Through February 28 • by appointment • Free
Barrios Unidos • 1817 Soquel Ave • Santa Cruz

Visions From Within, on view at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos, showcases the creativity and resilience of individuals currently incarcerated. Through painting, drawing, and poetry, artists share deeply personal reflections on identity, hope, justice, and transformation. Through drawings, painting, and video, the exhibition invites viewers to look beyond the prison walls and see the humanity, talent, and vision that persist in even the most constrained circumstances.

Artists: Paul Aguilar, Kenneth Godoy, Frank Florez, Armando Ybarra, Ira B. Johnson, Joe Felix, Damian Herrera, Grace “Bones” Ward, Christina “Genie” Medina, Sonny Trujillo, Elizabeth Lozano

Visions From Within is available for viewing by appointment. Email Anthony Alejandrez, exhibition curator and UCSC Institute of Arts and Sciences Transitions program coordinator, at aalejan2@ucsc.edu.

Event listing here.

Wednesday • Nov 5 • 12 – 2 PM • Free • wheelchair accessible
UCSC Cowell Hay Barn • 94 Ranch View Rd • Santa Cruz

We gather in recognition of Amah-Ka-Tura, a symbol of the enduring legacy and successful efforts of Patrick Orozco and the Pajaro Valley Ohlone Indian Council. Today, we honor Patrick’s unwavering commitment to protecting the sacred lands along Lee Road, a site of deep cultural and spiritual significance.

This event marks the 50th anniversary of what has come to be known as “Wounded Lee” — a pivotal moment in the struggle to preserve Ohlone heritage. Patrick Orozco’s dedication to the protection, remembrance, and revitalization of the cultural traditions of the Ohlone People, the Chumash People and other Indigenous People continues to inspire generations. We gather in gratitude and remembrance, acknowledging his role as a culture bearer, a protector of the land, and a voice for the ancestors. Lunch will be provided.

Wednesday • Nov 5 • Free • wheelchair accessible
5 PM Doors, 6 PM Film, 7:45 Panel Discussion and Q&A
Cinelux Cinema • 1125 S Green Valley Rd • Watsonville

Join a free community screening of documentary The Mask You Live In (IMDB),exploring the challenges boys and young men face in staying true to themselves while navigating society’s narrow expectations of masculinity.

Expert panel discussion and Q&A to follow.
Spanish subtitles and panel interpretation available.

This event is hosted by Monarch Services and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, in partnership with CineLux Theaters and the Watsonville Film Festival.

Reserve a Spot

Additional Upcoming Screenings:

January 28 – Capitola CineLux
February 23 – Scotts Valley CineLux

Saturday  •  Nov 1  •  4 – 7 PM  •  Ticketed Event  •  Wheelchair accessible
Resource Center for Nonviolence • 615 Ocean Street • Santa Cruz

Honoring the Past • Igniting the Future

Dr. Paul Ortiz is professor of labor history at Cornell University, and a former RCNV board member. He is the author of An African American and Latinx History of the United States, which has recently been banned by the Department of Defense and a growing number of libraries and school districts. His forthcoming book, A Social Movement History of the United States, will be published by Beacon Press.

The Resource Center for Nonviolence is honored to gather around his words for what promises to be a defining address for our times: “The Flames We Tend: Building The New Freedom Movement Now.” 

Join the RCNV for La Ofrenda, a sacred gathering where memory meets movement, as they honor the ancestors of justice and kindle the flames of tomorrow’s freedom struggles. Your presence at this year’s fundraiser directly sustains RCNV’s vital work when the world needs courageous hope more than ever.

Dr. Ortiz has graciously offered to sign books during the dessert reception. RCNV will offer copies for purchase and he is also happy sign a book you already own.
 

GET TICKETS

Monday  •  Oct  27  •  7 PM  •  Ticketed Event  •  Wheelchair accessible
London Nelson Community Center • 301 Center Street • Santa Cruz

Bookshop Santa Cruz welcomes Julian Brave NoiseCat who will share his stunning debut We Survived the Night. Drawing from five years of on-the-ground reporting, We Survived the Night paints a profound and unforgettable portrait of contemporary Indigenous life, alongside an intimate and deeply powerful reckoning between a father and a son. Soulful, formally daring, indelible work from an important new voice.

“Written in gorgeous, sparse prose, We Survived the Night reads like a novel. Told with a blistering honesty, the truth and grit create a beautifully woven coyote story we haven’t heard before… With this, Julian Brave NoiseCat has written a book I’ve been waiting my whole life to read.”—Tommy Orange, author of There, There and Wandering Stars

JULIAN BRAVE NOISECAT is a writer, Oscar-nominated filmmaker, champion powwow dancer, and student of Salish art and history. His writing has appeared in dozens of publications and has been recognized with numerous awards including the 2022 American Mosaic Journalism Prize.

Tickets HERE

Friday  •  October 24  •  6 – 10 PM  •  Ticketed event
Veterans Memorial Building  •  846 Front Street  •  Santa Cruz

Join the People of the Americas Unite event at the Veterans Memorial Building to come together in a spirit of unity, compassion, and democracy to shape a more inclusive approach to immigration and foreign policy. This gathering will highlight the importance of respect for vulnerable communities and our neighbors across Canada, Mexico, Central America, and beyond.

Featured speakers include Dolores Huerta (co-founder of the United Farmworkers Union), Daniel Sheehan (Chief Counsel of the Romero Institute), and Chase Iron Eyes (Executive Director of the Lakota People’s Law Project). To close the evening, renowned Brazilian musician Poranguí will share his powerful music.

The day begins with a free, public rally at the Clock Tower in downtown Santa Cruz at 4 PM. Talks begin indoors at 6 PM, with music starting at 8 PM, and the event concluding at 10 PM.

Video of Huerta in Action!

Tickets HERE