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. 

LULAC Convention 2016

This is my first LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) Convention and I was excited to go. In my work with La Casa de Amistad we have a lot of interactions with LULAC, we have received several grants from them from support for our immigration legal services program, to youth programs and even health related grants. They have been a great partner of ours, and in the past we sent other staff members. I am proud to be able to be here and represent our center.

I am attending with Gregorio Chavez, Jr. who has been a long time LULAC Member. I have written about him and his work before, like when he was inducted into the South Bend Hall of Fame (Hall of Fame Chavez). He held various leadership position at the local and regional level. He hasn't attended a convention in over 5 years, and was excited when I told him I would travel with him. We even had to adjust our flights so we would be sure to arrive in time to see Hillary Clinton speak. I am not huge into politics, or speakers, but he wanted to, and I just got to enjoy traveling with him and hearing all his stories.

The car ride to Chicago was especially fun, Greg remembers dates and details from his service in the Air Force, from traveling to past LULAC Conventions and all of his involvement. Not to mention he loves to talk about how proud he is of all the things his kids have accomplished.

The first day was fantastic. We got to see both Hillary Clinton AND Julian Castro speak. You know I usually am not gaga over seeing or meeting politicians, but I really like Julian. He gave a great speech and afterwards I had the chance to meet him. He was in South Bend recently and remembered his trip to South Bend, but I forgot to tell him I am a Housing Authority Commissioner and trying to improve HUD programs in our community. My pic with him made his flickr page which was cool!

Of course I can't make a trip to big cities without hitting up some local Betas. Lately DC has been buzzing with activity from Brothers in various careers and I was hoping to find some downtime to catch up with some Bros. Its hard cause everyone is busy, I don't have a car, and the city is fairly big. Nice to see some Brothers at the convention, and others who swung by to say hello.

We are about to kick off day two, I'll be busy in some workshops this morning and hopefully catch up with some more Betas and local friends today. Tomorrow we buzz back home.

Friends and To Do Lists

One of our planning meetings at La Rosita

People ask me how do I make my to do lists, and honestly, I don't. Each day is a blur of priorities, mixed with deadlines and phones calls during trips to appointments and reminders of things I forgot to do. Yeah, sometimes I forget too. 

Most often when people ask how do I do it all, its cause of good friends and a supportve family is my answer. Today was a great example... in less than 24 hours I planned two impromptu meetings to work on an event coming up in two weeks... and guess what, 13 people showed up between the two meetings. On top of that several people emailed me asking how they can help. 

So West Side Wednesday is coming up in two weeks... and while we aren't ready, and we are behind in planning, it will happen and be fantastic. Why? Because of all the people helping. CANT WAIT! 

If you are in the area, check out the event... it will be a fun time! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1574998799466127/

Border Journey: Desert Church

Today was an early morning. It is a long drive to the border so we had to get a jump on it. Our plan was to fill some of the Humane Borders water tanks, walk the desert, and potential meet some migrants on their journey.

Vandals wasted precious water. 

We got more than we bargained for this morning. When we arrived at our meeting point, Joel from Humane Borders greeted us. He had a real hippie look to him, humble as he hoped out of the water tanker truck and came to greet us. He was just a volunteer, going our in the desert to help people and brought us with him.

The drive through the desert is scary when you look at vegetation that evolved to grow in a place where nothing is supposed to live... but yet migrants have been forced to pass through that part of the country. When we arrived at our first water station it was tipped... someone must of rammed a truck into it, those 500 pound barrels don't fall over in the wind. It was a shame that we had to pour the water out from the barrel in order to get it lifted and back into place. Luckily Joel had enough water in his tank to fill it and have enough for other stops. Who would do that? Who would knowingly knock over water that is designed to safe someone's life? It would be like putting holes in the bottom of life boats on a ship.

Water Bottles from Mexico

Joel was a simple man but impressive. He didn't speak much, but his replies were powerful. When asked if he was religious he said, "The desert is my church. I think God will forgive me for missing on Sundays." Lessons like that inspire you, they show you God, in the right places, doing the right things. Then we walked the desert and saw all the proof of people crossing, their water bottles, places where they slept, and all the thorns and cacti that they ran through... brutal.

The afternoon taught us about the horrible truth, how people die in the desert. We met with the Pima County Coroner. What does a coroner have to do with immigration? Well he tries to identify the 2,500 human remains found on the border, so he is involved in immigration. He went to school to be a forensic anthropologist, I doubt he ever thought that one of his greatest accomplishments would be helping to invent a way to get fingerprints from decomposed fingers so he could notify family in another country.

Our last speaker of the group was Lauren from Florence Project. I related a lot because she was an advocate, who ran a non-profit trying to provide support... it was great for our legal folks to get to talk about cases and how they were helping families. It's interesting how different it is what is happening there, versus what is happening for us... the amount of variance also helps show how flawed the system is. Her and I talked personally afterward and share some common sentiments on challenges for fundraising, identifying priorities and keeping an org running in the right direction.

Then our trip ended... fittingly with great Mexican food and fellowship. We shared our highlights, our struggles and our hopes for when we get back. We have to believe change will come, and that we will pledge to help making that change come. I plan to write more and post more, and I hope to work more with this group from Notre Dame.

#GoIrish

Border Journey: A Cowboy, A Hippie, Wonder Woman and an Accountant

Lois sharing her experience

Monday we crossed the border.
Tuesday the border crossed us.

We started the morning with a meeting with some important advocacy groups. We heard inspiring words from Yesenia from Mariposas Sin Fronteras, and Lois Martin from No More Deaths and End StreamLine Coalition.

The stories they shared, especially Yesenia's, were shocking. Her treatment, the treatment of others... under the watch of our government was appalling. To hear the things your government does, and then justifies and covers up through crazy legal proceedings was almost unbelievable.

It has been inspirational to sit and listen to folks like Lois Martin. She is a retired professor who now spends her time on the border. You could see the emotional toll that her work takes on her, but in her eyes you felt the ray of hope she had that change will come, and that her work would help, and that she must keep on.

My Egg

Then it was lunch... While I joke about the vegetarian cooking, I really do appreciate the simple square meals. Today was a soup to warmed us before heading to a cold court. We were rationed to one egg per bowl. I sat, and then Lois joined me. We got to have a nice casual conversation about things like how grandmas never remember recipes cause they don't measure things, and the importance of childhood education. I thanked her and then I washed dishes. We are at a small center and we prep and clean up after ourselves. Not all advocacy involves getting arrested, sometimes it's washing dishes. We are here to bear witness.

After our meal we went to the court to watch "Operation Streamline". Of all the disappointing things of that session for me was that we convinced the people going through that we were doing them a favor... that this was a good thing what we were doing for them. I guess similar to how most Americans believe that its a good thing for our country to fight this phantom menace. The magistrate deported 28 people in 50 minutes. Not a record I guess, but still an embarrassment of justice.

Professor Moreno

Then I got tapped by our film crew... they wanted to interview me about the role La Casa de Amistad plays in Community Based Learning classes. They interviewed Professor Marisel Moreno who has been sending students to La Casa for over 5 years. I felt like I was on an "E True Hollywood Story" but about something that matters. Hopefully they can help us spread the word about the good work happening when academics and real world meet. It's a beautiful change cocktail.

Then I had a powerful experience of watching four clergy from different denominations speak to us about involving the church in advocacy. This panel wasn't the usual suspects, I searched to describe them and my best is that it was A Cowboy, A Hippie, Wonder Woman and an Accountant. Their styles of dress and activism couldn't have been more different. One sang a song, one wore cowboy boots, one defended Border Agents, one swore like a sailor... but they all said, you have to do what you can, and get others to come to do what they can do. I needed to hear that you can't expect people to do what you want them to, you can only hope they do the most they can do.

Fences Everywhere

As we were wrapping up I shared with the group about an email we got at La Casa earlier in the day... that some of the raids ordered by the President happened in Elkhart last night. No details yet, but this is just starting to get bad... what will you do about it? The border just crossed us, no more time to believe it doesn't impact you. So the phantom menace is near us now, its close, what are we going to do about it?

The song singing got me thinking and not sure why I thought of this song... but I did and I read the lyrics and thought I would share. Plus I like the song so here is a link to Fire and Rain by James Taylor.

Border Journey: Rain and Sunshine

The Wall

This morning we left at 6AM... we ate quick and headed down the highway across the Sonoran desert to Nogales Mexico. The cold came, the rains came, but we were protected inside our large passenger van. If you have never crossed a border let me tell you that nearly each time brings a heavy feeling, today it was heavier.

The feeling of heavy weighed because we know what we would see and hear would challenge our perceptions and bring us in a very unadulterated fashion with America's phantom menace... undocumented immigrants.

My friends that knew I was coming know that I have been trying to prepare my myself emotionally for what I would see at the border. I wasn't prepared.

My friend getting interviewed

It rained and was cold in Mexico. We went to work with the Kino Border Initiative who run a shelter and place for deported migrants to get lunch and other critical services. We met the humble Father Pete Neely and his team of volunteers and Jesuits. we served meals and got to talk to migrants and hear their stories. We have an ND Camera crew here documenting our journey to tell this story to a broader audience. So we stick out when we travel...

I am still processing and taking in what I heard. I was blessed to talk to a father of three kids who are back in Mesa with his wife. His son goes to high school near my in-laws, he has kids my age, his wife is home alone with three kids... like mine right now. So yeah, still soaking that in, and my wife and kids are a comfortable plane ride away.

We had a great lunch and while the food was amazing, the atmosphere was still fairly somber. Luckily the group wasn't overly picky on the food. I enjoyed a Corona in Mexico. We got to meet the owner, I bought some Cuban rum around the corner, and we walked around the town and along the ever present wall.

Mission San Xavier

Interestingly as we left the border the sun came out. We got waived through the border with no problems, one quick question, one quick yes, and back in the USA. On the road back we stopped at Mission San Xavier de Bac which is on the lands of the Tohono people. We noted how interesting it was the sun peaked during our stop at the church.

Afterwards we met with a powerful activists from Derechos Humanos (Human Rights) organization. The director, Isabel Garcia, broke down legal issues, talked about project streamline, and reminded us about the importance of advocacy if we hope for things to get better any time soon. Her words came with a special bite and passion and while nearly making the challenge seem impossible... made it clear we must all find ways to help.

Like yesterday during mass she had three important words for us that struck a cord....

Fear. Ignorance. Arrogance.

We ended the night with some drinks, and just relaxing with some of the folks on the trip. Tomorrow we will go to a federal courthouse and watch the fabled operation streamline... Do some research 

Couple more powerful days... stay tuned and check my Facebook for additional photos.

Border Journey: Mariachi Mass

Airport Cactus Selfie

I arrived in Tucson on Saturday with a group of from the University of Notre Dame. Most of the group is ND faculty, I am here representing La Casa de Amistad as a university community partner. We are here to learn about border issues and are working with a company called Border Issues. When I heard about the trip I couldn't pass up on the opportunity.

We arrived and of course the weather was the first thing I noticed... I know it won't be the most impactful thing this week and I can't wait for all this trip has to offer. I really enjoyed about today was learning more about my group. It was interestingly to hear the backgrounds of my group, to learn about their kids, their backgrounds, their academic and personal interests and why they wanted to come on this trip.

Listening to Lupe Castillo

Sunday morning we got to the grind right away... early mornings and late nights will be the name of the game this week. It reminds me of the times I spent taking students on Alternative Spring Breaks many years ago... like the long days in Honduras with my students from Albion College or my time in the Appalachians with IUSB students. It was nice not being in charge on this trip... I get to sit back and learn and focus on everything Border Links our host organization set up for us.

We started the morning with Guadalupe Castillo, a community organizer who has been involved in too many organizations to list. She told a great story of the history of immigration, but what impressed me the most was when I asked her about her greatest accomplishment... she listed things that others did... so humble. Then she said she is proudest of what some of her former students accomplished. Her humbleness touched me, and inspired me to remember to not seek personal recognition, but to fight a good fight regardless of personal credit.

Beautiful bell at Southside Preb

Then we went to a Mariachi Mass at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church. It was such a beautiful blend of cultures with the music in Spanish, but the mass lead in Spanish and the room was extremely diverse. The homily was about learning from a journey... what a fitting way to focus our minds and hearts. It was a story of the three wisemen, and they they had to have faith, trust, and be willing to give in order to make an impact.

Faith. Trust. Willingness To Give. 

After a quick lunch we went for a special Samaritan training at Southside Presbyterian. This church was one of the key places of the Sanctuary Movement. It was four powerful hours of learning about the number of deaths in the desert, the legal rights of humanitarian workers on the border, and then real world training on how we will be able to help in the desert.

Of course we need some fun on the trip... and while our center is fully vegetarian that means I went over 24 hours without meat. So we took a long walk home that happened to include a stop at a place that sells a great Sonoran Dog...

I was really moved because it reminds me that the work of La Casa de Amistad is making a difference, and that I need to find ways to involve and include even more people in the work that we do there. I also love to see the perspectives of others and learn why and how they formed their opinions.

Tomorrow we cross the border... we will go to a comedor where migrants who have been deported go for a meal. I am preparing myself for another focused day of reflection and introspection.

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