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Maxima Gutierrez – Social Activist
Phoenix activist Maxima Gutierrez was born in
Morelos, Mexico, and came across the border
when she was five. She attended Kenneworth
Elementary, where she had the benefit of being in
a dual-language classroom. Gutierrez didn’t really
have to consider her legal status until high school at
South Mountain. She couldn’t get her driver’s license,
couldn’t get a job, couldn’t travel to Washington
D.C. for a school trip. This issue was something that
really made her sad. Her best friend was offering to
pay for her trip and everything, but she couldn’t risk
being stopped by agents at the airport. She couldn’t
risk her freedom – tenuous as it was. “From then
on, it became about having to say no. I had to have
an explanation for why I couldn’t do things,” said
Gutierrez. After graduating from high school, her life
just became harder.
She couldn’t get a job and couldn’t afford college
because her immigration status meant she had to
pay out-of-state tuition and wouldn’t qualify for
institutional scholarships. For about two years, she
lived in a sort of stasis, just watching television at
home and bemoaning her situation. However, when
she heard about private scholarships, she started
going to the library and doing research. She was
eventually able to obtain a scholarship, and with that
money – along with the money she raised making
Photo: Diego Lozano
jewelry – she enrolled in school. While at Phoenix
College, she learned about a group of undocumented
students at Arizona State University.
Her connecting with the group at ASU coincided with
the passing of SB1070, and Gutierrez’ friends would
go down to the capitol to protest. At the time, she
didn’t care to even know who the governor was. She
was out of the lurk about the various powers that kept
her in the shadows. Over time, she became more active
with her friends and became involved in the protest
community, where she found a home and a place.
Gutierrez currently works for Aliento, an organization
that helps provide community assistance for
undocumented immigrants. She also has a clothing
and accessories brand called Ganaz Apparel,
which she works on with another undocumented
immigrant. “Keeping in mind what’s at risk every
day is really heavy. Part of that is seeing how we can
be better as we keep up this fight. We have to keep
fighting,” said Gutierrez.
The first time you hear The Doors is in your parents’
car with the windows rolled down on a dusty Phoenix
freeway. This opens a window into a moment, into
a feeling, into a way of being. You are eight years
old and new to the United States and feel suddenly
at home in the brooding croons of Jim Morrison. You
feel like he recognizes your humanity and understands
something about you that you can’t quite put a finger on.
You love the way that music just creates a feeling.
You love how music is a sort of hideaway, a kind of
storage place for feelings, moods and moments. You
are enthralled by the way music makes you feel at
home no matter where you are.
Jairo Lopez (AKA Boris Bon Bon) – Deejay
Jairo Lopez was born in Mexico and lived there
until he was eight. He grew up listening to Norteño
music. He moved to Phoenix and settled in the West
Valley. As a kid, it seemed like an idyllic place. He
remembers just riding around on bikes and hanging
out with his friends. He was really happy as a kid.
Once high school hit, the truth about his community
was revealed. There were drive-by shootings in his
neighborhood, and even school didn’t feel safe. Lopez
found comfort in music and art. He played guitar
throughout his childhood, painted and loved to just
listen to music.
Music is something that can transport you away
from your environment, away from the pain and the
hurt. Music can make magic happen. Once Lopez
graduated from high school, he started hanging
around Grand Avenue in Phoenix. At the Red Door
Gallery on Grand, he met Mike Peters, who was a
local deejay and knew a lot about music.
10 JAVA
MAGAZINE