Eggplant & zucchini for the grill

i don’t expect anyone aside from Sarah, or any other lurking human that is either doing this last minute as i, or enjoys what we write, to read this, but i’ll declare my intentions, motives, and views. Proper english isn’t proper, nor correct; being influenced by writers who push the boundaries like Adrienne Marie Brown or bell hooks, about using ‘i” capitalized, syntax flow, etc., entice my brain. So i plan to do the same, but don’t worry Sarah, for you, my apostrophes will be on point (to the best of my ability).

i’ve been fortunate to work with Every Body Humboldt (EBH) for my capstone project. Sarah Matik is already aware of systemic injustice, structural violence, and power dynamics with different identity markers (positionality for you keyword savvy readers). EBH gave me the flexibility to experiment with the vision i held, the intersections of art and activism to create an influence irresistible as to entice folks into joining in (Jordans, artivism). i quickly learned that graphic design wasn’t my niche. It pays well, but it didn’t feel right being behind a computer to create zines, flyers, pamphlets, website design, prop-o-ganda, etc.. It’s a skill i’ve harnessed and will probably continue to use, but the scale and function in which i apply this will differ than originally planned. But isn’t that the beauty with thoughtful, or not, experimentation? We get to try something out. How much of a privilege is that? Ah, yes, like a sip of fancy espresso drink, refreshing. Although i started doing this for EBH, this doesn’t mean i’ll stop completely either.

i’ve been enticed by folks living “outside” the system even though i’ve been going to community college for 4 years, and HSU for 2. What was to be gained from either choice of dropping out to live the romanticized lifestyle, or become somewhat institutionalized to gain important information towards “saving the world”?
Didn’t know until i tried.

i feel more confident in my decision making now; bell hooks makes it clear that theory informs action, and that revolution is a process; Paulo Freire declared that we cannot enter the revolution as objects, those who have reality defined for them; The ethnic-nationalist movements of the 1970’s showed the power of redefining ourselves from objects to subjects, paving the road to exercising self-determination; Adrienne Marie Brown and Octavia Butler show the power of visionary fiction, taking the risk theory on utopia/dystopia narratives, and flipping the scripts in various ways--fractals that spiral outward; Theatre of the Oppressed showed how powerful art can be, not only empowering folks targeted by systemic violence but creating alternative models for conflict resolution.

All of these thinkers, actors, and revolutionaries have most inspired my goals, seeded self-reflexivity, and allowed me to deconstruct frames held around my vision and thinking. Because of these humans, and many others, i’m hoping to take up the trauma-based teaching offered by EBH in October to learn the methods in hopes of maybe one day becoming a teacher-facilitator-student for folks considered “at-risk”. My positionality is apart of this, being considered “at-risk” myself, i believe i have the empathy, understanding, and now the knowledge to work with different youth. Using theatre of the oppressed to explore structural issues without the jargon; using mindful movement to release stored bodily, mental, and emotional traumas, while allowing for better absorption of knowledge; giving folks a chance to explore learning that isn’t the way school traditionally provides; and to be a mentor-facilitator-role model of some sorts.
i'm thankful, grateful, enchanted, by the people i've co-created with, by the knowledge and skills gained, the privilege and ability to attend HSU and the ENST program. i believe i'm a social agent of change, but so are many others, if not all. We all have an effect, and affect, on those we interact with, directly or indirectly. We are constantly changing, influx, and producing different scales of change everywhere we go.

“An artist can choose to bring a creative work into existence, or to work on bringing themselves into existence through creativity. Not by producing works of art, but by living creatively - life as art. The world is not simply happening to us - it is up to use to ensure that we create situations where we are happening to the world.” - Tameka Careen (NBD).