Have you ever been called a bad name? It’s annoying, right? Have you ever been called a racial slur? Now that’s downright infuriating. And it’s wrong.
This week, the Applied Research Center launched a national public education campaign called Drop the I-Word, with the goal of eliminating the use of the word “illegal” from the media and public discourse in reference to immigrants who are undocumented. The campaign’s website states,
The I-Word creates an environment of hate by exploiting racial fear and economic anxiety, creating an easy scapegoat for complex issues, and OK-ing violence against those labeled with the word.
This summer I collected dozens of stories from people across the nation. I was humbled by people's experiences and inspired in their resilience. I have always known that I love stories. I love people. Every single person has a story (if animals and trees could talk…) . We all come from broken hearts, homes, and spirits. We also come from loving, laughing, and living through our tribulations. It is the strength of the human condition to march forward despite oppression and subjugation that drives us forward and into movements for social justice.
I was at the Facing Race Conference in Chicago, IL last week , and I was able to get some stories on video and many more on paper . It resonate d and stir ed something in people when I asked them to share with me their story about their family and why they’re strong.
This summer ACRJ's SAFIRE youth collected family stories from their elders and came up with creative ways of sharing them with all of you.
Here is a video filmed and edited by SAFIRE participant Judy Wu, a recent graduate of Oakland High School and new student at UCLA. Watch how Judy compares her father's childhood growing up in China with her childhood in Oakland.
SAFIRE's stories will continue to be posted on our blog and become part of our Strong Families Story Bank. You can also be part of our story bank. Share your story here.
It has been a month since my return to work from parental leave. The transition has been relatively easy. I mean, there are days where my eyes burn from lack of sleep or when I forget what I want to say mid-sentence, but really… I have no complaints.
I had 2 months off to welcome and nurture my little one into the world and to support my wonderful partner who labored him for three and a half days and who is amazing! My family and I rested well knowing that our health insurance would continue while I was on leave and that I would have a good job to return to. I felt fortunate to have the option of flexing the time I had left towards a shorter work week (for the remainder of the year) so that I could have more time with my new family.
Unfortunately, my story is not common. I am lucky to work for an organization that supports its workers and supports family. But I am just beginning to deeply understand how lucky I really am.
I was at a meeting the other week with Netsy Firestein of the Labor Project for Working Families where I learned that parental leave just became California policy in 2002 and that California was the first of 3 states to pass this policy to support working families.
We have along way to go. The only way we are going to get there is by moving together, organizing and sharing what our families need to be strong. Be part of ACRJ’s new Strong Families Initiative and tell us your story of what your family needs to be strong!
There are plenty of stories collected from ACRJ’s SAFIRE youth that are just waiting to be shared. Here is another story collection project from Summer SAFIRE 2010.
Holly Liu is currently a sophomore at Oakland High School. Her project titled “The Story of the Liu Family” is a poem that shares the journey of her family from China and how she got to where she is today.
Holly’s project, as well as other stories collected, is a part of our Strong Families Story Bank. Interested in contributing to our Strong Families Story Bank? Share your story with us here.
Dan Savage's column and podcast are hugely popular all over the country, including conservative communities where, apparently, teenagers are sneaking a listen late at night. His new YouTube channel is inspiring. Born out of grief and frustration over the suicide of a gay teenager, Billy Lucas, Dan Savage has started the It Gets Better Project.
He explains it below in today's Savage Love column:
Another gay teenager in another small town has killed himself—hope you're pleased with yourselves, Tony Perkins and all the other "Christians" out there who oppose anti-bullying programs (and give actual Christians a bad name).
Billy Lucas was just 15 when he hanged himself in a barn on his grandmother's property. He reportedly endured intense bullying at the hands of his classmates—classmates who called him a fag and told him to kill himself. His mother found his body.
Nine out of 10 gay teenagers experience bullying and harassment at school, and gay teens are four times likelier to attempt suicide. Many LGBT kids who do kill themselves live in rural areas, exurbs, and suburban areas, places with no gay organizations or services for queer kids.
"My heart breaks for the pain and torment you went through, Billy Lucas," a reader wrote, after I posted about Billy Lucas to my blog. "I wish I could have told you that things get better."
I had the same reaction: I wish I could have talked to this kid for five minutes. I wish I could have told Billy that it gets better. I wish I could have told him that, however bad things were, however isolated and alone he was, it gets better.
But gay adults aren't allowed to talk to these kids. Schools and churches don't bring us in to talk to teenagers who are being bullied. Many of these kids have homophobic parents who believe that they can prevent their gay children from growing up to be gay—or from ever coming out—by depriving them of information, resources, and positive role models.
Why are we waiting for permission to talk to these kids? We have the ability to talk directly to them right now. We don't have to wait for permission to let them know that it gets better. We can reach these kids.
So here's what you can do, GBVWS: Make a video. Tell them it gets better.
I've launched a channel on YouTube—www .youtube.com/itgetsbetterproject—to host these videos. My normally camera-shy husband and I already posted one. We both went to Christian schools and we were both bullied—he had it a lot worse than I did—and we are living proof that it gets better. We don't dwell too much on the past. Instead, we talk mostly about all the meaningful things in our lives now—our families, our friends (gay and straight), the places we've gone and things we've experienced—that we would've missed out on if we'd killed ourselves then.
"You gotta give 'em hope," Harvey Milk said.
Today we have the power to give these kids hope. We have the tools to reach out to them and tell our stories and let them know that it does get better. Online support groups are great, GLSEN does amazing work, the Trevor Project is invaluable. But many LGBT youth can't picture what their lives might be like as openly gay adults. They can't imagine a future for themselves. So let's show them what our lives are like, let's show them what the future may hold in store for them.
The video my husband and I made is up now—all by itself. I'd like to add submissions from other gay and lesbian adults—singles and couples, with kids or without, established in careers or just starting out, urban and rural, of all races and religious backgrounds. (Go to www.youtube.com/itgetsbetterproject to find instructions for submitting your video.) If you're gay or lesbian or bi or trans and you've ever read about a kid like Billy Lucas and thought, "Fuck, I wish I could've told him that it gets better," this is your chance. We can't help Billy, but there are lots of other Billys out there—other despairing LGBT kids who are being bullied and harassed, kids who don't think they have a future—and we can help them.
They need to know that it gets better. Submit a video. Give them hope.
Jett shares the story of his strong family, which comes together to support his brother who has a mental illness. While many of our families struggle with a whole host of issues, I think it’s particularly courageous of Jett to talk about his family’s experience with mental illness, which is such a taboo topic, especially in many communities of color. By sharing his family’s story, Jett is breaking down the stigma and shame and helping viewers – be they movement allies, elected officials, or people whose lives have been impacted by mental illness themselves – become aware of the need for understanding, support and resources not only for individuals and families, but also for entire communities.
What about your strong family? Do you have a story you want to share? Be a part of our Strong Families Story Collection Project and help us collect 5,000 stories from folks all across the county so that our families can be seen, our voices can be heard, and our needs and priorities can shape policies through theStrong Families initiative.
Just yesterday, my colleague Yvonne Tran and I were doing some fact checking to prepare for a workshop Yvonne is leading at Applied Research Center’s Facing Race Conference happening this week. Part of our “What’s Family Got to Do With It?” workshop is about how the concept of family has been defined over the years in public policy. We were thinking about the New Deal – a number of policies that got passed during the Great Depression when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president. It was during that time that new policies were put in place around housing, jobs, welfare, and social security to aid and support American families who were suffering. Well, some families…
“As is often true in American history, there is another less visible story line. The truth of the matter is that the New Deal era programs pulled many white families up from the Depression, while pitifully few families of color received such aid.”
In her article, For Families of Color, New Deal – or Same Old Shuffle, Lui goes on to give examples of ways in which families of color were left behind by housing loans, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Works Progress Administration and other programs. We know that history has a tendency of repeating itself so we are using our Strong Families initiative to both understand the history of families of color in the U.S. as well as to lift up the “less visible story line” of families of color at the present moment.
This week, Yvonne is collecting stories of families of color at Facing Race. And through 2011, we will be collecting strong family stories all across the country so that we reveal who families are, demand what our families need, and ensure our families stay strong.
Check out strong family stories on our website and share the story of your family. These are the stories we need to guide policies that ensures support for families through the ongoing economic crisis.
What does your family look like? Does it look like the stereotypical nuclear family – two straight parents, two kids and a dog living in a house with a white picket fence? Probably not. Mine certainly doesn’t, and neither do the vast majority of the families in this country.
Then why do so many policies treat us as if our families are any less valuable or deserving? Because the very limited way that “family” has been defined by the Right for the past thirty years means that our families, which come in all different shapes, colors and sizes, are often left out and even punished.
It’s time to fight back, and tell the world what OUR families look like. So we’re collecting 5,000 stories as part of our new Strong Families initiative, which will change the culture and policies in this country to benefit our families, the way that we define them and no matter what they look like. By telling our stories, we can send a strong message to opinions leaders and elected officials about what our families need and what makes our families strong. Tell your strong family story today!
Many of our friends and allies have already told their strong family story. Here’s one of my favorites. Emma tells the story of how she and her mom have overcome struggle by keeping hope alive.
Frank tells us an amazing story of how strong women helped shape, support, and helped guide his life. They instilled in him a sense of community and giving that is with him today. Stories like Frank's, of single parents, immigrants, and living in unsupported neighborhoods are not unique but do show the resilience and ability of our families to support and uphold our communities.
This story are among others that we are collecting for our Strong Familie s Story Collection Project in which we aim to gather 5,000 stories across the nations to illuminate what families are struggling with and triumphing over.
Maddie had her dinner tonight in the shopping cart.
By Lisa Russ
It’s the back-to-school time of year, full of sharp pencils, clean notebooks, and heaps of advice about how families should handle the incessant balancing of act of parenthood.
A favorite topic for researchers is the benefits of families eating dinner together. Most of these groundbreaking studies say the same thing: families that eat together are more likely to thrive by just about every measure -- grades, happiness, family planning, drug use, and even divorce. You name it, it seems that by sitting down and eating together, you can solve it.
I was raised by a statistician (who was also a single parent) and so whenever I see data like this I wonder about cause and effect. And now that I am a working mother with two small children, I feel even more dubious about the magical impact of the elusive family dinner.
It’s what I call the “Under The Table Syndrome.” As in, what were all the invisible steps, the pieces hidden under the table, it took to get that food and that family, warm, nutritious, and ready to connect, all there at the same time? And isn’t it really all of those things, which mostly boil down to time and money, that give families the leg up?
If you missed the Permaculture for the People Report Back at the new vegetarian Filipino Restaurant, No Worries in Downtown Oakland, then NO WORRIES!
Below is a video clip of what I had to say about my experience at the 2 week long Permaculture for the People intensive training organized by Movement Generation and Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. I spoke about how permaculture relates to movement building and how it contributes to youth development and immigrant justice through cultural reclamation. I told the story of how permaculture was taken away from my family during WWII when they were forced into internment camps for being of Japanese descent. I ended with how cultural reclamation of permaculture practices strengthens families.
I was at a gathering of friends recently, where as usual, we were lamenting the various challenges of the current political climate. Then, I mentioned the inspiring victory of Domestic Workers United in New York. Just a couple weeks ago, they celebrated the signing of legislation that guarantees overtime-pay, a minimum of 1 day off every 7 days, three days of paid leave per year and protections from discrimination. This WIN is groundbreaking for domestic workers and their families and moves us closer to ensuring that the workers who take care of homes and families all across the country can support their own families as well. But, at our party, no one knew about this victory. And when they heard, conversation shifted from how tough it is to make change, to the possibilities of change.
Yes, yes. You probably have all read the NY Times articles on bed bugs terrorizing cities from the Big Apple to Detroit to Columbus, OH. You probably even googled what they looked like and cringed in anticipation when you opened your sheets at night. You can’t stop talking about it to your co-workers - describing new facts you’re learning from the media blitz on these little parasites.
Okay, maybe that’s just me.
But it is a real and financially devastating problem for many folks. Some of the hardest hit are not just the random White upper/middle class families/couples/singles living in NYC (that are quoted all the time in the media) but the working class families and communities of color who can’t afford the thousands upon thousands of dollars to eradicate these small beasts (or as my friend calls them, “Satan’s spawns”).
So, BB (since it’s gotten that intimate with some folks), are about the size of an apple seed and looks like a tick (refer to this post’s picture). They are noticeable and they basically feed on humans at night when you’re sleeping. They are particularly tricky because they give off an anesthesia agent that makes the bites painless then and very itchy later. These creatures have eluded even the best of pest control companies and city officials.
When I was in college (learning about politics, economics - and justice on the side) I joined a group of students on a tour through Richmond neighborhoods bordering the Chevron oil refinery to learn about the community’s fight to hold the company accountable for its harmful affect on the residents’ health and the environment. I was struck by how close homes, schools and play yards were to Chevron, and how homes appeared to practically disappear within its shadow. As part of the tour, we also got to hear stories from local residents. I remember one woman speaking and pointing to a home that looked vacant. She said that a family had lived there for years growing and eating their own fruits and vegetables because that was all they could afford. Then over time, each family member became seriously ill.
In the past several weeks, we have collaborated with the wonderful crew of organizers and advocates who have worked to pass AB1900, a bill which would end the shackling of pregnant women in California's prisons and jails. The bill has passed the California State Senate and Assembly, and is waiting on the Governor’s desk for him to sign. A core team of folks has written and placed a set of OpEds and blog posts, and used social media and our networks to share our messages.
We were thrilled to receive lots of applause and appreciation for taking a stand on this important issue. Not surprisingly, there were some negative comments questioning the rights of women who are in prison to any kind of dignity. Friends, allies and strangers commented, facebooked, and tweeted in support of the bill. Voices in support of AB1900 and of the right to incarcerated people to humane and safe treatment rang loud and clear.
We also received this amazing piece of writing from a friend who is currently in medical school. K.S. asked us to use only her initials to identify her. Her powerful words remind us of the awful impacts of shackling anyone, pregnant or not.
Ahhh Labor Day… the last long weekend to enjoy the California summer and relax in the company of friends and family and indulge in tasty tummy pleasers such as BBQed meats and veggies, potato salad and fruit from our state’s amazing farmlands. Whether we are kickin’ it in the hammock or lighting up the Q with friends, Labor Day is the holiday to commemorate workers and their families.
I invited many friends to come to the SAFIRE End of Summer Celebration and all who came were very touched and moved by the performances and the whole event.
One friend, Kristen, particularly was touched enough to write a blog post about one of the girl's video and her own reflections. I want to share it all of you because it is very poignant and touches upon the issues the SAFIRE girls, the staff in ACRJ, and many of our friends, allies, and family face.
Here are some of her thoughts:
in a recent conversation with a friend who is viet-american, we briefly talked about how the experience of many vietnamese in the united states is one of ptsd, or post-traumatic stress disorder. in another conversation i had with him and, separately, with another friend who is also a viet-american male, both articulated that the trauma of war are internalized not only by their elders who lived through it, but our generation, the american-born children, as well. so engrained and on a wide-scale is the ptsd still thriving and mutating, more than 30 years later and an entire ocean away, that this long-over war still has power and the potential to (re)define the experience of what it means to be vietnamese in america for this generation and generations to come.
Pauline Latu was held in shackles off and on for the 7 months she was in Contra Costa County jail. She gave birth three weeks after her release. Pauline is shown here with her partner and two children. Pauline got in touch with advocates while incarcerated and was an inspiration for AB1900. Photo credit: Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
We love seeing ourselves in the news! Making it, analyzing it and telling our stories.
We are so excited about the work that the Center for Young Women’s Development has done through their experience at the Women’s Policy Institute to pass a bill to end the shackling of pregnant women in CA’s prisons and jails. The Center is an EMERJ Strategy Team organization, and as part of our Strong Families Initiative, we partnered with them to do media work around this important bill.
Incarcerated women have a right to safety and dignity…always, including when they are giving birth.
LeaJay Harper runs the Young Women United program at the Center, and every day she works with young women in the criminal justice system, or transitioning out, every day. She wrote this amazing piece in support of AB1900, the bill she is working hard to turn into law. Not only did this piece run on RH Reality Check, it also ran in the Oakland Tribune and the Contra Costa Times. This means a lot to us all, because while we want to speak to policy makers including the Governor to remind them to do the right thing, we also want to make sure that every-day people know this bill is pending and know we are fighting for rights and dignity of people inside. And this way, when the Governor signs, we can celebrate together.
SAFIRE Summer 2010 may be over but the buzz about the girls’ story collection projects certainly isn’t! Below is just a sample of what you missed out on during SAFIRE’s End of Summer Celebration:
“Dreams” by Honnie Diala
This piece was about my parent's dreams for my two sisters, Lovely and Jody, and I to be successful in life and not go through the hardships they faced in order for us to be where we are standing at this very moment. This is for Josephine and Rodolfo Diala. I love you all very much.
This was my first time ever making a contemporary-like piece. And my first time performing a piece I made in front of an audience. Never have I felt so proud of myself just by simply doing one of the many things I love to do, dance. This is definitely one the biggest accomplishments I have made.
Dancers: (from left to right at ending bow) Holly Liu, Lily Dinh, Judy Wu, Sophia Lu, Honnie Diala, Jennifer Lu, Lonna Lu, Ellie Cao. Thank you girls SO much for helping me dance this piece.
Recorded by: Ate Lovely Diala with Kuya Chuck Jose's wonderful camera
Have you ever been called a bad name? It’s annoying, right? Have you ever been called a racial slur? Now that’s downright infuriating. And it’s wrong. 
