Vol. 8 No. 2 Utah, Las Americas Spring / Primavera 2009

v
CHICANA(O)/LATINA(O) STUDENT NEWSPAPER
ENCEREMOS
Vol. 8 No. 2 Utah, Las Americas Spring / Primavera 2009
U of U members travel to inauguration, p.14 & 15 ◆
Latino /a punk y hip hop cultura, p.12 & 13 ◆
◆ ¿ Quienes son los Brown Berets? p.18
◆ What are the “Homeboys” up to? p.17

Page 2
Editorial
La palabra “seguridad” es un término
usado de más. ¿Que es lo que significa?
Geográficamente, es un lugar seguro, en donde
uno puede sentirse cómodo y aceptado con la
libertad de decir lo que sea, sin ser juzgado. Para
muchos estudiantes que proceden de entornos
desfavorecidos en la Universidad de Utah, el
Centro de Asuntos Estudiantiles Étnicos (CESA)
era justo lo que necesitaban. En nuestra edición de
otoño del 2008, publicamos una historia acerca del
traslado de CESA a un nuevo centro general, que
supuestamente debía de proveer e incrementar la
accesibilidad hacia los estudiantes.
El nuevo sitio es nada más y menos que un
“lugar,” el cual carece de servicios y comodidades
que originalmente habían sido prometidas. Como
por ejemplo, un nuevo laboratorio mejorado de
computación, más espacio, y un salón donde los
grupos estudiantiles puedan tener privacidad
para reunirse. Ahora tenemos un salón pequeño
sin privacidad alguna, el cual es adyacente a
un laboratorio disfuncional de computación,
donde las reuniones de grupos estudiantiles son
Page 2
• Estudiantes preocupados por CESA
• Living in exile
Page 3
• Viviendo en exilio
• A safe space in CESA?
Page 4
• Venceremos Premio: Pendejo Award
Page 5
• Pigs in the Capital cartoons
• The death of ethnic student
support at the University of Utah
Page 6
• Activists unite against antiimmigrant
legislation
Page 7
• Activistas combaten legislaciones antiinmigrantes
Page 8
• Las mejores panaderías/ The best
panaderías
• La historia de “Panadería México”/
A history of “Panadería México”
Page 9
• Poems by Face Movement high
200 South Central Campus Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
Tel:(801)585-1067 Email: venceremosutah@yahoo.com
Website: http:/web.utah.edu/venceremos/html
Editor in Chief: Marisela Garza
Copy Editor: Victoria Morales
Guerrilleros/as: Asaeli Junior Matelau, Pablo Martinez,
Richard Diaz, Jarred Martinez
Artwork: Lola Reyes
Guest Guerrilleros/as: Mestizo Arts & Activism Youth
Researchers, FACE Movement Poets, Wendolens Ruano,
Karla Motta, Jose Rodriguez, Xuanito Espinoza-Cuellar,
Isaac Giron, Valery Pozo, Erica Richardson, Dr. Enrique
Alemán, Diego Alemán, Richard Nkasnah, Belem Holguin,
Michelle Medina, Rosalia Villegas
Translators: Pablo Martinez, Richard Diaz , Alonso Reyna
Advisors: Luciano Marzulli & Sonya M. Alemán
Thanks to all the faculty, staff and community members that have advocated for this publication.
Spring 2009
¿Un espacio seguro?
interrumpidas por estudiantes haciendo sus deberes
y viceversa. El laboratorio de computación no es
lo que esperábamos. Muchas de las computadoras
no funcionan y los estudiantes ya no tienen acceso
a una impresora. Para estudiantes que poseen
computadoras portátiles, les resulta inútil tenerlas
por que en el salón casi ni se encuentra conexión
inalámbrica de Internet.. Este “lugar” si es nuevo,
pero no mejor. Verdaderamente, ni si quiera se
siente como un espacio para los estudiantes.
El día 23 de Abril del 2009, el Dr. Octavio
Villalpando, Asociado Vicepresidente de Equidad
y Diversidad , y la Dra. Jennifer Williams Molock,
Asistenta Vicepresidencial, se dirigieron a los
estudiantes en el salón de CESA con respecto a las
muchas preocupaciones que hemos tenido. El Dr.
Villalpando se disculpó con los estudiantes por
no habernos incluido en la transición que CESA
y la Oficina de Equidad y Diversidad han estado
haciendo durante los últimos dos años. Ambos el
y la Dra. Molock escuchaban a los estudiantes dar
sugerencias para mejorar CESA y tenemos la gran
esperanza que este dialogo vaya a ayudar a alcanzar
What’s inside:
school students
Page 10
• Financial aid information
• Información sobre como pagar la
matricula de la Universidad para futuros
estudiantes
• Venceremos workshop participants
share their experiences
• Participantes comparten sus experiencias
en la Conferencia Anual de MEChA
Page 11
• Conference on Social Awareness
promotes social justice
• Conferencia sobre la Conciencia Social
promueve justicia
Page 12 & 13
• Learn about Chicana/o Punk &
Hip-Hop Cultura
Page 14 & 15
• Witness to history/ Testigos de la
historia: Presidential inauguration
Page 16
• Latina/o students: Dreams
deferred/ Un sueño postergado
Page 17
vENCEREMOS
• Homeboys comic strip
• 2009 Raza graduation
Page 18
• Decolonize your mind: The Brown
Berets
Page 19
• FACE Movement: Uniting
communities/Uniendo comunidades
Page 20
• Art history to art reality/ De historia
de arte a arte real
Page 21
• Bridge Over Barriers project/ El
proyecto de Bridge Over Barriers
Page 22
• HBSA is a place for Latina/o
business students
Page 23
• A performance for social justice
• Mechistas rally for immigrant
rights/ Mechistas se unen para defender
los derechos de inmigrantes
Page 24
• United By The Struggles We Face
• La Pesadilla
Editorial Policy:
Venceremos is a bilingual Chicana/Chicano student publication founded
in 1993 and is recognized as official campus print media by the University
of Utah Publications Council. Venceremos is published once every fall and
spring semester.
We are a free, non profit, alternative campus newspaper dedicated to
representing and serving the Chicana/o community by advocating for social
change and equality in its content and news production on the everyday issues
that affect Chicana(o)/Latina(o) students and the working-class Chicana(o)/
Latina(o) community, as well as their struggles with racial, gender, and
economic inequality.
We encourage letters from all of our readers, but reserve the right to edit correspondence
for grammar, style, clarity and length.
Unsigned editorials represent a majority opinion of the Venceremos staff.
The views expressed in Venceremos represent the views of individual writers
and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Utah or its Board
of Regents.
un equilibrio entre el cuerpo administrativo y las
necesidades que los estudiantes tienen, pero por
ahora solo el tiempo lo dirá
Desde un principio, CESA a funcionado como
un tipo de refugio, en donde los estudiantes de
color y de minoría étnica han escapado momentos
de tensión y discriminación racial. Como por
ejemplo, durante estas campañas electorales del
gobierno estudiantil de la Universidad de Utah,
cuando el partido "GO" hizo publico, comentarios
racistas, afectando específicamente a la comunidad
Latina. Este lugar también nos ah servido durante
las sesiones legislativas, que tanto nos han hecho
sentir oprimidos.. Fue siempre donde nos juntamos
cuando no nos sentíamos cómodos y bienvenidos
en la Universidad. Entendemos que los cortes
del presupuesto no son nada divertidos, ni que
tampoco es un proceso fácil, pero esperamos
que la Universidad de Utah, y legislatura estatal
que le da fondos a esta institución vean el valor
de proveernos con los recursos adecuados para
que CESA se una vez un lugar para ayudar a los
estudiantes prosperar.
Living in
exile
By Xuanito Espinoza-
Cuellar
Guerrillera
The Middle East is like a
bloody wound in the earth’s
womb. We understand
the pain of our Palestinian
brothers and sisters, since we,
too, have been displaced; in
our collective recollection,
there exist bitter memories of
our Latin American people
being displaced from the
soil we belonged to. From
the Mexican-American
war, to the constant antidemocrat/anti-revolutionary
interventions from right
wing imperialist, we know
what it feels like to be an
exiled community—living
as refugees in the land of our
ancestors.
This past December, the
Israeli army attacked the Gaza
Strip. Thousands of bombs
descended over defenseless
people, schools, homes, and
hospitals while the rest of the
world kept silent, including
us, the immigrant community
of the United States. Our
silence feeds the genocide
we have become accomplices
of; when people give their
backs to injustices, oppressive
forces become stronger. The
colonialist repression has
not concluded, and we can
see in Palestine the results
of decades of intervention
on behalf of the West whose
ambition surpasses any
restriction to exercise their
imperialist power.
Particularly, I’m also in

A shared experience with our Palistinian brothers and sisters
favor for the existence of
Israel, since the Jewish
people also have a history of
displacement, still, I’m not in
favor of the oppression of the
Palestinian people. I believe
in the right of our Palestinian
sisters and brothers to return,
like they once did (before
European intervention) to
a state where both countries
lived as a single or double
entity unified under a
relationship of equality and
respect. The solution is not
found in the expulsion of
a group of people, nor in
the extinction of another,
instead it is found through
integration, dialogue,
compassion, and mutual
understanding.
It is important to
understand as well that
with European colonialist
intervention, racist ideologies
were spread which sought to
submit Palestinian people to
European/White supremacist
control. Groups of hundreds
and thousands of Europeans
invaded Palestinian
Oriente próximo es como una llaga sangrante que le duele al mundo. Como
gente desplazada, nosotra/os la/os Latinoamericanos podemos comprender
el dolor de nuestra/os hermanos palestinos, ya que en nuestra memoria
colectiva se encuentran esos recuerdos amargos de ser desplazados de la
tierra a la cual pertenecemos. Desde la guerra México-Americana hasta las
constantes intervenciones anti-democráticas/contra-revolucionarias por
parte del imperialismo derechista; sabemos lo que se siente ser un pueblo en
diáspora. Viviendo como refugiados en la tierra a la que pertenecen nuestros
antepasados.
El pasado mes de diciembre la Franja de Gaza fue atacada por el ejercito
israelí, millares de bombas cayeron sobre gente indefensa, escuelas, casas,
hospitales mientras gran parte del mundo callaba, incluso nosotra/os la
comunidad inmigrante en los Estados Unidos. Guardamos ese silencio
cómplice que alimenta el genocidio, cuando los pueblos del mundo voltean
la cara ante la injusticia, la fuerza opresora se vuelve mas fuerte. La represión
colonialista no ha terminado y en Palestina podemos ver el resultado de
décadas de intervencionismo por parte de los intereses de occidente a quienes
no les importa pasar por encima de quien sea con tal de ejercer su poder
imperialista.
En particular estoy a favor del derecho de existencia del estado de Israel, ya
que el pueblo judío también tiene una historia de desplazo, mas no estoy a
favor de la opresión del pueblo palestino. Creo en el derecho al retorno de
cientos de miles de hermana/os palestinos y se que como en un tiempo lo
hicieron (antes del intervencionismo europeo) pueden volver a vivir como un
pueblo o dos pueblos unificados con una relación de igualdad y respeto. La
solución no esta en la expulsión de un pueblo, ni en la desaparición de otro, si
no en la integración, el dialogo, la compasión y el entendimiento.
Es importante también entender que con el intervencionismo y el
colonialismo europeo vinieron ideologías racistas que tenían como fin la
supremacía europea/blanca sobre el pueblo palestino. Grupos de cientos de
miles de europeos llegaron e invadieron terreno palestino convirtiendo a un
territory, changing the once
autonomous Palestinian
people into a group of
refugees; foreigners in their
own land, sound familiar?
It is important to recognize
that within both sides,
there exist extremist groups
willingly able to use violence
as a tool to repress and
terrorize. Many drown
themselves in idealism, others
in exclusivist thought and in
the end no one has solutions,
just inhumane suggestions
of death and displacement.
It is time to stop thinking of
segregation and assimilation
as viable solutions. We need
to start questioning the
colonialist/imperialist thought,
which for centuries has
physically, mentally, spiritually
and intellectually chained
us. We are still victims of the
borders that pierce our souls,
borders that are encrusted
in our bodies. I lobby for a
collective conscious, which will
guide us to the true Promised
Land, outside of this desert
of uncertainty and pain; I ask
Page 3
opinion
for a worldwide movement
of compassion for the haveless,
and responsibility for the
have-mores. I ask for the will to
imagine a strange world, where
borders are bridges, and walls
are open doors, and where
coexistence is possible and not
just a utopian dream. Let us
be the prisoners of our own
liberty.
Liberty for Palestine!
Stop anti-semitism!
Long live our countries, but
may they live in collaboration
and harmony.
Una experencia compartida con nuestros hermana/os Palestinos
Por Xuanito Espinoza-Cuellar
Guerrillera
safe space is a place where you
A feel welcome and accepted and
free to speak without being judged or
looked down on. For many University
of Utah students of color, the Center
for Ethnic Student Affairs (CESA)
was just that place. In fall 2008,
Venceremos published a story about
the relocation of CESA, which,
among many things, was supposed
to provide more accessibility for
students.
The new space is just that—new
and shiny—but it lacks some of
the amenities that were originally
promised, such as an improved
computer lab, more space, and a
separate room for student groups
to have privacy when they hold
their meetings. In CESA, we now
have a small lounge with no privacy
that is adjacent to a dysfunctional
computer lab where student group
meetings can interfere with people
doing homework in the lab and vice
versa. The computer lab lacks Wi-Fi
connection, some of the computers
don’t work and students no longer
have access to a printer. The CESA
space is new, but it is not improved;
in fact, it doesn’t even feel like a space
that belongs to the students.
On April 23, 2009 Dr. Octavio
Villalpando, the Associate Vice
President of Equity and Diversity
and Dr. Jennifer Williams Molock,
A safe space?
It is important to recognize that within both sides, there
exist extremist groups willingly able to use violence as a
tool to repress and terrorize.
*****
Es importante reconocer que dentro de los dos lados
existen grupos extremistas dispuestos a utilizar la
violencia como medio de represión y terror.
Image Credit: www.arabamericannews.com
pueblo autónomo en un grupo de refugiados, como si fueran extranjeros en su
propia tierra, ?suena familiar?
Es importante reconocer que dentro de los dos lados existen grupos
extremistas dispuestos a utilizar la violencia como medio de represión y terror.
Muchos se ahogan dentro del idealismo otros en el exclusionismo y al fin
nadie tiene soluciones, solo sugerencias inhumanas de muerte y desplazo. Es
tiempo de dejar de pensar que la segregación y la asimilación son soluciones.
Necesitamos cuestionar el estilo de pensamiento colonialista/imperialista que
por tantos siglos nos ha mantenido como esclavos, no solo en lo físico si no
también en lo mental, espiritual, intelectual. Aun vivimos victimas de esas
fronteras que nos atraviesan el alma, esas fronteras incrustadas en nuestros
cuerpos. Para salir y para entrar aun tenemos que pedir permiso. Pido una
conciencia colectiva que nos guíe hacia la verdadera tierra prometida, fuera
de este desierto de incertidumbre y dolor, pido un sentir mundial que tenga
compasión por los menos y responsabilice a los mas. Pido que dejemos las
jaretas y nos atrevamos a imaginar un mundo raro, donde las fronteras se
convierten en puentes, donde las murallas son puertas abiertas y donde la
convivencia es posible y no un sueño utópico. Seamos la/os pionera/os de
nuestra propia libertad.
¡Libertad para Palestina!
¡Alto al anti-semitismo!
Y que vivan los pueblos, pero que vivan juntos y en armonía.
Assistant VP of Equity and Diversity
addressed students in the CESA
lounge regarding the many concerns
we have had. Dr. Villalpando
apologized to students for not
including us in the transition that
CESA and the Office of Equity and
Diversity has been going through
over the past 2 years. Both he and Dr.
Molock listened as students gave their
suggestions for the improvement
of CESA and we strongly hope this
dialogue will help in fostering a
balance between both administrative
and student needs, but as for now
only time will tell.
The CESA lounge is where students
of color have always gone to rally
together like when the ASUU
elections took a racist turn and the
GO Party was caught using offensive
ads at the expense of our Latina/o
community. It’s where we go when
we decide to take action against the
Utah legislature’s oppressive agenda.
It’s where we go to feel safe on a
campus that is not always welcoming.
We understand that budget cuts are
not fun, nor is it an easy process but
we expect the larger University of
Utah and the state legislature that
funds this institution to see the
value in providing the appropriate
resources so CESA can once again
be a nourishing place for students to
thrive.
Primavera 2009

Page 4
nE w s
Premio al PENDEJO del año
El primer ganador de los premios Venceremos, Chris Buttars
Por Pablo Martinez
Guerrillero
Esta columna esta dedicada
para destacar a personajes
importantes de nuestra
sociedad. Durante la edición
primaveral publicaremos a
alguien que a impactado a
nuestra gente negativamente,
mientras que en el otoño,
premiaremos a alguien
quien ha demostrado
liderazgo y contribuciones
humanitarias.
******
This column recognizes
important figures of our
society, whomake both
negative and positive
contributions. During our
spring issue, we will select a
person who has negatively
impacted our people, while
for our fall issue, we will
reward individuals who
have demonstrated great
leadership and contributions
to our community.
And the Pendejo award goes to….
It’s an honor to present Venceremos’
first Pendejo award to someone
so incredibly deserving—a politician
who clearly represents Venceremos
readers, someone who not only has
contributed to our society, but also to
the entire world.
He has discriminated against African
Americans, the Muslim religion and
the gay community. Last year, this
senator praised the African-American
community by rejecting an initiative
saying, “this baby is Black. It’s a
dark and ugly thing.” This, of course,
moved the African-American community
so much that the NAACP
called for his “honorary” resignation.
During this legislation, this senator
bravely voiced his opinion about
the gay community, which has been
continuously marginalized in this
country through laws limiting their
Spring 2009
El Senador Buttars durante esta legislacion, aceptando este gran premio al pendejo del año
Senador Buttars during this past legislation, accepting the Pendejo of the year award.
Y el premio para el más Pendejo
va para…
Es un honor presentar este
galardón, a alguien tan increíble, a un
político que nos representa a todos, a
alguien quien no solo contribuye a la
sociedad sino que a todo el planeta.
El ha discriminado contra los
Afro-Americanos, la religión musulmana
y a la comunidad Gay. El año
pasado, este senador elogio a la comunidad
Negra al rechazar una iniciativa
de ley diciendo “¡Este bebé es negro,
lo juro!. Es una cosa obscura y horrible”.
Esto conmovió a la comunidad
Afro-Americana, tanto que la Asocia-
civil rights. He expressed the following:
“Homosexuality will always be
a sexual perversion. They’re mean.
They want to talk about being nice.
They’re the meanest buggers I have
ever seen!”
Adding to this distinguished
pendejo’s resume, his added to the
above mentioned outstanding contribution
to humanity, by saying that
the “radical gay movement” is “probably
the greatest threat to America”
ción Nacional para el Progreso de los
Negros exigió su honoraria “renuncia.”
Sus distinciones, durante esta legislación,
definitivamente recalcaron
su honestidad y valentía que un líder
debe de demostrar, especialmente por
ser del partido Racista “Republicano”,
el cual es el “más” representativo de las
personas quienes han sentido la dureza
de la opresión y discriminación.
Durante esta legislación, el senador
tuvo el coraje de opinar acerca de
la comunidad Gay, quienes han sido
marginalizados en Estados Unidos
por leyes que le quitan sus derechos
comparing them to the “Muslims,”
(reassuring us that all Muslims are
terrorists, in case that had slipped our
minds). He never ceases to go above
and beyond the call of pendejo.
His distinctions during the past
two year’s legislative sessions definitely
stress the honesty and bravery
that a leader should demonstrate. He
best exemplifies the high standards of
racism found in the Republican Party,
which happens to be the party that
civiles. El expreso su honrosa opinión
diciendo “¡La homosexualidad será
siempre una perversión sexual. Ellos
son tan malvados, dicen ser amables,
pero son los más infames de todos los
maricas. Los he visto!”
Agregando al currículo de este
gran estúpido, durante la misma
contribución a la humanidad y
halagos a las diferentes comunidades
que menciono en el ultimo párrafo,
también manifestó que el movimiento
Gay constituye “probablemente la
mayor amenaza a Estados Unidos,
comparándola a la amenaza Islámica,
un halago a la cultura islámica (como
si todos fueran terroristas.)
El 28 de febrero del 2009, mas de
mil personas llenaron las afueras del
capitolio de Salt Lake City, no para
protestar sino para festejar y honrar
a este gran diputado por todas las
frases, expresadas las cuales deterioran
con tanta “ternura” a la humanidad.
Esta fiesta, lo homenajeo por toda su
audacia y intrepidez.
Verdaderamente, es un honor
para mi, presentarles esta distinción.
En mi opinión, este político, es un
racistas, xenófobo y homófono. No
solo vive en West Jordan, si no en
nuestra comunidad. Y el premio para
el mas “ESTUPIDO” va para…EL
SENADOR CHRIS BUTTARS.
The PENDEJO of the year award
Senator Chris Buttars is the first Venceremos recipient
By Pablo Martinez
Guerrillero “On February 28, 2009, more than a 1,000 people
showed up to the outskirts of Salt Lake City’s Capitol
building, for nothing less than to honor and celebrate
Buttars great pendejadas, his brilliant words and
generous actions towards humankind.”
* * *
“Verdaderamente, es un honor para mi, presentarles
esta distinción. En mi opinión, este político, es un
racistas, xenófobo y homófono.”
best represents our Latino/a people,
because their members have truly
experienced discrimination and felt
oppression.
On February 28, 2009, more
than 1,000 people showed up to the
outskirts of Salt Lake City’s Capitol
building, for nothing less than to
honor and celebrate Buttars great
pendejadas, his brilliant words and
generous actions towards humankind.
This party—called Buttarspalooza in
his honor, praised him for his audacity
and courage.
But it just wasn’t enough. At
Venceremos, we wanted to recognize
Buttars once more for his outstanding
social justice qualities. Sincerely,
it’s a great honor for me to present
this distinction, to the Salt Lake
valley’s greatest racist, xenophobic
and homophobe of all times. With
great pleasure, The pendejo of the year
award goes to…SENATOR CHRIS
BUTTARS.

BY LOLA REYES
BY LOLA REYES
BY LOLA REYES
Primer Cuadro: ¡Zonas libres de pandillas protegerán a nuestros hijos! ¡Hay que botar a esos matones de nuestras
comunidades y nuestras escuelas!
Segundo Cuadro: ¿Séra la solución tener zonas libres de pandillas? No. Tenemos que trabajar juntos como una
comunidad para educar y liberar a nuestros jóvenes de la opresión que enfrentan para evitar que recurran a la
violencia.
Tercer Cuadro: ¿Y con que pandillas estabas involucrado en tu juventud?
Caricatura de abjao(Legisladores de Utah 2009): ¡SB81 es única manera de proteger a nuestras familias! ¡Hay que
prevenir que estudiantes indocumentados cometan delitos! Ellos pagan el costo de la matrícula estatal ¿Por qué tienen
que trabajar? ¡Es un descuento! ¿Matrícula estatal? ¿Les están dando educación universitaria gratis a los ilegales?
By Asaeli Matelou
Guerrillero
On the Diversity web
page of the University of
Utah, you can find a picture
of President Michael K.
Young stating, “We zealously
preserve academic freedom,
promote diversity and equal
opportunity…” Yet, the only
center of refuge on campus
for students of color—The
Center for Ethnic Student
Affairs (CESA)—is going
by the wayside for students
whose academic success once
was built largely off of the
resources and relationships
found in CESA. Students
that once called CESA
“their safe space,” now are
wondering what happened to
the promises that were made
to them before the relocation
of CESA.
The CESA student lounge
protrudes oblong from
the side of a half-operating
computer lab which sits at the
north side of a long hallway
of closed doors. These doors
house administrators for
The Office of Equity and
Diversity, peer mentors, and
the CESA advisors, whose
relationships with students
seem to be waning due to
administrative obligations.
Landisang Kotaro, a
University of Utah student,
said, “there is a great
disconnect between advisors
and students…” These
advisors previously served
to open doors that allowed
many of the students of
color to enroll and attend
the University of Utah, but
recently, the conversations
between advisors and
students have been less open.
Kotaro adds, “There is not a
healthy and safe environment
where students can come for
resources and opportunities
that they otherwise would
not know about if they did
not come in here.”
In an attempt to quell the
unease felt by the students
of color who use the CESA
offices and lounge, the
Assistant Vice President to
the office of Diversity and
Equity, Dr. Jennifer Molock,
cohosted a discussion
centered on the future and
vision of CESA in April. Dr.
Molock was joined by Dr.
Octavio Villalpando, the
Associate Vice President for
the Office of Diversity &
Equity. Dr. Molock began
the conversation by touting
the wonderful work students
of color have performed
for the University of Utah,
but failed to mention what
little financial support these
groups get from her office or
from the larger institution.
Dr. Molock went on to
explain the reassignment of
a Native American advisor
and the reorganization of the
duties of current advisors. For
the students of color who are
already at a loss for advocates
and support on campus,
the news learned from the
meeting proved worrisome.
Dr. Villalpando exposed
the budget woes hurting
CESA and introduced
statistics which show an
increase in the number
of students of color by a
surprising 30 percent in the
next 3 to 5 years, meaning
that there will be less money
for more students. He blamed
the tensions as the result of
a rough transition period
where Villalpando admitted,
“we have neglected to include
the students in this period of
change.” Despite the current
fiscal situation, many students
believe the University
simply is not invested in its
students of color on campus
and does not prioritize
cultivating a safe, welcome,
and nurturing atmosphere.
“If the administration cared
about students’ needs, they
would focus on necessities
like a safe space and a feeling
of belonging in a place that
should be a resource center
for students, not a cold quiet
office,” said Lola Reyes, a peer
mentor for CESA.
The strained economic
situation in which we
currently find ourselves is not
to blame on administrators
alone. But when the
University finds itself in
rough financial straits, the
most administrators and
advisors for CESA could do,
would be to advocate for the
needs of students of color.
While job responsibilities
may shift to accommodate
new administrative strategies
or budget cuts, we ask that
students continue to be able
to rely on advisors for the
mentoring and support they
give to students of color.
This article asks that the
institution hear our plea
Page 5
noticias
Help get DREAM Act passed
What is it? S.B. 729 and H.R.1751, commonly
known as the Development, Relief and Education
for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, is a Federal
Immigration Reform bill re-introduced in the
Senate and House on March 26, 2009. This Act
provides a conditional pathway to citizenship for
approximately 65,000 undocumented high school
graduates each year.
How does is work? The bill grants undocumented
high school graduates, who were brought to the
U.S. as children, have resided in the U.S. for at least
five years and maintained good moral character,
conditional permanent residency if they attend
college and earn at least a two-year degree or enlist
in the Military for a minimum of two years. After
a six-year period, in which the applicant meets all
qualifications, s/he will be eligible for permanent
residency, which could lead to U.S. citizenship.
How can you make the DREAM a reality?
• Visit Senator Robert Bennett’s website (http://
bennett.senate.gov) to email him or call his Salt
Lake office at (801) 524-5933. Ask him to vote
in favor of the DREAM Act
• Contact your U.S. State representative—Rob
Bishop, Jason Chaffetz or Jim Matheson—and
ask him to vote for the DREAM Act.
• Visit the White House website (http://www.
whitehouse.gov) to contact President Barack
Obama. Ask him to encourage the Senate and
Congress to pass the DREAM Act, and to sign
this it into law when it comes across his desk.
Renovation and administrative changes at CESA leave students feeling left out
for this continued support,
rather than view this piece as
an attack on any one person.
Advisors can only serve as
advocates and administrators
can only keep our needs a
priority, if they heed student
voices. This gesture would go
far in the eyes of students.
But the needs of students
of color will never be met if
the administrators do not
heed the messages brought
to their door. Prior to the
meeting in April, student
members of the Cross-
Cultural Coalition began
expressing concerns regarding
this issues numerous times,
but felt their concerns went
unheard. Both Dr. Molock
and Dr. Villapando promise
further discussions with
students to begin including
their input. Student activity
and presence in CESA wanes
in the summer months,
but we hope that the fall
provides a return to the more
familiar and friendly space
that seeks out and embraces
student input, rather than
an uninviting space that is
a repercussion of decisions
made without students’ input
or interests at heart.
Primavera 2009

Page 6
nE w s
By Richard Diaz
Guerillero
The 2009 Utah legislative session started with a ray of hope for just
policy, but in the end, it still succumbed to the ignorance that filters our
understanding of immigration. Of the handful of proposed bills that dealt
with immigration, five bills in specific garnished most of the attention during
this legislative session:
•
•
•
SB 113, which sought to delay SB 81—set to take effect on July 1, 2009—
will deputize local and state law enforcement agencies as immigration
and customs enforcement (ICE) agents; create additional barriers for
undocumented immigrants to acquire work, use public services; and
punish individuals suspected of aiding undocumented immigrants. SB
113, whose goal was to delay the implementation of SB 81 for one year,
failed in committee.
HB 208 sought to complicate the process through which undocumented
students could attend a higher education institution by making students
sign an affidavit declaring that as long as they qualify to pay for in-state
tuition, they will not work or receive any type of income. It failed to pass.
HB 137 would have repealed driving privilege cards, which allow
undocumented immigrants to drive in the state of Utah. It failed also.
Innovative Activism
“I have been involved in efforts
to combat anti-immigrant legislation
over the years because I have family
that is personally affected by these
laws and also because I have a strong
commitment to issues of social justice
and I think the legal justification
of the mistreatment of some based
on status is unjust,” said one of the
organizers for the Liberation School
Capitol Performance. The Liberation
School Capitol Performance
utilized spoken word and theater as
a catalyst for artistic expression and
resistance to the racism, stereotypes,
discrimination, and anti-immigrant
sentiments. Youth and community
members shared through poems or
other forms of self-expression how
anti-immigrant laws affected them
and loved ones daily to an audience of
community members and legislators.
Denise Castañeda, 2008-2009
MEChA female co-chair was
similarly involved in efforts to create
new proactive forms of activism
as a member of the Honors Social
Justice Scholars Program. Through
this program, she said she “was
able to collaborate with students in
organizing a group called Education
For All. We organized a community
workshop to inform students of
in-state tuition opportunities for
undocumented students.”
(adjacent picture) Students remain frozen in
the Union as part of the MEChA Frozen
Rights workshop.
(far right) Eduardo Reyes Chavez facilitates a
dialogue with community members about antiimmigrant
bills.
Even though the work of activist may be tiresome, and filled with frustration, it is because of their constant struggle that our state is able to retain some of
its humanity. Whether we acknowledge it or not, our state is fast becoming diverse and our laws needs to become inclusive of this diversity—especially since
this country was founded on the belief that it is a country for all, not just for those with power and privilege. This work, however, is carried on the shoulders of
activists who have a vision for the future, and work everyday to create a better tomorrow for everyone so that incidents like the holocaust, slavery, genocide and
the unlawful internment of citizens doesn’t repeat in our lives again. “If there is something I am living for, it is to make this world a better place. I believe that
everyone should be treated with respect and have their basic human rights respected. Many of the bills proposed are separating families, creating fear, excluding
people, imprisoning innocent people, and other injustices that must end,” stated Reyes-Chávez.
Spring 2009
Activists against anti-immigrant legislation unite
Grassroots Organizing
The Salt Lake City Brown Berets,
M.E.Ch.A., FACE Movement
and Honors College Social Justice
Scholars went door to door in west
side neighborhoods, attending
churches, and visiting locallyowned
markets and stores where
they distributed information to
people about this session’s pending
legislation that would impact
communities of color. Eduardo
Reyes-Chávez, a member of the
Honors College Social Justice
Scholars said that towards the end
of the session, they held community
forums. During the forums,
community members learned of
the impact of anti-immigrant bills,
and ways in which they can fight
the passage of these bills. Brayan
Nava-Solorzano, an Honors College
Social Justice Scholar and MEChistA
said that the groups he belongs to
attended community events and
forums to inform residents about
pending legislative action. They even
gave “full length presentations on the
unfairness of these bills,” he added.
• HB 262 would have investigated the legal status of all small business
owners in the state of Utah. It, too, failed.
• HB 64, which complements SB 81, passed the session. HB 64 will create
a specialized and funded team of law enforcement agents to act as ICE
agents, with the sole purpose to persecute any undocumented immigrant
accused of a serious crime.
Year after year, we see these types of bills emerge whose sole purpose is to
make the life of immigrants (including their children) more complicated.
Although many don’t become laws, their message of exclusion and hatred
reads loud and clear. What keeps many of these recurring bills from passing
every year? The answer is found in the activism of youth and community
members who tirelessly work to rid the state of its ignorance. In particular,
four organizations—the Salt Lake City Brown Berets, Movimiento Estudiantil
Chicana/o de Aztlan (MEChA), Face Movement, and Honors College
Social Justice Scholars—worked individually or in tandem to lobby our
legislators from January to March on behalf of undocumented and Latina/o
communities, and continue to do so today. These are students and community
members who, as one local activist explained, are motivated by their “family,
the youth, their colleagues, professors, and la gente [the people].”
Activism and Education
As part of the 14 th Annual High
School conference, MEChA offered
a workshop entitled “Frozen Rights,”
which led high school students to
protest in the University of Utah
cafeteria, remaining frozen for five
minutes, symbolizing how antiimmigrant
bills will keep them
in frozen and detain them from
advancing their dreams. Students held
self-made signs, reading “no human
is illegal” and “say no to SB 81.”
Afterwards, students chanted “justice
– now.” Nava-Solorzano co-facilitated
the workshop. He said the high
school students initially felt uncertain
as the headed to the cafeteria, “but we
encouraged each other and together
made it happen.” He added that
students remarked afterwards they
sensed “a feeling of empowerment.”
At the end of the day, high school
students and M.E.Ch.A. members
alike felt hopeful for the future, both
parties learning from one another in
regards to activism and the work for
social justice.
Continuing Efforts
The work of an activist is never
over, and these groups continue
to to fight anti-immigrant laws
and ignorance alike even after the
legislative session. Recently, the
previously mentioned individuals
and organizations collaborated to
create the STOP SB 81 coalition,
whose goals is to mobilize and bring
awareness to the way in which SB
81 will divide our communities
and terrorize our state. The group
urges the repeal of SB 81. STOP
SB 81 supported the rally for
comprehensive immigration reform
held on May 1 at Liberty Park. This
rally was also designed to inform
legislators of our community’s
dissapproval of anti-immigrant laws
that seek to encourage racial profiling
and divide families.
STOP SB 81 Meetings are every
Saturday at 1:00 pm at Mestizo
Coffeehouse (631 W. North
Temple).

Activistas combanten leyes anti-inmigrantes
Por Richard Diaz
Esta última sesión legislativa dio a
Guerillero
comenzar con pólizas Justas y esperanzas
para toda la gente indocumentada, pero al final, todas estas terminaron
siendo ignoradas y no tomadas en cuenta. De todas las leyes, cinco tomaron la
atención de la población de Utah. Estas son:
•
•
La ley SB 113 termino siendo desplomada en el comité legislativo. Esta
demoraría la ley SB 81, la cual fue aprobada en el 2008 y tomaría efecto a
partir del 1ro julio. SB 81 desempeñaría a las agencias locales y estatales
policíacas a tomar cargos como agentes inmigratorios. También, se les
haría dificultoso a la gente indocumentada, conseguir trabajos, usar todo
tipo de servicios públicos y últimamente castigando a individuos quienes
ayuden a la gente indocumentada con cualquier tipo de ayuda.
La HB 208, complicaría el proceso en que los estudiantes
indocumentados pudieran asistir y graduarse de una institución
de educación superior al forzar a estos estudiantes a declarar en un
documento estatal que mientras califiquen baja la ley HB 144 la cual
autorizada a los hijos de indocumentados el servicio de poder estudiar
y pagar como residente estatal, que no trabajarían ni recibirían ningún
tipo de ingresos. Afortunadamente esta ley no paso, facilitando a los
estudiantes a seguir sin tener que preocuparse que no pudieran trabajar.
Activismo Innovador
“Me he involucrado combatiendo
la legislación antiemigrante porque
tengo familia que personalmente
son impactadas por estas leyes y a
causa de que poseo un gran interés
en los asuntos de justicia social y el
maltratamiento de seres humanos.”
Dijo una organizadora de La Escuela
de Liberación. Este grupo, utiliza por
medio del arte teatral, una forma de
expresión en contra de lo estereotipos
raciales, la discriminación y el
sentimentalismo antiemigrante.
Jóvenes y miembros de la comunidad,
expresaron por medio de poemas
como este tipo de leyes les afectan
personalmente y sus seres queridos
diariamente en medio del capitolio.
Similarmente, Denise Castañeda,
presidenta de MEChA y miembro
de Estudiantes de Justicia Social,
se involucro para crear nuevas
formas de activismo. “Tuve la
oportunidad de organizar un grupo
llamado Educación Para Todos. En
este club, Organizamos un taller
comunitario para informar a todos
los estudiantes indocumentados
de las oportunidades que pueden
obtener al decidir estudiar una carrera
universitaria.”
(foto en la izquierda) Estudiantes dirigiendose
hacina una junta en el capitolio para demostrar
su oposoción a leyes anit-imigrantes.
(foto en la derecha) Activistas del grupo de Justica
Social del Colegio de Honores, demandan
igualdad en una protesta publica.
Activismo a Nivel Local
Los grupos mencionados
anteriormente, salieron de puerta
en puerta a los vecindarios del
oeste de Salt Lake City e iglesias
de toda religión, para informar a
la comunidad acerca de las leyes
antiemigrantes y distribuir folletos
informativos. Durante el termino de
la sesión legislativa, “tuvimos foros
comunitarios,” expreso Eduardo Reyes
Chávez, miembro de los Estudiantes
de Justicia Social. En estos foros,
miembros de la comunidad
aprendieron el impacto de estas leyes
y maneras en como ellos pueden
resistirse ante estas. Brayan Nava
Solórzano, estudiante de la Escuela
de Negocios, de La Universidad de
Utah y presidente de la Asociación de
Estudiantes Hispanos en Negocios,
y miembro de Estudiantes de Justicia
Social y Mechistas, dijo que en
sus grupos, el tuvo la oportunidad
de presentar a la comunidad su
experiencia y formas de luchar en
contra del racismo legislativo.
Reyes Chávez, también miembro
de MEChA, nos expreso que tuvo
la oportunidad de escribirles a sus
representantes políticos por medio de
correo electrónico. “Nuestra misión
fue de presionar a los congresistas
a escuchar las voces de nuestra
comunidad.”
Activismo y Educación
Como parte de la conferencia
anual de escuelas secundarias,
MEChA, ofreció un taller con el
nombre de “Derechos Congelados,”
del cual estudiantes llevaron a cavo
una protesta en la cafetería de la
Universidad de Utah, la cual duro 5
minutos, simbolizando como estas
leyes antiemigrantes congelarían sus
sueños americanos. Durante este
lapso, los estudiantes elevaron sus
carteles diseñados por ellos mismo,
diciendo, “ningún ser humano es
ilegal” y “No a la ley SB 81.” Al
terminar, los estudiantes participaron
gritando colectivamente “¡Justicia,
Ahora! Nava Solórzano, uno de los
organizadores del taller y al ver que
los estudiantes sentían incertidumbre
y miedo de llevar acabo esta gran
demostración, nos dijo “al bajar
hacia la cafetería, animamos a los
estudiantes que juntos tenemos
el poder de hacer todo lo que nos
propongamos” agregando que “al
terminar los estudiantes demostraron
una gran satisfacción y un sentimiento
de capacitación increíble, fue un gran
día de acción y positivismo.”
Page 7
noticias
• La ley HB 137, tampoco pasó, esta revocaría los privilegios de conducir, los
cuales permiten que la gente indocumentada puedan manager dentro del
estado de Utah.
• La HB 262, hubiese investigado a todo tipo de dueño de negocio en el
estado de Utah. Esta también fracaso y no paso durante esta legislación.
• La ley HB 64, la cual complementa parte de SB 81, paso la legislatura. Esta
misma, creara un equipo de agentes especializados en inmigración para
perseguir a cualquier indocumentado acusado de haber cometido algún
delito criminal.
Cada año, vemos estos tipos de leyes emerger con el propósito de
complicar la vida cotidiana de familias inmigrantes. Aunque muchas de
estas no pasen, el mensaje de exclusión y odio se siente omnipotentemente.
¿Qué o quien hace que este tipo de leyes no pasen? La respuesta está en el
“activismo” de jóvenes y miembros de la comunidad. Particularmente, cuatro
organizaciones: Las Boinas Café, El Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a
de Aztlan (MEChA), Face Movement, y Los Estudiantes de Justicia Social.
Estos grupos trabajan individualmente presionando a los legisladores desde
enero hasta marzo, en defensa de las comunidades indocumentadas. Estos son
miembros comunitarios quienes “están motivados por sus familias, colegas y
más que todo por la gente,” expreso un miembro de la comunidad.
Continuando los Esfuerzos
El trabajo de un activista, nunca
se termina y todos estos grupos
continúan peleando en contra de
leyes antiemigrantes. Recientemente,
algunos de los individuos
mencionados y sus organizaciones
se han involucrado colectivamente
para crear la Coalición en Contra de
la Ley SB 81, cual meta es movilizar
colectivamente a nuestra comunidad
para brindar conocimiento de cómo
esta ley dividirá nuestra comunidad
y aterrorizara a nuestro estado.
Colectivamente, el grupo pide
que la ley SB 81 sea anulada por
completo. La Coalicón apoyo la
junta para la oposicion de la ley SB
81, la cual tomo lugar en 1 de mayo
en parque Liberty Park. Esta junta
tambên fue creada con el proposito
de de informar a legisladres sobre la
opososcion de nuesra comunidad
hacia leyes que tratan de separar
famlias y promove el racismo.
Las juntas de la coalicion contra S 81
son los Sabados a la 1pm en Mestizo
Coffeehouse (631 W. North Temple)
Aunque sea frustrante y estresante ser activista, es gracias a ellos que nuestro estado tenga algún tipo de humanidad hacía nuestra gente. Nuestro estado se
esta convirtiendo más y más diverso y las leyes tienen que ser incluyentes de todos los miembros de la comunidad. Este trabajo, es llevado a cavo por medio de
esfuerzos y a los hombros de estos activistas quienes tienen una visión y trabajan día a día para impedir que se vuelvan a repetir incidentes como el holocausto,
la esclavitud y el genocidio. “Si hay algo que me motiva para seguir viviendo, es la esperanza de cambiar el mundo. Yo creo que todos, deben de ser tratados con
respeto. Muchas de estas leyes trataran de separar a nuestras familias, creando miedo, excluyendo a nuestra gente y encarcelando a muchos inocentes. Todo esto
debe de terminar, y no parare hasta ese día,” exclamo Reyes Chávez.
Primavera 2009

Page 8
FEaturEs
La legacia y artesania de la Panadería y Pastelería Mexico
Por Liliana Martinez
Guerrillera
La panadería y pastelería Mi
México, situada en la cuidad de
Kearns, no es solo una panadería,
sino que contiene una historia llena
de lindas memorias de no solo los
dueños del presente sino del pasado.
Es un lugar donde muchos clientes
dicen haber encontrado viejos amigos
y familias.
“Tenia casi cinco meses sin
ver a una amiga y aquí me la fui a
encontrar, comprando pan”
Nos dijo Mariela, una clienta de
muchos años.
En 1997, este local era una
tienda de doughnuts llamada “Larry
More” donde José Martínez trabajo
como panadero durante mas o menos
un mes, hasta que el negocio fue
comprado por la hermana de José,
Graciela. De esta forma esta tienda se
convirtió en “La Reina Bakery.”
“Nosotros hacíamos facturas
Argentinas, Pan dulce Mexicano,
bolillos y también doughnuts como
en esos tiempos todavía no había
mucha gente Latina por aquí”
comento José, socio y dueño de La
By Liliana Martinez
Guerrillera
Spring 2009
Reina Bakery durante 1997.
A pesar de la exitosa apertura, La
Reina Bakery tuvo que cerrar a causa
de problemas financieros y sin opción
alguna José y su hermana decidieron
vender la panadería en 1999 a la
familia Vaca, una humilde familia de
su iglesia. Estos nuevos propietarios
le dieron el nombre de panadería y
Pastelería Mi México.
Hoy en día, este local continúa
en pie con el legado historial de
negocio familiar. Desde La Reina
Bakery hasta la panadería y Pastelería
Mi México, este negocio ha sido
operado por miembros familiares,
llevando a cavo la dinastía heredada
por miembros de sus propias familias.
El panadero actual de la
Panadería y Pastelería Mi México,
nos dice que para el, el pan dulce es
como una artesanía. Una forma de
arte que lleva tiempo y practica. “Yo
aprendí a hacer pan dulce por medio
de mis antepasados. Mi tatarabuelo,
bisabuelo, abuelo y mi papa fueron
panaderos y así yo llegue a serlo.”
Las Conchas, Cuernos, Novias,
Chilindrinas, Tortuguitas y mas de
300 otros tipos de pan dulce han
tomado parte de la tradición Latina
la cual empezó durante la era de
nuestros ancestros indígenas. El
comer pan dulce es una tradición
cultural que nos recuerda para
muchos quienes hemos dejado
nuestras tierras, estas son el espíritu
del recuerdo de nuestras comidas
tradicionales.
Gloria, una miembro de la
comunidad y clienta de la Panadería
y Pastelería Mi México dijo: “En
México comíamos pan dulce casi
todas las noches con un cafecito o un
chocolatito caliente, antes de irnos
a dormir. No solamente durante las
fiestas navideñas o día de los muertos,
era algo de todos los días.”
La Panadería y Pastelería Mi
México es una de las favoritas
y autenticas panaderías de la
comunidad. Verdaderamente,
recomendable para todo el publico.
La dirección de La Panadería y
Pastelería Mexico es 5423 South 4015
West Kearns, Utah.
The legacy & artistry of Panadería y Pastelería Mexico
La Panadería y Pastelería Mexico
located in Kearns is not just a bakery,
it is part of a history that has left good
memories and many stories behind
for those are currently or who were
once a part of the panadería familias.
It is also a place were customers say
they have found old friends and even
family members they had not seen in
long periods of time at the panadería.
“Tenia casi cinco meses sin ver a
una amiga y aquí me la fui a encontrar,
comprando pan,” [“It had been five
months since I had seen one of my
friends and here I found her buying
bread”], said Mariela, a customer of
many years.
In 1997, La Panadería y Pastelería
Mexico was a doughnut shop called
Larry More where Jose Martinez
worked making doughnuts for about
a month until the business was sold to
Jose’s sister. The doughnut shop then
became what was known as “La Reina
Bakery.”
“Nosotros haciamos faturas
Argentinas, pan dulce Mexicano,
bolillos y tambien donas como en esos
tiempos todavia no habia mucha gente
Latina por aqui,” [We used to make
Argentinian faturas, Mexican pan
dulce, and doughnuts since there
weren’t many Latina/os in these parts
at that time,”] said Jose, co-owner of
La Reina Bakery in 1997.
Despite its early success, La
Reina Bakery could not afford to hire
panaderas/os to carry on the workload
of the panadería and as a result of
this both Jose and his sister decided
to sell the panadería in 1999 to a
family from their church. The familia
Vaca became the new owners of the
panadería and officially changed its
name to “La Panadería y Pastelería
Mexico.”
Today, Panadería y Pastelería
Mexico continues to carry on
the history of a “negocio de
familia,[”family owned business”],
as the daughter of the previous
panadería owner describes it. From
La Reina Bakery to Panaderia y
Pasteleria Mexico, the business has
been owned and run by its own
family members carrying on legacies
that some of their family members
have left for them.
Panaderías Favoritas
Panadería Bonita-The Elotito here is very tasty! ¡El Elotito es muy sabroso!
4610 S 4000 W West Valley City, UT
(801) 967-7551
Panadería Flores-¡Las Empanadas de Piña son excelentes! The Piña
Empanadas here are excellent! También, sea seguro a probar el pastel de Tres
Leches Chocolate y el pan de Oreja. Also, be sure to try the Chocolate Tres
Leches Cake and pan de Oreja.
904 W 900 S Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 532-3039
Panadería y Pastelería México-The Queso Empanadas here are delicious and
the Galletas are very moist and fresh. Las Empanadas de Queso son deliciosas
y las Galletas son recién hechas.
5423 S 4015 W Kearns, UT
(801) 966-0973
ESCRIBE PARA VENCEREMOS!
Llamenos a: (801) 585-1067 o
Mandenos un Correo
Electronico:
venceremosutah@yahoo.com
A current panadero at Panadería
Mexico refers to pan dulce as an
“artesania,” a form of art that takes
time and practice. “Yo aprendi a
hacer pan dulce por generacion. Mi
tatarabuelo, visabuelo, abuelo, y mi
papa todos fueron panaderos y asi me
enseñe a hacer el pan yo,” [My greatgreat-grandfather,
great-grandfather,
grandfather, and father were all
panaderos and that’s how I learned to
make pan dulce.”] said the panadero.
Conchas, Cuernos, Novias,
Chilindrinas, Tortuguitas and about
300 other styles of pan dulce have
been a part of Latina/o cultural and
traditional foods that trace back
to the times of their indigenous
ancestors. Eating pan dulce is a
cultural tradition that has remained
alive even for the many Latina/os
who are no longer physically present
in their homelands- they are there
in spirit when remembering their
traditional foods.
Gloria, a community member
and usual customer of Panadería
Mexico: “En Mexico, comiamos
pan dulce casi todas las noches con
un cafesito o un chocolatito caliente,
antes de irnos a dormir. No solamente
durante las fiestas navidenas o dia de
los muertos o dia de los reyes, era algo
de todos los dias.” [“In Mexico, we ate
pan dulce every evening with a cup of
coffee or hot chocolate, before going
to bed. We didn’t only eat it during
the Christmas holidays, or dia de los
muertos, or the Epiphany celebration,
it was something we did everyday.”]
Panadería y Pastelería Mexico is
a community favorite as one of the
most authentic for many community
members, who both eat pan dulce on
occasion and those who are new to
the tradition.
The address to La Panadería y
Pastelería Mexico is 5423 South
4015 West Kearns, Utah.
VENGA Y UNASE A
M.E.Ch.A!
Las juntas son todos los viernes.
Para mas información, porfavor
contacte Luciano Marzulli:
(801) 587-9567

Everyday I walk these grounds,
I meet people who try to tear me
down.
They bind my feet and chain my
hands,
And tell me that I no longer am who
I am.
They come at me every day,
Until I found the strength to say.
That this is my time, my time to shine.
My time to express how I feel,
My time to show a part of me that is
real.
So to those who tried to tell me what
to do
Either now or back then,
I say that my life is my life, and I will
decide
How it ends.
-Anonymous
The Awakening (Future)
Awakened by my past,
Nothing and meaningless…
Mother Crying.
“Son, make a difference for
your family…”
Father Begging
“Son, work with all your
might…”
Faith in one hand, family on the other
Awakened by my past,
My life ahead of me is needed
-Anonymous
Liberation School/Face Movement:
On April 23, 2009, University of Utah social justice scholars Jarred Martinez
and Xyvette Gonzales met with Kearns High School
students during the Face Movement mentoring program
and presented spoken word as an act of liberation from
oppression. The duo recited pieces inspired from their own
lives and then asked the students to come up with words
from a group of themes. The students then traded their
words amongst themselves and the following poems are
the beginnings of those students’ personal stories. Stories
created out of words transcending experience and showing personal liberation.
Frustrated
As I walk into K-town
Never knowing that I might feel
down
As I feel like a beast that can’t be tame
But at the end it is up to me on
How to deal with these issues
As people would sob and cry so give
Them a tissue
Even though I am angered I won’t cry
Because I am a man and that is why I
will be me
And not what the media expects me
to be
So don’t expect me to be incarcerated
Even if I am a bit frustrated
-Givem Loulamting
Agency
Out Alone in this World
Trying to be my own person
Not knowing which way to
Turn I feel Like I am
Not safe at Kearns
When I’m here I feel
Out of place I only see
A few of my race
They only see what
They can’t trace
-Nikita Davis
When families get bent, some people
get spent
We will come together and try to get
through it.
Some get big and strong.
Where did my gene’s go wrong?
Sadness, disappear
Wanna make it through
If your there for me
I’m here for you.
Despite the fuss and fight, we will get
stronger and unite,
Come together as one lets grow
Its time for the fun.
-Tyler Burgess
Proud
Proud of who I am, and
Were I came from
Proud, to have my freedom
Instead of my head pointed at by a
gun.
Proud of what I believe in, my race,
my religion, my family, my face
-Sheryl Lindsay
Win, to achieve my goal,
Knowing I am who I made myself,
That if it wasn’t for my people
I wouldn’t be where I am today when
I win,
I succeed, achieve and believe in me
&
Everyone around me
Win
-Bella
Depression
The pain inside me all twisting and
brewing
The pain that is caused from an unknown
doing
It’s been a long time that I had this
feeling
All I need is some helpful healing.
I’m sick and tired of being left alone.
Alone in the darkness of an empty
home
I just need to write my thoughts
down
Then I will know how much
I’ve grown
-Diego Dominguez
Page 9
p r i m E r pl a n a
exposing the power held by the young and marginalized telling their story in their own words
Legacy
The word I got is hard
But simple
Just like tryin to pop
A big bad gushy pimple
The word is someone or something
To show respect and praise
To give your life
Your soul, your days
Days in your life to take time to stop
and think
For this word brings me to a legacy
Time to reminisce about where your
from
What you’re about or how fast you
can sink
A legacy to not disappoint my family
-Anonymous
Emptiness
Alone
Can never be Grown
Deserted
Hollow
What I sometimes know
Blackhole
Recession
In my own state of depression
Win
Lost
What the Lazy people do
Nothing
-Simi Kasala
Experience
Something new and learned
It can be unforgettable for good or
bad reasons
Moments that change lives.
Moments that should be treasured
and
Never left unappreciated
You can take it, and look on
Then your life will always be fun
The things that happen, sometimes
just happen.
No matter what happens it is always
an amazing experience
-Sara Muniz
Intricate
Still can’t believe dat u played me
I can’t take it I’m still aching
Frm all tha pain that u brought 2 my
lyfe
I tried and I tried 2 make things right
But u made it harder 4 me ta cum
thru
Now im locked in my room wonderin
wut ta do
It seems as tho u used me well
It seems lyke u came outta ya shell
Cant believe all the lies its tearin me
down
This smile of myne has turned 2 a
frown
I feel lyke I can’t love no more
Wuts tha point in tryin 4
The damage iz dun
But revenge has begun
I woke up 2 a new day
Sunshine no rain
I do respect u evry thought and decision
Cuz I trust ur every word but its u
that im missin
Couldn’t count how many days
passed by
How many grey skies since I looked
in 2
Ya sweet eyes
Baby I fell 4 ya heart & no I can’t b
rude
Prayin that u still love me & that ya
doin well
Now I see wus goin down
The word has come around
All them fellas breakin hearts
Leavin ladies in the dark
So far I bin in love wit a couple of
folkz
Skippin school breakin rules
Startin fights lyke a duel
A mistake 2 b made
I kept playin charades
I was flauntin my game
Under the sun or the rain
Yea those where the dayz
But 2day ive gotta say
Ive gotta gro up & keep up w/my ace
Cuz I finally found the man
Who truly understands
How I really feel inside
& now I wanna live my life
But then again I realize
When I look into those eyes
Were yung we gotta gro
Cuz we can never b 2 old
So wut im trynna say
Loze iz worth the wait
Take ya tyme make up ya mynd
So listend up 2 my rhymes
I bin thru it b4
I wanted more & more
But in the end I can see
If love was really ment 2b
-Leila
Primavera 2009

Page 10
nE w s
Opciones de ayuda financiera universitaria
Por Karla Motta
Guerrillera
La graduación para muchos
estudiantes de escuela secundaria, esta
a la vuelta de la esquina. Durante este
tiempo de incertidumbre, los jóvenes
graduados experimentan nuevas
expectativas de la vida y posibilidades
nunca exploradas, incluyendo ir a una
universidad. Becas y ayuda financiera
fue el tema principal durante la
conferencia anual del Movimiento
Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan
(M.E.Ch.A) la cual ocurrió el 4
marzo del 2009, en la Universidad
de Utah. Muchos estudiantes que
fueron presentes durante la misma
conferencia dado a la mala economía
mostraron un interés muy grande en
como identificar ayuda financiera
para poder pagar sus carreras
universitarias. Los siguientes consejos
pueden ayudar a estudiantes y a sus
familias, para poder lograr el sueño
americano.
Aplicación gratuita de ayuda
financiera escolar, mejor conocida
como FAFSA
Casi todas las escuelas
universitarias de los Estados Unidos,
utilizan este método para premiar
diferentes tipos de fondos monetarios
Graduation is just right around
the corner for many of Utah’s high
school students. This exciting time
in a young high school graduate’s
life opens up an entire world full of
unexplored possibilities, including
college. College persistence and
scholarship options were among
the topics discussed in the WHAT
annual MEChA high school
conference held March 4, 2009 at
the University of Utah for about 200
high school students of color. In these
hard economic times, many students
in attendance were interested in
identifying various ways to pay for
college. The following tips can help
graduating seniors and their families
plan how to fund a college education.
Free Application for Financial
Student Aid otherwise known as
FAFSA
Almost all colleges and
universities across the United States
utilize this form to award different
Spring 2009
a estudiante quienes califican. Para
calificar uno debe de ser ciudadano o
residente permanente de los Estados
Unidos, tener numero de seguro
social valido, tener un diploma de
la escuela secundario o GED, haber
sido aceptado e inscripto en una
institución acreditada y mantener
un progreso satisfactorio. FAFSA
provee subvención o ayuda financiera,
prestamos colegiales y un programo
donde los estudiante pueden trabajar
y estudiar al mismo tiempo. Para más
información por favor visitar: www.
fafsa.edu..govv
Becas
Hay muchos tipos de becas
disponibles para estudiantes
interesados en seguir una carrera
universitaria, en cualquier institución
pública o privada (limitadamente).
Becas institucionales son ofrecidas
por diferentes departamentos en la
Universidad de opción. Este tipo
de becas son basadas en merito,
diversidad, liderazgo y necesidad
económica. Muchas de estas, tienen
un plazo fijo a principios de enero
y con variación de dinero. Es muy
importante que se comuniquen con
la oficina de Ayuda Financiera y
Becas de cada institución deseada,
kinds of funding options for eligible
students. In order to qualify you must
be either a U.S. Citizen or Permanent
Resident Alien; have a valid Social
Security Number; obtain a high
school diploma or GED; be accepted
to and enrolled in an accredited
institution, and maintain satisfactory
academic progress. FAFSA provides
grants, work-study or loans; all
depending on your financial need.
For more information please refer to
the following website: www.fafsa.
edu.gov
Scholarships
There are many types of
scholarships available to students
including but not limited to
institutional and private aid.
Institutional scholarships
are those offered by different
departments within the school of
your choice. Many times they are
based on Merit, Diversity, Leadership
or Need. The amounts do vary and
many do have deadlines as early as
January of every year. It is crucial that
you contact the Financial Aid and
para poder identificar lo que este
disponible al alcance de uno.
Becas privadas pueden tener
una gran amplitud de posibilidades
desde promociones, concursos, hasta
donaciones anónimas sin ningún
criterio alguno. Por ejemplo en
muchos casos, compañías ofrecen
becas para promover sus productos
como Discover Card, Tylenol y Wal-
Mart entre otros. En otras instancias,
un alumno ya graduado puede
donar dinero para un estudiante de
primera generación, padres solteros,
o a cualquier otro estudiante quien
no forme parte de la población
estudiantil mayoritaria. Ahora, si el
estudiante es indocumentado, hay que
recordar que en el estado de Utah,
si se puede estudiar y recibir una
educación superior, pero solo pueden
calificar para becas privadas.
Por favor de visitar las siguientes
direcciones electrónicas para
encontrar becas.
www.latinocollegedollars.org
www.fastweb.com
www.mapping-your-future.org
www.knowhow2go.org
www.maldef.org
Financial aid options for college-bound high school students
By Karla Motta
Guerrillera
Scholarships Office in each of the
schools that you’re applying to, in
order to identify what is available.
Private scholarships can have
a huge range of possibilities from
promotional, contests, to anonymous
donations requiring specific criteria
of their applicants. For example
many times companies will offer
scholarships to promote their product
such as Discover Card, Tylenol, and
Wal-Mart to name a few. In other
instances an Alumni might donate
money to their Alma matter and
require that funding is awarded to a
first generation college student, single
parent, or a left-handed student, etc.
Now if you’re an undocumented
student remember that in the state of
Utah you’re only eligible for private
scholarships.
Take a look at the following
websites to find scholarships.
www.latinocollege.org
www.fastweb.com
www.mapping-your-future.org
www.knowhow2go.org
www.maldef.org
WRITE FOR VENCEREMOS!
Call us at (801) 585-1067 or
Email us at: venceremosutah@yahoo.com
In March 2009, Venceremos
hosted a workshop at the 15th
Annual High School Conference
for El Movimiento Estudiantil
Chicano/a de Aztlan (MEChA).
During the workshop participants
shared their thoughts about the
conference and going to college
in an exercise where they interviewed
each other. Here we share
their insights:
What has been your favorite
workshop?
• M.E.Ch.A. 101 because it’s
nice to know there are young
people that are willing to make
a difference.—Eva Florez, 12th
Grade, Kearns High
• Venceremos because we got to
talk to each other and we interact
alot. —Monica Zavala, 10th
Grade, Kearns
• Face Movement because we are
bonding.—Rafael Garcia, 11th
Grade, Kearns
Students at Venceremos workshop
participate in media awareness activity.
Estudiantes assitiendo el taller de
Venceremos participan en un actividad
para traer attencion a como funcionan
los medios de comunicacion.
•
•
•
•
•
•
What have you learned at the
conference?
The University is really cool.—
Rafael Garcia, 11th Grade,
Kearns
That Hispanics are portrayed
as criminals. — Jose Santos,
10th Grade, Kearns
I have learned that we may be
different but we can be successful!
— Eva Florez , 12th
Grade, Kearns
What information did you get
about college?
You need a lot of the credits and
need to apply for college.— Jose
Santos, 10th grade, Kearns
Anything is possible and getting
to college opens doors.— Eva
Florez, 12th Grade, Kearns
There’s a lot of opportunities
for us minorities.— Monica
Zavala, 10th Grade, Kearns

5th annual Conference on Social Awareness
By Valery Pozo
Guerrillera
The 5th Annual Conference on
Social Awareness was held at the University
of Utah on February 7, 2009.
The goal of the conference was to
provide a space for students to learn
from their peers about the different
social issues that face those within
their academic and campus communities.
The conference itself is organized
by the ASUU Diversity Board, a
board within the University of Utah
student government. For the organizers,
the hope is that these students
will be impacted by the knowledge
they learn and will create some social
change on the campus. Angela Andrade,
a student at Westminster College
stated, “In order to work towards
social justice, it is imperative that we
discuss inequality in our society.
The COSA conference provides this
forum, and makes it accessible to not
Por Valery Pozo
Guerrillera
El 7 de febrero del 2009, la Universidad
de Utah fue anfitriona de
la 5ta Conferencia anual de Asuntos
Sociales, la cual propósito fue estimular
la conciencia a conocimientos y
conceptos cívicos, estableciendo un
espacio dedicado a los estudiantes
para aprender de estos asuntos que
pasan cada uno de ellos no solo
académicamente sino en sus propias
comunidades.
La conferencia fue organizada
por el Consejo de Diversidad de la
Asociación Estudiantil de la Uni-
Dr. Gloria Ladson Billings was the keynote speaker for COSA Conference 2009 held
on February 7. Gloria Ladson Billings, Discursante de Honor de la conferencia COSA
2009.
just students, but to our entire community.”
To help foster that discussion, the
versidad de Utah (ASUU). La meta
de los organizadores fue impactar a
los estudiantes por medio del conocimiento
cultivado durante la misma
reunión e impulsarlos a crear algún
tipo de cambio social. La estudiante
de Westminster Collage, Agela Andrade
expreso “Para poder progresar
en la justicia social, es imprescindible
establecer una discusión acerca de la
inigualdades en nuestra sociedad. La
conferencia COSA, proveo este tipo
de debate no solo a los estudiantes
sino que a toda la comunidad.”
Para facilitar este tipo de discusión,
el tema de la conferencia fue
theme was “Education for All? Fostering
Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
on a Predominantly White Campus.”
“¿Educación para todos? Adaptando
una relevante pedagogía cultural
en una institución predominante
blanca.” La invitada de honor fue
la Doctora Gloria Ladson-Billings,
quien discurso acerca del mismo tema
y dirigió la palabra en como la meritocracia
y estereotipos pueden impactar
las experiencias de los estudiantes
universitarios.
El estudiante de la Universidad
de Utah, Jordan Spain expreso “esta
conferencia, me forzó a pensar en
mis comportamientos diarios y como
pueden ser interpretados por otros.
Los talleres y la discursante principal
Page 11
noticias
The keynote speaker, Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings
was able to speak to this
theme and address how meritocracy
and stereotypes can impact a students’
experience at a university. In addition,
the workshops, largely presented by
students, challenged students to hear
from their peers the issues that they
are passionate about. Jordan Spain,
a University of Utah student, stated
“COSA forced me to reach outside
myself and examine my daily behaviors
and how they could be interpreted
by others. The breakout sessions
and the keynote speaker bring to light
topics that are normally “hushed” and
not spoken about and offer a sense of
empowerment and tools to become a
social justice ally.”
If students wish to organize next
year’s conference, contact the ASUU
Diversity Board in Union 234.
To view the keynote, visit: http://
stream.utah.edu/m/show_grouping.
php?g=afbeb5eca22fb5974.
5ta Conferencia Anual de Asuntos Sociales
trajeron a la luz asuntos que nunca
se hablan y ofrecieron capacitación y
herramientas para que nos convirtamos
en aliados en la justicia social.”
Si desean ser parte de la organización
para la conferencia del
próximo año, por favor contactarse
con el Consejo de Diversidad en el
edificio Union 234 de la Universidad
de Utah.
Para ver el discurso de la Doctora
Gloria Ladson-Billings, por favor
visitar:
http://stream.utah.edu/m/show_
grouping.php?g=afbeb5eca22fb5974
Primavera 2009

Page 12
cu lt u r a
By / Por Luciano Marzulli
Venceremos Advisor
Once upon telling a fellow person
of color that I play in a punk
rock band , I received the follwing
response, “I thought that was just for
white skater kids.” This response is
not uncommon and demonstrates
one of many widely accepted
misconceptions about punk rock.
Jose Palafox(Bread and Circuits), a
punk rocker and academic, stated in
his article Screaming Our Thoughts:
Latinos and Punk Rock, that since
the 70s, Latina/os have been “playing
music and getting their own bands
together, putting out zines, setting
up benefit shows for groups in their
communities, releasing records, and
changing the face of punk.” The
history of Latina/o punk is vast but,
we’ve always been part of the scene.
For Lizz, one of two vocalists
for La Grita of Northern California,
consciousness raising and the
ability to express oneself freely is an
important aspect of punk.
“We sing about several topics but
have focused on the discrimination
and oppression of our people here
in the United States, Mexico, Latin
America and Central America. We
sing about police brutality, domestic
violence, the abuse and exploitation
of children from child prostitution
to child labor, which many face at a
young age,” she said.
Lizz was introduced to punk in
her early teens. “I started listening
to punk in middle school thanks to
my brother Miguel (vocalist for La
Grita). He introduced me to Los
Crudos and Desobedencia Civil, and
from there I started listening to punk,
Spring 2009
Punk
grindcore, hard core, power violence
and the rest. I liked how some punk
bands expressed themselves freely
on any topic, and the fast and noisy
sound. I love the noise,” stated Lizz.
Noise and speed are key elements,
for the most part. Venue also plays a
big role in the punk rock experience.
For a punk rock virgin, avoid bar
shows, they are not as much fun as
seeing a band play in an all ages venue,
like a café, the basement of a local
business, a warehouse, maybe even
someone’s home or place of residence.
What’s lacking from a formal venue
in terms of sound quality and pizzazz
is made up in the ingenuity of seeing
Al contarle a un amigo que toco en una banda de punk rock, recibí la
siguiente respuesta, “Yo siempre pensé que esa música era solo para gringos
que andan en patinetas.” Es muy común escuchar este tipo de respuesta,
y demuestra la forma de pensar de la gente y los conceptos adaptados de
la sociedad acerca del Punk Rock. José Palafox de la banda de Bread and
Circuits, es un músico punk y universitario, quien en su articulo académico
(Screaming Our Thoughts: Latinos and Punk Rock) dijo: “Desde los años
setenta, los punks Latinos y Chicanos, se han organizado y tocado música
en bandas, beneficiariamente en sus comunidades, han producido discos
y realmente han cambiado la cara de la música punk.” Agregando, que los
Chicanos y Latinos han sido parte de esta escena desde el principio.
Primeramente, yo sugiero que vean un documental de 30 minutos llamado
Beyond the Screams: A U.S. Latino/Chicano Hardcore/Punk Documentary,
de Martin Sorrondeguy. Esta película explora la historia punk y como los
Latinos y Chicanos utilizan este tipo de música como capacitación, y método
de organización en contra del racismo institucional e opresiones de nuestra
sociedad.
Lizz, una cantante del grupo La Grita de California, piensa que es
importante reconocer que la música punk incrementa la habilidad de
expresarse libremente. Ella expreso: “Tocamos varios tipos de temas, pero
nos hemos enfocado en la discriminación y opresión de nuestra gente en los
Estados Unidos. También cantamos acerca de México, y el resto de Latino
América, acerca de la brutalidad policíaca, violencia domestica, el abuso y
la explotación de niños.” Lizz, fue introducida a la música punk durante su
adolescencia, “Empecé a escuchar punk en la secundaria, gracias a mi hermano
Miguel. El me introdujo a las bandas los crudos y a desobediencia civil. Me
gusto como estas bandas de punk se expresaban libremente de cualquier tema,
a two vocalist band share a mic or
squeezing 30 people into a room built
to house less than 10 people.
For local punk Jorge, aka Copetes
(All Systems Fail, Digna y Rebelde)
the scene in Salt Lake City is good,
“[considering] the predominant
religion, the laws of the city and
repressive authorities, [and] the
culture of the people that don’t
understand young punks.”
Copetes got involved in Punk
as a teen when punk bands would
play with rock and roll bands in the
sprawling urban center that is his
Lizz (vocals) and bandmate Meño (guitar) of Chicano/a punk band La Grita from
Northern Califas play at Latin@ Punk Fest 3 in Montebello, Califas in October 2008. •
Lizz (vocalista) y compañero Meño (guitarrista) de la banda Chicano/a punk La Grita
tocan en el Latin@ Punk Fest 3 en Montebello, Califas en Octubre del 2008.
without borders
sin fronteras
home town, Mexico City. Now a
thirty-something punk, Copetes runs
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
a record distro, Jornalero records,
and puts out the zine Exhortacion
in addition to playing in two bands.
On occasion he’s also been known to
set up a show for touring bands and
locals alike.
Like Lizz, Copetes uses the music
to highlight issues that we should all
be concerned about, like capitalism
and warfare. “Governments work
to keep multinational corporations’
pockets filled with money, while the
impoverished sink more and more,”
he said.
Both Juana and Copetes agreed
that there is a connection between
punks in Latin America and Latina/o
Chicana/o punks in the US, due to
varying reasons, like immigration and
language. They also look at punk as
an international movement where
racial categories like Latina/o are not
that important.
According to Lizz, “society makes
terms to separate us, but in the end we
are all from the same planet, we are
human beings.”
For Copetes, “I can say that I have
always seen punk as a movement, a
scene of unity, where it doesn’t matter
where you are from, where you are
coming from, how you dress, your
nationality and all the things that
keep people divided.”
Luciano Marzulli plays guitar and
sings for Digna y Rebelde. Read full
interviews with Lizz of La Grita and
Copetes of All Systems Fail and Digna
Y Rebelde online at http://web.utah.
edu/venceremos.
y sus sonidos rápidos y ruidosos… ¡me encanta como suena!”
Para aquellos quienes nunca han escuchado este tipo de música, eviten los
conciertos en bares, no son tan emocionantes como verlos en sótanos, en cafés.
Lo que hace la diferencia es la calidad del sonido.
Para el músico local Jorge, alias Copetes de las bandas All Systems Fail
y Digna y Rebelde, el ambiente punk de Salt Lake City es muy bueno, el
expreso que “La escena es buena considerando varios aspectos como la religión
que predomina aquí, las leyes de la ciudad y las autoridades represoras.” Este
mismo músico, se involucro en el punk rock durante su juventud en el Distrito
Federal, México. Copetes es dueño de una discográfica llamada Jornalero
Records, y toca en dos bandas musicales. Ocasionalmente, ha sido promotor
de bandas las cuales parte de sus giras es pasar por Utah al igual que a bandas
locales.
Para Lizz, Copetes usa su música para traer a la luz, asuntos como el
capitalismo y la Guerra. El nos dice que “Los gobiernos trabajan para mantener
estas multinacionales con los bolsillos llenos de dinero, mientras el pobre se
hunde más y mas.”
Estos dos artistas, coinciden que hay una conexión entre los “punks” de
Latino América con los Chicanos y Latinos de Los Estados Unidos, mediante
a diferentes razones como, la inmigración y el lenguaje. Según Lizz, “La
sociedad nos separa con términos, pero todos al final somos del mismo
planeta… Somos seres humanos” y Copetes nos ofrece lo siguiente: “Puedo
decir que siempre he visto al punk como un movimiento, una escena de
unidad en donde no importa de donde eres de donde vienes, como te vistes, tu
nacionalidad y todas esas cosas que dividen a la gente.”
Luciano Marzulli toca la guitarra y canta para Digna y Rebelde.
Lee toda la entrevista con Lizz y Copetes en http://web.utah.edu/venceremos.

Hip-Hop ‘stilo
By Jarred Martinez
Guerrillero
Hip-hop, ask almost anybody
what this is, and you will
probably get as many answers as
there are rappers; and with no doubt
some will tell you that hip-hopis
about their favorite rap artist, others
will regurgitate everything they hear
about hustlers, women and money,
but you might find a few cats that
can tell you about how hip-hop is a
way of life. It does not take much
looking around to find the styles and
imagery associated with hip hop in
advertising, on TV, in commercials,
and of course on the passing trains
and walls of most city spaces in the
form of graffiti. These pieces of work
often get stigmas attached to them
and to those who actually use their
aerosol voices to speak up, labeling
many as deviant and gang-related.
But from this mainstream thought,
there is an obvious story missing from
the big picture; why does hip-hop
matter so much.
The verses rapped by Melle Mel
of the Furious Five back in 1982,
“Broken glass everywhere people
pissin’ on the stairs you know they
just don’t care…” were never written
just to entertain. Rightfully titled
“The Message”, this was about telling
a story that was unusually heard
about how conditions in New York
were experienced from many of the
black and Latino youth who had to
live them, not much different than
graffiti writers who made themselves
visible in clouds of poverty and
exclusion. And the DJ’s and breakdancers
shared an equally creative
energy that transformed them into
something greater than the despair of
their surroundings. Huno from the
local 136 crew, has been graf writing
for 10 years and tells a story about
how the name of the crew came to
be and what the numerology of 136
actually represents; “Arte Creando el
Futuro, because art was creating our
future little by little…without art I
have no idea where I would be, graffiti
saved my life.”
It should be clear that at the
root of what hip-hop has been for
those who live it and breathe is the
desire to be heard and exist, and the
circumstances and creativity that
birthed hip hop is not limited to any
corner of the globe. The blasting of
hip-hop through radio waves and
the digital era has made the culture a
home in nearly every community of
the world where young and generally
disenfranchised youth create their
Huno, a member of Salt Lake City’s 136
crew created this graffitt art on a door
inside Mestizo Coffeehouse. Huno, un
miembro de “Salt Lake City’s 136 crew”
creó este graffiti en una puerta adentro de
Mestizo Coffeehouse.
own story of self-determination, even
all the way to the temple-cast shadows
of Salt Lake City. In fact hip-hop
culture has flowed through the heart
of this city for than 10 years. A single
step into Uprok (342 S. State Street),
a local hip-hop store and venue
for many b-boy/b-girl battles, will
speak volumes about how talented
some graffiti artists and b-boys/bgirls
actually are here in our own
backyard. And Our DJ’s and emcees
have rocked the wheels of steel and
microphone for activist and political
causes as well, such as the 2007 SLC
Brown Beret Volume 1 mixtape. And
now, one of the original and largest
organizations dedicated to hip-hop,
the Universal Zulu Nation, will now
soon have an 801 chapter. TC Izlam,
who is one of the Sons of Afrika
Bambaataa, drops some insight into
what the UZN is all about when he
says “the fifth element of hip hop is
knowledge.”
So staying on beat with creative
expression, political movement, and
community empowerment has always
been what hip-hop is truly about.
Whether its from a loud and vibrant
swagger that calls attention to who we
are; the re-imagination of the world
we live in by using our words and
art; or embracing la causa through
activism and speaking up, then hiphop
has the potential to be a much
more active and positive place in our
daily lives.
Page 13
cu lt u r E
Creative expression, political movement, and community empowerment at heart of hip hop
Why pair punk rock and hip hop next to each other? One
might argue that they are at opposite ends of the musical
spectrum. However, if we open our music history books to
the 1970s, we will find a music world in which mainstream
rock and roll was dominated by stadium bands that
played over the top guitar solos with overproduced
albums, while the soul music and funk of the era was also
technically challenging to play for a lay musician. Enter
youth driven resistance to the norm and the result was
three minute punk rock songs, where ones command of
the instrument was not as important as the fact that you
could play loudly and sing or scream over the top. And in
a time when most people had record players and records,
all of sudden DJs started mixing their favorite sounds
together with an MC to toast some words over it all, and
hip-hop was born. Latinos, mostly Puerto Rican, turned
concrete floors and cardboard into dance studios of their
own as they invented breaking, a style of dance reflective
of the twists, turns and spins encountered in their
lives. So, two seemingly unrelated genres are actually
connected by the do-it-yourself ethic and resistance to
the mainstream. The best part is that both genres are still
alive, in the underground, and youth driven; with some
help and mentoring from past generations’.
Expresión creativa,
movimiento político, y la
unión de la comunidad en
el centro del hip-hop
Si le preguntan a alguien que es el
Hip Pop, seguramente las respuestas
serían varias, como por ejemplo
algunos dirían el nombre de su
rapero preferido y otros expresarían
lo que se oye en la música como el ser
mujeriego y ser millonario. Pero hay
otros quienes se refieren al Hip Pop
como su estilo de vida. Esta forma
de vivir, se puede reconocer de lejos,
desde la vestimenta hasta el grafiti
investido en los muros de la cuidad
de Salt Lake. Este tipo de arte, es
usualmente categorizado como una
forma de rebelión y asociado con las
pandillas, pero realmente la sociedad
no entiende que esto, es una forma
expresión. Para entender mejor este
tipo de vida, es necesario aprender de
los orígenes de este género urbano.
Los versos expresados por el
artista Melle Mel de la banda Furious
Five en 1982, ìescaleras meadas y
vidrios rotos por todas partes y la
gente sin importarleÖî nunca fueron
escritas para entretener. Como dice
el titulo ìEl Mensajeî, esta es una
historia narrada en forma de música
acerca de la forma de vida en Nueva
York, donde las experiencias de
muchos jóvenes afro-americanos y
Latinos emergen. Simultáneamente,
representando a los artistas de grafiti
quienes salieron de las nubes de la
pobreza y a los disc jóquey quienes
revolucionaron la música por
completo.
Tiene que quedar en claro que
las raíces del Hip-Pop son siempre
cambiantes y dan espacio a explorar
nuevos conceptos e ideologías
mediante a las circunstancias de
la vida y creatividad del mundo.
Los medios de comunicación han
ensanchado lo que hoy es Hip-
Pop, expandiendo la cultura a cada
rincón del planeta, ayudando a
estos mismos identificar sus propias
identidades y discriminaciones que
enfrentan diariamente. Esta cultura
ha incrementado tremendamente en
la ciudad de Salt Lake durante los
últimos 10 años. En Uprok (342 S.
State Street) un local de Hip Hop,
en el centro de la cuidad, hospeda
mucha música local y promueve a los
artistas quienes expresan el Hip Pop
de cualquier manera. Muchos de ellos
son raperos activistas y políticos como
los Brown Barets, quienes produjeron
so primer disco en el 2007.
Algunos dicen que los
movimientos políticos han sido
la verdadera inspiración del Hip
Pop. No importa si el individuo
sea Ruidoso o que moleste, la
imaginación es lo que cuenta, lo cual
crea un tipo de activismo y revolución
en nuestra sociedad. El Hip Pop, es
parte de la Causa, la cual todos nos
vemos identificados por ser activistas.
Pero principalmente, es un estilo de
vida.
Primavera 2009

Page 14
News
On January 22, 2009,
Barack Obama was
sworn in as the 44 th
president of the United
States. Five campus and
community members
who witnessed firsthand
this historical moment
shared their recollections
of their experiences with
Venceremos.
Richard Nkasnah
U of U Ph.D, Chemistry
I was selected to attend
the inauguration after
winning an essay contest
sponsored by the University
of Utah’s Black Student
Union. The contest called
for students to write a brief
entry regarding the 2008
presidential election as
well as our thoughts on the
impact of Barack Obama’s
election to presidency. My
essay focused on the notion
that this particular election
allowed all Americans to
become an active part in this
election, regardless of age,
as opposed to only being
spectators. Every individual
who did vote contributed to
history and would carry that
sense with them for the rest
of their life.
Having won the essay
contest, the university
sponsored my flight to D.C.
Betty Sawyer, the program
coordinator for the BSU, had
contacts with the two Utah
state senators and was able to
reserve tickets for myself and
members of her family. Betty
had booked a hotel room in
advanced (Hyatt Capitol), so
it was no problem adding me
to her guest list. The hotel
was within walking distance
of the Capitol building, so
getting to the event was not
an issue. My ticket for the
inaugural ceremony was a
standing ticket. However,
I was in the Blue Section,
right behind the seated area,
so I had an excellent view. I
left my hotel room around
4:00 am the morning of the
inauguration. It was already
Spring 2009
Witnesses to history
Five University of Utah community members see Obama sworn in as 44th president of the United States
very busy outside, the streets
were closed and filled with
people. I stood in front of the
blue gate until it opened at
8:00 am. It was in the 20s as
I waited and did my best to
stay warm as the sun slowly
rose. Most everyone in the
crowd was freezing, but
definitely in good spirits as
we all knew the day we had in
store.
I left the evening of the
inauguration. The most
unexpected part of the trip
was getting out of the city
after the event. Many streets
remained closed all day due
to the millions of people
walking the streets. The
metro was overcrowded and
eventually closed due to the
massive crowds. These factors
presented a major problem
in finding a route out of the
city. Taxi cabs were always
full. Hotel shuttles ran to
the airport at a rate of $400.
After 2 hours, I was lucky to
grab a cab that got me to the
airport with only 4 minutes
to spare after getting on my
flight (the last towards Salt
Lake).
The best part about the trip
was meeting so many people
from different places all in
the city for the inaugural
event. Many friends from my
undergraduate institution
flew to D.C. for the event
and it was great running into
them amidst the 3 million
people in the city at that
time. On my flight to D.C.,
I met one of the original
Tuskeegee airmen, who
was invited to attend the
inaugural ceremonies. I also
met an individual who was a
representative of the Ute tribe
and on his way to D.C. to
meet with President Obama
following his inauguration to
discuss the relations between
Obama’s new administration
and his tribe.
Attending the inauguration
gave me the opportunity to
be a part of history. People
who could attend would have
the memory and experience
to share forever.
Obama’s message for change
inspired a new motivation
to work hard and consider
challenges ahead with a clear
mind and a drive to work
towards bettering myself and
the nation.It’s hard to think
that anything would top this
inaugural event. However,
if the opportunity presented
itself, I would consider going
again.
Fui seleccionado para asistir
la toma del poder del nuevo
presidente de los EE.UU. ya
que había ganado un concurso
de redacción patrocinado
por la Black Student Union
[Asociación de Estudiantes
Negros] de la universidad de
Utah. La universidad patrocino
mi vuelo a la ciudad de
Washington DC, y por medio de
contactos pude reservar un boleto
para atender la ceremonia.
Aunque mi boleto no me haya
reservado un asiento, estaba
en la sección azul, la cual se
encontraba justo atrás de los
asientos si que tuve una muy
buena vista del escenario. Pude
ser parte de nuestra historia por
medio de este evento.
Valery Pozo, Universidad
de Utah, Futura Maestra
de Historia de Escuela
Secundaria
Durante mis vacaciones
invernales, tuve la
oportunidad de participar
en la campaña electoral de
Barack Obama y conocer
a individuos quienes
comparten el mismo
entusiasmo que yo acerca
de este candidato. Uno
de estas personas me dio
a conocer una semana
antes de la inauguración
presidencial que tenia un
boleto para esta ceremonia
y posiblemente al baile de
gala. Inmediatamente, gaste
mis ahorros en un pasaje
a Washington D.C. y me
compre un vestido para la
gala. Apenas arribé el lunes
por la noche, sentí “la Obama
manía,” El Martes por la
mañana, junto a mi grupo
nos despertamos a las 5:00
AM, con la esperanza de
obtener buenos asientos y un
buen lugar donde observar al
nuevo presidente. Esperamos
en una línea hasta las 10:00
de la mañana congelados
de frío. Inmediatamente de
dejarnos entrar a nuestra
sección, me di cuenta que mi
altura no me permitiría ver
pero si escuchar el juramento
del presidente Obama.
Sinceramente todo esto fue
muy emocional, no solo lo
sentí personalmente sino
que a toda la comunidad, en
la cual se sintió un espíritu
de unidad y hermandad por
toda la semana siguiente a la
euforia.
Sentí que por todo el
trabajo aportado de mi
parte, Barack Obama gano
su candidatura. Yo sabia que
tenia que ir, por que se que no
muchos políticos me pueden
inspirar de la manera en que
nuestro presidente lo hizo.
Tambien fue importante para
mí asistir este gran evento
para poder compartir esto
con mis futuros estudiantes.
Verdaderamente disfrute
mucho esta experiencia
histórica, pero realmente no
lo haría denuevo, a causa del
costo, el frío y toda la gente
alocada de la cuidad.
I volunteered for the Obama
campaign in Colorado and
created relationships with
students dedicated to the election
of Barack Obama as president.
One of these students notified
me the week before inauguration
that they had an extra ticket to
the inauguration ceremony. I
immediately spent my savings on
a flight to Washington D.C. On
Tuesday morning, the group I
traveled with woke at 5:00 a.m.
I stood in line until 10:00 a.m.,
huddling with strangers until we
were let into our section, Hearing
the swearing-in was very
moving. Throughout the week,
there was an overwhelming sense
of community and unity because
we were all supporting the same
individual and the shared vision
we had for our nation.
Because of the work I did
campaigning, I had a personal
investment in President Obama
and his successes. I knew that
I had to go because who knows
how many politicians will
inspire me like this again.
Erica Richardson, U of U
year, major
I was able to attend the
Inauguration by winning an
essay competition sponsored
through the Black Student
Union that covered the
cost of our plane ticket and
lodging. We got our tickets
to the ceremony from the
BSU Advisor Betty Sawyer
who got them from the Salt
Lake City Mayor’s office. We
stayed at the Hyatt Hotel
that was right across the
street from the capitol. We
walked a mile to get into the
line for our section for the
swearing-in. We got there
at 5:30 am so we could get
a good spot. There were
already tons of people. It
was so cold. I didn’t bring
warm enough stuff. Some
people left because the cold
was unbearable. I considered
walking back to my hotel
to get a blanket but I knew
I wouldn’t be able to find
my friends or get my place
in line. So I stayed and just
huddled on strangers. The
environment was crowded,
yet, there were no riots or
violence. Everyone was there
for the same cause and there
was this wonderful powerful
positive energy—it was
amazing. It was organized
mayhem. Our return trip
was crazy. Roads were
closed. Streets were packed
with people. Cabs were not
running. It took hours before
Betty finally found a town
car and paid the driver $100
to get us to the airport. We
just barely made our flight.
It was insane, but awesome
at the same time. It was
important to me to attend
the ceremony because as an

African-American, I knew
this was not only history in
the making, but it was also a
change of events. President
Obama winning to me is a
tone setter for where America
is going and I just had to be
a part of that. Just like my
grandparents can tell me
about Dr. King speaking,
I can tell my children and
grandchildren that I was at
the inauguration of the first
Black President in America
President Obama’s message
for change meant so much
to me because that’s what
this country needs. We all
need to personally change
for the better. He instilled
hope in Americans again. I
am carrying out President
Obama’s message for change
by trying to be the best me I
can be and to never give up
on my goals.
I would love to go if
President Obama is reelected
in 2012, but if it is as cold, I
may go and be in the city, but
watch it in on T.V.
Pude asistir la toma del
poder del nuevo presidente
después de haber ganado
un concurso de redacción
patrocinado por la Black
Student Union [Asociacion
de Estudiantes Negros] el
cual cubrió el costo de viaje y
alojamiento. Había mucha
gente en la juramentación,
y hacia mucho frío si que me
acurruque entre desconocidos
para entrar en calor. Todos
estaban ahí por la misma
causa y había una energía
positiva y poderosa cubriendo
toda la área. ¡Fue maravilloso!
Para mi fue importante asistir
ya que como Afro-Americana
sabia que esto no solo es parte
de nuestra historia, mas
también una era de cambio.
La elección del presidente
Obama es una muestra de
hacia donde se dirige nuestro
país, y tenia que ser parte de
eso.
Diego Alemán, 7mo grado
de West High School
Mi excursión a la
inauguración fue increíble.
Después de haber sido
electo el presidente Obama,
mi padre compro dos
pasajes. Nos alojamos con
mi tía, quien vive en las
afueras de Washington
D.C. Conseguimos boletos
para la inauguración por
medio del senador Bob
Bennet del estado de Utah.
Obtuvimos boletos amarillos
significando que Íbamos a
estar sentados. La mañana
de la inauguración hizo un
frío tremendo, pero se podía
sentir la emoción como
estática eléctrica en todo mi
cuerpo. Como llegamos a
Washington D.C. unos días
antes de la inauguración,
tuvimos la oportunidad de
visitar muchos monumentos
nacionales. Uno de los
momentos mas extraños
fue cuando nos cruzamos
con un amigo de mi Papa
de la Universidad, Dr.
William Smith, mientras
caminábamos en los
alrededor es del Lincoln
Memorial. Este evento
histórico fue lo más
significante de mi viaje, tanto
que mi familia quiere regresar
en el 2012. Para continuar
el mensaje del presidente
Obama acerca de la
esperanza, yo planeo obtener
una educación superior y así
poder ser un gran líder para la
comunidad Latina.
My journey to the
inauguration was incredible.
After President Obama was
elected, my father bought
us plane tickets to D.C. We
stayed with my great-aunt,
who lives outside of D.C. We
requested and got tickets from
Senator Bob Bennett of Utah.
We were in the yellow section,
which meant we had seats. The
morning of the inauguration
was freezing, but you could
feel the excitement like static
electricity in the air during
the hour I was in line. The
importance of the historic
event was the most significant
part of the trip, and my family
is already talking about
returning in 2012 for the same
reason. To carry out president
Obama’s message of hope, I
plan to educate myself in as
many ways as I can, so I can
serve and be a leader for the
Latino/a community.
Dr. Enrique Alemán, Jr.,
Educational Leadership
and Policy
My son, Diego, and I
committed to attending
the inauguration after the
election. We got to D.C. on
the red-eye flight from Salt
Lake to New York Kennedy
and then into Dulles. We
had tickets to the ceremony.
My son emailed all of our
Utah representatives (both
senators and one U.S.
congressman) requesting
tickets to the inauguration.
Before Christmas, a member
of Sen. Bob Bennett’s staff
called to let us know that we
had two tickets, but had to
pick them up two days before
the swearing in at his D.C.
office. We didn’t know where
the tickets would place us,
but knew that the majority of
the 250,000 tickets given out
would be standing room only.
Because Bennett served on
the Presidential Inauguration
Committee, I thought that
maybe, we would get good
seats. When we arrived from
our overnight flight, my
cousins took us to pick up
our tickets. My son and I
were stunned to have yellow
tickets right up front in the
seated section. The next
three days, we visited all the
monuments on the Mall
and several Smithsonian
Museums. Getting to
the mall the morning of
the inauguration was not
difficult because my aunt had
purchased reserve seats for us
on a commuter rail line so we
could avoid riding the Metro,
which was going to be crazy.
The morning of the swearing
in, we were at the station at
5:00 a.m., for our reserved
seats. We arrived at Union
Station at about 6:15 and we
walked to the yellow section
line and finally got to the
back of the line at about 6:45
a.m. The lines were extremely
long, but everyone was in a
good mood. Once the gates
opened at 8:00am, the line
started to move and by 9:30
a.m., we were sitting down
in our seats. It was very cold,
but we had several layers on
and kept moving around. The
crowds helped block a lot of
the wind. The environment /
atmosphere during the entire
ceremony was joyous. We
sat next to a federal district
judge from San Diego and
his wife. We talked before
the swearing-in, and after
Obama was congratulated as
the President of the United
States, we just hugged.
There weren’t a lot of words,
just happiness, high fives,
hugging, and tears.
It was important to go with
my son to the inauguration
Page 15
Noticias
Testigos de la historia
Cinco miembros de la Universidad de Utah ven la juramentación del 44o presidente de los Estados Unidos
because it was historic. Many
people in our family and
community fought to make
the election of a person
of color a possibility. My
grandparents, like many
others, were discriminated
against, discouraged from
voting, intimidated to vote
for certain people. They also
worked in the fields for many
years picking the country’s
fruits and vegetables, making
this country strong. They
fought in wars that defended
the country. So, I believed
someone in our family should
attend as a representative of
all the sacrifices, blood, sweat,
and tears that went into
making this country what
it is, and what it continues
to evolve into. I also wanted
both of us to use our memory
of the inauguration to call
to mind the responsibility
we have in continuing the
the work still needed to end
oppression. There are people
who will use this election to
say that racism is dead and
that we live in a post-racial
society, so we have to fight
this nonsense and bring to
light what is still left undone.
I would go again if
President Obama is reelected
in 2012. This time, I would
like to take my whole family.
Mi hijo mando correos
electrónicos a todos los
diputados del estado de Utah
pidiéndoles un boleto para
la toma del poder del nuevo
presidente. Nos asombramos
cuando el diputado Bob
Bennet nos dio dos tickets
para la sección frontal de
la ceremonia. La mañana
del juramento, existía un
sentimiento de jubilo, y
aunque las lineas eran largas,
todos estaban felices de estar
presente. Era importante ir
con mi hijo porque este era
un evento histórico. Muchas
personas de nuestra familia
lucharon para realizar sus
sueños de ver una persona
de color como presidente.
Mis abuelos, como muchos
otros, fueron discriminados y
exhortados a que no voten. Por
años trabajaron en los campos,
y también pelearon en guerras.
Al atender, nosotros pudimos
representar todos los sacrificios,
sangre, sudor, y lagrimas que
convirtieron este país en lo que
ahora es.
Primavera 2009

Page 16
nE w s
By Marisela Garza
Editor in Chief
On the last day of
my freshman year of high
school, I had a teacher tell
me she was glad I had been
in her class. She told me she
thought I was going to be
trouble but was pleasantly
surprised that I was not. The
teacher assumed that I would
take this as a compliment;
she was mistaken. When
she looked at me all she
saw was baggy jeans, dark
lipstick, brown skin, and a
name she never deigned to
learn to pronounce. That
pretty much sums up my k-12
experience and considering
the low graduation rates
amongst Latina/o students,
I think it is safe to say this
trend continues.
The Utah State Office of
Education recently released
their data on the graduation
rates of 2008. Latina/o
students had the lowest rate
of graduation at 69 percent,
down from 72 percent in
2007. The average rate of
graduation in Utah is 88
percent and 91 percent for
white students. From these
numbers, there is an obvious
disparity amongst graduates
from different ethnic groups.
Unfortunately, the fight for
quality education is not a
new issue for Latinas/os. So
what efforts, if any has the
educational system done to
correct this problem? Some
have tried to overcome this
by placing value on the
achievements people of
color have made today and
historically in the curriculum.
They have learned that
integrating a culturally
relevant curriculum leads to
higher graduation rates.
One such example is
the Tuscon Unified School
District of Arizona. In 1999,
they implemented a program
called Mexican American/
Raza Studies in grades k-12.
According to their website
the vision of the Raza Studies
program “is dedicated
to the empowerment
and strengthening of our
community of learners.
Students will attain
an understanding and
appreciation of historic and
contemporary Mexican
American contributions.
The Mexican American/
Raza Studies program
Spring 2009
is celebrating its 10 th
anniversary and so far has
been a huge success.
Locally, Dr. Leticia
Alvarez, a professor at the
University of Utah in the
Education, Culture, and
Society department is
working to empower students
and their families in the Salt
Lake Valley. She and her
students have been working
with linguistically and
culturally diverse students
and their families in the
English as a Second Language
(ESL) program at Northwest
Middle School, East High
School and West High
School. She founded the
Family-School Partnership
(FSP), an interdisciplinary
partnership integrating social
justice, community basedresearch,
education and
action. The first and principal
objective of the FSP is to
establish a supportive and
inviting family involvement
culture within each
school site. Dr. Alvarez’s
course ECS 5709/6709
encourages student-teachers
to recognize the strengths
that students and families
bring with them to the
school context and larger
community and capitalize
on these for improving
the school structures and
social networks that exist
in the community.
On April 4, 2009 the 1st
Annual FSP Conference:
“Family, Students and
Schools: Bridging Knowledge
Through Partnership” took
place. All of the workshops
designed for the conference
focused on the needs
expressed by students and
families in the partnership.
These included: community
dialogue about racism, crosscultural
dialogue, resources
for college, community
building and understanding
the US school system.
Asaeli Matelau, one of the
conference speakers spoke
about the importance of
storytelling. He said, “We
all hear the stereotypes and
the labels (a.k.a. stories)
about our people limiting us
to gangsters, teenage moms,
drop-outs, etc., and these
labels stick to our minds
making us even believe that
which is not true. I spoke at
the conference about creating
our own stories and building
Latina/o graduation rates:
it off the rich ancestry we all
have. We do not have to rely
on the stories given to us by
the outside”
Both of these programs
are unique because they
are designed to empower
Estudiantes Latina/os: Un sueño postergado
By Marisela Garza
Editor in Chief
Al finalizar mi primer año de secundaria,
una maestra me dijo que estaba feliz de que
me haya portado bien en su clase. Me dijo
que al principio pensó que le iba a causar
problemas, pero la maestra asumió que
me iba alegrar por el supuesto halago; más
errónea no pudo haber estado. Cuando
ella me veía, solo miraba mis bluyines
sueltos, mi piel morena, y un nombre el cual
nunca creyó digno de pronunciarlo bien.
Esto básicamente resume mi experiencia
colegial, y considerando el bajo numero de
estudiantes Latinos graduándose de escuelas
secundarias, creo que se puede decir con
confianza que estas tendencias continúan.
Recientemente la Oficina Estatal de
Educación de Utah publicó sus datos sobre
el numero de estudiantes graduándose de
una escuela secundaria. En el 2008, los
estudiantes Latinos tuvieron el porcentaje
más bajo con un 69 por ciento; más abajo
que el año pasado en donde el porcentaje de
Latinos graduándose era 79 por ciento. El
porcentaje promedio del estado es 88 por
ciento, mas para estudiantes blancos es un
91 por ciento. Al analizar estos números,
uno puedo ver una discrepancia entre el
numero de estudiantes de diferentes orígenes
étnicos graduándose. Lamentablemente para
Latinos, la lucha para una educación superior
no es nada nuevo. ¿Entonces que esfuerzo
alguno ha hecho el sistema educativo para
remediar este problema?
Localmente, la Doctora Leticia Álvarez,
una profesora del departamento de
Education, Culture and Society [Educación,
Cultura y Sociedad] de la Universidad de
Utah, trabaja para mejorar estas inequidades.
Sus estudiante y ella han estado trabajando
con estudiantes y familias de diversas
culturas e idiomas en las escuelas secundarias
de Northwest, East y West. La Dra. Álvarez
fundó una alianza entre familias y escuelas
[Family-School Partnership (FSP)]. Esta
alianza incorpora elementos del estudio de la
justicia social, e investigaciones enfocadas en
comunidad, educación, y acción. El objetivo
A dream deferred
The first annual family-school partnership conference was held at the University of Utah on April 24.
students by giving value
to their lives and the
communities that they
come from. It seems like
an obvious and simple
notion but these methods
are not being practiced
everywhere. Schools
belong to the community
and it is important for us
to continually remind the
educational system that it
should reflect all members of
that community.
principal de la alianza es en crear una cultura
acogedora, y llena de apoyo para familias.
Esta meta guía la clase de la Dra. Álvarez,
cuyo propósito es de que futuros maestros
aprendan a reconocer las virtudes que familias
y jóvenes poseen para que juntos puedan
mejorar las escuelas y los recursos de nuestras
comunidades.
La primera conferencia de esta alianza
ocurrió en el 4 de abril del 2009. La
conferencia titulada “Family, Students and
Schools: Bridging Knowledge Through
Partnership” [Familias, Estudiantes, y Escuelas:
Estableciendo Vínculos de Conocimiento por
medio de Alianzas], ofreció talleres enfocados
en las necesidades expresadas por familias y
estudiantes. Esto incluyó información sobre:
como dialogar sobre el racismo, como dialogar
a través de culturas, recursos para ser admitido
a una universidad, e información sobre como
navegar el sistema educativo de los EE.UU.
Asaeli Matelau, uno de los discursantes de
la conferencia hablo sobre la importancia de
nuestras historias. “Siempre escuchamos los
sobrenombres y estereotipos de nuestra gente
los cuales nos identifican como gángsters,
madres jóvenes, y desinteresados en el éxito,
hay veces que creemos lo que se dicen de
nosotros haciéndonos pensar aquello que no
es verdad. Es necesario crear y recitar nuestras
propias historias. Al afirmar nuestras historias
creamos nuestros propios limites y expandimos
nuestro potencial,”dijo Matelau.
Estas programa, es único ya que proveen
a estudiantes con un currículo inclusivo de
sus familias y comunidades, el cual valida el
conocimiento cultural de nuestros estudiantes.
Aunque parezca un método obvio y simple,
es lamentable ver que este proceso no es
implementado en todas partes. Las escuelas
pertenecen a la comunidad, y es importante
que el personal del sistema educativo
recuerde que las escuelas deben reflejar todas
nuestras comunidades. Tal vez algún día
estas practicas se convertirán en algo común
ya que correlacionan positivamente con el
éxito estudiantil, hasta ese entonces tengamos
optimismo y luchemos para que sea así.

THOSE
MEXICANS
SHOULD GO BACK
TO THEIR SIDE OF
THE BORDER
IF
ONLY WE
HAD A PENNY
FOR EVERY LIE
IN THIS
BOOK
I’M IN LOVE!
HAHA
SHH! THEY
MIGHT HEAR
YOU!
WE’D
ALL BE RICH!
HI MY NAME IS
GLORIA
YOU’RE
NOT HER TYPE, GORDO
WHAT’S
THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN !!
JUST LOOK..
WELCOME TO
AMERICAN HISTORY 101. IN THIS CLASS WE WILL COVER
3 THINGS. COLUMBUS’ DISCOVERY OF AMERICA, MANIFEST DESTITY
AND THE HOLY BUSH ADMINISTRATION
I THINK YOU FORGOT
THE ALAMO...
SOME-
ONE SHOULD
TELL THOSE GUYS TO
GET BACK ON THE
MAYFLOWER
I
DON’T
DRINK COKE
EITHER!
SHH!
THOSE
PILGRIMS
MIGHT HEAR
YOU!
DON’T
WORRY HAPPENS MORE
THAN YOU THINK
I’M
FROM EL
SALVADOR!
BY LOLA REYES
I
SAW
YOU TWO
AT LUNCH.
THOSE
GUYS WERE
REALLY
MESSED
UP TO
YOU.
WE’LL BE
THERE THANKS.
EVER
FEEL LIKE WE’RE
BEING WATCHED?
I’M
FROM
A
CHICANO/
CHICANA
ORG ON
CAMPUS.
WE’RE
SOCIAL
JUSTICE
ACTIVISTS.
I WANT TO
INVITE YOU
TO OUR
MEETING
THIS
WEEK.
Cuadro 1: (maestr@) Bienvenidos a historia Americana 101. En esta clase cubriremos 3 cosas: El descubrimiento
de America por Colón, la expansión del territorio Estadounidense, y la sagrada administración de
Bush. (estudiante) Creo que se olvido del Alamo…
Cuadro 2: (grupo de estudiantes) Esos Mexicanos deberían regresarse a su lado de la frontera. (otros estudiantes)
¡JAJA SHH! ¡Quizás los pueden escuchar! (Flaco) Alguien les debería decir a ellos que se regresen al
Mayflower, el bote con el que vinieron. (Gordo) ¡SHH! ¡Los peregrinos quizás los pueden escuchar!
Cuadro 3:¿ Alguna vez te has sentido como si te estuvieran observando?
Cuadro 4: (Flaco) si solo nos diesen un centavo por cada mentira en este libro. (Gloria) ¡Todos seriamos ricos!
Hola me llamo Gloria.
Cuadro 5: (Flaco) No te preocupes pasa más de lo que piensas. Los vi a ustedes dos durante el almuerzo. (Gloria)
Esos chicos fueron muy malos contigo. (Gordo) ¡Yo tampoco tomo Coca Cola!
Cuadro 6: (Gloria) Soy miembro de una organización Chicana en el campus. Los quiero invitar a nuestra
reunión esta semana. (Flaco) Estaremos ahí gracias. (Gordo) ¡Yo soy de El Salvador.
Cuadro 7: (Gordo) ¡Estoy enamorado! (Flaco) No eres su tipo, Gordo. (Gordo)¡¡¿Que es lo que quieres
decir?!! (Flaco) Solo Mira…
chicano scholarship
ad
Page 17
noticias
‘09 Raza graduation
celebrated in May
La graduación de nuestra raza
By / Por Belem Holguin
Guerrillera
At the end of every school year, El Movimiento
Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (M.E.Ch.A.),
a Chicano/a student group at the University
of Utah, holds Raza Graduation, a banquet to
close the school year and to celebrate all of the
group’s accomplishments of the year and honoring
the group’s graduating seniors. This year Raza
Graduation was held on Saturday May 2 at the
Boys and Girls Club in Rose Park.
There is, of course, a formal graduation
ceremony held by the University, but we feel that it
is essential to recognize the accomplishments of our
close friends. Graduates are presented with a small
gift and a certificate. We are very proud of what our
Latino/a graduates accomplish every year because
statistically, not many people of color graduate. We
feel that this is an auspicious occasion that deserves
acknowledgement.
*************
A la conclusión de cada año escolar, El
Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano(a) de Aztlan
(MEChA), un grupo compuesto de estudiantes de la
Universidad de Utah, anfitriona un banquete para
clausurar el año escolar y al mismo tiempo celebrar
todos los logros del grupo durante el año. Entre
estos logros se encuentra la graduación de algunos
de nuestro miembros y aliados. Por supuesto que
existe una ceremonia de graduación más formal que
anfitriona la universidad, pero nosotros sentimos
que es de suma importancia reconocer los logros de
nuestros amigos cercanos. Honoramos a la Raza
que se gradúa en este evento con un pequeño regalo,
y un certificado. Estamos muy orgullosos de lo que
han logrado; especialmente porque estadísticamente
muy pocas personas de color se gradúan de una
universidad. Por eso mismo creemos que este
auspicioso acontecimiento merece mencionarse.
Congratulations to / Felicidades a:
X. Yvette González—Social Justice Education &
Community Based Research
Denise Castañeda—Social Justice Education
Pablo Martinez – Secondary Spanish Education
Yulliana Novoa – Education, Culture & Society
Richard Diaz – Social Justice Education
Jose Rodriguez – Social Justice & Policy
Jarred Martinez – Social Justice Education
Deisy Ramirez – Cultural Communication
Sonya M. Alemán – Doctorate of Communication
Judith Perez – Masters of Education
Estela Hernandez – Masters of Education
Andrea Garavito – Masters of Education
Dan Cairo – Masters of Education
Jorge de Amorim Filo – Medical Degree
Cecilia Eguiguren – Medical Degree
Silivia Jaramio – Medical Degree
Sonia Ponce – Medical Degree
Juliana Simonetti – Medical Degree
Ricardo Venegas – Masters of Education
Primavera 2009

Page 18
cu lt u r E
Spring 2009
Des c o l o n i z a r Dec o l o n i z e
your mind
tu mente
The history of:
La historia de:
Por / By Isaac Giron
Guerrillero
La historia de los Brown Berets
[un grupo activista simbolizado
por el uso de boinas marrones] es
una de antigüedad. Esta historia es
sinónima con la resistencia indígena,
la cual simboliza nuestra lucha por
la afirmación de nuestros derechos
humanos. En la década de los 60, este
concepto facilito la creación de los
Brown Berets para la defensa propia del
este de los Ángeles. En estos tiempos del
movimiento de los derechos civiles, un
grupo conocido como Black Panthers
[Panteras Negras] ya estaba en acción
trabajando para la auto determinación y
orgullo propio de la comunidad Negra.
En 1967, jóvenes Xicanos decidieron
utilizar el mismo modelo de activismo
de los Black Panthers. Los Brown Berets
se convirtieron en el vehiculo de la lucha
contra el racismo, la brutalidad policial,
y la explotación capitalista que encarcela
a nuestra comunidad en las cadenas de
pobreza.
En abril del 2006 un grupo de
revolucionarios decidieron reactivar los
Brown Berets de Salt Lake City. En este
tiempo habían muchas demostraciones a
nivel nacional pro-inmigrantes. Nuestra
meta fue de utilizar las lecciones de
los Brown Berets originales y adaptar
estos conceptos para el beneficio
contemporáneo de la organización. Nos
esforzamos para alcanzar liberación por
medio de la educación, cultura, y auto
determinación.
Nuestro concepto de la educación
viene de la idea de Malcolm X, de que
uno le debe enseñar a otro. La educación
en nuestras comunidades es transmitida
de diferentes modos; uno de esos
modos es por medio de conversaciones
interpersonales. Que uno le enseñe a
otro es nuestro principio fundamental.
Por eso los Brown Berets cada dos fin
de semanas salen a las calles a organizar
a la comunidad. Esta es una manera de
presentar información sobre asuntos
importantes afectando la comunidad,
mientras aprendemos de los problemas
que le afectan a nuestras comunidades.
También en nuestras juntas semanales
tenemos talleres educacionales sobre
diversos temas. Vemos como las escuelas
rechazan la aplicación de un sistema
educativo que considera las diferentes
experiencias de estudiantes, causando
que estudiantes que pertenecen a
minorías étnicas reprueben sus clases.
A pesar de esto, nosotros solidamente
The Brown Berets
promovemos la graduación de
estudiantes de las escuelas preparatorias,
y el ingreso de Raza a escuelas de
educación superior. Tratamos de crear
este logro siendo mentores para los
estudiantes y por medio de talleres
enfocados en la juventud. Apoyamos
a MEChA y el trabajo similar que
ellos hacen con la Raza. La educación
superior debe ser vista como un acto
político, y las aptitudes que uno
aprende en estas instituciones deben ser
utilizadas para apoyar a nuestra gente de
los barrios.
El conocer la historia de uno, y el
ser orgulloso de nuestra cultura es
una parte muy importante de nuestra
organización. Somos los descendentes
de la gente indígena de este continente,
aunque nuestra gente sea proveniente
de África, Asia, y Europa, nuestras
raíces son indígenas. Siempre
agregamos conceptos y tradiciones
natales a nuestros mensajes y política.
Nuestro símbolo es el Hunab Ku, el
símbolo Maya de dualidad, el cual es
representado en Nahua como Ometeolt.
También apreciamos la cultural que
hemos creado como Xicanos(as). Para
la juventud de la comunidad tenemos
talleres de cómo construir un Low-
Rider, y también trabajamos con las
comunidades de Hip Hop para crear
mix tapes [grabaciones de diferentes
ritmos y mezclas] y alianzas con artistas
locales y nacionales de Rap, al igual
que con disc jockeys, break dancers,
y artistas de graffiti. Ahora mismo
estamos en el proceso de crear nuestro
segundo mix tape y también una seria
educativa mensual de Hip Hop donde
artistas locales pueden demostrar como
utilizar Hip Hop para en bienestar de
nuestra gente.
La auto determinación es la idea de
que tenemos el derecho de vivir nuestras
vidas y dirigir nuestras comunidades
del modo de cómo nuestra cultura
nos enseñe. Tratamos de lograr esto
apoyando y creando programas
Esta sección ha sido creada con la intención de reconstruir
nuestra historia. La historia es escrita por los vencedores y
como los colonizados, nuestra historia ha sido distorsionada
y prácticamente destruida. Queremos recuperar nuestra
historiacon el propósito de avanzar hacia adelante.
This column is intended to rebuild our history. The victors
write history and as a colonized people our history has been
distorted and virtually destroyed. Here we reclaim our
history with the intent to build a better present and future:
comunitarios de sobrevivencia.
El organización autonoma de los
Brown Berets de Salt Lake City se reúne
cada miércoles a las 6pm en Mestizo
Coffeehouse. Si esta interesado en lo
que hacemos siéntase libre de venir e
involucrarse. MEXICA TIAHUI ¡EL
PODER PARA LA GENTE!
*************
The history of the Brown Berets is an
old one. It’s the history of Indigenous
resistance which has taken up many
different strategies and tactics to meet
our goals and help us achieve our human
rights. In the late 1960’s, this adaptation
lead to the creation of the Brown Berets
for Self Defense in East LA. In those
times of the Civil Rights movement and
Black and Brown Power struggles our
sister organization, the Black Panthers
for Self Defense, already working
tirelessly to bring self-determination
and pride to the Black community. In
1967 young Xican@s decided to take
up this model of activism. The Brown
Berets became the vehicle to fight back
against the racism, police brutality and
capitalist exploitation.
In April 2006, a group of young
revolutionaries decided to reactivate the
Brown Berets in Salt Lake City. During
this time, there were massive immigrant
rights rallies all over the country. Our
goal was to take the lessons learned
from the original Brown Berets and
adapt them to make it an effective
organization for today. We strive to
achieve liberation through education,
culture and self determination.
Our concept of education comes from
Malcolm X’s idea of “Each one, Teach
one.” Education in our communities
is transferred in different ways, one
of those ways being through one on
one conversation. That’s the reason
why the Brown Berets hold street
organizing every other weekend in
our communities. It’s a way to pass out
information on important relevant
topics while at the same time getting to
learn from the community what those
issues are. We also hold educationals on
various topics in our weekly meetings
which are prepared by a different
compañer@ every week.
We see that the schools refuse to
apply a system of education that
takes into consideration the different
cultural background of the students
thus setting up so-called minority
students for failure. In spite of this,
we strongly promote going to school,
graduating and moving up to higher
education for Raza students by working
in mentorship programs and creating
workshops geared towards youth. We
support MEChA and the work they
do in bringing Raza to the campuses.
Higher education should be viewed as
a political action and the skills learned
in the institutions should be used to
support our people in the barrios.
Cultural pride and knowing your
history is an important part of our
organization. We are the descendents
of the Indigenous people of this
continent and even though our people
are mixed with other cultures from
Africa, Asia and Europe we see our
root culture to be Indigena. We always
add native traditions and concepts into
our message and politics. Our symbol
is the Hunab Ku, the Mayan symbol
of duality, which is represented in
Nahua as Ometeolt. We also appreciate
the culture that we have created as a
Xican@ people. We hold model Lowrider
Building workshops for the youth
in our community and also work in the
Hip Hop community putting together
mix tapes and creating alliances with
local and big name Rappers, DJ’s, B
Boys/ B Girls and Graffiti artists. We
are in the process of making our second
Mix tape and also creating a monthly
Hip Hop series where local artists are
showcased so that we can use Hip Hop
more efficiently as a tool to achieve
Peoples Power.
Self-determination is the idea that we
have the right to live our lives and run
our communities in the way our culture
teaches us to. We attempt to achieve this
by supporting and building community
programs that we call survival programs.
The SLC Autonomous Chapter of the
Brown Berets meets every Wednesday at
6pm at Mestizo Coffeehouse. If you are
interested in what we are doing feel free
to come and get involved. MEXICA
TIAHUI !! ALL POWER TO THE
PEOPLE!!!

Uniting communities
to face a common struggle:
By Asaeli Matelau
Guerrillero
Tragedy struck Kearns this last
January. The tragedy was the death of
Esteban Saidi a 16 year old student
at Kearns High. Esteban was fatally
wounded by a bullet that struck him
in the abdomen. Esteban was shot
down by a fellow student, Ricky
Angilau, during a fist fight between a
group of Latino students, and a group
of Polynesian students.
The two young adults whose lives
were forever cut off from society
did not only pay the consequences
of these fatal actions, but also face
constructed identities. The identity
of being a gangster. This idea was
imposed upon these two students by
the institutions that should be there
to protect our communities. Alex
Wiles the student body president for
Kearns High School states “everyone
is quick to jump on the gangster identity
for our community (Polynesians/
Latinos) because that is the easiest
thing to point fingers at. They will
point their fingers at the kids saying
their gangsters without looking at the
problem.”
The ones we as a community have
invested the most trust into are doing
too little too late. Institutions
such as the media, the schools and
law enforcement jumped all over
this tragedy, framing it as another
gang problem. These false identities
disguise the problems in our communities
and pit community members
against their neighbors while labeling
our young adults. These identities also
create scapegoats taking attention
away from the true issues such as lack
of economic opportunities, educational
opportunities, and the creation
of “gang” labels by teachers, media,
and law enforcement.
The way in which these institutions
reacted in Kearns not only reaffirmed
lesser thinking about people from
our communities, but continue to act
only in reactionary ways., waiting for
more problems before stepping in.
At the Kearns town hall meeting
Sherriff Winder openly claimed “We
cannot arrest our way out of this
problem”, but what other measures
are currently being implemented by
those in power to assure no more of
our youth are murdered, or filling the
already full prisons? Are we left to
continue to wait until more students
die or our young rely on these street
habits to get by?
Natasha Afalava, a Graduate
student at BYU, cites research that
has been done that calls for more
outreach programs and less imprisonment
as the answer to curbing youth
crime. “Programs should be based
off of economic needs, protection
needs and not what cops think gang
The Face Movement
The Face Movement engaged in various actions bringing about unity in our divided
communities. (Left) Face Movement presentation during a Kearns High Assembly,
(Middle) Face Movement Protests the over incarceration of youth of color at Matheson
Courthoouse, (Right) Members of Face Movement mentoring youth at Kearns High.
“A human is defined less by the mistakes they commit as
individuals, but more by the ways we work together to rise
in the face of struggles.” Face Movement
members need.” These are ideas that
inform the work The Face Movement
is undertaking.
The Face Movement is a young
group of individuals, some students,
some community members, and some
young professionals with a mission in
mind. That mission is to unite people
by the struggles they face and to empower
the community through unity,
action and education. The Face Movement
realizes that there are many divisions
amongst the people living in the
west side communities of Utah, but
they have very similar struggles they
face and that is why they call themselves
The Face Movement.
The Face Movement wishes to
bring a tide of change into Salt Lake
and dream of communities where the
youth are no longer blamed for the
ills of the community, but treated as
prospects for the next generation.
This group has created mentoring
programs at Kearns High School, has
held workshops for students of color
at the University of Utah and has
opened up dialog between divided
community members. The Face
Movements long term vision is to
create youth forums where the youth
can be empowered and find a way to
articulate their struggle so they can
also aid in making change. As well as
creating a center, a liberation school,
that will foster the culture of the
youth incorporate the arts and tie in
cultural knowledge to push the youth
to their full potential. For more information
visit www.facethestruggle.
blogspot.com.
El Face Movement:
Uniendo comunidades para
enfrentar la lucha juntos
Por Asaeli Matelau
Guerrillero
Una tragedia sorprendió a muchos
en la cuidad de Kearns. Esta fue la
muerte de Estaban Saidi, un joven de
16 años e estudiante de Kearns High
School. Esteban murió a causa de una
bala que le perforo el abdomen, la
cual fue disparada por un compañero
de escuela Ricky Angilau, durante una
pelea entre Latinos y Polinesios.
Estos dos jóvenes, quienes sus vidas
fueron sacadas de la sociedad, no solo
pagaron las consecuencias de esta acción
fatal, sino que sus identidades fueron
forzadas por medio de la misma,
siendo clasificados como pandilleros.
Esta ideología es impulsada por las
instituciones que supuestamente
protegen a nuestras comunidades.
Alex Wiles, el Presidente Estudiantil
de Kearns High School, dijo “Es muy
fácil para todos, apuntar e identificar
a alguien como pandillero, todos lo
hacen sin observar el problema real.”
A quienes como comunidad hemos
invertido para resolver este tipo de
problemas no están haciendo nada.
Instituciones como las escuelas,
medios de comunicaron y la fuerza
policíaca dan a conocer su veredicto
como si fuese un problema de
pandillas. Estas identidades falsas,
disfrazan los problemas en nuestras
comunidades y hacen que los miem-
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cu lt u r a
“El ser humano
es juzgado menos
que alguien por
sus errores cometidos
como individuo,
pero mas que
alguien por como
peleamos juntos
en lucha.”
El Face Movement
bros comunitarios se tilden entre si,
últimamente ocultando los verdaderos
problemas cuales son, la falta de
oportunidades económicas y oportunidades
educativas.
En el foro comunitario de Kearns,
el Sherriff Winder, dijo, “no podemos
arrestar este tipo problema,” pero ¿que
otras medidas están siendo implementadas
por los gobernantes para
asegurar que no haya más muertes de
jóvenes, o que se sigan llenando las
prisiones ya rebalsadas por estos mismos?
¿Tenemos que seguir esperando
que más estudiantes mueran, o que
nuestros jóvenes tengan que depender
de estos hábitos para sobrevivir?
Natasha Afalaca, una estudiante de
BYU, hizo una investigación acerca de
este tema, y da a conocer su opinión,
exclamando por programas que
ayuden a estos jóvenes y no al encarcelamiento.
“Estos programas deben de
enfocarse en la necesidad económica
y no en lo que la policía piense que es
correcto.”
El Face Movement es un grupo de
individuos, estudiantes y miembros
comunitarios con la misma visión en
mente. Esta misma es unir a la gente
por medio de las luchas y experiencias,
las cuales recapacitan a la comunidad
por medio de la unidad, acción
y educación. El Face Movement,
exclama que hay muchas divisiones
entre la gente que viven en el oeste de
Salt Lake City, pero que a la misma
ves hay muchas similitudes entre si,
por eso el nombre Face Movement.
Este grupo desea traer un cambio
social a Salt Lake City y sueña con
comunidades donde los jóvenes no
son la causa de los problemas, sino
tratarlos como el futuro de nuestra
sociedad. Este grupo a creado un
programa en Kearns High School,
talleres donde estudiantes de la
Universidad de Utah han abierto un
dialogo entre las comunidades y sus
subdivisiones. La visión a largo plazo
es crear foros de jóvenes donde ellos
puedan capacitar y encontrar formas
de articular e expresar sus problemas.
También, El Face Movement
quiere crear una escuela liberación la
cual empadroné la cultura y el arte,
enfocado en el mismo potencial de los
jóvenes. Para mas información visite
www.facethestruggle.blogspot.com.
Primavera 2009

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cu lt u r E
Art history to art reality: Primitivista art through the decades
By Michele Medina
Guerrillera
Two things of cultural
significance happened to me
in 2007. I was in an art history
class, and I could select
any topic to write about.
And, I had planned to visit
my family’s country, Nicaragua,
for the summer. Having
been born in the United
States, I knew little about the
heritage and culture from my
Nicaraguan background, so
I decided to write about the
arts in Nicaragua. These two
events were perfectly aligned
because I learned so much
about the politcs behind the
Primitivista artform.
I wrote about el arte
Primitivista because I am attracted
to bright, lively colors,
daily life, and animals in art,
such as in Olivia Silva’s La
cosecha de café. But the thing
that shocked me was that
Primitivista was so politically
involved, and I knew nothing
about the politics or exactly
why my parents decided to
come here. As I was learning
about the art, I was learning
about the politics and I realized
that my parents’ opinion
about the politics were the
exact opposite of what I was
reading in scholarly articles.
This Nicaraguan art form
was born in the archipelago
Silva’s “La cosecha de cafe” found in the book “Art and Revolution in
Latin America.” “La cosecha de café,” pintado por Silva como se muestra
en el libro, “Arte y Revolución en América Latina.”
De historia de arte a arte real: Primitivista por las décadas
Por Michele Medina
Guerrillera
Dos cosas de gran significado
cultural me pasaron
en el 2007. Tome un curso
de historia de arte y tuve
la opción de escribir sobre
cualquier tema que me interesara.
También había planeado
un viaje a Nicaragua,
el país natal de mi familia. Al
haber nacido en los Estados
Unidos, sabia muy poco sobre
mi herencia Nicaragüeña, si
que decidí escribir sobre la
arte de Nicaragua. Estos dos
eventos fueron perfectamente
organizados ya que he podido
aprender mucho sobre el arte
y la política de Nicaragua.
Escribí sobre el arte
Primitivista porque soy
naturalmente atraída a los
colores vivientes, a el brillo,
y a la naturaleza en pinturas,
como es representado en el
trabajo de Olivia Silva titulado
La Cosecha de Café. Lo
Spring 2009
of Solentiname, the chain of
islands in the southern part
of Lake Nicaragua. The story
of Primitivista is romantic:
In 1966, a Nicaraguan poet
and priest, Ernesto Cardenal,
purchases the two major
islands and brought paints
and brushes. A campesino
begins to paint and Cardenal
gets inspired and brings important
Nicaraguan artists to
give painting lessons, in order
to promote cultural identity
through both art and poetry.
Cardenal had an idea to create
a utopian community,
fostering ideas of socialism.
At this time, the idea of
socialism was becoming
widely promoted throughout
Nicaragua by people that
identified as Sandinistas.
These socialists took their
name from a campesino of
the 1920s, Augusto Sandino
who fought the U.S. invaders,
and later was killed by
the then-to-be President/
Dictator Anastasio Somoza
Debayle, the U.S. supported
Commander of the National
Army of Nicaragua. From
1936 to 1979, Nicaragua was
ruled by the Somoza family.
Some have accused these rulers
of establishing a dictatorship.
They were finally
overthrown by Sandinistas,
who are currently the ruling
que realmente me sorprendió
fue saber que Primitivista
es también un movimiento
político. No sabia nada sobre
la política, ni de el por que
mis padres decidieron venir
aquí. Mientras aprendía sobre
el arte, estaba también aprendiendo
sobre la política del
país y me di cuenta de que el
punto de vista de mis padres
sobre el gobierno del país
estaba en conflicto con lo que
leía en artículos académicos y
otros materiales similares.
El arte Nicaragüense nació
en el archipiélago de Solentiname,
una de las varias islas al
sur del lago de Nicaragua. La
historia de Primitivista es una
de romance. En 1966, Ernesto
Cardenal un sacerdote
y poeta Nicaragüense compro
dos de las más grandes islas
del país. Al ver como pintaba
un campesino, Cardenal se
inspiro y contrato a varios
artistas Nicaragüenses para
party in Nicaragua.
The articles I was reading
about this art form that
promoted ideas of socialism
were biased and promoted
the power of the Sandinistas.
They made it seem like there
was no art before the Revolution,
and I was confused because
as I was growing up, my
parents did not like the Sandinistas.
I asked my parents
about it, and it turns out that
they were not completely opposed
to the way that Somoza
was running the government,
but they did not like feeling
threatened by the Sandinistas
either. So they came here
looking for opportunity and
a stable government.
Through my academic
and personal journey, I
learned to understand what
was depicted in pieces of art
like Silva’s La cosecha de café
and analyzed each painting.
This particular piece from
the 1980s shows Ernesto
Cardenal (bearded man) and
a female campesino picking
coffee, and a Somoza official
is watching them in a threatening
manner. I also realized
not every piece of Primitivista
art includes the political
argument between the Sandinistas
and Somocistas, but
each piece of Primitivista art
shares a similar qualities: the
que instruyan a las personas
sobre el arte y de es modo
promover una identidad
cultural por medio del arte y
poesía. Cardenal tenia la idea
de crear una utopia utilizando
las ideas del socialismo.
En este tiempo los Sandinistas
estaban popularizando
los ideales del socialismo.
Estos socialistas llevan el
nombre de un campesino de
los 1920, Augusto Sandino, él
cual peleo contra los invasores
de los EE.UU., solo para ser
matado por el futuro presidente
quien era apoyado por
los Estados Unidos Anastasio
Somoza Debayle, el comandante
del ejercito nacional
de Nicaragua. Comenzado
desde 1936 hasta al1979, Nicaragua
fue gobernada por la
familia Somoza. Algunos han
acusado a estos gobernantes
de establecer una dictadura.
Los Somozas finalmente
fueron derrocados por los
bright colors, the abundance
of nature, animals and birds
(Solentiname is filled wtih
flocks of herons, toucans,
and other birds), and la vida
cotidiana of the peasants.
This type of art still exists,
though its high point was in
the 1980s. There are Pirmitivista
art galleries in Nicaragua,
and people study Primitivista
as a significant type
of revolutionary art. On my
trip, I went to Solentiname.
I spoke to one of the women
painters of Solentiname during
the Revolution. Though
the art is still flourishing,
she said that the art and the
experience was not the same
as when there was political
Sandinistas quienes constituyen
actualmente el partido
gobernante en Nicaragua.
Los artículos que leía
sobre este tipo de arte que
promovía el socialismo
favorecen el poder de los Sandinistas.
Me hicieron pensar
que no había arte antes de la
revolución y estaba confundida
porque mientras crecía
mis padres se oponían a los
Sandinistas. Mis padres me
informaron que no estaban
completamente opuestos al
gobierno de los Somozas,
pero tampoco les gustaba las
constantes amenazas de los
Sandinistas. Por eso vinieron
aquí para vivir en un gobierno
más estable.
Durante mi desarrollo
académico y personal, aprendí
a entender lo que es dibujado
en obras de arte como la de
La Cosecha De Café por Silva.
Al analizar esta pintura de
los años 80, uno puede ver a
turmoil.
What I learned is that art
can be a powerful tool for
documenting and promoting
activism. Primitivista art is
aesthetically appealing, and
underneath it is a rich part
of history of Nicaragua and
culture. This is an artform
that still makes significant
contributions to both the
cultural identity of Nicaragua
and to the efforts towards social
progress for the people of
Nicaragua. I also was able to
draw from my family’s knowledge
to balance out the onesided
academic pieces I read
about this artform, learning
more about my culture and
myself in the process.
Ernesto Cardenal (el hombre
con la barba) y una campesina
cosechando el café, mientras
un oficial del ejercito Somoza
observa con una mirada
amenazadora. Tanbien me
entere de que no toda la arte
primitivista discute la tensión
política entre los Sandinistas
y Somocistas, pero cada una
de las piezas primitivistas
comparten cualidades similares
como colores brillantes,
el uso de la naturaleza, y la
representación de animales y
pájaros (famosos por habitar
la isla de Solentiname) y por
la representación de la vida
cotidiana de los campesinos.
Aprendí que el arte puede
servir como una herramienta
poderosa para documentar y
promover el activismo. El arte
primitivista no solo es estéticamente
interesante, pero
también forma parte de la historia
y cultura de Nicaragua.

By Jose Rodriguez
Guerrillero
In January of 2005, NeighborWorks
Salt Lake (formerly
Salt Lake Neighborhood
Housing Services) embarked
on a journey to create one of
the largest public art projects
in the state of Utah. The
dream was to erect an art
project that was much more
than an aesthetic work for
public appreciation. The images
depicted in this artwork
were envisioned as a catalyst
to bring neighborhoods
together, build community,
act as a public relations campaign,
and restore beauty and
grandeur to the areas around
Jackson Elementary and
Guadalupe Park in Salt Lake’s
west side neighborhood of
Rosepark. This vision has
resulted in the Bridge over
Barriers (BOB) project, both
a literal and symbolic title for
this planned artwork of an
expansive mural and 16 mosaic
tiled columns that will
adorn the I-15 underpass on
300 North and approximately
700 West.
The I-15 freeway bridge
in this location serves as a
thoroughfare connecting
the neighborhoods between
600 and 900 West along 300
North. It is the primary route
for students attending West
High school and Jackson
Elementary. This concrete
tunnel has long divided these
two neighborhoods although
most people in both neighborhoods
use this route daily.
For those involved in the
project, the intention was to
bridge that divide with artwork
filled with the images,
ideas, and input from residents
using that passageway
in order to re-establish the
concrete eyesore as a vision of
beauty.
In addition to communitybuilding,
the BOB project
seeks to bring art to the west
side of Salt Lake, a place
that has historically been
forgotten and ignored by art
organizations. “Bringing art
and access to art to this community
makes great progress
in these neighborhoods,” says
Terry Hurst, Project Manager
and resident of the neighborhood.
Hurst has been working
on the project since 2008
and hopes to see its completion
soon.
Currently, there are four
mosaic-tiled pillars up and
twelve left to be tiled before
the end of this summer. The
next phase of the project
will mosaic the abutments of
the overpass. These images
have already been designed
by 10 community artists
who conducted workshops
with local organizations to
figure out what they wanted
represented in the art. The
project collaborated with
the Boys and Girls Club, the
Mestizo Institute for Culture
and Arts, the Free Church of
Page 21
cu lt u r a
The Bridge Over Barriers project: Bringing art education to Salt Lake City’s westside
A mosaic-tiled column featuring
a Tongan dancer. Una columna
adornada con un mosaico de
azulejos la cual representa a un
bailarín Tongano.
A mosaic-tiled column featuring a
young male skater. Una columna
adornada con un mosaico de
azulejos la cual representa a un
patinador joven.
Tonga, Salt Lake City Peer
Court, Youth City Artways,
the Vietnamese Buddhist
Temple, and many other
organizations.
“We are always trying
to get young people from
our neighborhood involved
since they will be the caretakers
of the project once
it is complete,” says Maria
Garciaz, executive director
of NeighborWorks Salt Lake.
Children and adults from all
walks of life are encouraged
to learn about making mosaic
and creat art that represents
their experience. The project
is working on bringing school
clubs from Jackson Elementary,
Northwest, and West
High schools to participate in
the project.
Brother and sister Marc
and Marisa Venegas, residents
of Rosepark, both worked
on one of the mosaic pillars.
Marisa, 11, uses the
underpass during the week
to get from school to her
after-school program. She
said laying out the tiles was
fun and a good way to get out
of the house. Marc, 12, said
tiling one of the columns was
really cool, especially because
he “got to meet new people”
and he says they “will make
the bridge look better.”
If you want to learn more,
or get you or your children
involved, please send an email
to bridge.over.barriers.project@gmail.com.
El proyecto de Bridge Over Barriers: Llevando educación artística a las communidades
Por Jose Rodriguez
Guerrillero
En enero del 2005,
NeighborWorks Salt Lake
(antiguamente llamado Salt
Lake Neighborhood Housing
Services) tuvo un sueño de
crear uno de los proyectos de
arte más grandes del estado
de Utah. La meta fue de crear
un proyecto de arte que sea
más que un trabajo estético
para admiración publica,
sino una campaña para unir
vecindarios, crear comunidad,
expandir relaciones publicas
y restaurar la belleza y esplendor
de la áreas alrededor de
la escuela primaria Jackson
y parque Guadalupe localizados
en Rose Park al oeste
de Salt Lake. Esta visión
ha resultado en el proyecto
Bridge over Barriers (BOB)
[Puente sobre Barreras], un
titulo simbólico y literal para
este trabajo artístico que va
adornar con un mural extenso
el paso subterráneo de
la carretera interestatal 15 en
la 300 Norte y aproximadamente
700 Oeste.
El puente de la carretera
interestatal15 sirve como una
vía para conectar los vecindarios
desde la 600 y 900
Oeste con la 300 Norte. Esta
es la ruta primordial que estudiantes
toman para dirigirse a
la escuela secundaria de West,
y a la escuela primaria Jackson.
Aunque las dos comunidades
utilicen diariamente
este túnel, este mismo ha
servido para tradicionalmente
dividir estos vecindarios. La
intención para aquellos involucrados
en este proyecto fue
de eliminar esta división con
una obra de arte bella, llena
de imagines, ideas, y aporte
de los residentes que utilizan
este callejón.
Además de la creación de
comunidad, el proyecto BOB
se esfuerza para llevar arte a
las comunidades del oeste de
Salt Lake, estos lugares han
sido históricamente ignorados
por organizaciones de
arte. “Al traer arte y acceso al
arte a estas comunidades les
ayuda a estos vecindarios a
progresar,” dice Terry Hurst,
director del proyecto y residente
del oeste de Salt Lake.
Hurst a estado trabajando en
este proyecto desde el 2008.
Actualmente existen
cuatro mosaicos completados,
y doce por completar antes
de que termine el verano. La
siguiente fase del proyecto
cubrirá con mosaicos los
contrafuertes del puente. Las
imagines ya han sido diseñadas
por 10 artistas comunitarios
que condujeron talleres
educacionales con organizaciones
locales para saber mejor
lo que querían ver representado
en el arte. El proyecto
colaboro con el club de Boys
and Girls, Mestizo Institute
for Culture and Arts, Free
Church of Tonga, Salt Lake
City Peer Court, Youth City
Artways, el templo Budista
Vietnamés, y muchas otras
organizaciones.
“Siempre tratamos de
involucrar a los jóvenes de
nuestros vecindarios ya que
ellos van hacer los conserjes
de este proyecto una ves que
este terminado,” dijo Maria
Garciaz, directora ejecutiva
de NeighborWorks Salt Lake.
El proyecto esta trabajando
en invitar a clubs de los colegios
Jackson, Northwest y
West para que participen.
Marc y Marisa Venegas,
los dos hermanos y residentes
de Rose Park trabajaron en
uno de los mosaicos de los
pilares. Marisa,11, utiliza
este callejón para ir después
de su colegio a su programa
extracurricular. Ella afirma
que fue muy divertido colocar
los mosaicos. Marc.12, dijo
que pavimentar los mosaicos
fue bien chévere, y dijo que
este trabajo “va hacer que el
puente se vea mejor.”
Si quiere aprender más o si
quiere involucrase por favor
escriba un email a bridge.over.
barriers.project@gmail.com.
Primavera 2009

Page 22
Vo i c E s
By Rosalia Villegas
Guerrillera
The Hispanic Business student association
(HBSA) is dedicated to helping Latina/o
business majors be successful academically and
professionally. It also provides a system of social
support for this underrepresented group of
students. Latina/os make up only five percent of
business school students, one of the most diverse
colleges on campus. Currently, there are 20 active
student members of HBSA.
To target the needs of business students
of color, the HBSA was formed in 2005, with
the purpose of promoting “the development of
the undergraduate minority business students
through educational, professional, and networking
opportunities to foster diversity, higher education,
and improvement of the minority community.”
Pablo Garcia, Cindy Gutierrez, and Teresa Bravo
started the club. I joined HBSA because I think
that leadership skills and networking skills are an
important part of being a future applicant in the
workforce. I am often one of the only minority
students in my courses. HBSA has become a place
where students of any race feel comfortable sharing
their personal experience about campus life, as well
as learning about each other’s culture.
HBSA acts as an academic support system for
its members in several ways. First, HBSA members
mentor each other, pairing up students in various
stages of their undergraduate program to help the
younger students in HBSA. Members help each
Spring 2009
HBSA a place for Latina/o business students
If you are a Latino/a business major
looking for a support system, stop by
one of HBSA’s meetings held every
Wednesday at the University of Utah
in BUC room 208 at 1:00 pm. You can
also visit our website at http://www.
business.utah.edu/hbsa/ or call Lupe
Ochoa at (720) 475-0606 or Brayan
Nava at (801) 864-9381.
other on any issues pertaining to higher education.
“As a freshman, not knowing a lot of people at
the U was very intimidating. I wanted to get
more involved and find an organization that I felt
where I could fit in. This is my first semester with
HBSA and I’m really glad I joined. In just a few
months, I have met tons of great people and gained
networking as well as leadership experience,” says
Corina Cortez. HBSA members also build the
pipeline for Latina/os by giving presentations
to local middle schools to encourage higher
education. This is done annually during the spring,
when we speak to Midvale Middle School students.
HBSA helps its members acquire a professional
skill set as well. Providing members with
opportunities to volunteer with organizations,
such as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, helps
students to develop relationships with employers
around the Salt Lake Valley. HBSA also trains
University of Utah Studies
Need Participants!
Cardiovascular Health Studies:
• Must be 18 years or older
• No history of hypertension
• No cardiovascular medication use
• No psychological disorders
members to become stronger candidates for future
employers by creating learning opportunities, such
as mock interviews or resume workshops.
One annual event that fosters professional
skills is the national conference sponsored by the
National Hispanic Business Association for all
HBSA chapters, held each year in October or
November. In 2008, the conference was held in
Las Vegas, Nevada. In order to accrue funding
for HBSA members, the club hosts a presentation
on fundraising that teaches members how to ask
companies for money. Fundraising is a group
effort designed to lower our own cost to attend
the national conference. The national conference
provides workshops that help HBSA members
learn to market themselves as future applicants.
An annual business fair at the conference allows
members to obtain a job or an interview by leaving
their resumes with various companies.
Lastly, HBSA is also a social network for
Latina/o students. HBSA provides a welcoming
space for the 120 Latina/o business majors and
sponsors activities to help forge relationships and
friendships among its members. HBSA members
get together to go bowling, attend Crimson
Nights, (one of the largest events hosted by the
University Programming Council). These activities
build camaraderie and solidarity in the group. “I
have made great friendships, gained networking
experience and learned about the culture of HBSA’s
members as an Asian-American”, says Binh Huynh
a student majoring in accounting.
$$$ Compensation Provided $$$
Please contact McKenzie (m.carlisle@utah.edu) or Wendy
(w.birmingham@utah.edu) for more information.

A performance for social justice: We are the people
By Mestizo Arts & Activism Youth
Researchers
Guerrilleros/as
This piece was inspired by the Constitutional
Preamble. In an effort to complicate the
declaration of “We the People,” Mestizo Arts and
Activism youth researchers rearticulated what “We
the People” means based on their personal, familial,
and communal lived experiences. These experiences
of the MAA youth speak to the long-lasting and
continuing struggles faced by our communities.
It was with no doubt an empowering event
witnessing this performance done in solidarity
within the walls of the Utah Capitol on March 24.
One voice: We the people of the Westside!
2 mujeres: Las SUPA cholas of love
One voice: We the people of the Westside
One male voice: We from Your so called
“shadow” lands, . . . My home,. . . My
pride Land. . . . Come one, . . . Come all.
Welcome Home, homes!
2 voices: Home Sweet Home. (handshake)
Jarred: We are the familia, the people.
We the familia who cares and has each
others back. We the ones that regulate.
Yvette, Jessica, Laura:The Sista cholas of
love
A group of 4 walk toward the first group—creating
spatial divide & representing the rupture of safety-
threatening body language from the corporates
Seventeen University
of Utah students from El
Movimiento Estudiantil
Chicano de Aztlan
(M.E.Ch.A), a Chicana/o
student activist organization,
attended the 16th By/Por Wendolens Ruano
Guerrillera
Annual
National M.E.Ch.A
Conference at the University
of Oregon, in Eugene. The
conference, which ran
March 19 through the 22,
was themed “Reclaiming
Displaced Herstory.” As
part of the conference, more
than 500 MEChistAs from
across the nation gathered
on Friday, March 20 at the
Eugene Federal Courthouse,
which houses the offices of
U.S. Congressman Peter
Defazio, to rally/protest
for immigrant and worker
rights. Congressman Defazio
is one of Oregon’s strongest
supporters of anti-immigrant
legislation.
The rally was held to
demand comprehensive
immigration reform and
more support for workers’
unions, especially for
those that are inclusive
of immigrant workers.
Jaynell: We the people (the corporates)
we’ve come to tell you what to do and
how to live. Its not my fault that you guys
just cant do everything we do and how
we do it. That is the reason why we get
lobbyist to change laws to fit our needs
not yours.
Sara: We own your labor and know that
you need the money… So go ahead and
quit if you don’t like the health plan....
There’s a person behind you, waiting to
replace YOU! Not to worry –we got your
interest in mind – so sit back, relax and let
us take control
Natalie: We who started off by putting
chains on ankles and wrists, and stole dirt
and earth even though it was a gift. We
who re-sell what you build and break
your backs in the field so our green eyes of
dead-presidents can keep slavery alive, and
if you don’t do your time in our factory
then were sure we have one of your family
doin’ time in the yard with out salary.
Initial group speaks in protest assertively
Jessica: You call us gangsters and yet you
have come to change laws that only profit
you…
Laura: You call us gangsters and yet you
have come to raid our minds with your
ideas and you ideas only… and sequester
our power
Those in attendance also
wanted to raise awareness
of the Development, Relief
and Education of Alien
Minors (DREAM) Act
(S.729/H.R.1751). This Act
would allow approximately
65,000 undocumented high
school graduates to obtain
a conditional permanent
resident status to be able
to go to college or join the
military each year, according
to the DREAM Act Portal
(www.dreamact.info). This
bill was reintroduced for
debate in March 2009.
The youth in attendance
at this year’s M.E.Ch.A
National Conference
understand the importance of
comprehensive immigration
reform, workers’ rights and
the passage of the DREAM
Act. These students also
understand the importance
of bringing awareness of
these issues to our campuses,
communities, and legislature.
As the group gathered
shouted, “el pueblo unido
jamas sera vencido,” the
rally at the Eugene Federal
Courthouse is an important
reminder that the students
in our state and others
around the nation are in this
struggle towards social justice
together.
*****
Diez y siete estudiantes
de la Universidad de
Utah del Movimiento
Estudiantil Chicano/a
de Aztlan (M.E.Ch.A),
fueron participantes de la
Conferencia Nacional de
M.E.Ch.A en la Universidad
de Oregon en Eugene,
durante el 19 al 22 de marzo,
la cual tema fue “Reclamando
la historia, por medio de la
perspectiva de la mujer.” Más
de 500 Mechistas de toda la
nación, formaron parte de
una protesta frente al palacio
de justicia federal, el cual
aloja la oficina del congresista
Peter Defazio, para expresar
sus voces a favor de los
derechos laborales y asuntos
inmigratorios. Defazio, es
un político que apoya la
legislación antiemigrante y
conservadora.
La concentración se llevo
a cavo para demandar una
reforma inmigratoria y
apoyar a los sindicatos de
trabajadores de Oregon.
Adicionalmente, los
participantes expresaron sus
Jarred: You are the wall of white middle
class, heterosexual males that keep us from
our rights, only willing to Jump us in if we
conform to your ideas.
Yvette: You are the gangsters who
masquerade behind suitscases and ties,
who sit behind the bougie appeal of
your seats … complain at defeats and
seek the demise of those who challenge
you. You are the blue and the red-
republican and democrat. The gangster
who hide behind suits and ties… telling us
ALLLLLLLLLLLL lies.
In retort, a group of aliens in shades & suits speak
Alonso: You don’t know who I am. I am
more than you. What makes you think
we are equal?
Eddie: We are those being who observe
and experiment with laws because we
know we shall fly free of our own decision
and their consequences. Who no doubt
can reconvene, clean the board and start
all over, again and again….
All those who were representing the corporate and
the aliens unmask themselves as they speak. The
group speaks collectively representing the people
of the Westside and the people of color.
Alonso- Unmasked: We the people of
color… the purples, blacks, yellows,
browns, and reds… yes don’t forget the
reds!
ideas a favor del DREAM
Act, la cual permitiría que
aproximadamente 65.000
estudiantes indocumentados
de la escuela secundaria
puedan obtener la residencia
permanente de los estados
unidos por medio de los
estudios universitarios o
servicio militar, de acuerdo
con la pagina electrónica de
este acta (www.dreamact.
info). Esta ley fue reintroducida
al congreso en
Marzo del 2009.
Page 23
Vo c E s
Laura: The people con sabor en la sangre!
Eddie: We have abandoned the shadow
to proudly speak our minds to challenge
the ‘commonsense’ that claims we are
apathetic and careless.
Jessica: It is obvious we will not melt into
the pot, but rather will savor our flavors in
a pico de gallo bowl.
Jose: We are most importantly the people
who make up Utah.
Sara & Natalie: We are loyal and
hardworking citizens who are not
represented and listened to.
Jaynell: I am a sister
Jarred: A brother
Yvette: A mother
Jarred: A father
Jose: And I am them and they are me.
Alonso: We all smile, we all cry.
Jessica: We share the same land, breathe
the same air, live on the same soil, why are
we not treated the same?
ALL: We have come- our time is now!
Today! Not yesterday!
Laura: We are rejecting the crumbs we
have been given and demand that we be
given a piece of the pie—a piece that will
nourish our communities and counteract
the hunger we have been plagued with.
All: We are hungry! Hungry for change!
One voice: Meaningful change!
Mechistas rally for immigrant rights at National Conference
Mechistas se unen para defender los derechos de inmigrantes
Estos estudiantes quienes
asistieron a esta conferencia,
entienden la importancia de
una reforma inmigratoria, del
DREAM Act y la necesidad
de luchar por los derechos
laborales. Juntos exclamaron,
“¡el pueblo unido jamas sera
vencido!” esta demostración
es un recordatorio muy
importante de que todos los
estudiantes en nuestro estado
y en toda la nación están
dispuestos a luchar por la
justicia social en unión.
Primavera 2009

Page 24
Spring 2009
POEMAS DE TU MUNDO
United By The Struggles We Face
Jarred Martinez
Guerrillero
You see..over there is the home that
grew me and bruised me
nurtured young rebels without a
place to be
believing all of what this shady
machine made us see
teaching amnesia to forget the truth
the truth that can be found in our
wounds and scars
that are engrained in our flesh and
inside our hearts
And engraved names of brothers,
sisters, and cousins on graves
still brought the same harsh cries
from our mother’s eyes
so we send off prayers
and turn our eyes to the stars
that guide and bind us to our peoples
who tread land, water and borders
knowin’ its not a sin
and to the sun the bronzes our
beautiful skin
erasin race borders ‘cause ya’ll are my
next of kin
And from our ancestors who planted
seeds deep in mother earth
La Pesadilla
Victoria Morales
Maquetadora
Son las cuatro de la mañana
suena la alarma
soy una zombi vivo entre sueños y la realidad
tal vez será una pesadilla sin fin.
Otros días trabajo limpiando casas. Recuerdo el pasado,
sueño con un mejor futuro, pero jamás deseo vivir este
presente.
Elenita, dormida se parece a un angelito
y lo es – por ella sigo esforzando me,
sigo viviendo la pesadilla
donde los gringos son de doble cara,
beneficiándose del trabajo de la gente indocumentada
y rechazándonos por el color de nuestra piel.
La visto mientras sigue durmiendo
recordando la primera vez que la cargue
hace cuatro años en una clínica en Guatemala.
Me visto en mis pantalones del Good Will
Gastados de las horas en rodillas, la playera de
TIDY MAIDS con mi nombre Anabelle.
me tomo un cafecito con un pan con jalea
Los alimentos del día.
********
Esperando el camión a las 5:30 esta madrugada
mi corazoncito lleno de lagrimas guardadas pesa
mas que la nena en mis brazos.
El viento esta fuerte, el frío de enero intolerable
Le pido a Dios que no nos enfermemos, ya que no hay dinero para el
doctor
“¿Alguien escucha las plegarías de la gente de piel morena?”
Ojala No tengo a nadie más que me ayude,
Son las 6:00 y ya cambiamos camiones dos veces
para llegar a la casa de Maribel, mi prima
a quien le pago la mitad de mi sueldo Después no
queda suficiente para los mandados
me cuida a Elena de las 6:00 a las 7:00 de la noche,
seis días a la semana
Elena empieza a despertar mientras la acuesto en
el sofá
y empieza a llorar
si a los niños también esta vida les cala
Tengo que estar en el trabajo a las 7:00
si no me corre esa bruja, Ashley,
el camión va tarde
en la ultima parada me salgo corriendo
pero todavía llego unos segundos tarde
la mendiga me grita en el ingles, que no entiendo, humillándome frente
de todos
we still struggle up and search
through the pain on our block
blossoming like roses from the
concrete the same as Pac
with enlightened thoughts we have
dreams, like Kings
and queens who raise us proudly to
our feet
so we reach our fist to the sky and
believe
because we are united by the dreams
we make
and struggles we face...
********
Regresamos a la oficina. Nos toco seis
casas en doce horas para dos mujeres.
Esta el dueño, Mr. Anderson me llama a la
oficina
cierro la puerta y me pide que cierra las
persianas también
me grita en Español, el cual aprendió en la
universidad, con acento de gringo, me acusa
de robar joyas de la casa del Senador a quien le
limpiamos la casa
le juro a Dios que jamás he tocado ni un arete en ese hogar
Le digo que yo no fui. “Si no encuentran nada es porque las perdieron
o porque se la llevo la otra.” “¿Entonces fue la otra?” me pregunta
“No se, ¡pregúntale!” “¡No! Tu me vas a decir, recuerda que puedo
hacer unas llamadas y te regresas a Guatemala,” me amenaza. Le juro
que no se nada
El cambia de tono, como niño deseando una paleta me ve, “Eres muy
bonita, no quiero quitarte esto de tu sueldo, pero me debes un favor
Lo cumplirás ahorita mismo si quieres seguir trabajando en este país”
y ahí sola con el, tras la puerta y las persianas cerradas
atrapada en una prisión de dolor y opresión
me humillo y yo lloraba rogándole que me dejara ir
con una palmada a la cara, el dijo enojado
“¡Yo se que te gusta cabrona, no te hagas!”
Me trago las lagrimas de esta pesadilla sabiendo que
en este país siempre uno sufre por los pecados de
estos gringos racistas
Este poema, titulado “Unidos Por
Las Luchas que Enfrentamos” es
una illustración de la opresión que
tenemos que sobrepasar como gente
de color viviendo en nuestras comunidades.
Aun batallamos con varias
opresiones, tenemos mucho poder
para cambiar las situaciones que
nos afectan negativamente. Al alzar
nuestras vozes podemos demandar el
reconocimiento de nuestra historia, y
el fin de nuestra opresión.
This poem, titled “The Nightmare,” is about a young
Guatemalan woman named Anabelle. She is a single
mother and works for a home cleaning service called
TIDY MAIDS to support her young daughter, Elena.
After working a 12-hour day cleaning six homes
with the help of another woman, she arrives back at
the TIDY MAIDS office. The company’s owner is there and accuses
her of stealing jewelry from the home of a U.S. Senator, which she helped to
clean. She swears she has not done anything of the sort, and begs him to believe
her. He threatens to have her deported, but in a turn of events, he decides to
take advantage of his power over her by cornering her and sexually assaulting
her. The poem ends with her recognition that her dreams have turned into a
nightmare in which she is the victim of a racist society.
Image Credit: http://www.glyphjockey.com/loteria/loteria.htm