Fit At Forty

Time for a new hashtag. This past weekend I turned forty. It was at a doctor appointment around this time last year that my doctor said I needed to go on high blood pressure meds. I said no, I won't do it, not this young, and I made a plan to get my blood pressure down. (Why I Did It Blog)

I started slow, just thinking I would eat healthier, work out once or twice a week... I think it was really my meals that got me rolling. Once I was cutting carbs, eating healthier out to eat (hard to avoid in my industry) and for sure eating better when I traveled... I started to see results. I am still doing usually one meal a day of Greek Yogurt, and when I eat out no more burgers and less tortillas (I am only human), and a lot more salads. (How I Did It: The Meals Blog)

Once the meals got my weight loss rolling I started upping the workouts. I was seeing results, and that motivated me to get more. I was spinning (on my own usually) 2 to 3 times a week, yoga one day a week, and weights/running here and there... I hadn't run in years... I thought it was my bad back that took me out of running, but it was the weight that was killing my back. When I did my original blog on my workouts I still was not running... now I run, not only do I run, but I am faster than I was at 30 when I got in shape for my wedding. I also am running twice as far as I did in my 30s. (How I Did It: The Workouts)

So now the #FitForForty is #FitAtForty

I feel better than I have in probably twenty years. I remember it was in grad school that I passed 186 pounds... I joked and said it was my "Beta Weight" (fraternity was founded in 86). At my peak I was nearly 210 pounds when I left Albion College in 2008 and moved to South Bend. Well I recently weighed in at 148.6 which I will say is even a better "Beta Weight" (we were founded April 1986).

I lost from peak to today about 55-60 pounds. So the other day I picked up Cruz (weighs about 50 pounds) and straddle carried him up the stairs to see the difference. WOW. I could barely get to the top without struggling, and I can't imagine I did that several times a day before.

How Immigrant News Has Changed

It was an interesting week in news, so interesting that I had to write a blog about it. Also, no I won't end this blog saying I will blog more, cause lets be honest, that ship sailed.

The week started with news that Adam Driver (might know him as Kylo Ren) claimed that he remembered KKK rallies here in town (he grew up where I now live). Right away an IU history professor and local history expert here both jumped all over it. Saying he was wrong, of course they are experts, and he is just an actor right? Well then the correction to the correction came, a drove of news stories, personal recounts, and photos of all the KKK activity that did occur in this area when Adam Driver was growing up. News story: Indystar Article

Why were people so anxious to discredit Adam Drivers recount of seeing racism?

The week continued with the news about the immigrant accused in the murder of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts. It was like a racist field day, even the official White House media channel was putting out anti-immigrant propaganda as a result of the news. Like there wasn't any other criminal news this week, for example a handful of the President's good friends who got found guilt of major crimes... What was nice was to see all the news and media outlets point out the fact that immigrants commit less crimes than Americans. I mean my picture of the USA Today front page was my most popular post since my selfie with Anderson Cooper.

Why were people so excited to get to blame an immigrant for a high profile crime?

Today (8/24/18) in the ND Observer there was a nice little racist inspired article about how bad Dreamers are... it was an editorial and it well written (grammatically). The problem was the opinion on the value of immigrants, specifically dreamers, and then the "facts" used to prove the point. At first when I read it I thought, man I want to break down all these facts and prove them all wrong. Then I thought, that won't make a difference, but what will make a difference? Here is the article: ND Observer Article

Why did these three stories get me thinking? Here we see a difference to me is in who is what.

Who is saying what and how they say it matters. An actor says he remembers KKK activity and academics jump in quick to discredit him. An immigrant commits a crime and all the racists are ready to jump all over it. A Notre Dame student writes their opinion on dreamers and people start to think... maybe he has a point? Why?

There is a change now in who people think are racists, and the change in that narrative is throwing people off. The narrative was easier to discredit when we thought it was only skin heads; we labeled them misfits, uneducated, outcasts, violent, bitter... but now things have changed. The people who are spouting this today are educated. They wear khakis, they march with tiki torches, they attend ivy league schools. It was an IU Professor who tried to discredit Adam Driver, it is the White House spouting nonsense about immigrants and crime, and a well educated Notre Dame student spread fake news and skewed "facts".

As activists we got lazy. We used to easily discredit skin heads and he crazy anti-immigrant ranters. Now we have a more sophisticated opponent. We have to be vigilant. We have to continue to fight the narrative regardless of where it comes from... because people are getting others to believe them. We can't just label these people as crazy, we must find ways to engage people in the middle to our side, not just try to discredit the other side. 

We must resist. We must resist smarter.

For my Mothers out there!

I was reflecting, on how great of a mom I have, and how great D is as a mom, and how blessed I am to have such a great relationship with Tamara. I am a blessed man, my children and I are lucky as can be, and I wish I could do more to honor all of them in the way they deserve.

I tried this week to tell all the moms in my life an early Happy Mother's Day. From the mothers that I work with, to my friends that are great moms. There are so many jobs that women hold in our lives, from friend to partner, and from student to CEO, and sister to mother... so many roles and maybe more importantly so many expectations.

I also try to think this week of those without mothers... for my mom, we recently lost grandma Millie, and this is her first Mother's Day without her mom. A special shout out to my friends who have struggled to become moms, or maybe to those who can't be moms or chose not to be and have to face all the pressure society puts on women to be moms.

As usual my kids made some art projects at school for moms. Mari already broke what she made, Cruz just finished coloring his, and I have to remember where I hid our present to mom. I think I remember now... later we will try to plant flowers. That is a tradition of something we always did for my mom growing up and that my kids continue to do to honor their mom. Its a fun way, and good timing (except through the rain this weekend) for new spring flowers.

This year I will try to be better and make sure the moms in my life know how great they are all year round. That they are perfect, and don't have to try to be more, or like another mom. I am blessed, I couldn't be more blessed if I wanted to be, and I think we all need to remember to tell the moms in our lives that more often. I will try this year.

Well.. on to regularly scheduled Mother's Day programming... taking D to brunch and give her presents from the kids and gotta Facetime my mama.

A Day In the Life

I get asked a lot, what my days look like since I am so busy. I hate the term "busy", I prefer efficient. I think busy sounds like you are out of control, I am focused on being effective. Friday was crazy, but most days get crazy, and I thought, man I need to document my day. I usually Instagram a little, maybe Tweet, for sure some FB posts... I am documenting this to show people that its not hard work, you just have to be consistent, say yes when people ask for help, and get out of your comfort zone... and focus on being effective with your time.

5:15 AM - GYM TIME
If you follow me regularly you know that I am turning 40 later this year and trying to get in shape. Rode bike for 25 minutes, 20 minutes of weights, and then some stretching to get ready for the day.

6:30 AM - DONUT DAY
Its donut day with the kids. On the way home from the gym snagged my coffee, and their donuts for the ride to school.

7:30 AM - DROP OFFs
Maybe my favorite part of the day is dropping off the little ones. I give C good intentions before he walks in for school. Tell him to be kind, be a leader, work hard... Then I drop off M and she needs no intentions... she bursts in ready to own the classroom. Ah.

8:30 AM - WESTERN AVE
Swung by La Casa and then a Western Ave business to talk to an owner about a project. I also picked up some buttons and pan dulce... hey it's donut day.

9:30 AM - CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY
Went up to Notre Dame for the USCIS Citizenship swearing in ceremony. Helped with set up and last minute items. Connected media to some interviews and took time to finalize my speech.

11:30 AM - SPEECH
I had the honor of speaking after the Honorable Judge Ann Williams and I gave her one of our buttons. It is always powerful being a part of these ceremonies, like I said in my speech, immigrants remind me of my story, of my dad's story and that the American Dream is still alive.

1 PM - MANGO CAFE
Lunch at Mango with the La Casa team and a volunteer from our citizenship class. Love supporting immigrant owned businesses and man their yucca frita reminds me of home... did I mention donut day is diet cheat day?

3 PM - DEVELOPMENT
Met with realtors downtown on a development project. Hopefully good news and details coming soon. I try to remember on long term projects, you are either driving change, or you are watching it.

4 PM - IDEA WEEK
I am on the steering committee for the inaugural IDEA Week. We did a presser at the Brew Werks giving away tickets for the Chainsmokers concert and gave out information on IDEA Week.

6 PM - EL OTRO LADO
Went to Civil Rights Heritage Center for a panel discussion and the kick off of an art gallery featuring art from La Casa kids about immigration. Part of our events around the One Book title this year, "The Distance Between Us". Bummed I couldn't stay for entire panel discussion.

7:30 PM - BEACON BOUTS
I was asked to box for a good cause; the Beacon Center in South Bend. I like a good cause and a good challenge, so I agreed. I boxed Jacob Titus and we raised nearly $30k! Tons of fun with friends and my kids got to watch... wow boxing is a crazy hard workout!

9 PM - ICE CREAM
I had some restraint on donut day... on the way home took the kids for ice cream. The two little ones enjoyed the boxing match and sat ringside to cheer me on. I passed on dessert but got some take out, and we went home to get ready for bed.

WHEW. Next week right back at it...

I can't dance (or sing), but come to my musical

So tonight is the night, "In The Heights" opens at the South Bend Civic Theatre tonight at 7:30PM. It is my stage debut... I can't sing, I don't even read music, and I really can't dance (I pretend well) and have never been in a choreographed number. So why am I in a musical tonight?

REPRESENTATION

Our Cast (me in blue tank top)

When my friend, Aaron, the Executive Director of the theatre told me they were bringing the famed Lin-Manuel Miranda musical here... I thought whoa yes! And then I thought... oh crap... we got to do this thing right... how can I help?

The Civic has done it right, they advertised castings in Spanish, on Spanish radio, we even did auditions at La Casa de Amistad, we promoted it at Latin Dance downtown... and we got it, a diverse cast.

So why am I in the cast? Well, if I was asking people to audition for it, I couldn't be a hypocrite and sit back and say, "Thats not for me"... cause guess what, Aaron told me that the Civic should be, and is for everyone...

REPRESENTATION MATTERS

Aaron Nichols, SB Civic Theatre

So I auditioned, I warned them, I can't really sing... they told me they would push me to learn. Then I broke the news to them, I don't really dance, I do merengue and bachata cause hey, its easy and most people are worse than me so I generally look alright on the dance floor... and they again told me they would push me to be better.

I got a role, ensemble, AKA back up dancer and singer. I figured cool, I made it, and the role would not be a lot of work. I was wrong... it was a lot of work. We started months ago, several nights a week, learning the songs, learning the choreo, learning about theatre... this week I spent nearly 30 hours at the theatre.

I will reflect more on my experience later. It was hard for an engineer to be involved in a musical... it has been a challenge, but you know whats good for this soon to be forty year old? Having to learn new things, to push myself, to make myself step out of my comfort zone.

REPRESENTATION MATTERS, SO I REPRESENTED

Tonight I step out of my comfort zone. Tonight I represent Bolivia on that state, I represent local immigrants, I represent immigrant kids who might think they can never be in theatre... hey you can, look at me, this old man learned, and this old man will miss a few steps tonight, and come in a second late in a spot (or two, or three), but the show will be amazing, filled with talented local folks, singing and dancing their hearts out and telling you a beautiful story of a low income immigrant neighborhood in New York...

Enjoy the show... to my cast members, thanks for helping me along, to the crew thanks for including so many cool South Bend Latino/Immigrant things into the set, and lets break a leg tonight.

ALZA LA BANDERA! 

What I told Anderson Cooper about Dreamers

It’s been a year since my interview with Anderson Cooper. As usual 80% of what you tell a journalist doesn’t make the news… so I wanted to write it down. I told him two stories; this is my family one that I share a lot when I speak about immigration and about Dreamers… 

I was a child, brought to this country by my parents, I am not technically a Dreamer but close. Why is no one mad at this child immigrant? 

Let me tell you a story…

My mom was born in Saginaw, MI, red hair, green eyes, requires SPF 75, and most would consider her about as American as apple pie. After college she went to Bolivia to do missionary work, fell in love with the country, and later fell in love with my dad. They got married, started a family, and never planned to move to the USA. In 1984 they planned a trip to Michigan for Christmas. 

We packed for a short trip, I kissed my abuelita, wrestled with my dog Tony, and told my cousins I'll be back in two weeks. (Blog about my first Christmas)

Couple days after Christmas, my brothers and I were enjoying the snow, playing with presents, and our parents sat us down, and told us, we weren’t going back. My mom was pregnant with my little sister, and the Bolivian economy that year had over 2,000% inflation (not a typo) and in 1985 it was over 16,000%!  They explained that life would be better here.

It didn’t feel better...

I lived with my grandparents that spoke no Spanish (my parents went back to sell everything). I spoke little English, it was very cold, and no one else played soccer. I started school right away and couldn’t understand anything except math class.

I would never see my dog Tony again. I wouldn’t get to kiss my abuelita for many years. I didn’t play pick up soccer with my cousins again until I was a teenager.

I came to this country, like most Dreamers, by “no fault of my own” as they say. My status is not challenged, I am “good immigrant”, who did it the right way.  Did my family seeking the American Dream impede on your ability to chase that same dream? I don’t think so, so why are you mad at Juan? Am I not taking people’s jobs? Am I not the negative things people say about immigrants?

I was born an American citizen...  

We had support systems when we arrived to get on our feet. Even with a green card my family couldn't get most government supports, but my dad was able to get construction work right away, and once he learned English was able to get better paying jobs and eventually back into accounting. With a SS number I worked in high school and I got to fill out FASFA for college, and got grants and subsidized loans.

Compared to my Dreamer friends… who get accused of using government resources…. but who can’t. I paid in-state tuition, got loans, and other government benefits of being a citizen. 

So why is no one mad at me?

It’s where you easily see the racism. Regardless of how I came, my impact is exactly the same as Juan from Mexico. It’s where you see our country’s history of treating immigrants horribly. My dad, green card or not, had it hard. In our history every major immigrant group had its stereotypes, and now people are against Mexicans/Latinos, and make negative myths, and take advantage of them.

I look like my mom, was born an American, and so I had it easier. Yes my immigration story wasn't easy, but not as hard as it has been for others and I often wish I could trade places. To carry their burden for them, and in a way I am trying today in my work now to make it right. 

So how do we change? We have to expose the truth, teach people what is happening, why it is happening, and discuss real solutions. When I told Anderson Cooper this story he replied that my story, and those of Dreamers, is the story of America. The story of seeking opportunity, the true definition of “The American Dream”.

So what can you do? Lot's, here are some suggestions: Want to Help? 

How I Did It (The Meals)

So in this blog I will describe how I changed my diet to get this done.

Road Trip breaks... healthy snacks. 

Like I mentioned in the original blog (Why I Did It), a large part of my problem was carbs. Working and eating in a Latino neighborhood lends itself to eating lots of carbs... tortillas, beans, tortillas, rice, tortillas, and lots of salt and tortilla chips (which are made out of tortillas). Did I mention the tortillas?

So my first step, reduce carbs. Not eliminate carbs, but cut them, and I cut them more and more as I went. My usual order for lunch was three tacos, so I started ordering three, but taking the third taco and emptying it into the other two tacos. Still meaty, still filling, and cut 1/3 the carbs. I also then reduced eating the chips... somedays I would ask the waitress not to bring chips to the table. Yeah I got the side eye... but I already got street cred and she didn't judge me. Ha. Now I rarely get tacos, I usually get a food plate instead, and ask for it without rice and without tortillas. Thats way less carbs, and I usually ask for some extra lettuce and tomato instead.

So I still ate some carbs, I was grabbing a beer at South Bend Brew Werks during the week, and eating normal everywhere else.

After those results were coming in, I realized I could cut carbs more to keep it going. So I started cutting carbs in other meals. No toast with breakfast, open face sandwiches, no more Chicory muffins (yogurt instead) but yes an occasional donut with my kids on Fridays. Eventually I cut out hash browns, and potatoes from most meals as well... I have slowly started to do like a half order of hash browns, or just not eat it all (which is super hard for me, I am the former president of the clean plate club).

Other small things I did... yogurt. I would have yogurt for breakfast and I started healthy snacking. The snacking is where I realized I was sabotaging myself. So now I try to keep cucumbers, bananas, cuties, apples and other things for me to snack on instead of grabbing chips or other junk. At work I keep a box of healthy granola bars (Cliff Bars and similar) in my drawer, and one in my laptop bag for days I have to skip a meal.

My final step was reducing sugar intake. Four years ago I ordered a coffee with 2 creams and 4 sugars. Yep... Latino coffee, light and sweet. Well now I order: no sugar, skim milk and the sugar free caramel flavoring. Based on Dunkin' labels... it saves me over 300 calories per cup. Also when I splurge and get a drink drink, I order a macchiato... it is half the calories of a latte (saves about 150-200 cals).

I did eliminate a few things from my diet.

NO FRENCH FRIES. I did that last time I lost weight and its still my mantra.
No more baked/mashed potatoes, I get broccoli or asparagus instead.
No toast or bagels, unless it is a Panera cinnamon one, I am only human people!

What I still eat... I have ice cream at night with my kids (but less) and I like rice no matter what healthier people say about it. I can still snack on tortilla chips at lunch (but not everyday), but just a couple chips, not the whole basket!

I just think about my food more. Especially when out to eat, read the labels, and in my work I eat out a lot so it is important.

So thats it... 6 months, 40 pounds, you can do it to! Still 6 months until I turn 40...

How I Did It (The Workouts)

Follow up to my blog "Why I Did It" is the details on HOW, the Workouts Edition.

Well first off, it wasn't easy, it took time and dedication, but I also didn't do anything weird, or a crazy diet, or completely cut anything out of my life. I mean most of my friends probably didn't even notice most of the lifestyle changes. So let me walk you through it.

Spinning, Push Ups and Yoga.

I had been a member at the O'Brien Fitness Center for about a year... but used it maybe once or twice a week. So in September, I started 4 to 5 days per week. I also started traveling with workout clothes. I travel a lot, so missing those days hurts, and I actually find working out on the road easier and a commitment since I don't have my kids I need to be up, and working hard.

SPINNING
I was going to the gym around 5:30AM during the week and riding a spin bike (upright) for 20 minutes each time at the gym. I like the bike, cause man you get sweaty, and lets be real, if you aren't sweating, you aren't losing. I also like it, cause in between times of pushing myself I could check my social media, lets be honest, I love to multitask.

PUSH UPS
After a month or so the progress was starting to show and I started stepping it up. I started doing push ups before bed. The first night, I could barely do 15 straight, and did 50 total. Today, I do push ups throughout the day, or if I do them at once I ramp down in between other workouts. I now do 50 before I leave the house, then 40 before riding the bike, 40 after, then 30 in between my stretching, 30 after stretching, and then throw in another 20 somewhere. So I try to do between 160-200 push ups daily. I will admit, I don't get my elbows to 90 degrees, my elbow pops, so I get close so that I don't hurt my elbow. It took my 4-5 months to work up to the amount of push ups I do now.

At the same time I worked in some curls, presses, and tricep lifts. I was originally curling 15 pounds per hand, and started with 2 sets of 12, then 2 sets of 15, and then 3 sets of 12. About two months ago I upped the weight to 20 pounds per hand, and built up about the same way. I am not fully able to do 3 sets of 12, but I am close.

So I spend about 45 minutes to an hour at the gym, 4-5 days per week. On the days off I still do push ups, or some curls at home with my weights. Or somedays join my wife in one of her workouts at home and I started a weekly Yoga class. I usually try to get my son to do some with me, or like last Friday I took both the younger ones with me to a Zumba class.

My next blog will be the "How I Did It: Meals Edition" about how I changed my diet to get it done. Post coming soon...

Why I Did It

So the cat is out the bag, I lost some weight.

I didn't think it would be such a dramatic transformation, I didn't think people would think I was getting sick or something... so I am writing this blog to clear the air about why I am losing weight.

I started trying to get healthier after my father in law passed away. I have heart disease in my family, and have always put off doing more to get in shape. I was an athlete, I loved to run... but about 8-10 years ago started getting back pain, and after a while slowly doing less and less and finally I stopped running. At the same time I got hired at La Casa and ate lots of carbs on the West Side daily... then the weight came...

So I committed to getting in better shape, but it wasn't working, I dropped a little, went up again, lost more... then a trip to Bolivia last summer made me gain it all back and some. Most of my friends don't believe me when I tell them at one point in 2017 I was tipping the scale at nearly 200 pounds.

In September 2017 I turned 39 and said enough is enough. I committed that before I turned 40, I would get in shape. For my family, for my health, for my back... but more importantly for my kids. So I said I will get "Fit For Forty". I will write another blog about How I Did It (blog coming soon).

Then like I tend to do, I made more goals. I said, 2018 is my year to do new things, to take on new challenges, to push myself more, to do things that don't come naturally to me. So I said lets lose 25 pounds, well I have lost 40. I said I am going to do a musical, well I am in the cast of "In The Heights" that opens March 9th (Get tickets HERE). I am going to get back into running, I am signing up for a few races, maybe a marathon... we will see.

So here is to new challenges, new adventures, and to being a healthy example to my kids.

Follow Up: How I Did It (The Workouts)
Follow Up: How I Did it (The Meals)

Surprise AARP Comments

I do a lot of advocacy work, basically ask me to speak, name the topic, and I am there for you. In our community I have spoke to youth groups, high school classes, done college lectures, church groups, and everything in between. Well this week I had a new adventure, I was asked to speak to an AARP group...

Honestly I was hesitate, I thought man, an older, mostly caucasian group... could be walking into a bees nest. It could get ugly, am I ready for some hard questions (yes of course) and could it get out of hand? I guess how out of hand can an AARP meeting get?

So I planned my general overview presentation. I define common immigration terms, Dreamers, Green Card, Legal Permanent Resident, talk about the ways people get visas, processes and what makes people American Citizens. I give a historical overview of immigration in terms of policies and short bit on how we got where we are today. I then do some local impact pieces; talk about percentage of Latinos in our community, the benefits, the impact, etc. I talk about myths, doing it "The Right Way", taxes,  taking jobs, desire to integrate and about the American Dream.

I end it with my story, which I have shared here in my blog a few times. I also still need to write a blog on that full story, it is what I share with Anderson Cooper when I was interviewed by him for the 60 Minutes Piece (full interview didn't air). Reminds me I should write a blog about that interview.

Well then we got to question time and my guard went up. A lady, who sat in the front row, raised her hand right away. Worried me more, cause I remember when I used to travel as an anti-hazing speaker the best hazers sat up front, mean mugged me during the whole program, and couldn't wait to ask me a dumb question... well here is a paraphrase of what she said...

I want to just make a comment. We had a Mexican family, they lived next door to us. They seemed to be nice people, kept to themselves. When my husband died 15 years ago, (she choked up) they came over and offered to help. They would help with the yard, with the snow, and didn't ask me for anything. They just gave, and I know they didn't have much. It meant so much to me, and it hurts me when people say bad things about those hard working people. 

I just choked up writing that out.

Then I had several other questions, all great comments like that one, and a few with some clarifying questions like do undocumented immigrants get social security. So I cleared up some rumors, and then the group asked me what can they do... I said tell your elected officials how you feel. Especially since I bet they, like I did, think AARP members would be anti-immigrant. They weren't, and I guess I forget, that some of them were also immigrants, and when asked nearly half had a parent that was an immigrant.

This was a busy week. La Casa is back open, news on El Salvador TPS and DACA legal challenge, and rehearsals each night for In The Heights has me busy... but that presentation on Monday gave me life.

Thank you Sue for inviting me to speak, thank you AARP for being so supportive, and I hope you do tell all your friends what we discussed.

Thank You Season

I was reminded recently on the power of a sincere thank you. A local reporter who I worked with on a lot of stories with asked to get a beer with me before leaving town. She gave me a hand written thank you note. I was thankful for her coverage of many stories that were important to me personally and professionally... so she helped me. We helped each other. I thanked her with a free beer (at Brew Werks of course) and I have momento as she travels to the plains to bigger and better things.

It reminds me of the importance of being thankful, and now today is Thanksgiving. Its hard to celebrate this "holiday" for what it pretends to historically celebrate, but we can reclaim it as a time to tell people thank you.

So take time today to do that... I don't tell people thank you enough. To my team at La Casa, that tireless work towards helping others, to my family that support each other no matter how far apart we are in this country and around the world. To my South Bend family and friends, who come to events, support my work, love me regardless of how scattered I am, and encourage the work that makes this world a better place.

I could write a paragraph about all the people that I owe a thank you to this year. I need to be better about dropping thank yous to people and checking in with friends and family more often. People know I hate, I mean HATE talking on the phone, but I will try to be better this year.

Thank you. Thank you to those who challenged me to think different, thank you to those who encouraged my crazy ideas, thank you to those who jumped in to help, thank you to those who let me fail when I had to learn a lesson, and thank you to everyone who continues to be there for me, and there for my family.

Gracias a todos. Happy Thanksgiving.

Bolivian Fricase Recipe

I have made this the past few years... slowly getting better and better, and this summer I was in Bolivia and my Tia Lilia showed me some of her trips for preparing it. The trick is getting certain ingredients or creative substitutions.

Here is my recipe and what I have learned Fricase is a dish served in the mountain region of Bolivia. It is a really a pork stew if I had to give it a basic name, and to relate it to something my friends would know it is close to Mexican Pozole.

4 to 6 pounds of pork ribs (I tried lean cuts or pork loin but it is not the same)
1 White Onion
Aji Amarillo (Yellow Pepper) Paste (Inca Foods, from Amazon - link)
Aji Amarillo spice (ground dried pepper) that I got in Bolivia
Cumin
Black Pepper
Garlic
Carne Asada Seasoning - most Mexican stores will sell this
Chuño - this is a naturally freeze dried potato from Bolivia (Amazon - link)
Potatoes - I substitute this for Chuño usually
Mote - this is large white corn from Bolivia
Hominy - Mexican Style White Corn (try to get 5-6 cups)
One Green Onion

I take the meat out and season it with the Carne Asada mix. Just lightly dust it and let it sit while I prep the rest. I chop the onion, three garlic cloves, and green onion.

I get a stock pot, and start to boil 12 cups of water. I put in half of what I chopped (onions, garlic) and then a teaspoon of Aji Amarillo seasoning, teaspoon of black petter, teaspoon of cumin, and a tad of salt, onion salt and a little more carne asada seasoning.

I heat a large pan and put some olive oil in it and toss the other half of the onions, a tea spoon of the aji amarillo paste and garlic in the pan. Once it heats up I quickly brown the pork on all sides. Once it is browned I put it in the stock pot and let it boil for a little bit and then turn it down. I cook it until pork is falling off the bones, usually about 2 hours.

Once the fricase is getting close I cook potatoes (or chuño which cooks the same, except you have to remember to rehydrate them overnight). Peal them well and cut them into quarters or like 1-2 inch pieces. This all depends on how much you want I don't make a lot and cook it in a small pot. I try to have this done just before I am going to serve.

Once I think the fricase has about 15-20 minutes to go I put in the hominy. I strain it, and lightly rinse to get some of the salt off since the soup should have plenty. Then just put the hominey right into the stock pot.

To plate it, traditionally you would put the potatoes and chuño in a large soup bowl, and then serve the fricase on top of it. It is good because it keeps the flavors apart. I keep the potatoes separate until we eat it, and put 2-3 pieces of potato in the bowl, and serve the soup.

Provecho!

The Aji Amarillo paste can be very hot, so you have to be careful with how much you put in but flavor to taste. The cumin can also be overpowering, but it is in important part of the flavor in my opinion.

It is definitely not like my abuelita made, not like Tia Lilia either, but I get better each time and my kids love it so that is a win. Happy eating, CIAO CIAO.

Lessons from Grandma Millie

Coates Cousins in Saginaw

On September 28th, 2017 my grandma Millie, Mildred Coates, left this earth. I had gone up a couple weeks before to visit her and glad I got to spend some time with her before the end. My older brother Miguel and I spoke at her funeral and I am combining my words, and his, into a blog about things I learned from Grandma Millie.

Power of Kindness
My grandma was kind, from inside out, kindness just came from everything she did. Many shared stories about this, but mine was from when I was a young boy. When we moved to the USA, my parents left my older brother and I with my grandparents. They went back to Bolivia to sell our belongings, and Miguel and I stayed and started school. I spoke no English, she spoke no Spanish, but her kindness made me feel loved when I came home from a long day of a new school where I understood nothing. That kindness helped me through months of being away from my parents.

Importance of Routine
Grandma and grandpa liked routines. From how early they woke up, to how they took their coffee or even how she did the dishes. Everything included routines. It made them successful, my grandma worked for a bank, and my grandpa ended up owning his own shop - Coates Tire. I remembered during that time that I lived with them that each Friday we had pizza. Another routine, something to look forward to, something to end the week positively, no mater how stressful, it ended with delicious pizza. Pizza-Pizza.

Grandpa

Value of Silence
Miguel shared how great it was to share times of complete silence with them. Time spent fishing on a boat and not saying a word. Sitting on a porch with some coffee, just looking out at the sunrise, in complete silence but the surrounding emotions took the place of noisy words. In their presence, with words or not, you felt a spirit of love and support.

Link to Obituary: Case Funeral Home

It was a powerful few days we all spent together in Saginaw. My cousins all came together, for the first time in many years, to celebrate a life well lived. We are blessed that grandma wrote a memory book in 2000 and wrote a lot about her birthplace, early life, marriage to grandpa (72 years), and much more. We mourned her loss, but we all celebrated her life.

May we all live a life like grandma, full of love, routines and needed silence. Love you Grandma Millie.

Not Just About Tacos Sometimes

Why Vote for Taqueria Chicago for Taco Wars?  LINK

Vote. Vote Again. 

So Taqueria Chicago is in Visit South Bend's Taco Wars. When I heard they were doing Taco Wars man I knew we had to jump into this and support the West Side of town. Well three of the spots that we visit for West Side Wednesday's made the finals! Of course my heart was set on one place... 

But this is not just about tacos... 

Vote. Vote Again. 

Not just cause the tacos are good. Vote cause they opened a place in 1996 on Western Ave when few believed in this side of town. They made it through economic slumps, major construction projects and now Maria and her family are still holding it down. 

Roberto and Mayor Pete at
West Side Main Streets Kick off.

Vote. Vote Again. 

I still remember Roberto bringing in tortillas he just got at Rosales Plaza. Meetings with him about construction projects at La Rosita. Being with Roberto and Maria at the ribbon cutting for the Western Ave improvements. They are a large part of the reason that block is so beautiful now. Roberto thanks for your years of hard work, I wish you could see it all now. 

Vote. Vote again. 

Your vote is believing in South Bend, is believing that the West Side is the best side. Your vote tells others to visit our neighborhood. Taqueria Chicago, and Maria, whenever you ask for help or we tell them about a West Side Wednesday event... "What can I do?" is her first question. Not what do I get out of it... but how can I help. You don't get that a lot anymore, pure selflessness and hard work.

Vote. Vote Again.
They have catered countless La Casa de Amistad events, tours for Notre Dame classes, community groups, immersion tours, fed volunteers on a block clean up project... they have held it down in the neighborhood for over twenty years and deserve your vote. My first time meeting Becky (former La Casa Director) was right there, on Western and Camden... home for Taqueria Chicago.

Western Ave ribbon cutting in
front of Taqueria Chicago

Vote. Vote Again. LINK
The winner of the Saint Joseph County competition will be announced on July 31st. You can vote every 24 hours and please share with friends. You don't have to live in our county to vote, and if you have ever visited me you know thats where I take people, and know that if you visit I will hook you up there...

Vote. Vote Again.
I won't get more emotional about it all now. If you have ever been there, been on a tour of the neighborhood, volunteered at La Casa, met with me there... please vote, share, vote again, like and share and vote and vote. I really want to see them recognized...

This isn't just about tacos... it is about Latino entrepreneurs who took risks, worked hard, and deserve your vote. 

Right Side of History

I have jumped head first into the fight for Immigration Reform. If you have followed my journey while working at La Casa de Amistad you can see that my focus has continued to sharpen on this controversial topic. I have struggled with when to be vocal, how best to advocate, what actions are to take, who are the best partners...

Auschwitz Survivor Confronts ICE Director

As I hear the rhetoric from both sides all I can think of is... one side will win, and I know it is our side. It might take two more years, it might take ten... but we are going to win this. Which makes it sad to see all the people trying to stop us. 

The right side of Women's Sufferage, Civil Rights, Religious Freedoms... and this week this video came up about being on the right side of history.

I draw my energy for my work from knowing... knowing that we will be on the right side of history. I know that our win will come, and our work will see success in the end. It will just take time, our work will make that timeline shorter, and our fellowship will make the time pass faster. It won't make it hurt less for those who will fall victims to the attacks of the oppressors, but it will not deter us, it will strengthen us.

Each time I sit in a forum and a mother or father speaks of the heart ache of their fear over what will happen to the children if they are detained and deported... or yesterday I say with a business owner who told the story of her child being deported and not able to help in her business anymore. Those tears fuel my fight, strengthen my resolve, and like this man... remind me that we are on the right side of history.

Article (video there): Huffington Post

Why I Hate "Give Back" Nights

So each time a friend posts a Hacienda "Give Back" night coupon on Facebook and asks for friends to support their child's "club" I have to heckle them. I heckle cause come on, Hacienda, really? (News Link)

They always say, it was my kids school, I didn't pick or hey it is an easy fundraiser, etc. Despite their defense strategy, I heckle on. 

Here is why I hate those... Most of them are done by big ol' companies. Most give a tiny percentage back. Most of them are a major inconvenience and shame you into going.

Here is how the math works and a couple better suggestions.

Lets say you decide to support this local drama club at Hacienda. You take your family of four, you get food disguised as Mexican, you get free GFS chips (plus you know you don't need the carbs) and watery salsa. The bill with tip maybe comes to like $50 or more if you got drinks (which don't count for give back). Of that bill, your friendly local server got a few bucks which is nice, but your daughters drama club probably only gets like $2 and you got heart burn.

So how about instead... you take your family to a local taqueria, in a real Mexican neighborhood. There I bet your family of four can eat authentic food, chips made from real tortillas, and the bill comes to like $35. Your friendly local server still gets a tip, a local owner makes some profit, and then you go write a check for $10 to your daughters drama team.

You saved five bucks and BAM! You look like a hero donor, and more importantly you feel like a decent human being for supporting a great local business.

Or hey, if you really want to raise money? What happened to pasta fundraisers? I was just at one for a fraternity at IUSB (Delta Sigma Phi's Don't Stop the Pasta). The Drama team can develop their team work skills, cook pasta, and during the pasta dinner do a little play for us! Show us where the money is going, and keep 90% of the sales. And you didn't have to hassle all your friends to come to a restaurant super out of their way and spend money they don't have to support a cause they barely know about.

You're welcome... and if you want, La Casa will take the $5 you saved for our No Human Being is Illegal campaign and you just broke even. Think like an advocate when you spend money.

Don't you feel like an even better human being now?

Want to help? 3 Suggestions #NoHumanBeingIsIllegal

Click to Join Our Campaign

I get this a lot, "I want to help"... and I give a couple suggestions, some people follow up. So I thought, maybe I write a little something and put it out there for whoever wants to read and share it.

I think there are a ton of ways to help. Here are my small things you can do easily that make an impact. These are focused on ways to help Latino communities around the country, who are right now especially vulnerable. 

MONEY

Where do you spend your money? I don't mean jump on the newest boycott of a business, actually in reverse, go spend money. Go spend it in a locally owned taqueria. Trust me, no matter where you live there is one, and it is delicious. I mean I was just in Goshen, IN a town of barely 30,000 people and there were several. I tried Taqueria San Jose and it was good. Then when you go... share it on social media and tell your friends. (See, like I just did). 

TIME

Volunteering is great, if you can, try to find 1 to 2 hours per week. Just calling a center to say you want to help usually just creates work for them unless you plan to be a consistent volunteer. It is just the reality of running a community center we can't have random people stopping in. You also can plan a special volunteer event; offer to come and help with yard work, or bring a group for some painting projects or neighborhood clean up. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

We need more positive comments. You don't have to fight a troll, but at a minimum go and LIKE a positive comment, and then write something... guess what? Our community sees those, and they see and know about all the negative comments. Help turn the tide, yes sharing it on your page is nice, and gets you likes from your friends... but leave a positive comment directly on a news story. You don't have to reply to someone who challenges your positive position, but leaving it there means a lot to people.

START DISCUSSIONS

Grab a No Human Being is Illegal button from La Casa, start a conversation, help change a mind. If we are going to recruit more supporter, we need more people talking to people who disagree with our position. And we need to get people in the middle to move over to our side. Start talking! 

READ AND LEARN

Take time to research the topic, read both sides, understand the issue. I never thought I would learn so much about Immigration Law, maybe relive my dream of Law School again... but if you want to debate it, you need facts, and real facts, and to understand the issues. Cause the challengers have all their misinformation down pat, so you need the right information to fight their fire. 

Yes I know... it was more than three suggestions. So now pick three things, and go do it. We need your help! Whether you donate $, or give time, or leave positive comments... we need you to help.

My new slogan is that advocacy is not a spectator sport, we need you off the bench and in the game helping. You might feel what you give isn't enough, but if we get a little from everyone, we can turn this tide faster. History is on our side... so let's write this story faster. 

One Million Dollars for La Casa

As we wrap up the year I get reflective, and one of my goals for next year is to celebrate milestones better. So I was looking at the La Casa budget, and realized... hey... I raised over a $1,000,000 dollars so far! I need to celebrate that somehow, so I figured I'd blog about it.

Historically La Casa would do about $150k annually in grants, and about $60-80k in contributions and event fundraising. At that pace it would take five years to raise a million dollars.

So how did we raise a million in three years? It was just over $700,000 raised in grant writing, we broke $200,000 in contributions, and events have raised nearly $250,000. Yes I know its well over a million, but I haven't been keeping track...

What is great about this is that it doesn't include pledged out gifts and multiyear grants. We have nearly $300k in pledged receivables.

So am I writing this to brag? No, well, maybe a little, lets be honest I am really proud of the work happening at La Casa and proud to be a cog in that machine.

I am writing about how we did it... it is something I learned as an engineer and that I taught students while working in higher education. Do Something Different. Don't look at what everyone else is doing and try to improve it; look at your problem, think about it from a user perspective, and design a solution.

So how did we do it? Without giving away all the tactics...

When grant writing, we asked for what we needed. We didn't double the budget, throw lots of padding in there, make up things we don't need hoping to get the things we do need. How is it working? Well so far four grants that we have written actually got more than we asked for! What? I didn't know that was a thing, but has been lately.

When doing appeals we do it our way. As a donor to several orgs, I hate "appeal season" because my mailbox is packed tight with fancy and expensive appeals. So this year, we sent a holiday card, that said Thank You and Merry Christmas. Are we broke? Nope, so why say it in a letter because I am supposed to? But could we use more money, absolutely.

Guess what happened? Typical donors gave, and we landed a few more through our continued promotion of what we do, our mission, our programs, our kids, our clients... and we saved all the paper, postage, and time spent on creating an appeal.

Our "You're Welcome" Post HERE

Several people thanked us for the card we sent, and a couple thanked for not sending an appeal. So we posted a "You're Welcome" message on our website.

Guess what happened? We are going to have a record December. And we had a record November, and record Giving Tuesday (300% over last year).

I know some of this is linked to a good economy, but I also think we are building a new track record of trustraising. Its maybe one of the things I am most proud of at La Casa, the trust we are building with donors, volunteers and supporters. People know where we stand, and we know who we can count on, and we aren't pushy.

Fundraising isn't sales, and I hate analogies to it being like sales. We are friendraising, trustraising, supportraising, causeraising, but we sure aren't sales.

Well there are some of my secrets. It wasn't just me, it was the incredible team at La Casa that got it all done this year. While I know that 2017 will for sure be an interesting year, full of uncertainty and obstacles, we are ready, and together we will best our challenges.

Thank you everyone for your support and your trust. The next million we will raise in half the time, and continue to grow and meet our critical mission.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Use Your Privilege to Advocate

Tonight I spoke to close the La Casa de Amistad Immigration Forum at Harrison Primary Center. I was inspired to give advice to advocates. Several people asked for my speech notes... which I didn't have since I usually just speak of the cuff bouncing ideas from others who spoke, but I thought I would write it down before I forget.

"To our advocates here, thank you, we are blessed you are here and showing our community how much they are loved and cared for. 

To those who speak English, we need you to speak up. Speak for others when they can't, translate for them at a store, stick up for them when someone says something. Use your words, your language, to help those that can't. 

To those with the finances to care for you family... give money to help others. If you can afford a nice car, you can afford to give to help others. Gifts of any size matter, whether sponsoring someone's legal fees, or helping pay for a youth program for a family. Anything helps for those who can't.  

To those of us with documentation, we must stand in the gap for those who don't. The gap is getting wider and deeper and we need your help. The issue is serious, just earlier in the program we had a woman ask our attorney a question about formal letters about what should happen to her children if she is detained/deported... I can't imagine having to think about that, luckily I don't have to, and the rest of us that don't need to fight for those who do. 

I then spoke to our community, in Spanish: 

We are there for you, and La Casa isn't alone in supporting you, look at all the people here to help! From the school that hosted the event with us, the priests, the lawyers, the leaders and administrators, the volunteers... all here to show support. But, you also can help, we need everyone in the community who qualifies for citizenship to apply. We know it is difficult, but La Casa is here to help, and we need your help to become a citizen and help move us forward. You can help this fight!"

When speaking at events and rallies I tend to go without anything planned, and feel the energy of the crowd, listen to others, weave that all together and trust it will come to me. Last night my inspiration was all the supporters who came, the timely question from the crowd, and my talk with Father Paul while waiting for my turn to speak.

I was truly touched to see so many supporters there for the community. It was a long week, and a longer weeks to come, but we will see this battle through to the end. Be an advocate, recruit an advocate, and lets work together to make this world a better place for our kids.

Cleaned My Desk

November 9th, 2016

I cleaned my desk, organized my office, sorted my office archives...

Around me calls came in, people worried, staff questioned what we would do, people called crying, everyone was stressed.

I cleaned my desk. Dusted it. Looked at pictures of my kids.

Around me emails came in, asking for meetings, asking for reports. My calendar for the rest of the week filled up quickly.

I cleaned my desk. Cleaned all the paperwork off my couch. Organized grant files.

Around me our pre-school class carried on like any other day. The trash truck came, and took our trash away. People came for our food pantry.

I cleaned my desk. Sorted stacks of business cards. Organized all the news paper clippings, binders and annual reports.

Around me were a lot of questions. I am the one who is supposed to have answers. People came to me and I had nothing.

So I cleaned my desk. I could control that. I could decide how I would get it done, and no one was going to stop me.

I cried about it, but now my desk is clean. What's the next challenge? Bring it on...

Change Shoes

I wore my sneakers this week.

Everyday. Even on days I should of dressed up a little...

Not sure why, I also cleaned my office.

I did things I don't always do. Its good to break routine, do something different, change your perspective.

I am struggling, we are all struggling to understand what this election means. Do people hate that much? Or are they just pissed about corruption in politics? Or is it both, neither, maybe some of each and more of something else?

I don't know. What I do know is that our country is full of hypocrites. Don't worry, I include myself in that pile.

If Clinton won, when protests broke out we would of called them ignorant, and racist, and that they don't love this country and the people in it. They would of said they are leaving the country and we would of laughed and told them good, go. They would of tried to overturn the electoral college and we would of demeaned their understanding of democracy, called them sore losers, and laughed at their failed attempt to get their candidate to win, and all while calling them un-American.

Well Trump won, and what are we doing? Protesting, rioting in some places, creating petitions to get the electoral college to elect Clinton, talking about moving to Canada and burning the American flag.

We are all kinda the same right? Oh but it would be blasphemous for me to say something like that, that is totally un-American of me to say that we are similar. Clearly people who don't think like us are un-American.

So what are we supposed to do? Rally? Protest? Sign petitions? Yell at people?

I don't know, its hard for me not to know, I am the guy who is supposed to know what to do. I can't just plug forward business as usual, but I can't just drop everything else.

For now I am collecting ideas, how can I get more people involved? How can others help create change? How can we solve this problem not just complain about it. How can we harness this rally energy and turn it into action.

Right now we all need to stop, and put ourselves in other peoples shoes. The shoes of an undocumented worker. The shoes of a rural farmer. The shoes of a DC politician. The shoes of a protestor. The shoes of someone not like us, and think from their perspective.

I remembered one of my favorite quotes about brotherhood from Edwin Markham, and when I went to find it to share, I found this quote instead. Perfectly timed. Let's think about others and love them, it just might be the only thing that saves us now.

I Can't Imagine

I have a pretty good imagination, I mean look at my online profiles, I love the Einstein quote about creativity being more important than knowledge. But this year as I get one year older there is one thing I just can't imagine, and this years political talk on immigration is what got me thinking about it a lot more lately.

It was Christmas 1984, my family was here in the USA visiting my moms family, and my parents, exactly my age now, made the decision not to return home. They were 38/39, had three kids, my mom was pregnant, we had a dog named Tony back in Bolivia, my dad had parents and four brothers, a nice little house, small business... and we didn't go back (technically my parents went back to sell everything, but we never "went back").

I wrote a blog about it: 1st American Christmas

Well I just turned 38, my life is just like my parents at this age: I have three kids, own a nice house, I run my own business and a non-profit, my wife has a great job, my kids love their schools, we don't have a dog, but pretty much everything else is the same. My life isn't prefect, but it is pretty great I think.

I like to think of myself as mature, and have it all together, but man I can't image right now moving to another country. To a place where I don't know the language, where I don't have my siblings with me, where I will struggle to make it.

The narrative in this country right now about immigrants drives me insane. Like people waltzed over, snagged a high paying job, and conned the government into taking care of their kids needs for them while avoiding paying any taxes. Lets be honest, people want to veil their distaste for immigrants by saying they are anti-illegal immigrants is BS. The only differences between me and undocumented Mexican immigrant is who my dad happened to fall in love with. So don't get it twisted, all of us immigrants are the same. We came to America because there was opportunity here, you know, the opportunities Americans brag about having.  We could work, buy a home, raise a family, and we could celebrate the benefits of being an American.

They say as you get older you appreciate your parents more and more. Well thats true for me, so as I roll one year closer to 40, I grow even more respectful of my parents. My dad didn't speak the language, didn't get to see his brothers or parents for years, and we had to struggle through many obstacles to succeed. Thanks mom and dad, thanks for making me strong and resilient. Thanks to everyone else who has been a part of my 38th rotation around the sun. Ciao.

Edit: to add while I am sharing this for the #ImAlreadyHome campaign... my parents sacrifice now means between their four kids they now have 1 PhD, 3 Masters degrees, 1 nurse, and a small business owner, and most importantly 10 grandkids

You Used To Race There

This weekend was I think my 20th Tire Rack Street Survival school. I kinda lost count, but man I enjoy it, and for the past 6 plus years have been the chair for the local schools. It is one of my volunteer engagements here locally. For those not familiar, you can read more about this amazing teen driving program here: http://streetsurvival.org/

On Friday when I go for set up, I took Cruz with me. I figured he would like to see some of the race cars they have around there, and the huge rims. As we pulled up to the Tire Rack test track Cruz says, "You used to race there."... he remembered from maybe once, or twice when he would of been little he came out when I would race there. Good memory, especially since I haven't raced, done an autocross, or anything competitive motorsports now in 3 years. WOW.

I remember the first Team PLP Autocross with the Furin Group in Grand Rapids with Hermen. I remember moving to South Bend and being excited about getting to join an active Sports Car Club of American chapter. I remember buying my Datsun and excited to drive it. I remember winning my first season in it, still have the bag with "1st Place STR" on it... now tucked away in a closet.

1st Autocross in the Z (2010)

The Datsun broke, I don't have time or money to fix it. Also to be clear, not that I don't have any money, but that other priorities are higher. I need to buy diapers, cross country shoes, fix the car, new glasses, save for retirement, diapers, fix the roof, new brakes, and well that Datsun never makes it on the list. What was supposed to be a fun escape, has turned into a oldly shaped landscaping tool shelf in the middle of the garage.

So what is the point of this blog? I don't know, maybe to reminisce about my Z, to rehash my priorities, to remind myself that there is always tomorrow, I am not sure the point. I just know that I wanted to write something, and nothing about work, but about things I just like to do. I think it is important that we remind ourselves of our passions and our fun, especially when stress is high, and things feel like you can never please anyone. Just remember that day, grinding a gear in my Datsun or that day I was FTD in my SpecV in Grant Rapids, or when Team PLP held it down at GVSU with our ladies cheering us on.

So when you are stressed, find your zen, go there, even if it is just in a memory. Be there, and don't let anyone take it from your past, or rob it from your future. Make it happen... my Z will ride again, and I will drive again soon, and take Cruz with me, to the place I used to race.

Grassroots Angryizing

This has been on my mind a lot lately, and I made the comment on a few different threads and I think people get the term I have started using, "Grassroots Angryizing". It is an adoption from the term "Grassroots Organizing" that was used for so many years. Interestingly in writing this I tried to find a good definition of Grassroots Organization, or advocacy there wasn't one to be found. I found a few quotes that I liked: 


"Grassroots movements and organizations utilize collective action from the local level to effect change at the local, regional, national, or international level." - Wiki HERE


“Organizers are activists who, in addition to their own participation, work to move other people to take action and help them develop skills, political analysis and confidence within the context of organizations.” Article HERE

So here is where my problem is lately. Not sure to decorum of the way people talk to each (that is a compounding issues but I wanted to list it first), but the fact that most people who are trying to organize are not actually asking people do something, they are just trying to make them mad about what is happening. So it is just poking a stick at a problem, with no idea on how to solve it, and I might suggest, no actual intent to solve it, but just the happiness of riling people up. 

I see it here locally all the time, but to see it go nationally is maddening. I mean look at how Trump rose to power? No plan, just making people angry, usually about stuff that isn't true, and they love him for it. So how are some responding? With more of the same... starting rallies with no purpose but to come and be angry together, to protest instead of registering people to vote, to complain instead of taking action, to just enjoy making more people angry. 

You see it in how people talk... insults as punchlines and questioning someones intelligence just because they have a different opinion is bully behavior. That isn't how you rally a team, it isn't how you organize to create change, it is how you make yourself feel better about yourself. 

As the campaign gets worse and worse... and we all know it is going to get ugly, lets try to figure out what we want, and help others read more, debate more, and have healthy conversations. Cause if all you are doing in your debates and discussions is insulting people you are no worse than Drumpf.