I want to share a picture I have of my five year old self sitting with my mother somewhere underneath the fluorescent lights of a JcPenney (or something like it). Just me and her. When I find it I will.
Memoir and Mothers
(And the post that brings us to the current moment :) I’ve been told many times over the years that I should write a memoir. I’ve resisted it because the old model never drew me. I don’t want to just
Resist Separation
(Originally posted on FB 4/28/21) Throughout the fire relief process, I’ve had so many people say to me variations of, “I have no way of being connected to the migrant/undocumented community.” This is so interesting and simply reflects the way
Fire Update- Gentrification
(Originally posted on FB 4/19/21) 8 months in, many familias remain in RV’s and hotels. Those who’ve found apartments outside of their hometown are paying 2-3 times what they paid before. Everyone pulling together as usual. In hopes that this
Supporting our youth’s discernment
Trust your heart. Trust your gut. Revolutionary words I’ve said to my children for years. Not, “what I think” “what I say” but what they sense deep within is good and true for them. When I work with youth, I
Fire Update and Straight talk about Showing up
(Originally posted on FB on 3/2/21) Families are still displaced all over the county in hotels, RV’s, friend’s homes. Meanwhile, empty FEMA trailers sit on the edge of the county fairgrounds waiting to be placed. Two weeks ago, at the
Talking with children about the ‘Insurrection’/decolonized homeschooling
(originally posted on on FB 1/7/21) Yesterday, the question was posed, How will teachers talk with the children about the day’s events? Having chosen years ago to homeschool/life learn for decolonization purposes, I shared: “Me: oh children, you know how
Reciprocity and Receiving
(originally written and posted on Facebook January 25th, 2021) The other day la familia that stayed with us, who now have their own apartment, invited us over for dinner. Though we’ve stayed in touch because we are familia now, we
Young social worker and now, just human
(These are FEMA trailers) I’ve been making home visits since I was 22 and had to flip through a giant book of maps (aka Thomas Guide) to figure out where I was going! I’ve always loved being with people in
Circle magic
Something beautiful that happens in my ongoing (now zoom) circles because we walk together in the ups and downs of life, is when someone gets triggered into the lies of insecurity, unlovabilty, feeling stuck/disempowered, we can help. We say, “No,