CuRRents DISRUPTING THE NORM
Common Ground Fall 2016 A Publication of the Cross-Cultural Center
about CURRENTS The inspiration for the 2016-17 theme of “Currents” came from my love of the ocean and my fascination by the many different forms that water can take on. Although all bodies of water are made of the same H2O, the forces that it can be subject to that create the vast differences between calm rivers, roaring oceans, and striking tsunamis makes water complex like humans. The subtheme for the fall 2016 quarter is “Disrupting the Norm,” which explores concepts of redefinition and breaking the status quo. It celebrates our community’s groundbreaking efforts to create inclusive environments and leadership in promoting social justice at UC San Diego and beyond. There are so many possible metaphors for “Currents” that relate to the mission of the Cross and the work that all of us do in our daily lives. Several that you can find in this issue include Edwina’s mention of “riptides” (page 3) and Jamez’s interpretation of the ocean’s immense depth (page 8). I hope that while reading this issue of the Common Ground, you too can reflect on how you disrupt the norm in your own life. Sandra Luo
In This Issue
2
Director’s Message
4
Meet the Staff
20
Community Submission: Nepantla
21
Community Submission: Tides
23
Community Submission: The Chainz Tymes
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DIREctoR's messaGe
Thoughts on ''Currents: Disrupting the Norm''
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N
ever has the theme of the CCC Common Ground so matched the tone and tenor of the day. Even before the consequential 2016 Election showed the final results, I have been thinking about the implications of the anti-immigrant, racist, sexist, misogynist, and homophobic words and actions we have all witnessed. I have seen the social media firestorms that devolved into shouting matches and de-friending; the news commentary that was more interested in the latest ‘outrageous’ thing said by a candidate rather than the impact of what was said on real people. A real consequence of this ‘current’ moment is that students, staff, and faculty are actually afraid in material ways; families are concerned about sending their kids to school, hate crimes have spiked in the country, protesters are marching defending their lives and their freedom. When people say they are afraid they are not being hyperbolic. We know from history how words can turn into action- think suppression of voting rights, internment, and Stonewall. If you are not familiar with these events it may be a good time to read up on our history. At the Cross-Cultural Center we are supporting students and others as they navigate this current ‘current.’ The riptides are strong-- students are sharing with stories of worry and fear: they are also sharing with us stories of empowerment and determination. Student organizations, individuals, and classes have been strategizing about ‘what is next?’ There is more joint organizing and supporting each other, exactly what we need for the moment. Disrupt the Norm (our Fall Quarter theme) means not being sure where we will all land but it equally means we learn, grow and support ourselves and each other in the process. I invite you to join us at the CCC as we navigate this current. I also invite you to speak up for yourself or someone if you see bias or hate on campus at ReportBias.ucsd.edu.
EDWINA WELCH November 2016
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Meet the StAff Disrupting the Norm | 5
VioletA GonzAles Assistant Director
What do you do at the Cross and what can you be found doing outside of the CCC? I am the Assistant Director/Program Coordinator of the Cross-Cultural Center. I’m now in my 10th year at the CCC. Coordinating our internship program has been one of the most meaningful aspects of my life. I particularly enjoy supervising our Programming Interns. I really appreciate their creative ideas and how they serve our student communities with their programming efforts. The Breather Series is one of my favorite programmatic series at the CCC. I believe that wellness and self-care is often overlooked as an important aspect of our daily life. It can be so challenging at times to manage our needs that sometimes we have to schedule
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basic care just to make sure we eat, sleep, drink water, etc. The Breather Series focuses on taking a break away from academics and other stressful point in our lives. Sometimes we just need to be reminded that joy can be as easy and simple as petting a therapy fluffy. Be on the lookout for our Arts and Crafts Breather Series week 10, Thursday, 1-3pm! Supplies and light refreshments provided. Fun fact: I have a temperamental rabbit named Lola. She is my mini-me. We drive each other nutty!
Lola!
NANcy MagpusAo Educational Programs
What do you do at the Cross and what can you be found doing outside of the CCC? Hi, I’m Nancy Magpusao, also known as “Ms. Nancy.” I supervise and manage our Social Justice Educator Program which provides workshops addressing issues relating to representation, equity, diversity, and inclusion for the campus and surrounding communities. I run the Social Justice Leadership Academy (SJLA), organize outreach programs often involving K-14 visits to campus, and also work with staff and faculty on social awareness activities. I’ve been spoiled, blessed, and challenged working at the CCC for the last 20 years with various job titles. I was born in Virginia and resided the Philippines, Hawaii, Illinois, and several southern California cities. My previous jobs off and on campus include jewelry making, retail, student affairs, budget management, cleaning house, office management, and teaching at local colleges. My favorite 24/7 work is being mom to two kids, now in middle and high school. I appreciate nature and engaging with natural scenery via biking, hiking, camping, and beaching. Be on the lookout for a future program called Dance with Nance, a wellness activity inspired by my strong like for dancing, of course.
How did you come to find your place at the Cross? I found my place at the CCC when I learned of its grand opening – how exciting, I thought, to be one of the initial staff members for a space that students, staff, and faculty fought for. I applied to be the first front desk and office assistant, my second full-time job after leaving Scripps Institution of Oceanography. What do you strive to redefine? How you “disrupt the norm” in your own life? I strive to re-construct, re-visit, re-work, or re-define the “norm,” popular (albeit stereotypical) notions of identities and perceptions. To do so begins with an understanding of socialization, media messaging, and reflecting on the complex intersections of our identities. As a 2nd generation college-educated, ablebodied, cisgender, privileged and marginalized Pilipina American who is a mother, partner, sister, daughter, and leader, redefining self is a work in progress that shifts with language, framing, and naming our experiences. What (possibly internalized) ideas do you have to deconstruct to get there? Folks may not be used to seeing someone like me in a position of power, self-determined, and taking up space, a space historically reserved for cisgender white patriarchy. We need to be able to name our practices and policies of privilege as I did, just now. I strive to make myself matter, because historically speaking, women who look like me have been silenced, judged, objectified, dismissed. My very existence and social awareness around decolonization of mind and spirit are my vehicles to self-liberation, disrupting the “norm,” and what I hope is also a ripple effect of change.
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JAMEZ AHMAD Operatons & Marketing
What do you do at the Cross and what can you be found doing outside of the CCC? Hello All I’m Jamez and my pronouns are They, Them, Theirs. I am the Operations and Marketing Coordinator of the Cross-Cultural Center and an alumnus of UCSD. When I’m not at my desk you can find me traveling or watching movies. When I am at the desk I take care of the electronic newsletter, the website, and I also supervise the Special Operations intern team. How did you come to find your place at the Cross? I found my place at the Cross through my strong skills in relationship building and emotional support. One of my biggest strengths is that I am a relator and I help make visitors feel like they are at home in the CCC.
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What do you strive to redefine? How you “disrupt the norm” in your own life? I strive to redefine notions around gender identity and sexual orientation. What does it really mean to understand how you learned about these areas based on societal expectations and how can you honor your own agency and carve out an identity that more wholly encompasses all that you are? What (possibly internalized) ideas do you have to deconstruct to get there? I think the largest idea that needs to be deconstructed in order to make more headway in acceptance of the vast nature of gender identities and sexual orientations is the idea that there is merely a binary in these categories. If we see the world in only black and white you miss all of the shades of gray let alone all of the colors in the spectrum. Like the ocean, people think they have an understanding of what either gender identity and/ or sexual orientation is and what it is comprised of. However, the ocean is deep and vast and we still have only scratched the surface. The same is true for most people’s understanding of gender identity and sexual orientation. One drop in the bucket cannot account for all the water it can hold or is already holding.
BEN MENDOZA
Office Manager & Affiliate Program Coordinator
What do you do at the Cross and what can you be found doing outside of the CCC? Hola! My name is Ben Mendoza and I’m the Office Manager and Affiliate Program Coordinator here at the Cross. I assist in the day-to-day operations of the CCC (managing the front desk, room reservations, etc.) as well as coordinate our Affiliate Leadership Program which means I get to work with all of the wonderful student leaders and organizations that work with the Cross throughout the year. So feel free to come and talk to me if you’re planning out an event and need a space, want to learn more about our Affiliate Program, or just need a friendly smile. I lived in Seattle, WA for 8 years before moving here to beautiful sunny San Diego. During my time in Seattle I developed a love of coffee, flannel, hiking, and thrift shopping. In SD, you can find me on the weekends at coffee shops in North Park, thrifting in Hillcrest, or hiking at Cowles Mountain. How did you come to find your place at the Cross? During my undergrad (at Seattle University) I was heavily involved with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Housing & Residence Life and Associated Students. It was these experiences that spurred my interest in working in Student Affairs and seeking my Masters degree in Higher Education Leadership from the University of San Diego (USD). After graduating from USD I was searching for positions in identity centers in the SoCal area and was blessed to have the opportunity to interview with the Cross. After [starting] here at the CCC I’ve spent the last year getting to know more about the UCSD community and have had the privilege of working with some pretty awe-mazing student interns.
What do you strive to redefine? How you “disrupt the norm” in your own life? I am currently striving to redefine what “healthy” means to me. This includes the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspect of health. Attending graduate school, worrying over parents with chronic health issues, and job searching the last few years had really taken a toll on my health. I developed unhealthy habits of navigating high levels of stress and anxiety. Since the start of this academic year I have set an intention for myself to work on recognizing my unhealthy habits and actively doing something about them. What (possibly internalized) ideas do you have to deconstruct to get there? We are conditioned to accept and internalize unrealistic expectations of beauty and methods of coping that are often counterproductive to our overall wellness. I am striving to find a balance between being someone who enjoys physical fitness with someone does not want to lose focus on loving myself at whatever size or shape. Additionally, I am a strong believer in the power of counseling and therapy. I’ve had to overcome years of society (and my own family) telling me that there is something wrong with addressing my own mental health. This has included “redefining” what methods work for me when thinking about my mental and emotional wellness. Counseling and therapy helped me reflect on a holistic level and assisted me in drawing connections between my unhealthy habits and my negative selftalk. I am a work in progress and I am providing myself graciousness as I wade through this new chapter in my life.
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GABY MIRAMONTES Programming Intern
What do you do at the Cross and what can you be found doing outside of the CCC? Hi all! I’m a 4th year psychology major from Long Beach, CA and I am one of two programming interns. I love listening to all types of music – my “go to” genres are either rap or rock. I usually will have an album I listen to on long drives, so I like to focus on what the meaning behind lyrics are. I always find something new about a song the more I listen to it! I enjoy working with people and in the future, I would like to work with highschool students or students entering higher education institutions. I am passionate about social justice issues, and one of the aspects that interest me is educational equity. I strive to always continue learning by reading about topics I may not encounter in my daily life and am open to new perspectives. At the Cross, I’ll be creating social justice and community building programs throughout the year. Additionally, I update the boards around the center (Critique This, etc). Feel free to reach out to me if you have any suggestions for programs you would like to see!
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How did you come to find your place at the Cross? I struggled to find a community I resonated with when I first came to UCSD. I did not see many people that looked like me or that came from where I was from, especially in the major I was in (STEM). I felt very isolated and made it a point to find a community I felt empowered and embraced by. I began attending Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MEChA) meetings and felt connected with the folks I met. Soon after, I joined MEChA board and got to know more of the members. The Cross became home because it was the place where I learned a lot about myself and what I stand for. It was the place where I felt I could let go and be in community. It provided the space for me to engage in social justice conversations – and for that I am extremely grateful. What do you strive to redefine? How you “disrupt the norm” in your own life? I strive to redefine the way low-income, first-generation college students are perceived by graduating and participating in efforts that increase access and retention for students of that background. Persisting in an institution like this is a form of activism in itself and I would like as many students who lacked access to get here to remain here. What (possibly internalized) ideas do you have to deconstruct to get there? I have struggled and questioned my belonging at an institution like this, but after 3 years here, I know that I do belong. However, that was not always the case – I had internalized feelings of self-doubt, thinking I was not ready to be at a big name research institution like UCSD. It took a lot of “un-learning” of the negative messages I had received and patience for myself and my own process. I strive to share my experiences with others who are in similar shoes I was in, so that they too feel a sense of belonging at UCSD.
TERRY GUTIERREZ Affiliates & Leadership Intern
What do you do at the Cross and what can you be found doing outside of the CCC? Hello everyone, my name is Terry Gutierrez and I am the affiliates and leadership intern for the Cross-Cultural Center. As affiliates and leadership intern, I facilitate affiliate programs and support student organization Cross-Cultural Center affiliates by providing one to one support and workshops on programming advising, leadership skills development, team-building, group facilitation, conflict resolution, and communication styles. I hope to increase membership of student organizations that advocate for Social Justice and support community members in learning more about themselves and transformative practices that can support Social Justice for their communities! With this in mind, you can find me traversing many campus spaces, engaging in profound conversations on enhancing our perspectives of the world around us, and encouraging homies to try out Ethnic Studies! How did you come to find your place at the Cross? I came into community with the Cross-Cultural Center my first year, when looking for a place where I could be supported academically and redefine the way I understand my ethnic roots [of] Guatemalan and Mexican ancestry. Throughout 2013, I frequented the Cross-Cultural Center, coming in to participate in leadership and identity workshops. Since then, I have had opportunities to coordinate a high school conference, facilitate an Ethnic Studies practicum at SPACES, host multiple workshops, help my fraternity become an affiliate of the CCC, and be the SAAC (student of color coalition) chair here. Through these experiences I have continued to grow and firmly ground myself at UCSD by finding a family here at the Cross- shout out to all the homies and role models for the support!
What do you strive to redefine? How you “disrupt the norm� in your own life? I strive to redefine the concept knowledge. Coming to UCSD, I quickly realized how certain experiences of my parents, my teachers, [and] Compton community members, were not seen as inherently valuable knowledge. Growing up as a child of migrants in a mixed status family in predominantly black and brown community, I was prepared to understand that the world would have misrepresentations and lower expectations of me and my peers. However, seeing misrepresentations and erasure of the work by black and brown role models who were from the community I was with during my early youth informed my decision to understand how the systematic erasure of social and academic support provided by black and brown bodies is deeply connected to racially gendered structures of labor, actively erased in order to continue reinforce ideas of culture of poverty and meritocracy. What (possibly internalized) ideas do you have to deconstruct to get there? I hope to participate in the work that is centering the experiences of communities of color within higher education academic institution and history. I hope to do this by challenging academic theories of identity and modernity, sharing alternative narratives of history, and holding space for all the homies to self-determine and affirm their identities – through student-run, studentled programs and academia! I plan on actively immersing myself in supporting the Cross-Cultural Center/ SAAC community through [being the] Affiliates and Leadership intern and participating in research through the Ethnic Studies department at UCSD! I believe in the work each community does and I plan on [contributing to] the Social Justice movement created by each Space! Disrupting the Norm | 11
ESTHER SOLIS BecerrA Programming Intern
What do you do at the Cross and what can you be found doing outside of the CCC? Hello friends, my name is Esther Solis Becerra and I am a second year transfer student. I am passionate about community health and wellness, and I’m currently pursuing a B.S in Public Health with a minor in Ethnic Studies here at UCSD. I don’t like the gym but I love to be active. You might find me strolling through the SCRIPPS Biodiversity Trail or at the La Jolla Tide Pools. I also enjoy hiking, camping, and exploring sites such as caves and forests. If anyone has any recommendations please do tell! You can find me at the CCC. I am one of the Programming Interns, so stop by and have a chat if there is something you would like to see in future programs.
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How did you come to find your place at the Cross? The CCC was the first place on campus where I felt community love and got connected to resources. The center was a space where I was able to bond, organize, and engage in self-care with community. What do you strive to redefine? How you “disrupt the norm” in your own life? I define wellness not only as the absence of illness but also as the presence of good mental health, as well as a healthy self-esteem and interpersonal relationships. I want be able to influence how my community perceives health and wellness by deconstructing and addressing stigmas attached to certain disabilities and disorders. What (possibly internalized) ideas do you have to deconstruct to get there? In order to redefine the concept of health and wellness I have to start with myself. Making sure I take advantage of on campus resources such as CAPS, Student Health Services, and different personal and professional development programs offered by our community centers. Taking care of my own mental health, practicing illness prevention through a healthy lifestyle, and working on my academic and professional development will allow me to gain the necessary tools I will need to accomplish my long term goals.
Manny GutierreZ
Campus Outreach & Engagement Intern
What do you do at the Cross and what can you be found doing outside of the CCC? Hello, my name is Manuel Gutierrez but I like to go by Manny. I am in Muir College and am a Psychology Major. I am graduating this year. At the Cross, I am the Campus Outreach and Engagement Intern. I mostly spend my time with the Volunteers for the CCC. When I’m not on campus, I like to spend my time on fitness. I love to meal prep and I also go to the gym regularly. How did you come to find your place at the Cross? I was introduced to the CCC through my second Major, Human Development. I had a class that was focused on Diversity in Research. I was extremely lucky to have Edwina Welch, the CCC’s director, as the person teaching the class. The following year I decided to get more involved and joined the CCC Volunteer program, and here I am now as an intern.
What do you strive to redefine? How you “disrupt the norm” in your own life? One identity of mine that I strive to redefine my male role in society. I believe that no one should be limited to only certain roles or emotions because of their gender identity. What (possibly internalized) ideas do you have to deconstruct to get there? One internalized message that I’ve been focusing on recently revolves around emotional intelligence. Coming from a Mexican background, the idea of being an emotionally unaware and hyper-masculine person was one of the messages I received most constantly. By deconstructing this message I’m striving to become a well-rounded person and also putting a stop to the stereotype.
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SONIA GarciA Avelar Social Justice Educator
What do you do at the Cross and what can you be found doing outside of the CCC? I’m a fourth year Eleanor Roosevelt College Student double majoring in Political Science (Public Law) and Ethnic Studies. I am one of the three Social Justice Educators which means that I partake in social justice educational programming, workshops etc. that address issues of equity, diversity and empowerment through a social justice framework. In my role as a Social Justice Educator I hope to bridge gaps of knowledge and gaps amongst communities in and outside of UC San Diego in order to create solidarity, and raise awareness of the issues that plague underrepresented, communities of color. As an undocumented student the work that I do at the Cross-Cultural Center is very personal and empowering to know that I can make a change in our communities through the work that I do. Whenever I am not busy, which is not often, I enjoy going on hikes around San Diego and painting art as a stress reliever. How did you come to find your place at the Cross? I first encountered the Cross-Cultural Center in high school during the 2013 Overnight Program. I immediately felt the welcome of community and staff in the space. I returned during the OASIS Summer Bridge Program and I knew that this would be a space that I would call home and find support in. In my first year at UC San Diego I became involved with an undocumented student organization known as Migrant Rights Awareness (MiRA) and our meetings were held at the CCC. It was through the involvement [and] leadership in this and other organizations that I came to meet professional staff at the CCC that have since provided endless support for the work that I do, as well as my development. It was at the CCC were I discovered what the true meaning of Community meant through interactions, friendships, networks, interns and staff.
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What do you strive to redefine? How you “disrupt the norm” in your own life? I strive to redefine the way in which undocumented and migrant communities are treated and excluded from higher education, legal recognition, human dignity and life. I strive to redefine the ways in which structures of power exclude and uphold the idea that these lives and bodies are not ‘worthy’, or inhuman and thus deserving of the treatment that they receive through violent and oppressive systems of power. To counter the narrative of the stereotypical image of [being] undocumented, I strive to make cross-collaborative work amongst the various communities that are impacted by this issue and share not only stories of pain and struggle but also stories of empowerment and thriving. What (possibly internalized) ideas do you have to deconstruct to get there? [To empower undocumented communities] means deconstructing systemic barriers, systems of oppression and internalized and self-hate inflicted by the socialization of de facto culture and legal practices. Although that is the ultimate goal, it is important to understand that the immediate survival of these communities is also important and thus it is of utmost importance to find the balance of these two struggles and know that small victories can make change happen. It all starts with you as an individual.
Johnny
GonzaleZ PadillA Social Justice Educator
What do you do at the Cross and what can you be found doing outside of the CCC? My name is Jonathan Gonzalez Padilla but most people call me Johnny. I had the privilege of being one of three Social Justice Educators at the Cross Cultural Center. My gender pronouns are He, Him, His and my name. I am currently a 3rd year ERC student majoring in Human Biology with an Ethnic Studies minor. I grew up in the border community of Tijuana-San Ysidro, living on both sides of the border. I am the youngest of three siblings but the first in my family to attend a 4-year institution. My plan is to hopefully enter Med School or become a teacher to help students in my community reach their goals. I am involved with MECHA de UCSD and Hermanos Unidos de UCSD. Fun fact about me is that I protested on streets of Tucson during Trump’s visit as part of MEChA National Conference. As a Social Justice Educator, I navigate through various campus spaces and conduct workshops around topics such as privilege, power, oppression, social identities, and personal development. I look forward to enhancing my knowledge in cultural awareness while teaching Social Justice themes to the UCSD community. Community members can reach out to me about topics on immigration, the cross-border experience, systems of power and oppression, and how incorporate social justice to my medical related career goals.
How did you come to find your place at the Cross? I first came about the Cross Cultural Center during MECHA de UCSD’s Annual High School Conference during my senior year of high school. I remember seeing the mandala and noticing how zen the place felt. Upon being accepted into UCSD, MECHA had their GBM’s in the Comunidad and slowly began to navigate the Cross Cultural Center through my involvement in the organization. What do you strive to redefine? How you “disrupt the norm” in your own life? I choose to the disruptive the norm by breaking stereotypes on how far a young Latino male can get in higher education and bring the knowledge that I acquire back to my community. I want to serve as a medical professional that meets the disparate needs of the South San Diegan and Tijuana border communities. What (possibly internalized) ideas do you have to deconstruct to get there? I deconstruct the stereotypes people have of young Latino males by excelling in my academics and my involvement with the UCSD community. I had to overcome the self-defeated mentality of my community that young adults should not attend a 4 year institution. My existence is resistance.
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JUstin BAscos Social Justice Educator
What do you do at the Cross and what can you be found doing outside of the CCC? I’m Justin Bascos, a third year ERC student majoring in Cognitive Science, specialization TBA. I’m actively involved in Kaibigang Pilipin@ (KP), where I was the Gender and Sexuality Awareness coordinator last year. Further, I love nature, going to the beach, and experiencing new things! Every year, I usually like to go travel somewhere different and go have an adventure. Right now, I’m planning a trip to the Seattle/British Columbia during spring break of this academic year. I also love food and trying out new places to eat at! I’m a Social Justice Educator at the CCC this year, which means that with the SJE team, I work on creating conversations about social justice, diversity and equity issues. My areas of interest are critical race, queer and gender theory. If anyone would like to talk about these topics with me, or learn more about them please feel free to reach out to me and we could have a one-to-one. For the fall quarter, I will be working closing every Thursday night, so drop by and get to know me! How did you come to find your place at the Cross? I found belonging at the Cross through KP, especially with past CCC interns that I now know as mxntors and close friends. Because of people like my Ate Jolena, I found that the cross provides many opportunities, not only pertaining to institutional resources but also a network of support. Now, I’m lucky enough to be under the tutelage of the pro-staff and I cannot wait to see what this year has to offer.
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What do you strive to redefine? How you “disrupt the norm” in your own life? Being a queer, Filipinx student, my identities have often conflicted with each other, preventing me from feeling community while growing up. Thus, the social justice work I do now centers belonging at the forefront, as I want to complicate our understandings of mental health, systems of power, and identity politics. Mental health, because often we push folks at the outskirts of society without even recognizing them as people. Systems of power, because cycles of violence against marginalized communities will never end until we acknowledge what exactly powers them. Identity politics, because it’s so much better to feel empowered from your identities, rather than internalizing hate because of them. These three topics that intersect, influence, and inform each other are often reasons why so many individuals have been neglected, hurt, or even killed. I understand my role of being a social justice educator as a privileged position that allows me a platform to show my own journey of understanding my identities so that others can resonate as well. Finally, I do this work because of my brother. He’s only six years old, and I want him to grow up in a good world. I work hard to inform others about social justice so that he could find compassion, kindness and understanding in everyone he meets. What (possibly internalized) ideas do you have to deconstruct to get there? I do the work that I do now because of all the colonial ideas I have internalized. Working at the Cross has allowed me to unpack and process much of my understandings of the world, especially pertaining to power, privilege, and oppression. I’m a queer asian kid who grew up in Pennsylvania and Fresno, conservative areas that don’t warmly welcome queer people or people of color. I’ve learned and internalized the ideas these places had to offer and because of them, I grew up hating these significant parts of my identity. I am thankful and privileged to be attending UCSD and working at the CCC because they offer me an opportunity to educate and empower myself.
SAndrA LUo Common Ground & Marketing Intern
What do you do at the Cross and what can you be found doing outside of the CCC? Hi friends! I’m a second year Mathematics - Computer Science major and a proud member of Marshall College. I’m also taking a Cognitive Science minor because I’m interested in learning about how design and software engineering can influence the way people think and act. As the Common Ground and Marketing intern, I’m the one responsible for the publication you’re reading right now. I’m happy you decided to take a look at this quarter’s issue! I am also responsible for helping out with the marketing of the CCC and its events, whether that’s helping compile the e-news or designing flyers. When not glued to Adobe Photoshop and InDesign in the intern office, I can be found laughing with friends over good food, going to concerts, and exploring this beautiful city of San Diego. I love meeting new people, so please do say hello if you see me around the Cross! How did you come to find your place at the Cross? I wandered into the Cross one day during freshman year, wondering what the “CCC” on the window stood for. I fell in love with the space and the unity between everyone present in the Cross. I am grateful to have found a place on campus like the Cross with its focus on social justice, support for communities of color, and growth on all levels, from the individual to campus to societal change. I was impressed with the intern team last year and decided that I wanted to contribute to the Cross’s groundbreaking work.
What do you strive to redefine? How you “disrupt the norm” in your own life? I strive to redefine what it means to be a woman of color in this country. As I move through my college career, I continue to explore the intersectionality of identifying as Asian American and female, in a way that I was never exposed to in my sleepy suburban hometown. I don’t hesitate to reach for lofty goals even if they’re not conventional in American society for someone who looks like me. I disrupt the norm with my choice of major and career path. Women, especially women of color, are underrepresented in the computer science and technology field as well as in the its leadership. As technology’s impact on our lives continues to increase, it is imperative that the voices of all populations are represented so that technology itself doesn’t become a perpetrator of injustice. What (possibly internalized) ideas do you have to deconstruct to get there? Redefining what a technologist and a leader in the tech industry looks like means having to overcome my own internalized doubts and actively working at improving myself. It means remembering the reasons why I got involved in what I’m pursuing when the going gets tough and giving all opportunities that come my way my all.
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“
NepAntlA elizabeth uribe
Artist's statement
Living in-between two cultures is a privilege, but it is a difficult journey. Learning how to navigate the waters of the worlds one lives in is what helps people find who they are at least in the experience of the first generation Xicana, Elizabeth. As an artist she focuses on identity, culture, women’s issues, and story telling. She writes about her own experiences of living between two worlds and her existence being an act of resistance. “I see life as this big ocean that at times has strong currents and storms that come your way, but you can always overcome them. Which is what I address in Nepantla, overcoming what comes my way. Water is fluid and adaptable, and so is my work. My works are fluid because as time passes I will revisit and change things . . . nothing is set in stone.” En ojos de la ley y en documentos del gobierno yo soy a natural born Americana. No tengo pelo rubio, ni ojos de color. Por mi sangre y venas corre el igno nacional de Mexico. En el corazon aguardo el orgullo y honor de la patria mexicana. Pero no soy prieta de cabello negro. Tengo un acento cuando hablo Ingles and I have an accent when I speak Spanish. Soy Sirena…las del nuevo mestizaje que se trajo las olas y viento desde las profundidades del agua. I live between two worlds. Mar y tierra . . . Porque no soy de aquí, ni de alla. Trapped y libre a la vez por ser de dos mundos.
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I have the best of . . . Being a Chicana, who loves her skin. A proud, strong, and chingona mujer. A colorful cultura and tradiciones passed down by my ancestors. Flavorful cuisine from pachamama. Por estar expuesta a arte de Frida Kahlo hasta Elizabeth Catlett Music and rhythm engrained within mi alma. Bilingualism: Spanish and English Two rich histories from both sides of the border.
Privilege of moving fluidly like water around, in, and out of the states. And the worst of . . . Stereotyped Latina Cat calling Being a statistic Not being American or Latina enough Undermined Ridiculed for speaking Spanish Having an accent I have the best and worst . . . I am a sirena in-between Mexican and American soil and water. Navigating against currents of doubts, oceans of patriarchy, and waters trying to pull me down into the dark depths of structural oppression. My mere existence within these worlds is an act of resistance. An embodiment of two clashed cultures that wasn’t and still isn’t approved. I am a sirena from the new mestizaje. 8/29/16
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TIDES
James Gutierrez Artist's statement
Masculinity is a trap and nothing but a social construct. Don’t be ashamed of suffering from depression and anxiety. Don’t try to “man it out”, don’t let pride make your decisions. There’s nothing “normal” about letting yourself suffer, mental health is just as important as physical health. So be nice to yourself and if things go south please go see help.
January 31st A new tide in an old place Empty, lost, alone It hits the cliff, Splashing, drenching, becoming me. I wash up on empty 2 A.M streets Drenched, alone, begging for a cigarette I crawl home on hands and knees.
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Bruised and broken hearted, I inhale baby blue spirits Hands trembling from anxiety Salty tears rolling down my face A part of me, is a part of those tides Empty, lost, alone. An old tide in an old place.
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The Chainz TYmeS
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Veronica Sanchez, Terry Justice Albea, Princess Dela Cruz, Gagandeep Sahota, Zahyra Arambula
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Artist's statement
Part of the ways that our project relates directly to water, is how our access to water directly impacts the way food justice looks like. As food justice activists and farmers, particularly people of color farmers, continue to fight to reclaim and decolonize food and the ways in we grow of food, there are systematic barriers including access to water that try to disrupt the process of reclaiming and decolonizing. When we are fighting for food justice, we fight for water justice. Our project takes a look into the future which creates a future of mass consumption and production infested of GMO foods. Our goal is for folks to understand that decolonizing is a way of disrupting the norm and the way we grow and consume food as well as reclaiming our cultural foods that has been used to commodify many cultures.
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Critical Explanation for Newspaper Cover
In the year 2020, food justice has taken an even more dramatic turn in these past 4 years than it has in the past century. A large majority of farmland and remaining Indian reservations have been depleted and abandoned, replaced with corporate buildings and large factories that those companies own. Food deserts (Byron, Soul Food Junkies) have taken over huge metropolitan areas and people are struggling to find healthy food nearby. Fresh produce is nearly extinct and the only readily available food is genetically modified, which leaves families with a lack of essential nutrients (Ross, The Plot Against Mexican Corn). Factories help with the mass production and GMOdominating industry in which fresh farms are rare to find and are now considered “vintage”. Rather than learning from ancestors and retaining cultural identity and historical richness, our generation has done the opposite by taking agriculture and making it trendy, versus farming for benefits such as organic/nutritious foods. Valerie Segrest described food sovereignty as the willpower for people to educate and pass their knowledge of food culture to the future generations (Bowens 2015, 209). Segrest’s vision of food sovereignty is just a thought now, not having access to resources and land has made this education nothing but history; history that cannot be recreated due to the drastic changes in ethnic politics and the major loss of cultural diversity. The little farming that is still relevant, is based on technology, and in this future, millennials are totally indifferent to the loss of culture and the disappearance of minority representation in farming. As Bowens discusses a revolution to transform the food system and our planet (Bowens 2015, 187), her audience takes the idea and catalyzes a transformation in the opposite direction from what she
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intended. In this future, there’s not much hope for revolution.
The process of creating food was once viewed as a process of “alchemy,” as described by food activist Aileen Suzara in an interview (10/17/16), and it was something that was once capable of bringing people of different cultural backgrounds together in a sharing of personal traditions. But if these activists were not to exist, and the issue did not continue to be pressed, the mass production and fast-food trend would have fully enveloped food culture long ago. The activists who continue to fight for farms and independent growers, all fight not simply for food, but also the true history and education left by their ancestors. They’re determined to see the passing down of recipes and tastes they experienced as children, all the way through to another generation. In the words of Suzara, make change by educating yourself, and decolonizing your diet. While corporations and GMO foods are increasing, government policies are also justifying these actions and regulations with trade deals like TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership). This deal would allow the U.S. to free international trade with 11 different countries without paying tariffs. Most of the 11 countries are in Asia and have historically been colonized and oppressed by the U.S. and other countries. There are clear parallels between the TPP and NAFTA. NAFTA was intended to benefit Mexico and the U.S., but resulted in the decline of the Mexican economy (Ross, The Plot Against Mexican Corn). Prices of corn increased in Mexico and caused many local Mexican farmers to go out of business, which in turn forced a wave of migrating farm workers across the border in search of
low-wage jobs while the U.S. profited (Ross). Drawing these similarities, it’s clear that TPP will inevitably lead to the same economic disparities in the Asian market, which the U.S. will benefit from. These policies harm food justice because it allows for the increase of GMOs and, more importantly, the taking away of local ownership of food in these countries. Ultimately, a small number of determined farmers throughout the U.S. are attempting to salvage farming in 2020, as well as preserve the food traditions of their ancestors. They’re reclaiming their food sovereignty despite the rise of supermarkets and processed food. Through education and communal living, some communities of color have been successful at keeping farming and ties to their cultural roots alive. In South Carolina, the Gullah/ Geechee people place food and kindness at the center of their their community so they can share and appreciate the rich history of their African culture (Bowens 2015, 107). The Gullah Island farmers have taught children how to cook and farm while incorporating West African recipes into their food. Other communities in the U.S. can follow their example and train our youth in farming and staying attached to their roots while fighting to increase access to healthy, fresh produce (Soul Food Junkies). There is still a sliver of hope for food justice.
REMEMBERING TOGETHER
(left) A community member adds to the Dia de Los Muertos altar by adding a clay skull and a thoughtful note
reflecting on Hxstory
(below) Week 8 featured a Thoughtspot board created for community members by intern Johnny Gonzalez Padilla.
ONE for the books
(above) Students from Southwestern College commerate their afternoon of exploring the Cross-Cultural Center.
Peachy Keen
(right) Intern Justin Bascos smiles as he paints a peach emoji during an arts activity following an All-Staff meeting.
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Cross-Cultural Center Monday - Thursday 9am - 9pm Friday 9am - 4pm 9500 Gilman Drive #0053 La Jolla, California 92093-0053 (858) 534-9689 cccenter@ucsd.edu ccc.ucsd.edu facebook.com/ucsdccc/ ucsdcrossculturalcenter.tumblr.com