February 2023

El Leñador is an English and Spanish newspaper produced by Cal Poly Humboldt students. Our staff cover and provide news to Latinx and other diverse communities on campus and in Humboldt County. We are committed to providing relevant news and expanding the representations and stories told about people of color and other marginalized groups. Our work helps create more social, political and cultural diversity in local media.

El Leñador es un periodico en español y inglés producido por estudiantes de Cal Poly Humboldt. Nuestro personal cubre y provee noticias a la comunidad Latinx y otras comunidades diversas en el campus y en el condado de Humboldt. Estamos comprometidos a brindar noticias actuales y ampliar la representación y las historias que son contados sobre la gente de color y otros grupos marginados. Nuestros esfuerzos ayudan a crear una diversa presencia social, politica y cultural en los medios locales.

Editor in Chief

Ricardo Lara Nava

Managing Editor

Peyton Leone

News Editor

Victoria Olsen

Life and Arts/ Layout Editor Karina Ramos Villalobos

Opinion Editor Kianna Znika

Spanish Editor Desiree Osornio

Layout/Design

Evelyn Bañuelos, Ruby Cayenne, Victoria Olsen, Ione Dellos, Kianna Znika, Guillermo Noe Salazar

Writers/Contributors

Eddy Guzman, Abraham Navarro, Steffi Puerto, Jordan Pangelinan, Elysia Manzanares, Ruby Cayenne, Nat Cardos, Celeste Sadler, Frank Rocha, Carlina Grillo

Translators

Angelina Ramirez Peirano, Steven Alvaro

Distribution Guillermo Noe Salazar

Public Relations Manager Steffi Puerto

Faculty Advisor Andrea Juarez

Front Cover/Primera Página: Cover photo by Karina Ramos Villalobos

Ilustración

To advertise with us, email ellenador. ads@gmail.com

El Leñador staff can be reached at el-lenador@humboldt.edu.

Arrests made in ATL assault

by Ricardo Lara Nava

Two Fortuna residents have been arrested in connection to the assault of Caden Cuevas Oct. 23 2022 outside the Arcata Theater Lounge (ATL). Emaniel Herrera-cortes, 21, and Aldair Ramirezvera, 21, were booked on Jan. 25, according to Arcata Police Department Lieutenant Chris Ortega.

Cal Poly Humboldt (CPH) student Caden Cuevas, 28, encountered his assailants at the Arcata Theater Lounge where he asked them to refrain from saying the n-word. After the group began to call him the n-word and other names, he decided to walk away and carry on with his night. Hours later his attackers confronted Cuevas and his friend Nathan Cruz, which led to the assault.

Cuevas nearly died after sustaining a broken left orbital socket, a fractured neck and subdural hematoma (blood collecting between the skull and the brain). He had to undergo a six hour emergency surgery to drain 95% of the blood in his skull.

Both were arrested for felony assault with Ramirezvera being additionally charged with aggravated battery causing serious bodily injury.

As of Jan. 26, according to Humboldt County Sheriff Inmate search Vinelink, the two men are out on bond.

Cuevas’s recovery

Four months after the assault, Cuevas’ has been healing well. He is no longer taking seizure medication and his bones have been fused. Cuevas has

Arrestos en caso de asalto ATL

por Ricardo Lara Nava traducido por Desiree Osornio

been attending classes while at the same time keeping a low profile when he goes out. “I have to use code words when I go out with friends if I see someone who I think could be from that night so we could leave,” he said. “It sucks that I have to do that.”

Cal Poly Humboldt student Caden Cuevas, 28, encountered his assailants at the Arcata Theater Lounge where he asked them to refrain from saying the n-word. | El estudiante de Cal Poly Humboldt, Caden Cuevas, de 28 años, se encontró con sus agresores en el Arcata Theater Lounge, donde les pidió que se abstuvieran de decir la palabra n. | Photo by/ foto por Ricardo Lara Nava

The investigation is still ongoing, if you were a witness to what occurred on Oct. 22 contact the Arcata Police Department at (707) 822-2428.

Dos residentes de Fortuna han sido detenidos en relación con la agresión de Caden Cuevas el 23 de octubre de 2022 fuera del Arcata Theater Lounge. Emaniel Herrera-Cortes, de 21 años, y Aldair Ramirezvera, de 21, fueron detenidos el 25 de enero, según el teniente del Departamento de Policía de Arcata, Chris Ortega. El estudiante de Cal Poly Humboldt Caden Cuevas, de 28 años, se encontró con sus agresores en el Arcata Theater Lounge, donde les pidió que se abstuvieran de decir una palabra derogatoria contra la gente Negra. Después de que el grupo empezara a llamarle la palabra derogatoria y otros insultos, decidió alejarse y seguir con su noche. Horas después, sus agresores se enfrentaron a Cuevas y a su amigo Nathan Cruz, lo que provocó la agresión.

Cuevas estuvo a punto de morir tras sufrir fractura de la órbita izquierda, fractura de cuello y un hematoma subdural (acumulación de sangre entre el cráneo y el cerebro).

Tuvo que ser operado de urgencia durante seis horas para drenar 95% de la sangre del cráneo.

Ambos fueron detenidos por delito grave de agresión, y Ramirezvera fue acusado además de agresión con agravantes que causó lesiones corporales graves.

El 26 de enero, según Vinelink, el buscador de reclusos del sheriff del condado de Humboldt, los dos hombres están en libertad bajo fianza.

Recuperación de Cuevas

Cuatro meses después de la agresión, Cuevas se ha recuperado bien. Ya no toma medicación anticonvulsiva y le han fusionado los huesos.

Cuevas ha estado asistiendo a clases y, al mismo tiempo, mantiene un perfil bajo cuando sale. "Tengo que utilizar palabras en clave cuando salgo con amigos si veo a alguien que creo que podría ser de esa noche para poder irnos," dijo. "Es un fastidio tener que hacer eso."

La investigación sigue en curso, si fuiste testigo de lo ocurrido el 22 de octubre ponte en contacto con el Departamento de Policía de Arcata llamando al (707) 822-2428.

Free citizenship classes in Humboldt

by Eddy Guzman

Free citizenship classes are being offered at the Jefferson Community Center in Eureka on Wednesdays from 6 - 7:30 p.m. The class will run until April 5 for those looking to become United States citizens.

Elizabeth Niemeyer has been teaching the “Towards Citizenship” class since 2017. Towards Citizenship is a program of English Express, a project of The Ink People.

“We've had people from countries where they don't even use the same alphabet. And they can pass,” Niemeyer said. “We have people from countries where the third grade is the highest that they ever went.”

The weekly class teaches students about the application process, requirements to be met and information for the exam. The program offers free childcare while class takes place.

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to be eligible to apply for naturalization to become a U.S. citizen a person needs to:

• read, write and speak basic English

• be a permanent resident for three to five years

• have knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government

• have loyalty to the principles of the U.S. Constitution

• be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance

More information about eligibility can be found on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov.

“This class teaches us to learn more about the constitution, what it means to become a citizen, what each word means, it teaches us to learn how to be citizens, and the laws to learn how to vote,” said Maria Herrera, student.

During the course, students can be found helping and studying with each other for the citizenship exam that many plan to take after the course ends.

“For the people who are older, who have lived in the U.S. for 20 years, will have their test in their own language,” said Aimee Castro, another student. “But to the majority, it will be done in

Clases gratuitas de ciudadanía enHumboldt

por Eddy Guzman traducido por Desiree Osornio

• tener conocimientos y comprensión de la historia y el gobierno de EE.UU.

• ser leal a los principios de la Constitución de EE.UU.

• estar dispuesto a realizar el Juramento de Lealtad.

Puedes encontrar más información sobre los requisitos en la página web del USCIS: www.uscis.gov.

"Esta clase nos enseña a conocer mejor la constitución, lo que significa hacerse ciudadano, lo que significa cada palabra, nos enseña a aprender a ser ciudadanos y las leyes para aprender a votar," dijo María Herrera, estudiante. Durante el curso, se puede ver a los alumnos ayudándose y estudiando unos con otros para el examen de ciudadanía que muchos piensan hacer cuando acabe el curso.

English and this is where this class helps us. They teach us the history in English and for those who don’t know much English, we are learning at the same time.”

Niemeyer bases her lessons on a single book, “Citizenship Passing The Test: Civics and Literacy,” and teaches her students the answers to the 100 possible questions on the citizenship test.

Students will take the official citizenship test at an immigration office in San Francisco. When they pass the test a ceremony takes place at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland where applicants will receive their certification of naturalization.

Niemeyer encourages her students as they prepare to apply for naturalization.

“Everyone is in the same boat. Everyone is preparing for the test. Everyone comes in with a different background and different preparation,” Niemeyer said.

Class meets every Wed. at Jefferson Center 1000 B St, Eureka, CA 95501.

For more information, visit englishexpressempowered.com, or contact Elizabeth Niemeyer at elizabethniemeyer@ gmail.com and (707) 362-3968.

Se están ofreciendo clases gratuitas de ciudadanía en el Centro Comunitario Jefferson de Eureka los miércoles de 6 a 7:30 p.m. La clase se ofrecerá hasta el 5 de abril para quienes deseen convertirse en ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos.

Elizabeth Niemeyer ha estado enseñando la clase "Towards Citizenship" desde 2017. Towards Citizenship es un programa de English Express, un proyecto de The Ink People.

"Hemos tenido gente de países donde ni siquiera usan el mismo alfabeto. Y pueden aprobar," dijo Niemeyer. "Tenemos gente de países donde el tercer grado es el grado más alto al que han llegado."

En la clase semanal se enseña a los alumnos el proceso de solicitud, los requisitos que deben cumplir e información para el examen. El programa ofrece cuidado de niños mayores de cuatro años gratuito durante las clases.

Según el Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de Estados Unidos, para poder solicitar la naturalización y convertirse en ciudadano estadounidense una persona necesita •leer, escribir y hablar inglés básico

• ser residente permanente de tres a cinco años

"A las personas mayores, que llevan 20 años viviendo en EE.UU., les harán el examen en su propio idioma," dijo Aimèe Castro, otra estudiante. "Pero para la mayoría, se hará en inglés y aquí es donde esta clase nos ayuda. Nos enseñan la historia en inglés y, para los que no sabemos mucho inglés, estamos aprendiendo al mismo tiempo."

Niemeyer basa sus clases en un único libro, "Citizenship Passing The Test: Civics and Literacy", y enseña a sus alumnos las respuestas a las 100 preguntas posibles del examen de ciudadanía.

Los alumnos harán el examen oficial de ciudadanía en una oficina de inmigración de San Francisco. Cuando superen el examen, se celebrará una ceremonia en el Teatro Paramount de Oakland, donde los solicitantes recibirán su certificado de naturalización.

Niemeyer anima a sus alumnos mientras se preparan para solicitar la naturalización. "Todo el mundo está en el mismo barco. Todo el mundo se está preparando para el examen. Todo el mundo viene con un origen diferente y una preparación diferente," dijo.

Las clases se reúnen todos los miércoles en el Jefferson Center 1000 B St, Eureka, CA 95501. Para más información, visite englishexpressempowered. com, o ponte en contacto con Elizabeth Niemeyer en elizabethniemeyer@gmail. com y (707) 362-3968.

Blanca and Thip using active listening to learn from Elizebeth Niemeyer on Jan. 25 2023 at the Eureka Jefferson Center. | Blanca y Thip utilizan escuchar activamente para aprender de Elizebeth Niemeyer el 25 de enero de 2023 en el Centro Eureka Jefferson. | Photo by/foto por Eddy Guzman

Food Swipes available to Cal Poly Humboldt students

by Steffi Puerto

The Meal Swipe Assistance program is available to help students on and off campus dealing with food insecurity by offering free meal swipes through the Basic Needs program at Cal Poly Humboldt.

Charles Moore, Campus Assistance, Response, and Engagement Basic Needs Coordinator, ensures that students are aware of the resources available to them surrounding basic food necessity.

“This program is made for students with food insecurity, or if they don’t get enough to eat,” Moore said. "This program is intended to give them swipes for free so they can come to campus and get some meals for free.”

Students who are interested in requesting food swipes can email basicneeds@humboldt.edu. The requests will be forwarded to Moore and given a set of questions that help identify who they are and what their needs are.

Currently, students are eligible to get six swipes which are supposed to last for a four-week period. Students are encouraged to reapply after four weeks, if they still need food swipe assistance.

The meal swipes will then be added to the student's ID card. Students can anticipate their meal swipes to be processed in two-three business days. The food swipes are only available for use at the J, each swipe is equal to one free ‘all you can eat’ meal at the J.

The cost to eat at the J varies on dinner service: breakfast is $8.75, lunch is $9.75 and dinner is $10.75.

“There isn’t a limit to how many times students can apply for food swipe assistance, as long as they need the assistance, then they are more than welcome to continue to use the assistance," Moore said.

If there continues to be a need for food assistance in the future, the Meal

Students who are interested in requesting food swipes can email basicneeds@hum boldt.edu. | Photo by Abraham Navarro

Swipe Assistance program plans to continue through the next academic school year. The program is currently funded through the CSU Basic Needs Initiative, which has on-going funding that the

university receives.

“I am anticipating that there will be a need in the fall, so we will continue to put funds in this program,” Moore said.

Scan QR code to watch video and learn more about meal swipes.

Ramona Bell promoted to full professor last fall

by Peyton Leone

Last semester, Ramona jj Bell, P.h.D., was promoted from associate professor to full professor at Cal Poly Humboldt. She is the Critical Race and Gender Studies department chair and a professor dedicated to educating students about many aspects of Black culture.

When asked what her biggest lesson from teaching more than a decade at CPH was, she said “Teaching African American culture. Teaching ethnic studies. Teaching about power and privilege. Teaching about the resistance. … The content of what I teach has consequences for our lives: How we move in the world. Our agency. To be self determined. To be self-defined people in the world, it takes some work. And, of course that can be done anywhere really, but behind the Redwood curtain, it's a different culture here."

Bell started teaching at CPH in 2011 as an assistant professor. In 2017 she was promoted to associate professor. Bell describes becoming a full professor as an intense process.

"It's basically your life's work," Bell said." To me it was a confirmation of doing what I love."

Out of 235 tenured or tenure track professors, Bell is one of eight Black faculty at CPH according to CPH's Fast Facts Fall 2022 , which reports demographic data. Of those eight, three are Black women.

"We need more, we need to work on mentoring women of color, recruiting them and retaining them,” Bell said. “I think the university could do more of a concerted effort of getting more Black folk over here."

Bell notes that the history of Black people in Humboldt is different than in other parts of California, she asks herself how she can be a part of the broader community here.

"Being a scholar activist is really important anywhere, but its very important in a particularly White dominated space in Northern California," Bell said.

For example, she receives calls from parents of K-12 students in Arcata who ask for help dealing with the racism their children face at school.

Bell says on of her favorite class to

Ramona jj Bell in her office in the Behavioral Social & Sciences building on Jan. 24. | Photo by Peyton Leone including the Black Student Union and African Student Union. She has also been a part of the Campus Dialogue on Race since 2012.

teach is African American cultural History. She says that she often uses films made by Black play writers to engage in dialogue about African American culture with her students.

"Bell Hooks says that pop culture is where the learning is, and I say pop culture is also where the teaching is," said Bell.

Bell is currently the faculty advisor for the CRGS club, and has been the advisor for multiple other student clubs,

She earned her bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Tennessee, then a master's degree in English at Tennessee Technological University. After moving to the Bahamas for five years, she earned a doctorate in American cultural studies from Bowling Green University in Ohio.

Jaguar Smith, a CRGS major, has taken classes with Bell and is working with her to plan this year's Hip Hop Conference. She describes Bell as the type of professor who supports students digging deeper into Black culture.

"She does a wonderful job at giving us a good example of what we can aspire to be as young students trying to figure out our path," Smith said. "Especially for this small community, and especially for other Black students."

*This year's festival is financially supported by a grant from Cal Poly Humboldt's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.*

Preparing for emergencies

by Victoria Olsen

During the recent earthquakes, many people found themselves unprepared. Arcata Assistant Fire Chief, Chris Emmons, and Kari Stockdale, a research assistant in the geology department at Cal Poly Humboldt, say having a plan and an emergency kit can help people prepare for emergencies.

Emmons encourages everyone to have conversations with their families, neighbors and friends and pack an emergency kit with the basic necessities you need to last up to a week.

alleviate that fear. In this article, there’s a graphic of items to consider when creating an emergency kit that will last you at least 72 hours.

To read the full article please visit www. ellenadornews.com.

List of necessities to consider:

• Having close to a full tank of gas

• At least one gallon of water per person per day - for drinking and sanitation

• Flashlights

• Phone charger (any devices)

• Duct tape

• Matches

• Fire extinguisher

• Garbage bags

• Feminine products

• Prescription medication for at least 10 days

• Important family documents

• Insurance policies

• Bank records

• For babies: Instant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes

• Pets and their needs

• Clothes for a few days

• Blankets

• Extra Socks

• Extra face masks

• Soap, sanitizer, wipes

• Cash or checks

• Local maps (physical maps)

• Know how to read a physical map in case you lose signal

• Identification cards/social security cards

• At least 72 hours worth of non-perishable food

• Can opener

• Backup batteries

• Things to keep kids calm: books, games, puzzles

Prepararse para las emergencias

por Victoria Olsen Traducido por Desiree Osornio para ayudar a aliviar ese miedo.

Stockdale wants people to know that, “it’s okay to be afraid.” She wants the community to know how to be prepared to help Durante los recientes terremotos, muchas personas se encontraron poco preparadas. El jefe adjunto de bomberos de Arcata, Chris Emmons, y Kari Stockdale, ayudante de investigación en el departamento de geología de Cal Poly Humboldt, dicen que tener un plan y un kit de emergencia puede ayudar a la gente a prepararse para las emergencias.

Emmons anima a todo el mundo a mantener conversaciones con sus familias, vecinos y amigos, y a preparar un kit de emergencia con los artículos de primera necesidad necesarios para una semana.

Stockdale quiere que la gente sepa que "no pasa nada por tener miedo." Quiere que la comunidad sepa cómo estar preparada

En este artículo, hay un gráfico de elementos a tener en cuenta a la hora de crear un kit de emergencia que te dure al menos 72 horas.

Para leer el artículo completo, visita www. ellenadornews.com

Lista de necesidades a tener en cuenta:

• Tener cerca de un depósito lleno de gasolina

• Al menos un litro de agua por persona y día, para beber e higienizarse

• Al menos 72 horas de alimentos no perecederos

• Abrelatas

• Pilas extras

• Linternas

• Cargador de teléfono (cualquier dispositivo)

• Cinta adhesiva

• Cerillas

• Extinguidor de incendios

• Bolsas de basura

• Productos femeninos

• Medicamentos recetados para al menos 10 días

• Documentos familiares importantes

• Pólizas de seguros

• Documentos bancarios

• Documentos de identidad/tarjetas de la seguridad social

• Cosas para mantener a los niños tranquilos: libros, juegos, rompecabezas

• Para los bebés: fórmula instantánea, biberones, pañales, toallitas

• Know where bridges are and other ways to get out of town in case they collapse

• Know where the highest points elevation are near you in case of a tsunami

• Mascotas y sus necesidades

• Ropa para unos días

• Cobijas

• Calcetines extra

• Mascarillas adicionales

• Jabón, desinfectante, toallitas húmedas

• Dinero en efectivo o cheques

• Mapas locales (mapas físicos)

• Saber leer un mapa físico por si pierdes la señal

• Saber dónde están los puentes y otras formas de salir de la ciudad en caso de que se derrumben

• Saber dónde están los puntos más elevados cerca de ti en caso de tsunami

Graphic by Ione Dellos

Black Student Union is reorganizing at Cal Poly Humboldt

by Ruby Cayenne

The Black Student Union (BSU) at Cal Poly Humboldt (CPH) is getting revitalized. While acting unofficially for now, the club remains a central place of community for many Black students at CPH.

BSU was founded in the 1970s and has been a part of CPH’s history for many decades. According to CPH’s 2022 Fall Census Headcount by Ethnicity, Black students make up only three percent of the total student demographic. Students and faculty expressed how important the sense of community and representation facilitated by the club has been.

“Really at the heart of getting this club going again, it started from having and developing authentic connections with students and identifying students who see and understand the value in BSU,” said Douglas Smith, coordinator of the Umoja Center for Pan African

Student Excellence and mentor to the BSU students.

Currently, a few dozen students are already unofficially participating and many more have reportedly dropped in to express interest in joining. Future intentions of the club, such as events, will be centered around bringing the club together with Black students, the whole campus community and local organizations.

“Right now, we’re just in the process of figuring out how to bring the students together and who do we reach out to in the community,” said Michael Steelman, president of the BSU and sophomore studying Critical Race Gender and Sexuality (CRGS).

Steelman expressed how the club was and continues to be, a predominant reason why he initially feels comfortable at the university and continues to study here.

“Like you don't see that many colorful people here. Where do I fit in? How can I fit in?” said Honey De ’Lite, vice-president of the BSU, a freshman majoring in child development,teaching and CRGS with a minor in criminology. When she found out CPH did not have a BSU club, she took the initiative to get it started again.

Through BSU, De’Lite has been introduced to other areas of interest such as the funding board, which has allowed her to create more events and resources for the club. She has a deep passion for inspiring other students to get involved and to speak out in the local Black community.

“There is a rich history here of Black Student Union,” said Harrel Deshazier, advisor for the BSU. “They were organizing Black graduations. Doing different concerts and I often tell the officers there's a lot of things you can do

to make sure that you have a space here on campus.”

BSU is currently unofficial, but official meetings will begin to commence in the coming weeks, with details available on the CPH website under clubs and organizations.

“It says BSU. That doesn't mean it needs to be just Black students participating and helping with events or even coming to events. We want all folks to be involved,” Deshazier said. “As a White person, it's important to take a backseat, listen and assist when asked. But in general, I want White students and students who are non-Black to feel comfortable joining our events because as a Black person, I want to feel comfortable joining other events that aren't Black centered.”

For more information, check out their website at humboldt.presence.io/ organization/black-student-union.

Michael Steelman, president of the BSU, and a sophomore studying CRGS. | Photo on right: Michael Steelman and Honey De’Lite, vice president of the BSU, and freshman studying child development, teaching, CRGS and criminology, pictured with club members of the BSU. | Photos by Ruby Cayenne

Harrel Deshazier, advisor of the BSU and academic advisor of the Umoja Center for Pan African Student Excellence. They attended CPH starting in 2013 and have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

Meet Eureka NAACP’s New President

by Nat Cardos

The Eureka National Association for the Advancement of Colored People voted on a new president last December. Dr. Kintay Johnson, director of Student Equity and the Multicultural Center at College of the Redwoods, was seated as president in January 2023.

Johnson was first moved to start working for the community outside of his work after the death of David Josiah Lawson in 2017.

“A lot of our students on campus were hurting and a lot of students in our community are hurting and looking for ways to be heard and seen,” said Johnson. “A safe space where they could talk about the racism that they have experienced here.”

At the Multicultural Center at CR, Johnson works to create that safe space for students to feel seen and heard. The center is where different clubs on campus meet, such as the Latinx club, Black Student Union, Queer Student Union, Rise club and the Native American club. It also has a food pantry available for students through the Basic Needs Center on campus and it will also be opening a new expansion in the spring.

“We like to consider it a home away from home on campus for students,” said Johnson. “So all students, regardless of their race, gender identity, sexuality, it don’t matter. That’s the safe space.”

Working with the NAACP and the Multicultural Center at CR, they will also be hosting the first Black History Film Festival in February.

As president, Johnson’s role is to preside over the monthly meetings held and to appoint chairs to the different committees in the organization, as well as serve as an ex-official member on these committees. There are three committees within the NAACP: the Education Committee, which focuses on scholarships offered like the David Josiah Lawson scholarship and also the All Humboldt Black Student Union which supports Black Student Unions in middle schools, highschools, and colleges in Humboldt County. There is also the Financial Committee and the Legal Redress Committee, which responds

to incidents reported to the Eureka branch and has volunteers who assess complaints about racial, unemployment, housing and education discrimination in the area.

“We do things as a collective,” said Johnson. “We don’t do anything without the approval of the body.”

Johnson also attended events that the NAACP held before he became a member, such as the Bowl of Beans Benefit, that was held every year by the organization and Black Humboldt on Martin Luther King Day. The event would raise money for the Arcata Recreation Scholarship Fund and Arcata Elementary School Arts. There hasn’t been a Bowl of Beans event since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’d have a Martin Luther King

Day celebration at the Arcata Community Center, where the national anthem would be sung,” said Johnson. “There’d be presentations and things centered around the work and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, but we would also break bread there together and there’d be food plates and beans.”

Johnson officially became a member of the NAACP in 2020 shortly after the death of George Floyd and began attending meetings and more events. He eventually became interested in a leadership position at the NAACP at the suggestion of his colleague.

“After I started attending meetings, one of my colleagues was like, ‘Hey, you know we’re gonna be running for office, you should consider running,” said Johnson.

Dr. Kintay Johnson was voted in as president of the Eureka NAACP in December and seated this month. | Photo courtesy of Dr. Kintay Johnson

After the overturn of Roe V. Wade in June of last year, the organization quickly got into contact with Planned Parenthood to see how to retain reproductive rights for individuals.

“I see the spirit of the future of the NAACP at the local level.” said Johnson. “I see more intersectionality between the NAACP and different organizations when our civil liberties or our rights are under attack. I see the NAACP being a voice and being at the table and involved. I hope we can continue to be a bridge that brings together people who are concerned about the political education and social and economic and equality rights of all people. We still have work to do.”

The power of healing with Kemetic Yoga

by Karina Ramos Villalobos

Calm tunes play in the background as the warm, bright sun beams through large windows. Peaceful vibes are set while people roll their yoga mats in preparation for Kemetic yoga.

Abraham Jr. Ross, also known as Bamidele Menchu Hotep, has been teaching Kemetic yoga — a yoga practice that recognizes African origins from ancient Egypt — since 2021 in Humboldt.

“Kemetic yoga was developed with the intention of basically working through ancestral trauma in people of African descent,” Ross said. “We recognize that our trauma is on all levels. It’s physical. It’s mental. It’s emotional and it’s spiritual because we’ve been stripped of all of our spiritual culture and our connection with our ancestors.”

The word Kemet in Kemetic is the original name of what many now know as Egypt and it means the Black nation or the Black land, according to Ross, a certified instructor.

“There is something empowering about going through the poses and being like oh my ancient African ancestors use to go into this posture,” Ross said. “There is a lot of healing that comes from that realization and the application of that knowledge.”

Kemetic yoga goes at a slower pace than other styles of yoga. The poses and postures are the main thing that makes this style different, since it’s derived from Kemetic images. According to Yogajala, in the 1970’s Dr. Asar Hapi and Elvrid Lawrence (Master Yirser Ra Hotep) and their research team studied, translated and interpreted hieroglyphic texts of Ancient Egypt and developed the philosophy and practice.

Ross, 28, who is originally from San Jose, moved to Humboldt County four years ago unexpectedly during a time when he and his twin brother, Anthony Ross were houseless. On the drive to Washington their car broke down in Arcata and ultimately they made Humboldt their home. They both practice Kemetic yoga.

“This is definitely one of the most rewarding things, teaching people how

to regulate themselves and how to get into that flow state, into that meditative state,” said Anthony, a certified breathe work instructor. “It’s such an invaluable thing we can’t really put a number on it. We’ve had so many experiences where people have had these massive life breakthroughs and have been like this is the most relaxed I’ve felt.”

Ross began teaching at the Arcata Community Forest in 2021 after getting certified online. Local community members felt intrigued by doing yoga outside among the Redwood trees. Currently, Ross teaches at the Crystalline Collective in McKinleyville and at events. He also stays busy teaching groups and oneon-one classes. He is certified in a variety of yoga practices, such as Kemetic, Yin, Nidra and Restorative yoga

“The nice thing about Kemetic yoga is that it’s much slower also, you are doing a lot with your vagus nerve and I was really interested in re-regulating my nervous systems,” said Adrienne Crew, a regular student of Ross.

Crew lived in Fortuna while she attended sessions and continues to do so from her new place in Los Angeles via Zoom. She took the yoga class to help with her insomnia. “I definitely felt better going to sleep. I felt I had a deeper sleep. It was easier to go to sleep after I had a Kemetic yoga session with AJ,” said Crew.

Mackay Gibbs, another regular student of Ross, gained a transformative life perspective after experiencing a Kemetic yoga session.

“Towards the end of 2021 I had a realization and I ended up quitting my job and going back to school,” Gibbs said. “I think getting to that place and realizing my work was not aligned with my values that came out in conjunction with doing yoga.”

In the future, Ross wants to own a studio. “We can be able to heal and work through our stuff together and have exclusive spaces and have spaces that are open to the whole community,” Ross said. To keep up with Ross go to @bamidele_555 on Instagram for further updates and information.

“ There is something empowering about going through the poses and being like oh my ancient African ancestors use to go into this posture,”

— Abraham Jr. Ross, Kemetic Yoga Instructor

Photo by Karina Ramos Villalobos

Scan QR code to watch video to learn more about Abraham Jr. Ross as a Kemetic yoga instructor.

El poder de la curación con Kemetic Yoga

por Karina Ramos Villalobos traducido por Karina Ramos Villalobos

Melodías tranquilas suenan en el fondo mientras el cálido y brillante sol brilla a través de grandes ventanas. Se establecen vibraciones mientras las personas enrollan sus alfombras de yoga en preparación para el yoga kemético. Abraham Jr. Ross, también conocido por Bamidele Menchu Hotep, ha estado enseñando yoga kemético — una práctica de yoga que reconoce los orígenes Africanos del antiguo Egipto— desde 2021 en Humboldt.

“El yoga kemético se desarrolló con la intención de trabajar básicamente a través del trauma ancestral en personas de ascendencia africana,” dijo Ross. “Reconocemos que nuestro trauma está en todos los niveles. Es físico. Es mental. Es emocional y espiritual porque hemos sido despojados de toda nuestra cultura espiritual y nuestra conexión con nuestros antepasados.”

La palabra Kemet en Kemetic es el nombre original de lo que muchos ahora conocen como Egipto y significa la nación negra o la tierra negra, según Ross, un instructor certificado.

“Hay algo empoderador en pasar por las poses y ser como mis ancestros africanos antiguos acostumbran entrar en esta postura,” dijo Ross. “Hay mucha sanación que viene de esa realización y aplicación de ese conocimiento.”

El yoga kemético va a un ritmo más lento que otros estilos de yoga. Las posas y posturas son lo principal que hace diferente a este estilo, derivado de imágenes keméticas. Según a Yogajala, en la década de 1970 el Dr. Asar Hapi y Elvrid Lawrence (Maestro Yirser Ra Hotep) y su equipo de investigación estudiaron, tradujeron e interpretaron textos jeroglíficos del antiguo Egipto y desarrollaron la filosofía y la práctica.

Ross, de 28 años, que es originario de San José, se mudó al condado de Humboldt hace cuatro años inesperadamente durante un tiempo en que él y su hermano gemelo, Anthony Ross, estaban sin casa. En el camino a Washington su coche se averió en Arcata y finalmente hicieron Humboldt su hogar para vivir. Los dos practican yoga kemético.

“Esta es definitivamente una de las cosas más gratificantes, enseñándole a la gente cómo regularse a sí misma y

cómo entrar en ese estado de flujo, en ese estado meditativo,” dijo Anthony, un instructor certificado de trabajo de la respiración. “Es una cosa tan invaluable que realmente no podemos poner un número en ella. Hemos tenido tantas experiencias en las que la gente ha tenido estos enormes avances en la vida y ha sido como si esto fuera lo más relajado que han sentido.”

Ross comenzó a enseñar en el Arcata Community Forest en 2021 después de obtener la certificación en línea. Los miembros de la comunidad local se sintieron intrigados por hacer yoga afuera entre los árboles. Actualmente, Ross enseña en el Crystalline Collective en McKinleyville y en eventos. También se mantiene ocupado enseñando grupos y clases individuales. Está certificado en una variedad de prácticas de yoga, como Kemetic, Yin, Nidra y yoga Restaurativo.

“Lo bueno del yoga kemético es que también es mucho más lento, estás haciendo mucho con tu nervio vago y estaba realmente interesada en regular mi sistema nervioso,” dijo Adrienne Crew, una estudiante regular de Ross.

Crew vivió en Fortuna mientras asistía a sesiones y continúa haciéndolo desde su nuevo lugar en Los Ángeles a través de Zoom. Tomó la clase de yoga para ayudar con su insomnio. “Definitivamente me sentí mejor para ir a dormir. Sentí que tenía un sueño más profundo. Era más fácil ir a dormir después de tener una sesión de yoga Kemetic con AJ,” dijo Crew.

Mackay Gibbs, otro estudiante regular de Ross, obtuvo una perspectiva de vida transformadora después de experimentar una sesión de yoga kemético.

“Hacia finales de 2021 me di cuenta y terminé dejando mi trabajo y volviendo a la escuela,” dijo Gibbs. “Creo que llegar a ese lugar y darme cuenta de que mi trabajo no estaba alineado con mis valores que surgieron en conjunto con hacer yoga.”

En el futuro, Ross quiere tener un estudio. Ross dijo, “Podemos ser capaces de sanar y trabajar a través de nuestras cosas juntos y tener espacios exclusivos y tener espacios abiertos a la comunidad." Sigue a Ross en Instagram @ bamidele_555 para más información.

“ Hay algo empoderador en pasar por las poses y ser como mis antiguos antepasados africanos solían adoptar esta postura",

— Abraham Jr. Ross, Instructor de yoga Kemético

Foto por Karina Ramos Villalobos

Escanee

el código QR para ver el video y aprender más sobre Abraham Jr. Ross como instructor de yoga kemético.

Academic advisors in cultural centers

by Victoria Olsen

The Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence (CCAE) at Cal Poly Humboldt (CPH) have gained three academic advisors to help support the academic, personal and career growth of students.

The CCAE are programs on campus that help students find a community away from home. The centers have

designated advisors that assist students in reaching their goals and navigating college. The advisors take the time to ensure that they are available to offer students a support system. They help students get in touch with departments and offices on campus, find resources, jobs and community.

Rose Gibbens

Native American Center for Academic Excellence (ITEPP)

At El Centro, Rodriguez has an open door policy and encourages everyone to stop by her office for a chat and some snacks. Rodriguez helps students get to graduation along with what to do after. She writes students letters of recommendation, helps them find jobs, fill out job applications and practice talking to people to develop essential life skills.

“For my students it's just getting them where they need to be, it's not even just getting your degree but learning the life skills that you're gonna take with you outside of your education,” Rodri-

(El Centro)

guez said. “You get a degree but what do you do with it after?”

Rodriguez is a first generation Latina from Coachella Valley. In 2017, a running scholarship took her to University of Notre Dame as a psychology major until an unfortunate injury took her down a different path. In 2020, Rodriguez graduated from CPH.

“You are welcome to come for whatever reason, I am here, we are here to help you,” she said. “We’re not just here to help you academically, we're here to help you in life, culturally as well.”

Gibbens office is inviting and adorned with notes and pictures from her daughter. Gibbens makes the effort to make sure her students know she is committed to their success. She has physically walked students to places on campus to make sure they are getting the services that they need.

“I really just want to do for students what was done for me when I came here, ‘cause the reality was if it wasn't for ITEPP there's a very good chance that I would not have stayed,” Gibbens said. Gibbens grew

“I really just want to do for students what was done for me when I came here, ‘cause the reality was if it wasn't for ITEPP there's a very good chance that I would not have stayed,”

up on Yurok Reservation She has been working in education for the reservation and Humboldt for as long as she could remember.

“If I can help them navigate services whether it be financial aid, whether it be cashiers, whether it be CARE [Campus Assistance, Response, and Engagement], whatever, we're gonna not only tell them where it's at, we're gonna show them where it's at,” Gibbens said.

If students are not sure where to start or not sure what they will get out of advising Gibbens encourages you to, “Just come see us” before deciding if it's the right fit for you.

El Centro academic advisor, Brianna Rodriguez in her office in Nelson Hall East on the second floor in Jan. 26. | Photo by Victoria Olsen

ITEPP academic advisor, Rose Gibbens in their office in Brero House in Jan. 24. |

Photo by Victoria Olsen

Brianna Rodriguez El Centro Académico Cultural

Rose Gibbens, Native American Center for Academic Excellence

Harrel Deshazier III

Umoja Center for Pan African Student Excellence (Umoja Center)

Deshazier’s office is decorated with Beyonce posters, a pride flag hanging behind their desk, and a cork board with past students' graduation cards. Deshazier has had various advisor and mentor positions, some being with Humboldt Orientation Program (HOP), Retention through Academic Mentoring Program (RAMP) and the Education Opportunity Program (EOP.).

“That's the biggest reward that I get, whenever a student is thanking me for whatever,” Deshazier said. “I never fail to remind them that look, you did the work, I just was supporting you.”

They came to Humboldt from Los Angeles in 2013 and graduated from CPH with a psychology degree in 2017. After graduation, they continued working in programs geared towards students

personal and academic success until starting as an academic advisor for the Umoja center in July 2022.

Deshazier encourages students to ask themselves: “What are you missing and how can we provide that?” Deshazier wants their students to be proud of their accomplishments and makes sure of that by reminding students that they did the work. They can help you not just academically but also in personal development and finding a community.

“They use something called intrusive advising which is really going beyond just emailing you, I'm gonna call you, I'm gonna send you a text, if I'm not hearing from you I may show up at your dorm–it's really just about being connected,” Deshazier said.

Umoja Center academic advisor, Harrel Deshazier III in their office Jan. 24. | Photo by Victoria Olsen

Scan QR code to watch video about the Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence to learn more. | Video by Elysia Manzanares

Latino Film Festival

Feb. 28-March 2 El Festival de Cine Latino feb. 28-marzo 2

by Celeste Sadler por Celeste Sadler traducido por Desiree Osornio

The annual Latino Film Festival is a three day event organized by Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods for community members, students, faculty and staff to view three films relating to this year's theme–Changing Landscapes: Loss, Life, & Love. The festival will be held at the Mill Creek Cinema in McKinleyville on Feb. 28 and March 1 - 2 from 6 - 10:20 p.m.

If interested, students can enroll in a one unit course to gain credit for participating in the festival. CPH students can enroll in ES 396, HIST 396 or SPAN 396. CR students can enroll in Spanish 9. Entry is free to all enrolled students from both campuses.

For the past 25 years, CPH and CR have collaborated together to hold the Latino Film Festival during the spring semester. This year is the 24th annual Latino Film Festival due to the universities taking a pause on events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The films that we show are showing minority voices or marginalized voices and bringing those to our students here at CPH and as an extension to the greater community too," said Russell Carlos Gaskell, co-organizer of the festival.

The three Latino films the Latino Film Festival will show are “Carajita,” “Utama,” and “Te Llevo Conmigo.” The films will be screened in Spanish and will have English subtitles.

After the film, there will be a panel of three speakers. There will be a keynote speaker– Professor David Tenorio from the department of Hispanic Language and Literature at the University

of Pittsburgh along with a professor from CPH and CR. The three will give an interpretation of the films and a discussion will be opened to the audience through a Q&A..

After the Latino Film Festival ends, students enrolled in the course will write a reflective essay on the festival and their experience. For more information, contact Russell Carlos Gaskell at rcg17@humboldt.edu or Kristy Carlsen at kristy-carlsen@redwoods.edu.

El Festival Anual de Cine Latino es un evento de tres días organizado por Cal Poly Humboldt (CPH) y el College of the Redwoods (CR) para que miembros de la comunidad, estudiantes, profesores y personal vean tres películas relacionadas

unidad para obtener créditos por participar en el festival. Los alumnos de CPH pueden matricularse en ES 396, HIST 396 o SPAN 396. Los alumnos de CR pueden matricularse en Español 9. La entrada es gratuita para todos los alumnos matriculados de ambos campus.

Durante los últimos 25 años, CPH y CR han colaborado juntos para celebrar el Festival de Cine Latino durante el semestre de primavera. Este año es el 24 Festival de Cinema Latino anual debido a que las universidades hicieron una pausa en los eventos durante la pandemia de COVID-19.

"Las películas que proyectamos muestran voces de minorías o voces marginadas y las acercamos a nuestros estudiantes aquí en CPH y, como extensión, también a la comunidad en general," dijo Russell Carlos Gaskell, coorganizador del festival.

Las tres películas latinas que proyectará el Festival de Cine Latino son "Carajita", "Utama" y "Te Llevo Conmigo". Las películas se proyectarán en español y tendrán subtítulos en inglés.

Russell Carlos Gaskell, co-organizador del Festival de Cine Latino, posando con un cartel del evento. | Photo by Ricardo Lara Nava

con el tema de este año: Paisajes cambiantes: Pérdida, Vida y Amor. El festival se celebrará en el Mill Creek Cinema en McKinleyville los días 28 de febrero y 1 y 2 de marzo de 6 a 10:20 p.m.

Si están interesados, los alumnos pueden matricularse en un curso de una

Después de la película, habrá un panel de tres oradores. Habrá un orador principal, el profesor David Tenorio, del departamento de Lengua y Literatura Hispánicas de la Universidad de Pittsburgh, junto con un profesor de CPH y CR. Los tres darán una interpretación de las películas y se abrirá un debate con el público mediante un turno de preguntas y respuestas.

Al final del Festival de Cine Latino, los alumnos matriculados en el curso escribirán un ensayo reflexivo sobre el festival y su experiencia. Para más información, ponte en contacto con Russell Carlos Gaskell en rcg17@humboldt.edu o con Kristy Carlsen en kristy-carlsen@redwoods.edu

Russell Carlos Gaskell, co-organizer of the Latino Film Festival, posing with a poster of the event. |

Providing Colombian eats to Humboldt Ofreciendo comida colombiana a Humboldt

by Frank Rocha por Frank Rocha traducido por Steven Alvaro

From riding her bike through the streets of Columbia selling empanadas with her daughter on her back, Luz Angel Arce now owns La Colombiana– a Colombian food stand that appears in different locations in Humboldt County.

“Since I started in June, it's an awesome feeling,” Arce said. “I love it and I’m so thankful to the community who supports me doing this and I'm so grateful for them eating my food, and to show who I am.”

Arce’s mother and grandmother are the originators of the food stand’s menu. Arce has used the same ingredients for years. She brings back the necessary spices from Colombia and takes pride in her heritage saying, “I love my country and I'm so proud to be Colombian.”

“I want to be in touch with my people, that is one of the reasons to be doing empanadas or making food,” Arce said. “I love to be in touch with my people. It brings a part of Colombia to this area, and that is pretty awesome.”

A specialty food at La Colombiana is the Sancocho, which is a plantain soup that’s served with a marinated chicken leg, chunks of plantains, rice, corn on the cob, salsa and a heavy slice of avocado. The combination of rich ingredients created a symphony of flavors and a fine salute to Arce's home of Colombia and those who passed down the recipes to her.

La Colombiana also has a gluten-free menu which includes empanadas that are made of chicken, beef or vegan options. The menu also includes other Colombian recipes such as Shrimp Ceviche, Arepas and Sello Rojo, a Colombian coffee. La Colombiana also has

pork, chicken and beef tamales available everywhere but not while they sell at the Arcata Plaza Farmers' Market.

“It's an amazing opportunity to share my food and my culture,” Arce said.

Arce has lived in Humboldt since 2001. Outside of La Colombiana she works as a medical assistant and trans-

De ir en bicicleta por las calles de Columbia vendiendo empanadas con su hija de espaldas, Luz Angel Arce es ahora la dueña de La Colombiana, un puesto de comida colombiana que aparece en diferentes lugares del condado de Humboldt.

"Desde que empecé en junio, es una

da. Arce lleva años utilizando los mismos ingredientes. Ella trae de Colombia las especias necesarias y se enorgullece de su herencia, "Amo a mi país y estoy muy orgullosa de ser colombiana."

"Quiero estar en contacto con mi gente, ésa es una de las razones para hacer empanadas o preparar comida," dijo Arce. "Me encanta estar en contacto con mi gente. Trae una parte de Colombia a esta zona, y eso es bastante impresionante."

Una especialidad culinaria de La Colombiana es el sancocho, una sopa de plátano que se sirve con un muslo de pollo adobado, trozos de plátano, arroz, elote, salsa y una buena rebanada de aguacate. La combinación de ricos ingredientes creó una sinfonía de sabores y un buen homenaje a la Colombia natal de Arce y a quienes le transmitieron las recetas.

La Colombiana también tiene un menú sin gluten que incluye empanadas de pollo, ternera y opciones veganas. El menú también incluye otras recetas colombianas como ceviche de camarón, arepas y sello sojo, un café colombiano. La Colombiana también tiene tamales de cerdo, pollo y ternera disponibles en todas partes, pero no mientras vendan en el Mercado de Agricultores de Arcata Plaza.

"Es una oportunidad increíble para compartir mi comida y mi cultura," dijo Arce.

lator. Arce is a mother of two daughters who assist her to set up the food stand, and prepare the food necessary for a day at the local farmers market or an event.

To find out more about La Colombiana view their Instagram @lacolombiana_in_humboldt.

sensación increíble," dijo Arce. "Me encanta y estoy muy agradecida a la comunidad que me apoya haciendo esto y estoy muy agradecida de que coman mi comida, y de mostrar quién soy."

La madre y la abuela de Arce son las creadoras del menú del puesto de comi-

Arce vive en Humboldt desde 2001. Fuera de La Colombiana trabaja como asistente médica y traductora. Arce es madre de dos hijas que la ayudan a montar el puesto de comida y a preparar los alimentos necesarios para un día en el mercado de agricultores local o un evento.

Para saber más sobre La Colombiana visita su Instagram @lacolombiana_in_humboldt.

Luz Angela Arce, owner of La Colombiana, serves their food at multiple locations in Humboldt County. | Luz Angela Arce, propietaria de La Colombiana, sirve su comida en múltiples lugares en el condado de Humboldt. | Photo by/foto por Frank Rocha

Locals celebrate Lunar New Year of the Rabbit

by Jordan Pangelinan

It is the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Rabbit. Millions of people around the world come together to celebrate the Lunar New Year. This year, it started Jan. 22 and ends Feb. 5 and people in Humboldt County are celebrating with family and friends.

The celebration starts on the month's first new moon and ends 15 days later on the full moon. The lunar calendar follows the cycles of the moon which is why it falls on a different day every year. Lunar New Year originated in China, it’s celebrated in different countries such as most of Southeast Asia.

“The auspiciousness of this time goes back all the way to what some estimate — 14th century B.C —in rural China where peasant societies began to celebrate the end of the harvest, which then later turned into the Celebration of the New Year,” said Tani Sebro, professor at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Department of Politics and International studies, who has done research in Southeast Asia and observed the holiday in Thailand and Myanmar. The Rabbit

In Chinese culture, there are 12 animal zodiac signs.The rabbit is the fourth animal zodiac and it often represents the moon. The meaning comes from some saying the moon's shadows resemble the rabbit or because of its pure characteristics. The rabbit represents longevity and good fortune. In some households and public places, some will have rabbit symbolizations to bring in that good luck, according to Chinesenewyear.net. How it is celebrated

Arcata resident, Daryl Chinn, 77, is a Chinese American who has celebrated Lunar New Year since he was a child. For Chinn, and his wife Phyllis, hosting their annual New Year dinner is about “getting together with friends and family and having fun together. And, food!”

At Chinn’s dinner party the table was lit by white candles and filled with plates of long noodle dishes, dim sum, oranges, barbeque pork, long green beans and rice. Food at the table carries lots of “puns” as Chinn put it. Noodles mean life and face, so you eat the long

noodles for a long life and good face. Wrapped foods like dim sum are also good luck because like a red envelope, it wraps the fortune.

Elders and married people gift red envelopes to young and single people. These envelopes are usually filled with money or coins; however, it is more common to be filled with an even-numbered amount of money as it is considered more lucky.

Numbers like four or numbers ending in four are not accepted or deemed unlucky because the word four in Chinese

sounds very similar to the word death.

working at the EOP office at CPH. Mark grew up celebrating the Lunar New Year in the Bay Area. At her family's home, they had an “ancestral veneration” where they left out plates of food and drinks for their ancestors so they could spiritually consume. Mark said the Lunar New Year has always been one of the most festive times of the year for her.

Ava Mark, who is also of Chinese descent, 25, Humboldt State alumni

“They would have lion dancers, play on the big drums and have loud symbols and toss shredded cabbage,” said Mark. “And, if you got cabbage thrown at you, that was a good sign you were going to get wealth that year. You always wanted to be in the cabbage rain pile."

Phyllis Chinn and Daryl Chinn hosted their annual Lunar New Year dinner at their home on Jan. 22 with friends Peter Hecht and Patty Saito. They ate traditional foods like long noodles and dim sum for good life and good luck. | Photo by Jordan Pangelinan

The rabbit represents longevity and good fortune. In some households and public places, some will have rabbit symbolizations to bring in that good luck.”

“

Ricardo’s Reviews: 'Atlanta' funny, sad and DAMN

by Ricardo Lara Nava

“Atlanta,” on Hulu FX, is a show that is surreal and real at the same time. If you watch the show you know what I mean. Created by Donald Glover, also known as Childish Gambino, the show touches on issues people of color face in modern day America and the world, in an exaggerated way that could sometimes be funny or sad.

The show in the first two seasons focuses on the main four protagonists, Earn (played by Donald Glover), Alfred/ Paper Boi (played by Brian Tyree Henry), Darius (played by LaKeith Stanfield) and Vanessa (played by Zazie Beetz). While the third and fourth seasons continued this focus, it also included other anthology-like episodes. This was genius because many shows have problems when doing this.

The cinematography done by Hiro Murai makes every episode seem like a short film. The improvement in his work is seen throughout the entire show and the final season really shows it.

Murai’s visual manipulation of the camera is very poetic, the emotions that

he conveys to the viewers with the visuals.

Atlanta excels at presenting real issues in a way that is funny but serious. In the first and second season, the show focused on the grind of entering the music industry and the issues within it. In that progress, you see Earn’s desperation to make money by any means necessary. Whereas in the third and fourth season, we see the protagonists confront themselves and question what they really want.

One of the aspects that stand out, other than the stunning visuals, is the soundtrack,which is made up of original music from Childish Gambino and Atlanta-based artists. Many fans are hoping that there would be an official soundtrack released for the show but Gambino remains silent on that. Darius has to be the best character in the entire show because his personality and perception is unlike any other character. He seems to understand the world that he's in and when he explains it to the other cast members they just think of it as “Darius is saying some

weird shit again.” He's more aware than others in the show.

In a later episode, Liam Neson shows up at a bar in Amsterdam talking to Alfred about how the internet reacted after he made racist comments on live television.

Alfred asks him, “But you learned right?” and Nelson responds with, “The best part about being White, is that you don't have to learn anything if you don't want to.” It’s scenes like that throughout the show that leave you thinking about these issues relating to White privilege.

In how they executed storytelling, Atlanta is one of those series that other shows will try to copy, which is good and

also bad because major studios will try to milk it to the point it becomes a cliche. I recommend this show to people who appreciate good TV. All seasons are available for streaming on Hulu.

Ricardo Lara Nava, writer of the review, poses next to his favorite 'Atlanta' episode “The Goof by the door.” | Photo by Peyton Leone

Concerns with CPH increasing enrollment

by Kianna Znika

With millions of dollars worth of funding, Cal Poly Humboldt (CPH) should have focused first on investing their money and resources on the small population of currently-enrolled students before trying to increase their enrollment numbers.

The funding allows the institution to “increase enrollment by 50% in three years,” as stated in its Polytechnic Prospectus.

With this in mind, the school expects the amount of total enrolled students to grow to 8,024 in fall 2024. While there are plans to address housing and parking concerns in the future, the earliest the campus will see these solutions is fall 2025.

Enrolling more students without addressing the issues in our current size (around 5,800 students) is only going to create more problems.

I have seen no data to address the full year of dealing with current parking and housing concerns with around 2,200 more students. If you thought looking

for parking now was bad, just wait until you’re circling around for more than an hour trying to find a single spot against potentially hundreds of more people.

Only when all the currently-enrolled students are accommodated should the school start focusing on bringing in more students. One major thing to remember about CPH is that this campus is not big. AT ALL.

One of the main things about Humboldt that appealed to me was the fact that there weren’t a lot of students attending. It’s a tighter community. It’s less hectic. This is great for socially-anxious students such as myself and I feel like I actually get attention in my classes. It

makes being here feel more exclusive and honestly, there’s not really a lot of room for the school to expand in size.

Arcata, itself, is not a big city. There is already a limited number of housing units available off-campus. Events already get so packed to the point where students don’t want to wait in line. A perfect example would be the end-ofthe-year “Breakfast for Dinner” event at the end of Fall 2022, when the lines went all the way down the J building.

It’s very cool that CPH has big, exciting plans for the future and I know future students will be grateful for these changes. It just makes me sad to think about the school losing its original charm, which was that it was a small campus.

In addition, I know the current students would have really liked to see this money be used to help them before inviting more people in.

The increase in funding should have been used to first address and provide solutions for issues we are already dealing with, specifically housing and food insecurities, and issues with reports of mold in the dorm rooms. It could have been put into providing more instruments for students of the music department to check out.

There is already so many issues to be acknowledged and there is not a lot of students in attendance right now. I worry about what will happen when this school grows.

It seems avoidant to me. Even with the new housing and parking units, I can’t help but to think about how letting more people in won’t get rid of this school’s problems; it’ll just bring more.

Graphic courtesy Canva

Black liberation month

February 2023 Calendar

2/3

"The Living Legacy of the Black Panther Party"

5 P.M. - 8 P.M.

Nelson Hall 102 - Goodwin Forum

Docu-series and discussion organized by UMOJA CENTER.

Friday Night Movie: King Richard

8PM | SAC Movie Lounge

2/5

Black to the Land: Paddle out to Big Lagoon

11 A.M. - 3 P.M.

Lunch is provided and space is limited.

Register by emailing umoja@humboldt.edu or by visting Nelson Hall 206

2/6

Afro-Rithms: From The Future Game Event

4 P.M. | Library 209

A storytelling expoloration game exploring the themes of science fiction and racial justice.

Diaspora Day! Stories from the African Diaspora

5 P.M. | Nelson Hall 102 - Goodwin Forum

Discussion and upliftment of Black voices.

2/7

Leveraging our Ancestral Intelligence with Afrofuturism: Searching for our Undiscovered stories with the Megascope

5 P.M. | The Great Hall 260 Afrofuturism aims to reclaim and transform the trauma of past atrocities agaist the black and Afro-queer diaspora.

2/8

AfroLatinx Dialogue: Beauty, Double Standards, and Appropriation in Afro-Latinx Culture

5:30 P.M. | The Great Hall 260 Speaker is Crystal Roman, founder, CEO, Head Writer and Producer of the Black Latina Movement, a vibrant grassroot theater and film production company in New York.

2/9

Proud + Grounded: Weaving Our Identity into the Higher Education Experience

5 P.M.| Nelson Hall 106

Screening of a Proud Family episode that ilustrates the Nguzo Saba followed by discussion.

2/10

Friday Night Movie: Get Out

8 P.M. | SAC Movie Lounge

2/11

Black Out Game & Black Staff/Fauculty Appreciation Night

5:30 P.M. : Women's

7:30 P.M. : Men's CPH basketball teams VS CSU Dominguez Hills.

2/18

Black Women Empowerment Dance Workshop

12 P.M. - 3 P.M. | KA 202A

Learning the dance routine to Beyonce's "Brown Skin Girl." Optional free dinner at Northtown Coffee afterwards.

2/22

Black and Asian Solidarity

5:30 P.M. - 7 P.M.

Dialogue led by ADPIC, Umoja, the Ethnic Studies department and Akemi Kochiyama about the history of Black and Asian solidarity.

Black Family Movie Night

5 P.M. - 9 P.M. The Minor Theater

2/24

5:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.

Black Networking Mixer: exclusive for people who identify as Black, African American, or from anywhere in the African Diaspora.

2/26

Renaissance Cardio with Mo HD: Free dance, all levels and ages $5 suggested donation.

12:30 P.M. - 2 P.M. | Body High Pole Studio

Directory Resources for the Latinx Community | Recursos para la comunidad Latinx

Bilingual News

El Leñador

Distributed in Fortuna, Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville and Trinidad

1 Harpst St., Arcata, Gist Hall 227 (707) 826-3259 www.ellenadornews.com

Community Resources

Paso a Paso

English: Bilingual organization that helps connect families with local and stage programs, including CalFresh and Healthy Kids Humboldt. Provides childbirth education, breastfeeding support and parenting classes. It’s FREE. Call for an appointment.

2200 Harrison Ave, Eureka (707) 441-4477

Español: Una organización con personal bilingüe que ayuda a conectar a las familias con programas locales y estatales incluyendo CalFresh y Healthy Kids Humboldt. También ofrecen educacíon sobre el parto, apoyo a la lactancia materna y clases para paders. Es GRATIS.

2200 Harrison Ave, Eureka (707) 441-4477

Food for People

Offers food assistance programs including food pantries, produce markets and food programs for children

307 W. 14th St., Eureka (707) 445-3166

Sacred Heart Church

English: Catholic mass in Spanish

2085 Myrtle Ave, Eureka (707) 443-8429

Sacred Heart Church - católica

Español: Misa - miércoles 7 p.m., domingo 12:15 p.m.

2085 Myrtle Avenue, Eureka (707) 442-6151

St. Joseph Parish

English: Catholic mass in Spanish Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

14th and N St., Fortuna (707) 725-1148

St. Joseph Parish - católica

Español: Misa - jueves 7:15 p.m., y domingo

en español a las 12:30 p.m. 14th and N St., Fortuna (707) 725-1148

Chabad of Humboldt - Jewish

413 Bayside Ct., Arcata (707) 633-8770

Education

College of the Redwoods (CR)

English: Offers ESL courses at Eureka, Fortuna and Del Norte sites. Complete the online application and contact Adult Education to schedule an appointment. If you are in need of assistance with completing the application, contact Adult Education to schedule an appointment. All Adult Education classes are free.

(707) 476-4520

adult-ed@redwoods.edu

Español: Ofrece cursos de ESL en sus sitios de Eureka, Fortuna y Del Norte. Complete la solicitud en línea y comuníquese con Educacíon para Adultos para programar una cita. Si usted necesita ayuda para completar la solicitud, comuníquese con Educacíon para Adultos para programar una cita. Todas las clases de educacíon para adultos son gratuitas.

(707) 476-4520

adult-ed@redwoods.edu

English Express

Catalyzes personal and social change for local immigrants through English language education and connections to community resources.

- Jefferson Community Center

1000 B St., Eureka on Tues. from 6-7:30 p.m.

- Multi-Generational Center

2280 Newburg Rd., Fortuna on Tues. and Thurs. from 12:30-2 p.m.

- Coast Seafoods on Wed. from 11:30-12:30 p.m. for employees only.

(707) 443-5021

No registration necessary. Free classes and child care.

Bilingual K-12 Schools

Fuente Nueva Charter School

1730 Janes Rd., Arcata

(707) 822-3348

Cultural Centers

Umoja Center for Pan African Student Excellence

Nelson Hall East 206

(707) 826-4588 umoja@humboldt.edu

El Centro Académico Cultural Nelson Hall East 205 707.826.4590 lcae@humboldt.edu

Native American Center (ITEPP) 1 Harpst Street, Brero House #93 Arcata, California 95521 707.826.3672 hsuitepp@humboldt.edu

ADPIC

Nelson Hall East 215/216 Arcata, Ca 95521 adpic@humboldt.edu

Entertainment/Arts

Arcata Playhouse

The Arcata Playhouse is a community arts center that presents live theater, music, variety arts, and films.

Latino Outdoors

Email: Humboldt@latinooutdoors.org

El correo electrónico: Humboldt@ latinooutdoors.org

(707) 200-3332

North Coast Repertory Theatre

300 5th St., Eureka, CA 95501 NCRT.net

(707) 442-6278

Ethnic Markets

Little Japan 2848 F St., Eureka (707) 798-6003

Oriental Food & Spice 306 W Harris St., Eureka Phone: (707) 445-3398

Asia’s Best 2085 Myrtle Avenue #8, Eureka (707) 497-6386

La Pasadita Market 420 N St., Eureka (707) 268-3902

El Pueblo Market

312 W. Washington St., Eureka (707) 444-0952

La Chaparrita Market

520 Summer St., Fortuna (707) 617-2570

El Buen Gusto

802 Broadway St., Eureka

Mon-Fri from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (707) 798-6290

& 1640 Main St., Fortuna Mon-Fri from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (707) 725-8880

Legal Services

The Superior Court of California| County of Humboldt “Self Help Center”

Legal rights information regardless of income

421 I St., Eureka, (707) 445-7256

Legal Services of Northern California

Serving clients with health related legal issues in acquiring and keeping health-care services 123 3rd St., Eureka (707) 445-0866

California Indian Legal Services 324 F St., Eureka (707) 443-8397

Scholars Without Borders Club at HSU to support AB540 students located on the 2nd floor of the MCC (707) 826-3368

HSU Student Legal Lounge Center for peer mentoring and legal resources for academic, activism, discrimination, housing, Title IX and DACA studentlegallounge.humboldt.edu

Social Services

True North Organizing Network

Supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds and work together for influential change 517 3rd St., Suite 16, Eureka (707) 572-5530

Seventh Generation Fund

Devoted to Indigenous peoples selfdetermination and the sovereignty of Native Nations 2355 Central Ave., Suite C, McKinleyville (707) 825-7640

Centro Del Pueblo

A safe space for the raza/indígena community to prosper culturally, politically, and practically on the North Coast cdphumboldt@gmail.com