Healing through art & therapy! I used to be depressed and codependent with very low self worth and many unhealthy habits. But several years ago I started the healing process and am sharing what I learned with gratitude and hope for each of us. Peace & hugs, Leah
Peace won’t just happen, we have to commit to change and diligently work for it.
“On May 24, 2015, 30 international women peacemakers from around the world will walk with Korean women, North and South, to call for an end to the Korean War and for a new beginning for a reunified Korea. Along with Gloria Steinem, our delegation includes Nobel peace laureates Mairead Maguire from Ireland and Leymah Gbowee from Liberia, Patricia Guerrero from Colombia, former U.S. Army Colonel Ann Wright, Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin, and so many more courageous women peacemakers. We will listen to Korean women about how war and militarism impacts their families, lives, and dreams and hold international peace symposiums in Pyongyang and Seoul where we can share our experiences and ideas of mobilizing women to bring an end to the danger of violent conflict. Our hope, as a symbolic act of peace, is to cross the 2-mile-wide DMZ that separates millions of Korean families and bring an end to the state of war in Korea.” continue reading at Riseuptimes.org/2015/03/18/christine-ahn-korea-women-walk-for-peace-across-the-de-militarized-zone
In the realm of individual empowerment, cultivating happiness from inside ourselves is very important. We can buy things that make life easier and fun or change our appearance to stroke our ego, but those aren’t sustainable sources as we will always need to buy more when that happiness fades. However if we look within to see what makes us feel good in a healthy balanced way then we can be happy even when life is not going our way, face disappointment or get stuck in a rut.
I recently read a book on the subject, “Lucky Go Happy: Make Happiness Happen” by Paul van der Merwe. In the book introduction he writes, “Happiness is a complex puzzle. Every chapter of Lucky Go Happy covers a piece of that puzzle and provides insights into the workings of happiness.” Through a clever and enjoyable adventure by the main character, Lucky the rat, the author reminds readers that true happiness involves a combination of our actions, thoughts, and daily activities As Lucky travels across the land he encounters animals, birds, insects and even trees who share with him their own adventures of finding happiness.
Each chapter shows us different forms of happiness. My favorites included an elephant who learned a new skill, the butterfly enjoying each stage of life, a rhino living in gratitude and a Baobab tree who realized happiness is not conditional. Buy this book at Bookstore.authorhouse.com orAmazon and follow Lucky Go Happy on Facebookand Goodreads.
I know full well the dangers of trying to buy happiness and shopping my way out of depression. For over a decade I used money as a tool for happiness not realizing that it wasn’t and never was going to work. Once I was deep in debt, real happiness slowly dawned on me. By forcing myself to rethink the lifestyle I created and stepping out of my comfort zone with baby steps I finally feel happy from the inside. Yes some days and moments I struggle, but now I can check myself out of a negative state much faster and with the power of my thoughts, not my wallet. I understand that happiness is an inside job.
What makes you happy in the long run, without spending money or using drugs, narcotics or alcohol?
“Once again I find mysef up against a giant, but not alone, never alone.”
I was raised with an idea of community and small business. I haven’t always lived in places where either of those ideas thrived , but I now fully embrace and understand those are a vital part of creating a sustainable world. In college I worked for Target and had a good experience with my supervisors and coworkers. Until this last month I regularly shopped at Target for a few items like contact solution or hair bands. But now, I see they are just as bad as Wal Mart(see: the Behemouth that Bent). I paid twice as much for contact solution elsewhere, even though I’m living on a budget. It just didn’t feel right going into Target. In fact I felt kinda dirty!
These big chain stores take away customers from smaller businesses, create high traffic areas, and sell very little if any local or American made procurs. I completely support communities who want to keep big box and chains out of their neighborhoods. I had a chance to do so recently.
In San Diego there is a cute little community called South Park which is home to several local busineses stores, cafes and restaurants. A mostly residential community it is void of the usual big box stores in other areas. The only chain I is a 7-Eleven gas station. In this community sits an empty building that used to be a grocery store. Target Corporation wants to renovate it into a “Target Express” which much like the growing and infamous “Wal -Mart Neighborhood Market” is taking over and putting small grocers and pharmacies out of business!
Last Sunday I attended a rally to stop Target from opening it’s store. The turnout was 100 people, adults, elderly and children alike, who loudly proclamied they did not want this or any other chain stores to move into the area. Instead they say, turn it into a grocer, locally owned Barons grocery is apparently interested.
Resident Ernie M. who has lived here for 75 years said even if Target was creating good in the world, “It just doesn’t fit here”. Other residents such as Christina W. who moved here from the suburbs said she didn’t want to lose their small town neighborhood feel. After a few rousing speeches residents marched around the area with “Not in South Park” signs. There was an information table including, free pins and free yard signs as well as, live music and free food from the nearby Big Kitchen restaurant. The organizers are raising funds to create a town council to not just stop this store, but for the ability to be well aware of future projects that threaten their community.
Another reason to dislike Target’s move into the neighborhood? They’ve divided a community into those who realize the store would slowly eat away at the local economy and those who want it for conevenience. Just the idea of Target is not good for this community!
Want to be the change you want to see? What are you waiting for?
Like most weekends this past one was packed with activities. There were 2 vigils for those killed by violence and racial profiling, a march for sustainable environmental policies, work to finish and the usual weekend chores. I was running on empty with a painful respiratory issue from a large amount of second-hand smoke inhalation and suffering allergies during a heat wave. Instead of pushing myself I rested. After years of suffering depression I understand the importance of keeping a balanced lifestyle. Too many highs and lows close together will keep you depressed. Moderation really is more than a buzzword!
The truth is there are many things on your To-Do List that can wait, but if you push your body too hard you might not be able to do anything! Take a rest when you can. Your physical and emotional health is just important as your volunteering and activism.
1. Sleep is important! This weekend I slept in until 8am! (I know that’s crazy late right?) The first night I hardly sleep because of my pain and discomfort, but the second night I was so exhausted that I slept much better.
2. I love GOOD food! I enjoyed a slice of delicious vegan pizza and then a piece of definitely not-vegan peanut butter cream pie because it was 3.14.15, Pi day! I bought fresh fruit and veggies(pesticide free and organic) from the farmers market. I stopped at the grocer and bought medicine and vitamins to help myself heal
3. Nature Rejuvenates! I explored a new canyon trail and worked in the yard.
4. Slow is Good! I leisurely finished work, completed my chores and ran errands without the usual pressure of time constraints.
5. Friendship is Golden! I had a fun dinner with my new friend and her amazing children. Once I felt tired I went home instead of trying to stay there.
What makes you feel better? Is it sleeping more, eating healthier, spending time with loved ones who respect you, dancing, reading a good book or taking a walk on the beach? Always remember that your health is important.
It was almost 6 months ago that 43 young students went “missing” in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico. Believed to be handed over to the cartels by the police, these students have never been reunited with their families and never been found. Government officials in Mexico say it was a “case of mistaken identity” carried out by the local mayor of Iguala and a local gang. Parents of the students allege the corrupt narcogovernment is truly at fault.
Either way, 43 human beings are gone, presumed dead and their families will forever feel this loss.
Forty Three, Cuarenta-Tres. How do that many youth disappear without more public outrage? How do their families continue on with any sense of peace whether they are confirmed dead or if justice is never found?
What if it was your child, grandchild, niece or nephew?
On February 28th, I marched from the Mexican consulate to NBC San Diego studios in an attempt to draw attention to this mass abduction of 43 young students, and call on NBC to cover this story. I stand up and speak out for others because I know that’s a large part of individual empowerment.
Citizens prepare to march in order to draw media attention to the 43 students missing in Mexico
The following is information posted by event organizers “February 26th marks the 5 month anniversary of the forced disappearance of our 43 students. We are marching not only to honor and stand with the families and mothers of our missing students, but to honor the fallen human rights activist Gustavo Salgado, unjustly killed by the same narcogovernment. They continue to lie to the faces of the families about the identification of remains and have still not provided a single cohesive answer. We are standing with the families in solidarity, that we do not believe the lies either, we know the truth that it was the STATE. We are marching for JUSTICE, for TRUTH, because we want them back alive! IF NBC WON’T PUT AYOTZINAPA IN THE NEWS, WE WILL MAKE THEM PUT AYOTZINAPA IN THE NEWS.”
“My brother is devastated because his son, Jorge, has been gone for five months, but when he sees these shows of affection and solidarity from so many people across the world, he gets new energy and a new hope,” said Raul Alvarez at a recent march from the Mexican Consulate in Little Italy to the NBC news studio in downtown San Diego.The march, which took place on Saturday, Feb. 28th, was organized by Comité Acción Ayotzinapa, a local organization that has been at the forefront of this movement in San Diego in favor of the missing students’ families.” Laprensa-sandiego.org/featured/san-diegans-ask-for-justice-in-ayotzinapa/
In January CNN ran a story about the students. “At a news conference Tuesday, the parents of the students refused to believe authorities, even suggesting the Mexican military might’ve been behind the disappearance of the young men. The students attending a rural teachers college were left-wing, anti-government activists, mostly in their late teens and early twenties.” Cnn.com/2015/01/28/americas/mexico-missing-students/
Last week UT San Diego published an article about the problems with Iguala including the opium trade and corrupt politicians. “Some say the problems started when the mafia entered politics — and politicians joined the mafia. Before, “they let (the drugs) pass and agreed to leave the people in peace,” said one local elected official, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns. “The problem is when the mafia decides to enter politics, because then you can no longer instill any respect or sense of order.”
Sofia Mendoza Martinez, an Iguala councilwoman, said there was no dividing line between government leaders and organized crime under Abarca. Her own husband, an agrarian activist, was killed in 2013 after clashing with the now-detained mayor who faces charges in the death. It’s easy for the government to blame it all on organized crime, but often organized crime is taking orders from politicians, said Mendoza, who arrived to an interview with two state police bodyguards. “The federal police are going to leave and we are going to still be here.” Utsandiego.com/news/2015/mar/09/mexican-town-where-43-students-disappeared-is/
Citizens rally for media coverage of the 43 students missing in Mexico. the NBC logo is behind them.
So how do we fight corruption?
By calling it out and making sure those who use their power to harm others are removed from power.
Find a local organization in your area that is making waves. Join a peaceful rally, march, vigil or other action that draw attention to injustice.
Start a writing letter campaign to apply pressure.
Contact your representatives and speak up.
Be brave.
If you want change you have to get involved. So what are you waiting for?
I LOVE THIS VIDEO! (except for her language) This woman is a hero for saying something and recording what the police do everyday, hassling people who have nothing. Homeless? Mentally ill? How about human beings like you and me that just had shitty lives and got screwed over once too often!
This is your tax dollars at work people! Look at how many police are wasting your tax dollars creating drama!
Why don’t they take him to a home where he can take a shower, eat some food put on some clean clothes and get assistance? These are things we take for granted everyday. Why are they pulling guns on this man laying in the ground?
That man wasn’t doing anything. I walk around homeless and mentally ill people daily and they do NOT bother me. The way San Diego police treat people is awful, but the way we “the people” don’t stop it is even worse!
If you want change you have to get involved. So what are you waiting for?
I was recently asked to teach a self-defense class for women with disabilities. This was a new opportunity for me and I didn’t know what to expect, but I was told mostly I would be talking about awareness and we wouldn’t do as many moves. In the weeks leading up to my class I found quite a few self-defense resources for people with disabilities.
Criptaedo is a form of martial arts create by a man living with Spina bifida and is geared towards those who are in wheelchairs or use crutches and canes for mobility.
He has two videos I really liked. The first is defending an attack while in a wheelchair or on crutches.
His second video shows how to escape a knife attack:
Learn more about self-defense for people with disabilities at Criptaedo.com.
There is also the International Disabled Self-Defense Association, Defenseability.com
Learn about emotional and physical self-defense on my Self Defense page.
The turnout was small, but not lacking in passionate voices at the San Diego vigil for youth(age 23 and younger) killed by police in San Diego, and nationally. Since majority of people killed by police are non-white, racial profiling was brought up as a main issue along with police brutality, biased media reporting and how the average citizen can get involved.
The event founder, DeMilo Young may not be a name you’re familiar with, but she is someone you should know. In her talk she explained why she organized the vigil. “I’m new to activism and what brought me here, probably is being a parent and just knowing, just having that empathy knowing that someone has lost a child. Parents should never have to bury a child.” Speaking from the heart she went on to say “We do live in a racist society and many people of color are judged…. and more likely to be shot by police. Why is that? We have to get to the root of that issue. We can’t just say we gotta have law enforcement reform, we need humanity reform.”
The event drew about 40-50 people and included two inspiring spoken word poets, a powerful singer and a reading of the names of recently killed youth. Other speakers shared resources and information encouraging all in attendance to get off Facebook, follow local cases of police violence and get involved in our communities. Just like the theme of this blog, their message was clear, change is up to you the individual. A handful of attendees spoke personally about what the vigil, racism, police brutality community meant to them or how we, the audience could get involved in creating positive change.
We also practiced a moment of silence for 4 minutes, the amount of time the body of 12-year-old Tamir Rice lay on the ground after being shot by police. It was a sad, but inspiring vigil. From the event page:”Candlelight vigils are seen as a nonviolent way to raise awareness of a cause and to motivate change. While Tamir’s death received some national attention the case remains open and many citizens are not aware of the circumstances surrounding his death. Many have become desensitized to deaths of unarmed, innocent individuals and apathetic to injustice.”
So what can you do to stop the senseless killing of youth? Quite a lot actually!
1. Get involved in civic matters. Pay attention to potential and existing laws that punish people for being poor, non-white, reformed felons and immigrants.
2. Push for reforms in police training and conduct to remove racial profiling and the excessive use of force. Insure police forces are representatives of the communities they serve as opposed to instances like Ferguson which has a large number of white cops patrolling black neighborhoods. Tell your representatives that you want to stop the militarization of you local police.
3. Stop victim blame! You probably don’t even realize that you are doing this. If you’re like me and have consumed a whole lot of mass-produced media you have been trained to victim blame based on repeatedly seeing racial, gender, and other stereotypes. Here are 3 examples.
-You’ve learned that “thugs”, gang members and criminals are usually of African, Hispanic or Asian descent, wear hoodies and baggy clothes, like rap or hip hop music and therefore deserve to be stopped by the police After all why would anyone dress like that or be entertained by that kind music unless they were up to no good? Perhaps they like the culture of hip hop and want to look fashionable in the culture they embrace? Why should how someone dress convince us of their character or ethics? Are we really that shallow?
-You’ve learned that women and girls wearing short skirts and low slung tops are “slutty” and “asking for it”. Why else would a teen girl or woman wear high heels, a short skirt and show off their cleavage if they weren’t looking for sex and a “good time”? Perhaps because they think it’s a fun way to dress and want to look pretty, but not actually participate in any sexual or romantic activities? Since when does an act of violence, including assault or rape, have anything to do with what someone wears? How does that make any logical sense?
-You’ve learned that cops are always the good guys because they risk their lives to “protect and serve” and therefore have to stop and shoot those “thugs” from causing trouble. Officers are professionally trained to fight crime and yet the are so terrified of youth they shoot first and ask later? Why would they shoot a young man with a toy gun? How is that serving anyone? Why do WE allow them to kill children?
Do you see the underlying theme? We are trained by images that most of have seen since youth to identify others and explain or “blame” their behavior. Dressing a certain way doesn’t mean you’re going to make bad choices just like having a police badge doesn’t make you suddenly wiser than everyone else.
Throughout the following weeks I challenge you to recognize those moments when you look at people and make snap judgements. Do you automatically see young black men and guess they are gang related or involved in crime? Do you see Trans women and men and assume they have “immoral” interests? Do you see young girls in short skirts or low slung tops at the bus stop being harassed by an older man and assume they are responsible for the unwanted attention?
You need to stop assuming that the stereotypes you see hold any truths. We are all unique individuals deserving of the same rights, safety, compassion and respect.
4. Speak up! You must step up and speak up when you see someone being treated unfairly. When you see someone being profiled and they haven’t done anything but walk down the street you need to ask that cop what’s going on. You need to tell that man who is much, much older than that girl to leave her alone. It’s difficult at first, but the more you speak up and intervene the easier it becomes. You don’t have to forceful when you speak up, you just have to say something. I took me a while to learn this and I know you can too.
In my experiences just letting the harasser know they are being watched is enough to make them stop. Here is a recent example.
On my way home from the vigil I was sitting a few seats behind a teenage girl. She looked tired and was sitting by herself. Suddenly this much older man moved next to her. I saw her moving away from him and turning her head toward the window. He kept talking to her and looking her up and down. Finally I stood up and moved to a seat in front of them. I noticed that she was really not interested in this man so I asked if she knew him and she replied that she didn’t. I told the man that he appeared to be harassing her and she obviously wasn’t interested. He mumbled a few things and got off on the next stop. I apologized to the girl for making a scene and explained that I had experience working with domestic violence and sexual assault and I just wanted to make sure she was ok. I turned around in my seat and didn’t make contact with her again because it was clear the situation was uncomfortable for her. When I exited the bus a few stops later I quickly asked the driver to keep an eye on her and told him what happened.
It took me a few minutes after I had a hunch of what was happening to gather enough courage to move seats and another minute to confront the man, but the point is that I did. I have no idea what happened to her after I left or if I will ever see her or that man again, but I can at least rest with a clear conscious knowing I spoke up. I didn’t just ignore what was obviously happening or pretend like it wasn’t my problem. That man knows that some people will stop him and hopefully that girl knows that she deserves to be treated with dignity.
Though I was raised in a multi-racial, multi-cultural family my experience as one of the lighter skinned attendees was undoubtedly different from many of the black, or African-American, Mexican and Asian attendees. This represents my experience at a vigil that in my opinion we should hold more ofte and in larger groups until this nonsense ends. I may not be able to walk down the street without harassment or the threat of sexual assault, but I don’t worr about being killed by those who are meant to protect me. However different our experiences, we all attended the vigil in mutual concern, compassion and craving peaceful change.
So what are you going to do? Will you take those 4 steps, open your heart, use your mind and save the life of a child?
Alicia Garza is an engaging speaker with a sense of humor and intelligence that draws listeners to her. She is best known as a co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter (BLM) along with Opal Tometi and Patrice Cullors. I recently had the honor to attend her speech about social activism and a renewed civil rights movement. I was not disappointed!
She began her talk about growing up in the San Franciso area and learning about the black liberation movement from those who had been actively involved. Speaking to a crowd of young women and men at University of San Diego she encouraged students to learn from and form relationships with their elders. “We’re living in different times, but facing similar issues.”
Already active in the Domestic Workers Alliance and conscious of being a black queer woman in a racist society, the inspiration that prompted Alicia to start Black Lives Matter was watching the trial of George Zimmerman; a racist vigilante who killed Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old youth in 2012. Alicia said “I hoped for something different to happen, for an apparition in the system…I felt like I got punched in the gut.” As the media criminalized Trayvon she wondered how she would tell her younger brother that his life is not valued and how racist fear could take it away.
So she went to social media searching for support and words, but was not appeased by the cynics stating the “system is broken”. What she saw was lots of blame on black citizens, because in these times having darker skin makes you automatically guilty. So she wrote her own message stating that it doesn’t matter if you vote, are educated or pull up your pants because we do live in a racist society. instead she encouraged people to do more than Tweet about issues. Her friends added the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, her words spread swiftly and they inadvertently started a movement that has been growing for 3 years.
She asks that we work together because in 2015 we have such advanced technology yet no “full humane dignity of all people.” She continued to speak on how we need to be inclusive and include everyone in the conversation; LGBT, Native Americans, Asians, those living with disability, foreign workers, immigrants and those incarcerated. We must make space for the voices of ALL who have been marginalized because yes all lives matter. “If we wanna live in a society where all lives matter, we have a lot of work to do… we have an incredible opportunity right now to rehumanize a society that’s been poisoned.” says Alicia.
Not one to shy away from the importance of all lives, she spoke of the need to protect the Trans women who are killed and whose murders are so often ignored, of the jail cells overcrowded with black males, of the harmful stereotypes of black women and the list goes on. She also said that “There’s a lot of different ways to solve problems that doesn’t mean putting people in jail.” A statement I agree with whole heartedly. We have a higher number of human beings living in cages than most other countries in the world and that is a shining example of how disgusting and inhumane our ‘Great Nation’ has become.
There have been many adaptions of BLM, such as Native Lives Matter, Trans Lives Matter, Womens Lives Matter, etcetera. While she played it cool in regards to her work being so popularly repurposed she was quick to state that these other hashtags must not be allowed to erase the underlying issue that it is still a crime to be black in America. In regards to Police Lives Matter she was honest about how the large majority of officers sign up for a job that is NOT what they thought. Yes there are a few cops who sign up to kill, but they’re the minority. Suddenly these officers, as human as you and I, are thrust into an environment of fear, pathology and corruption. This changes people.
She also brought up important points that you might not expect. These are important to not just oppressed, but everyone’s right to freedom, liberty and justice.
-Our taxes are paying for police brutality, harassment and corruption. This means our non-white sisters and brothers are literally paying our government to be harassed and killed.
-We allow local police to militarize forces which are then used against PEACEFUL protesters.
-The internet cannot become a pay-to-play game! Without the freedom and range of the internet BLM would not exist. Luckily the FCC recently struck down an opportunity for those in power to silence us, but we must stay alert..
-Realize that we are living in an ‘anti-terrorism’ time period that criminalizes activism. We cannot let our right to free speech and the right to gather in public be taken away.
So what can you do?
1. Learn how power functions.
2. Talk with other people about how it works.
3. Organize.
“Figure out how to build power together to change what we don’t like.”, Alicia Garza.
4. Have a relationship with your elders.
5. Create ongoing engagement with those who are marginalized.
6. Listen and support people. Don’t tokenize. If you feel you might be tokenizing you probably are. Most of us are all guilty of it.
7. Be open to learning.
8 Give resources to those who can build.
I found myself nodding along and hanging on to her words, ferociously scribbling any quote I could catch in my notebook. Like many strong women before her Alicia Garza is a leader we can all learn from. She is the embodiment of individual empowerment. If you’re carrying the weight of oppression on your shoulders or seeing it on your neighbors, if you’re tired of waiting for something to change and feeling like you can’t breathe than join in, be the change, and we can as Alicia says “breathe together”.
During her talk, Alicia recommended the following books as resources and motivation. “Roads to Dominion” by Sara Diamond and “There’s a River” by Vincent Harding.
I support this organization because ever since I was a young girl, walking down the street was a source of fear and uncertainty for me. I was harassed by old men, young men and boys because they felt a right to call me names and suggest inappropriate sexual acts. Together we can change the idea that street harassment is “just a part of life” and something to be expected.
Just last week I was standing at the bus and this older man kept trying to give me his number. I told him no, he followed me to the other side of the stop and asked again. I said no much firmer this time, but he actually had the nerve to put his hand on my back. I knocked it off and told him that is NOT OKAY. Because he was so much older I wasn’t worried about an assault, but it sure was annoying. Quite possibly he does this to young girls or much smaller women who couldn’t fight him off. It’s just ridiculous that I can’t walk down the street without harassment!
According to the Washington Post, 2014 was the year the conversation around street harassment hit a tipping point. On March 5th, let’s take the conversation to the next level at this year’s HOLLA::Rev. Come join leading thinkers and activists in the field to expand the definitions of street harassment and discuss what each of us can do to create on-the-ground activism in our communities.
This year’s event features amazing speakers and performers, including:
– Feminista Jones (#YouOKSis)
– Girl Be Heard
– Linda Sarsour (Arab American Association of New York)
– Quentin Walcott (CONNECT)
– Deanna Zandt (Digital Technologist and Co-Founder of Lux Digital)
– La Roka (Pioneer NYC Hip-hop MC)
– and more!
Speakers will be available to answer questions during the panel session. Tickets are free for students/youth eighteen and under. Tickets for adults/organizations are pay what you can (suggested donations listed). RSVP and Get your tickets.
Any questions about the event can be sent to: holla@ihollaback.org
Preview this book on Amazon.com
Individual Empowerment 