ENCOMPASS Staff Blog

On the early Saturday morning of November 17, approximately 40 other volunteers and I gathered in a parking lot in Chino. We excitedly introduced ourselves to one another as we loaded pick-up trucks with the baked goods we made (or bought), freshly prepared tamales, bottles of soda and water, and all other supplies necessary to make a feast a success. We all understood that it would be no typical fall feast – by any means. In addition to spending a full day with 40 volunteers who were virtually strangers, there were approximately another 30 strangers waiting for us once we were debriefed one last time on reporting inappropriate behavior, the “no-hostage” policy, and passed the metal detectors. These strangers were 18 -25 year old young men and, wards of the State of California’s Hemen G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility.

For many years now Jimi Castillo, who is a Native American Spiritual Leader for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, has invited friends and community members to join him and the young men he serves for a fall feast celebration. His goal is to gather as many wards as possible with people from the “outside” to spend some quality time with another – in the spirit of love and peace. The young men who serve their time there rarely get such an opportunity. The wards live in an environment of intolerance and violence at the facility, and family or friends infrequently visit most of them. Jimi invited me to be of this special day, along with “Kick” actress DeLanna Studi. She and I both happily agreed to attend.

As part of the day’s events, Jimi and the wards sweat together in the early morning in a traditional Native American sweat lodge located on designated sacred ground at the facility. In the sweat lodge, a ceremonial sauna, the men pray over hot coals, side by side, and heal in the spiritual refuge for a couple of hours, at least.

This year, when the men finished sweating, all the volunteers entered the sacred space and greeted the wards. We were permitted to embrace them there - a small action that demonstrated our love and compassion for these young strangers. With introductions and greetings complete, we all got started organizing the feast. A series of long rectangular table were formed in a straight line – a buffet station of sorts – featuring the items we brought to share. For the first time ever, fresh buffalo ribs were BBQ’d in the space while women gathered and made fry bread. Others danced and played drum or listened to the flute player while conversing with a new friend. I decided to help make fry bread, an adventure I had never undertaken. All in all let’s just say that I am grateful for the fact that fry bread is indeed FRIED and that during that process, almost anything looks and tastes good!

Finally, it was time to eat after all the preparation was complete. Never has it brought so much pleasure to my eyes (a sentiment shared by many other volunteers) to see people enjoying their meal. Plates were stacked high with all of the delicious treats, which even included homemade venison chili! Almost all the young men passed me by as I worked the dessert station saying they would be back later. There just wasn’t enough room on their plate!

So, we ate and we talked, and many of us ate again and talked some more. I could feel the warm fall sun starting to set at that time. A harsh reminder to me, and I also imagine to the wards, that the special occasion would soon be over.

After some time was spent presenting gifts to a beautiful Maori family who came to join us from New Zealand and who shared with the group stories of success and failure for them as the indigenous people of their land, the event shifted back to the wards. They were then granted the opportunity to give gifts to people they connected with over the course of the day. Their gifts consisted of handmade necklaces and beaded medicine bags they made over the course of the year. I was presented with a beautifully colored necklace by a young man who was only 54 days away from his release.

I was incredibly touched by the whole experience and really look forward to participating again next year. It was amazing to help make many young people’s day a great one –filled with love, peace, laughter, and good food – all indicators of what a healthy, happy life can contain and hopefully just a taste of what awaits them when they finish serving their time and go home.

Check out photos from the fall feast taken by The Daily Bulletin here: http://dailybulletin.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=375210&thispage=1 target=”_blank”

Throughout the September and October, ENCOMPASS was busy collaborating with Cornerstone—LA’s premiere multi-ethnic, ensemble-based theater company—to deliver “Literature to Life,” an educational theater program that brings powerful books to life on stage. Through this program, Cornerstone presented a deeply moving stage adaptation of “Warriors Don’t Cry,” the memoir of Melba Patillo Beals, one of the Little Rock Nine. The play was followed by a post show discussion and activity, designed and facilitated by ENCOMPASS.

This powerful one-woman show revealed Melba’s experience as a young black teen who accepted the daunting task of integrating the all-white Central High School in 1957. Not knowing the firestorm that lay ahead or the strength it would take to survive it, Melba’s diary entries captured one girl’s courage, despair, pride, and determination, qualities that helped create one of the best-known stories of racial integration in the history of US education. It was far better than I can describe it—and far more intense than I’m willing to—in this blog. I recommend the book to those who haven’t read it (you can even borrow ENCOMPASS’ copy).

I was the facilitator for Warriors Don’t Cry. Before and after each show, I engaged middle and high school students in dialogue about issues ranging from the historical roots of prejudice, to their experiences with diversity and inclusion contemporarily, at their high schools. I also lead students in a creative writing activity about creating change and moderated a Q&A session with the actor, Cornerstone ensemble member, Bahni Turpin.

Once I accepted the role, I felt strangely hesitant to learn more about the ins-and-outs of Melba’s experience. It’s because it reminded me of the time when a woman told me about her personal experience as a part of a group of seven that integrated one of Macon, Georgia’s all girls’ high school in the 60’s.

I remember her telling me a story of the time she and the other six students got together and decided to spread out at lunch, fully immersing themselves into their new, all-white school. One day they went for it, going to different tables, each filled with not-so-welcoming white faces. As they sat, every white student at each table got up and moved elsewhere. Determined not to retreat, they sat and ate their lunch alone (and I assume quite embarrassed, if not defeated).

The thing is, that teenaged trailblazer grew up to be my mother. When I was a kid, that’s all she told me of her experience. She didn’t make it sound really serious or scary, but still, I think that’s all I had really been ready to hear. I guess moms know that kinda thing.

Anyway, the story faded into the back of my mind until last month, when we partnered with Cornerstone to remount “Warrior’s Don’t Cry” to honor the 50th anniversary of the Little Rock Nines’ remarkable impact on American history. Like Compassion Plays, it reminded me why I love what theater and discussion programs offer human relations work—a safe entry point, a space to see and sort through the complexities of the world, and an opportunity to momentarily step outside of ourselves and see just how much more beauty, horror, and power our stories really contain.

But it also reminded me that, even today, my mother still has a story or two to share with me. I don’t expect it to be identical to Melba’s, or like any of the Little Rock Nine’s for that matter. But whatever it was like, after experiencing this program alongside over 1,100 students in Cornerstone’s Literature to Life program, I’m more ready to hear it than ever before.

Cornerstone Theater Company: www.cornerstonetheater.org

Part Three of Three Parts

As part of the schedule of events for the conference, participants were invited to make posters that would be used at the community protest of the Washington Redskins who were playing he Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, October 14th. Since DeLanna and I agreed to participate in the protest, we also spent some time with folks making large, hand-painted posters with powerful statements. The plan was to have three groups of people protest at three key locations: 1) The Paper Mill Hotel in Appleton where the Washington Redskins players and management would load up on buses to depart for Lambeau Field, 2) Oneida’s Parish Hall where the buses would actually pass en route to Lambeau Field, and 3) the parking lot at Lambeau Field.

A sample of the more than 20 signs that were hand-painted at the “Examining Choices That Harm Our Children: Why We Should Question the Washington Redskins, Stories About Columbus, and Other Race-Based Entertainment and School Traditions” conference.

DeLanna and I joined the group at the hotel in the hopes of giving pamphlets to the Redskins players and their management so we gathered early in the morning (7 AM to be exact!) in the cold and drizzle. We were unsuccessful in distributing our materials however; we did get a lot of attention with our posters and our chants “No more Indian mascots!”

The Washington Redskins buses never made their way past Oneida’s Parish Hall (who knows what route they ended up taking to Lambeau Field) so that was unfortunate for the group that was gathered there in the cold and drizzle. Our group at Lambeau Field was much more successful! They got a lot of attention from Packers and Redskins fans alike, although it was mostly negative. But, they did get media attention, which is great when thinking about exposing this issue to a larger audience. Check out the following video news clip.

DeLanna and I had wonderful trip and we are thrilled about how “Kick” was positively received by all of our audiences. We sincerely look forward to the opportunity to travel back to Wisconsin to see and work alongside all of our dear friends and colleagues who are there.

ENCOMPASS would like to extend a very special thanks to (in no particular order):
DeLanna Studi, Actor
Barbara Munson, Facilitator (WIEA, Indian Mascot and Logo Taskforce)
Bob Munson, Tour Manager (WIEA, Indian Mascot and Logo Taskforce)
Christine Munson, Facilitator (WIEA, Indian Mascot and Logo Taskforce)
Cliff Morton (Wisconsin State Human Relations Association)
Barbara Miller (University of Wisconsin Oshkosh)
Keary Mattson (Gresham Elementary and High School)
J.P. Leary (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction)
Dr. Stephanie Fryberg (University of Arizona)
Richie Plass (Changing Winds Advocacy Center)
Ruth Gudinas (Full Circle)
Dorothy Davids (Full Circle)
Carol and Leroy Cardinal
Carol and Harvey Gunderson
Lily Antone-Plass
Ken, Christine and Archer Munson
Brett Munson
John, Brittney and Rio Elise Greendeer
Matt and Song Stewart
The Oneida Nation
The Oneida drum circle and dancers
The Green Bay Packers (for winning Sunday’s game against the Redskins – Go Packers!)
Cheese Curds, black coffee, Grama’s homemade blackberry pie, The Apollan and Famous Dave’s BBQ (mmmmmm)
And the many others whose names I have omitted and with whom we had the pleasure of interacting with on the Wisconsin Fall 2007 “Kick” tour.

Until next time!

Part Two of Three Parts

On October 10, 2007 DeLanna and I departed Los Angeles for Central Wisconsin with a packed tour schedule. We would be doing three shows in three days and then participate in protest against the Washington Redskins who would be playing the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon. “Kick” was booked at UW Oshkosh for a group of Native high school youth who were visiting the campus; the Gresham school, a K-12 public school; and finally, at the first annual conference “Examining Choices That Harm Our Children: Why We Should Question the Washington Redskins, Stories About Columbus, and Other Race-Based Entertainment and School Traditions.”

All of the shows went really well! We had an exceptional turn out for the performances at UW Oshkosh and at Gresham. Although both of these audiences were somewhat quiet and hard to get to participate in the post show discussions, we could all tell that these youth audiences got A LOT from seeing the show. It was amazing to look out into the crowd and see the “wheels spinning” in the minds of these teenagers. Truly, most of them were thinking more deeply about stereotypes and questioning their use for the first time.

Early morning October 13, 2007 before the performance of “Kick” for conference participants at the Oneida Nation Parish Hall.

For the conference on Saturday, October 13th an incredible group of educators, activists, parents, students and community leaders would be in attendance. This was the show I was most looking forward to. My excitement was specifically around the opportunity to meet someone I had been wanting to meet for years – Dr. Stephanie Fryberg (Tulalip), a Social Psychologist currently teaching at the University of Arizona (link).

Dr. Fryberg conducted a study that reveals that exposure to modern day stereotypical images of “Indians” (e.g. Disney’s Pocahontas) significantly lowers the self-esteem and self-efficacy of Native youth. While I worked with the Alliance Against Racial Mascots (ALLARM) for a few years on getting legislation enacted in California to abolish the use of all American Indian mascots from public schools (and by the end of the 2004 legislative session, ONLY the use of “Redskins” mascots), we used Dr. Fryberg’s data while lobbying Assembly Members and Senators. Her research assisted us in our efforts by refuting arguments that this issue was just about political correctness. We had proof that these stereotypes cause harm and that was able to take our conversations to a new level with those who disagreed with the movement.

	At the end of the conference, Juliana Serrano, Dr. Stephanie Fryberg and DeLanna Studi were presented with traditional Oneida hand-woven baskets filled with many more gifts such as sweet grass and sage.

The plan was to have ENCOMPASS present “Kick” before Dr. Fryberg presented her research findings to the conference participants. What a cool collaboration (of sorts)! And, so we did. “Kick” was very well received and the audience was engaged in a very passionate and emotional post show discussion facilitated by Barbara Munson. Most members in the audience shared about how they have been personally affected by these images, and their experience fighting this issue at the state and local level. As a result of the positive experience, many audience members approached us about coming back to Wisconsin in the near future to bring “Kick” to their school or group, and even Dr. Fryberg herself (who so kindly insisted that we all call her Stephanie), suggested that we work something out and come to Arizona one day soon!

Part One of a Three Part Series

DeLanna Studi (actress, “Kick”) and I just returned from a five-day journey in Wisconsin. It was not our first time there. Actually, this trip was our fifth ENCOMPASS Compassion Plays “Kick” tour and we were there just four months ago! Twice in a year! Whew. Wisconsin has started to feel just like home.

Wisconsin? You may ask. Yes. Let me explain. There is some history.

	DeLanna Studi (Cherokee), as Grace Green in ENCOMPASS’ Compassion Play “Kick.”

The state of Wisconsin, like California and almost every other state in our union, has questioned the use of American Indian mascots and logos used by public schools. Efforts to change these mascots in Wisconsin have occurred at the local level, as well as by the state government as there have been several (unsuccessful) attempts to pass legislation prohibiting their use in public, K-12 schools. Given that “Kick” has become such an incredibly valuable tool to educators and activists over the years who wish to question and challenge stereotypes, The Munson family has worked hard to make it possible for this ENCOMPASS Compassion Play to come to Wisconsin from time to time. Through the past five tours, we have brought “Kick” to numerous University of Wisconsin campuses, many high schools (including one high school which uses an American Indian mascot and has been the focus of media attention for their refusal to change), the Wisconsin Indian Education Association annual conference, and several American Indian Studies Summer Institute’s sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Moments before “Kick” begins at the Oneida Nation Turtle School for the American Indian Studies Summer Institute Sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, June 29, 2006.

People often ask us if there is any way to view the plays before deciding to book one for their school, organization or group. In the past , potential clients had to attend a preview show.

Now we have another tool for helping to get the word out about the program and help folks get a better understanding of the content of the shows.

We’re proud to announce that we have completed our first set of video trailers for our Compassion Plays program. Staff member Ben Wright worked hard to put these together to help promote the program. Unfortunately we can’t include the facilitated discussions that occur before and after the play – we want to respect the privacy of our participants. So just remember you are seeing part of the play and only half the program!

Check them out: http://www.encompass.org/videos/

Friday, August 3rd was the last day of the 2007 BRIDGE Program in Pasadena. But as many program directors know (and I am quickly learning), just when you’re done, fully exhausted, and begin remembering your life before the program took over, there’s really only one thing to do: plan a culmination event with the community!

And culminate, we did. With the end of BRIDGE came a big reason to honor the participants, celebrate their successes, and share the magic we made with our friends, family, and community members. We did a little of each at the BRIDGE Artists Exhibit & Program Ceremony at the Coral Center on Sunday, August 5. It was a really special event—thanks to all who made it!

Attendees came expecting to see art. And don’t get me wrong, they did. Youth participants displayed and discussed both the individual and collaborative mosaic masterpieces they created over the course of the four-week program. They finished the event by unveiling their community mosaic piece, which is now prominently and permanently displayed on the front wall of the Coral Center. If you’re in or around the Pasadena area, you pretty much gotta check it out (2750 New York Dr., Pasadena, CA 91107).

So yes, art was presented—very good art, in fact. Art that ENCOMPASS is really proud to have its name connected to. But along with the artistic presentations came something the audience may not have expected. The participants stepped further into vulnerability, presenting themselves and the unique community they created at BRIDGE. What participants couldn’t say in words, they showed through art, and what they couldn’t show through art, they shared in words.

“I come from a loving home.”
“I come from Russia.”
“I come from fire.”
“I come from Altadena.”
“I come from Mars.”
“I come from a large family.”
“I come from violence.”
“I come from educators.”
“I come from Monrovia.”
“I come from my parents.”
“I come from my experiences.”
“I come from Pasadena.”

One-by-one, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, youth participants and interns spoke of where they come from—literal and metaphorical, positive and negative, recent and ancestral. These statements were the inspiration behind the paper mosaic they created, the stories that will continue live in the art they left behind that day. The teens went on to discuss what they learned from BRIDGE, how the program impacted them, and the memories they will take with them as they return to their home and school communities. The 2007 BRIDGE participants’ and youth interns’ names are listed below.

The artistic presentations would have been enough. These young people however had far more to say, to share, and to give. Their delicate presentation touching anecdotes, striking art, and broad smiles demonstrated the beauty that comes when communities explore their differences, rather than striving to escape them. So basically, the moral of the story is: in addition to the beautiful mosaic tile art, a new kind of community was created this summer - one that challenged human relations barriers, worked through artistic roadblocks, and questioned the school - and neighborhood-based cliques many Pasadena teens hold tight to. ENCOMPASS is really proud to call this community of diverse teens and caring adults BRIDGE. And personally, I really enjoyed being a part of it.

Below is some information from the event invitation:

ENCOMPASS cordially invites you to…

BRIDGE 2007 Artist Exhibition & Program Ceremony
CORAL Center, 2750 E. New York Drive, Pasadena, CA 91107
Sunday, August 5, 2007 / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
(Refreshments Provided)

Beginning July 9th, a diverse group of students from Pasadena public and private high schools accepted a challenge—to reflect upon their lives, discuss their diverse experiences, and participate in a new kind of community for Pasadena teenagers. Along the way, these teens learned, practiced, and mastered a daring and expressive visual art form, mosaic tile. Join them as they present their artwork and their experiences to family, friends, and community members at ENCOMPASS’ 2nd annual BRIDGE Artist Exhibit & Program Ceremony.

PARTICIPANTS
Mallory Browne, Alejandra Garcia, Christine Hackett, Kyoko Harris, Phillip Harris, Adam Hecker, Veronica Hernandez, Ryan Jackson, Jake Jones, Marina Lopez, Sarah Mofford, Noel Mollindeo, La Trice Nash, Kimberly Rillorta, Katrina Sherbina, Christian Tringali, Miranda Wakimoto.

PROGRAM STAFF
Lui Amador, Susan B. Goldberg, Jason David, Jenna Delgado, Skyler Jackson, Rose Portillo, Lloyd Wilkey

YOUTH INTERNS
Orlando Alonzo, Summer Burrows, Julia Fouser, Jared McCoy, Yvonne Salazar, Oscar Vasquez

ENCOMPASS STAFF
Skyler Jackson, Lori Nelson, Juliana Serrano, Ben Wright

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Loura L. Alaverdi, Barbara E. Dunn, Vanessa Frank Garcia, Al Hassas, Steven Jones, PhD, Scott Lee, Ellyn McCoy, James Oliva, Tom Saenz, Angela Weimer, Hon. D. Zeke Zeidler

SPECIAL THANKS to the CORAL YOUTH INSTITUTE for hosting BRIDGE 2007!

ENCOMPASS is proud to share our first commercial for Project Spotlight, created by ENCOMPASS friend and supporter Albert Vergara. I hope you enjoy it (let us know in the comments.) Click here to go to the video page or click below to watch the video.

The Project Spotlight program will take place August 14-18 with the benefit performance on August 19th. We are still looking for talented teen performing artists to be part of the program. Click here for more details.

Just a note to point out the blog subscription feed links that are at the lower right (you might have to scroll down to view them.) If you happen to read the ENCOMPASS Staff blog and you have a feed reader subscription, it would be great for you to subscribe. The feeds are run through Feedburner, so it gives us an idea how many folks are visiting our blog. Click here to see our feed list.

What is RSS? Here’s some information from Wikipedia -

RSS is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines or podcasts. An RSS document, which is called a “feed,” “web feed,” or “channel,” contains either a summary of content from an associated web site or the full text. RSS makes it possible for people to keep up with their favorite web sites in an automated manner that’s easier than checking them manually.

RSS content can be read using software called a “feed reader” or an “aggregator.” The user subscribes to a feed by entering the feed’s link into the reader or by clicking an RSS icon in a browser that initiates the subscription process. The reader checks the user’s subscribed feeds regularly for new content, downloading any updates that it finds.

Thanks and happy reading.

Last year I was lucky enough to be part of the 1st ever ENCOMPASS Summer BRIDGE program in Monrovia.

BRIDGE is a unique summer program that uses tile mosaic art to help people talk about themselves and learn about others.

This was my first experience with doing tile mosaics. I was looking forward to learning the skills and techniques that I had seen used at mosaic artist Rose Portillo’s house (and other places). I didn’t know what to expect. Would it be hard to learn? Would I be good at it? What would I learn about myself? I thought I would have fun, but I wasn’t expecting to learn new things about myself and about the other folks in the group, some of whom I’ve know and worked with for a good portion of my life.

As far as the tiling goes, the process is relatively simple. You start with a bunch of regular square tiles…and then…you smash them with a hammer. It’s pretty sweet. Once that’s done, you’ve got some decisions to make. What do you want your piece to say? How can you make what you want to say come through? You really have to look deep into yourself to figure it out. I just went with what felt right to me.

For some this process of intense creation was what made them think. I felt that for me the process of analyzing our finished products was what made me think the most. Looking at the completed work and thinking about the choices I made, looking at other folks work and choices, seeing the similarities and differences between our work, thinking about what sizes, colors and patterns I gravitate towards and what those choices say about my personality, life and style were very eye-opening. Even thought BRIDGE happened almost a year ago, I’m still mulling over what I learned. Through BRIDGE I learned the skills to keep working on projects, ones that help me to keep thinking about things in new and exciting ways. And I still have the first mosaic I made, the one that got me thinking, so I can look at it and keep thinking, seeing new things and making new discoveries.

BRIDGE 2007 is the chance for you to make some discoveries about yourself and other teens from around Pasadena. The program takes place July 9 - August 3 at the CORAL Center in Pasadena. Click here for more information on BRIDGE 2007.

Just a short blog post to say Happy Birthday to DeLanna (our actress from Kick and a confirmed blog reader!) from all of us at ENCOMPASS!

I’m sure there’s a bunch of folks from camp who have websites (or blogs, or whatever), but here are two from folks that I’m still in contact with who have great websites!

Vincent Chandler - http://www.vincentchandler.com/
Karyn Raz - http://www.karynraz.com/
Charna Cassell - http://www.passionatelife.org/
Brian Joseph - http://brianjosephmusic.com/

I’m sure you’re doing something super cool also, why not send me a link to your website or blog or myspace page? Post it in the comments or send me an email: benwright@encompass.org.