claudia,

1952
00:53:38.889 --> 00:53:39.570
you got that band.

1953
00:53:39.649 --> 00:53:40.290
What's that thing called?

1954
00:53:40.409 --> 00:53:40.570
That,

1955
00:53:40.689 --> 00:53:41.429
that green one.

1956
00:53:42.129 --> 00:53:42.209
I,

1957
00:53:42.310 --> 00:53:42.320
I,

1958
00:53:42.330 --> 00:53:43.250
I'll go to you right now.

1959
00:53:43.709 --> 00:53:44.129
Maybe we go.

1960
00:53:44.810 --> 00:53:45.239
Um,

1961
00:53:45.250 --> 00:53:45.479
I,

1962
00:53:45.610 --> 00:53:46.250
I think.

1963
00:53:47.070 --> 00:53:47.510
What's it called?

1964
00:53:47.550 --> 00:53:48.020
It's posture.

1965
00:53:48.070 --> 00:53:49.110
I heard something about posture,

1966
00:53:49.189 --> 00:53:49.429
yeah,

1967
00:53:49.629 --> 00:53:50.209
that's right.

1968
00:53:50.590 --> 00:53:50.979
Um,

1969
00:53:50.989 --> 00:53:51.370
I think,

1970
00:53:51.510 --> 00:53:53.020
I think home for me is,

1971
00:53:53.030 --> 00:53:53.610
um,

1972
00:53:53.629 --> 00:53:56.770
I don't wanna hyper-intellectualize this cause it's actually in my book.

1973
00:53:57.310 --> 00:53:58.639
I'm not trying to sell nothing but

1974
00:54:01.179 --> 00:54:01.379
Uh,

1975
00:54:01.459 --> 00:54:01.979
oh man,

1976
00:54:02.060 --> 00:54:02.179
I,

1977
00:54:02.260 --> 00:54:02.580
I can't,

1978
00:54:02.659 --> 00:54:03.100
if you know me,

1979
00:54:03.179 --> 00:54:03.260
I,

1980
00:54:03.340 --> 00:54:04.139
I changed the topic,

1981
00:54:04.219 --> 00:54:04.379
uh,

1982
00:54:04.540 --> 00:54:05.340
barrio nerds,

1983
00:54:05.419 --> 00:54:08.100
Latino males schooling and the beautiful struggle struggle,

1984
00:54:08.149 --> 00:54:08.879
and you being here,

1985
00:54:09.179 --> 00:54:10.939
I know not to get academic because he's like,

1986
00:54:10.979 --> 00:54:11.020
oh,

1987
00:54:11.100 --> 00:54:12.060
he starts rolling his eyes.

1988
00:54:12.739 --> 00:54:12.879
But,

1989
00:54:12.899 --> 00:54:13.060
um,

1990
00:54:13.290 --> 00:54:13.820
in the book,

1991
00:54:13.899 --> 00:54:16.879
I basically say that home is not only a physical space,

1992
00:54:16.889 --> 00:54:17.570
but it's a,

1993
00:54:17.820 --> 00:54:18.850
it's a space of,

1994
00:54:18.860 --> 00:54:19.479
um,

1995
00:54:20.560 --> 00:54:20.580
uh,

1996
00:54:20.600 --> 00:54:20.729
oh,

1997
00:54:20.780 --> 00:54:21.010
is that,

1998
00:54:21.060 --> 00:54:21.500
is that,

1999
00:54:21.540 --> 00:54:21.860
uh.

2000
00:54:22.219 --> 00:54:22.580
Uh,

2001
00:54:22.699 --> 00:54:23.020
yeah,

2002
00:54:23.139 --> 00:54:23.260
that,

2003
00:54:23.340 --> 00:54:24.080
that's a sign.

2004
00:54:24.379 --> 00:54:26.659
I told her that that speaker reminds me of supermarkets

2005
00:54:26.659 --> 00:54:28.500
in Mexico when you're about to get some cookies,

2006
00:54:28.820 --> 00:54:29.659
they get a speaker going,

2007
00:54:29.739 --> 00:54:30.050
but

2008
00:54:30.459 --> 00:54:31.179
home to me,

2009
00:54:31.419 --> 00:54:32.209
according to the book,

2010
00:54:32.540 --> 00:54:33.139
according to the book,

2011
00:54:33.219 --> 00:54:33.659
is a,

2012
00:54:33.770 --> 00:54:36.199
a place that's uh not just a physical space,

2013
00:54:36.260 --> 00:54:37.800
but it's also an emotional place,

2014
00:54:38.340 --> 00:54:39.679
uh intellectual space,

2015
00:54:39.860 --> 00:54:41.020
a cultural place.

2016
00:54:41.139 --> 00:54:42.959
It's a place that provides me information

2017
00:54:43.379 --> 00:54:44.500
like a compass,

2018
00:54:44.820 --> 00:54:44.989
right?

2019
00:54:45.100 --> 00:54:45.209
So,

2020
00:54:45.219 --> 00:54:46.479
I don't necessarily have to be

2021
00:54:46.620 --> 00:54:48.500
in my hometown to be in my hometown.

2022
00:54:48.699 --> 00:54:50.719
Kinda like what I was getting at with the water metaphor.

2023
00:54:51.139 --> 00:54:51.699
So that's home.