MILPA’s Doc Watch: POWER

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

NEXT FILM : POWER • Tuesday • Sept. 3 • 5:30 – 7:30 PM  • FREE 
315 Main St, Ste 205 • Watsonville 

Power explores the scope and scale of the American police over hundreds of years. Tracing the money, political power, and bipartisan support that has created modern policing. Watch trailer here  

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

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