Redistribute Wealth: Campesina Womb Justice

Campesina Womb Justice started in April 2020 at the initiation of the pandemic and has been a consistent & leading source of support for farmworkers! CWJ raised over 200k and distributed cash to over 400 undocumented families last year during the Pájaro floods, now it is time to support CWJ.

María Ramos, a Mexican-indigenous midwife & founder of Campesina Womb Justice, is bringing a collective dream to reality—a healing center located off Freedom Blvd initiating a place of refuge for the community. We will be providing campesina círculos, Mexican Traditional Medicine workshops, retreats, start a community garden, and eventually a Birth Center & Indigenous Midwifery School!

Let this seed be watered into a place of learning and healing for our collective.

Learn more and donate at this GoFundMe link.

REDISTRIBUTE WEALTH: Regeneración

Regeneración was founded on the principle that climate change is a social justice issue with local impacts and must be engaged with on a local level in order to build resilient communities. Supporters help continue raising community voices in the Pajaro Valley as we transition away from fossil fuels. The recently completed Pajaro Photovoice Project tells their personal experiences with the changing climate. 

Two ways to give, through the website or by check to: Community Initiatives (with the memo Regeneration), PO Box 1252, Freedom, CA 95019.

Shapes and Sounds of Freedom – Performance

Fri Aug 30 & Sat Aug 31  • 8 PM • Wheelchair Accessible • $5 – $20 Sliding Scale
Tannery Arts Center, Indexical Studio #119 • 1050 River St • Santa Cruz


Santa Cruz-based artists Infinite Yayah and Thomas Sage Pedersen premiere a new interdisciplinary work,  ‘Shapes & Sounds of Freedom,’ featuring film, musical performance, and dance by choreographer and dancer Micha Scott. These performances will be the culmination of a month-long residency (August 2024) in Indexical’s space at the Tannery Arts Center.

Shapes & Sounds of Freedom

At the heart of ‘Shapes & Sounds of Freedom’ is an audacious exploration of liberation, brought to life through a compelling short film and a dynamic, genre-defying performance, highlighted by the presence of the acclaimed dancer Micha Scott. This artistic endeavor is a multifaceted examination of freedom, combining projected visuals, genre bending songs, avant-garde soundscapes, and contemporary dance in a celebration of liberation.

Through this immersive experience, Yayah, Thomas Sage Pedersen, and Micha Scott invite both performers and spectators into a shared space of emancipation. This performance is not just an artistic expression; it is a communal act of liberation, aiming to free the soul and inspire a collective release from the constraints that bind us. Join us on this transformative journey into the Shapes & Sounds of Freedom, where art becomes the pathway to unshackling the spirit.

BUY TICKETS & MORE INFO HERE

“Where the Olive Trees Weep” – Screening, Discussion

Saturday  • August 24 • 2:00 PM • Wheelchair Accessible • By Donation 
Resource Center for Nonviolence • 612 Ocean St • Santa Cruz

The Resource Center For Nonviolence (RCNV) invites the community to a special screening of “Where the Olive Trees Weep,” a documentary that provides a profound look into the lives of Palestinian farmers amid ongoing conflict. Set against the backdrop of ancient olive groves, this film captures the enduring spirit of a people rooted in the land and their struggle for existence and recognition

This event is not just a film screening but an opportunity for critical engagement with issues that resonate on a global scale. The film’s vivid cinematography and poignant storytelling provide a window into the human dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, revealing the faces behind the headlines

Reservations are encouraged as it is expected this event will fill to capacity. A donation (of any amount) is required for ticket purchase. Learn more HERE.


MILPA’s Doc Watch: 13th

a Series of Documentary Films Focused on Chicano Culture, Local Activism, Media Representation, and Mass Incarceration & Policing

NEXT FILM : 13th (Watch Trailer Here)
Monday • August 19 • 5:30 – 7:30 PM • FREE
315 Main St, Ste 205 • Watsonville 

MILPA’s Doc Watch is a series of documentary film screenings throughout the summer at their Watsonville office intended to stir up conversation, cultivate a critical analysis of issues that have impacted Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, and, most importantly, build community. 

MILPA Collective is, first and foremost, a movement space designed for, and led by, formerly incarcerated and system-impacted individuals. They are committed to supporting next-generation infrastructure and leadership within communities, organizations, and systems. They center cultural healing, racial equity and LOVE in their practices and advocacy.

“MILPA” is derived from the Uto-Aztecan Nahuatl word “milli” and is an agricultural process that describes the Las Tres Hermanas (3 sisters) planting system. Traditionally, the sisters were corn, beans, and squash, yet they are interchangeable with various other vegetables and fruits. The three crops grow interdependently to support each other. MILPA metaphorically uses that process to create a working philosophy rooted in anti-colonial and anti-racist ideology.

 Learn more here

Phone Bank to White Voters to Stop MAGA with SURJ National

Every Saturday , Sunday and Wednesday • Online

Find a home with the Many Over the MAGA Power Team this election season to keep Trump out of office!

SURJ phonebanks have one of the highest rates of success in the country. No matter whether you’re brand new caller or a seasoned organizer, if you join these banks, you can trust that you are putting your effort into a method that works. And you’ll get to learn powerful organizing skills from seasoned leaders!

In these phonebanks, we are reaching out to undecided white voters in key battleground states- Wisconsin, Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona. Throughout the bank, you’ll receive training, support, and 1-1 coaching. Never phonebanked before and are nervous? So many of our bankers start there– and through practice and support, they have become powerful and effective callers.

Our conversations are based on open-ended questions and deep listening. You do not need to be an expert on the issues or a candidate- our phone banks are successful because we deeply connect with voters and make them feel heard.

Want to hear what a phonebank is like? Check out this video interviewing SURJ phonebankers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3w4tNKPTY8

Find a phone bank to attend here!

9th Annual Pajaro Valley Pride Celebration

Sunday • Aug 18 • 11 AM – 4 PM 
YWCA  • 340 E. Beach St • Watsonville •Wheelchair accessible • FREE

Come enjoy the 9th Annual Pajaro Valley Pride Celebration!  There will be local artists, vendors, and food booths plus local LGBTQ+ organizations and great entertainment all afternoon. The Kick-off march starts at 11:30 AM at the YWCA, 340 E Beach St, Watsonville. 

More info HERE

Action: Write a Letter to the Editor in Support of Liberated Ethnic Studies in PVUSD

Why is the Santa Cruz Sentinel standing against the PVUSD community’s call to bring back CRE and liberated ethnic studies?

On July 20th, the Santa Cruz Sentinel wrote an editorial supporting the cancellation of the ethnic studies contract with the consulting firm, Community Responsive Education (CRE).

We are asking our community and supporters to write a letter to the editor to show them that the community supports the CRE contract!

How to write a letter to the editor

  • State who you are and why you want the PVUSD school board to bring back the CRE contract (some ideas and talking points on next slide)
  • Your letter must be 175 words or less – be concise!
  • Say that you are responding to the editorial on “Why the PVUSD school board and superintendent need to uphold cancellation of ethnic studies contract”
  • You have to provide your name, address, and phone number to verify your identity, but your contact information will not be published.
  • Send your letter to editorial@santacruzsentinel.com 
  • See www.santacruzsentinel.com/submit-letters/ for more information

Some ideas for what to say in your letter

If you are a student, parent, or someone who has engaged with CRE and ethnic studies at PVUSD:

  • Write about how liberated ethnic studies has positively impacted you/your child/your students/community.
  • Use your own experiences from participating in ethnic studies classes or the ethnic studies town hall to refute the tired accusations that CRE and liberated ethnic studies are divisive.
  • Your personal testimonies and stories are powerful!

More general and background points:

  • The original decision in 2021 to work with CRE was made after a robust decision-making process involving input from many local community groups and community members. Why is the current PVUSD board and the Santa Cruz Sentinel disrespecting this process and the community’s input?
    • Some of the community groups that were consulted include: The Tobera Project, MILPA, Digital NEST, Food What?!, Youth NOW, Regeneración Pajaro Valley Climate Action, Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, White Hawk Dance Group, Early Academic Outreach Partnership Center, Migrant/Seasonal Head Start, and others
  • PVUSD’s ethnic studies curriculum was co-developed between CRE, PVUSD teachers, and community organizations like the Tobera Project – CRE’s work with PVUSD reflects the values of our community!
  • PVUSD students and community have overwhelmingly come out in favor of CRE over the past school year. Ignoring our voices is undemocratic.
    • Over 240 public comments have been made by yy community members in the last 9 months. This includes 99 comments by PVUSD students. No students, parents, or teachers have commented in opposition to CRE.
    • PVUSD ethnic studies teachers, Asian American community members, and Jewish community members have all written open letters in support of the CRE contract.
    • Over 1,700 individuals and 65 organizations have signed the public petition in support of the CRE contract.
  • Teaching about different kinds of oppression is not oppressive. It is the only way to help our community move forward and overcome it. Suppressing discussions of oppressions that students face is censorship.