Man Vs Manhood

Jesse Ornelas, I am grandson to Dolores Vierya of Guanajuato & Juana VIerya of Las Garras, New Mexico who are my maternal grandparents and I am also grandson to Antonio Ornelas of Fresnillio Zacatecas & Anita Gonzalez of Planada Califas I am the son of Eustolia Ornelas of Planada Califas & Frank Ornelas of Planada Califas I have the honor of co-leading the Moving Forward program A big part of what I do is lead conversations with the cohort This is something I have done for years, but what makes this cohort different is this one is dominated by female identifying young people One of the program ’ Principles of Hombre Noble The principles of La Pers

Is a person of their word

Has a sense of responsibility for their own well being and that of others in their circles

Rejects any form of abuse… physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual, to himself or others

Takes time to reflect, pray, and include ceremony in their life

Is sensitive and understanding

Is like a mirror, reflecting support and clarity to one another

Lives these values honestly, and with love

This cohort had me focusing on practicing the principles more than teaching them I kept thinking ab how they have been failed by the men in their lives Failed by men that were supposed to look out for them Then it dawned on me, I just may be the first man in their lives that may be a positive example of what a Hombre con Palabra is As the weeks went by and our circle turned into a community and that community transitioned into a family, I began to notice how important the youth in this program are to me I care how they see me I care how they will remember me when they are adults I care how they will think of me when I am an ancestor

Being a circle keeper will never be the same