TODO Austin January 2015

Volume VI / Jan 2015

INSIDE

Someone’s knocking on the door...

India Republic Day Snehal Shingavi Rama Tiru Cañonazo

GREGORIO CASAR

ORA HOUSTON

“PIO” RENTERIA

DELIA GARZA

‘OPPORTUNITY’ Districts signal a new era for City Council

The

AusTin symphony

Winter/Spring 2015

Please join us on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:30am for a screening of a film from the golden age of Mexican cinema at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. Lunch will be served to seniors after the film. Please arrive 15 minutes early.

Admission is free.

JAN 27

El Mago - Cantinflas goes from the streets of Mexico to the palaces of the Far East where he becomes a Caliph, a magician, and other characters, each one providing another facet of Cantinflas’ human comedy.

FEB 24

Si Yo Fuera Diputado - Tired of the same politicians, who never do anything to improve their welfare, people from a poor neighborhood decide to support the shoeshine boy (Cantinflas) for public office.

MAR 31 APR 28 MAY 26

El Seminarista - Returning to his home town, seminarian Miguel is forced to trade the robes for a charro costume in order to solve several problems that appear in his way, including the female kind.

Dicen Que Soy Mujeriego - Pedro is an incorrigible womanizer until he falls in love with a beautiful young woman- but she doubts his love is real. Can he convince her of the sincerity of his feelings?

Viva Mi Desgracia - A meek and mild young man who imbibes a magical concoction that counts tequila among its ingredients, transforms him into a two-fisted brawler and ladies’ man.

For a special screening contact Linda Crockett at 512-974-3789 or linda.crockett@austintexas.gov.

Perfect date nights start here.

Alison BAlsom

The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center 600 River Street, Austin, TX 78701 | www.maccaustin.org | (512) 974-3772 The City of Austin is proud to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require special assistance for participation in our programs or use of our facilities please call 512-974-3772 or 711 Relay Texas. La ciudad de Austin está comprometida al Acta de Americanos Incapacitados. Si requiere asistencia para participar en nuestros programas por favor llame al teléfono número 512-974-3772 o 711 Relay Texas.

kAren Gomyo

UpCoMing eventS: Alison Balsom, trumpet January 9/10 karen Gomyo, violin february 6/7

ConCert SponSorS

Media SponSorS

TickeTs/info

(512) 476-6064 or austinsymphony.org

LOGO DESIGN // BRAND DEVELOPMENT // WEB DESIGN 512.827.2618 // SUNDARAMDESIGN.COM 4201 West Parmer Lane Building C • Suite 250 • Austin, TX 78727

C E N T R O U R B A N O HABLA Austin

HABLA announces new leadership Paul Saldaña, the co-founder and facilitator of the Hispanic Advocates Business Leaders of Austin (HABLA), officially stepped down from that position on Dec. 29 after his successful bid for AISD school board trustee. He will be sworn in Jan. 6 along with three other newly elected trustees. A new core group of HABLA Latino leaders have stepped up to volunteer and lend their leadership and communication skills to develop a strategic plan for HABLA moving forward. Marisa Y. Limón, Celso Baez III and José A. Velásquez will serve as interim HABLA facilitators and administrators. HABLA is a think tank group and forum that discusses and develops sustainable solutions on current affairs, public policies and quality of life issues impacting the local Austin Hispanic/Latino community.

HABLA meeting led by Paul Saldana

GAACC Connect Forum The Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce holds a quarterly Connect Forum on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 3-5 p.m. to provide minority-owned businesses an opportunity to learn about supplier diversity initiatives, upcoming projects/contracts and form relationships with procurement departments of corporations and public agencies.

Free at the Asian American Resource Center in the AARC Ballroom.

AVEY helps launch new childhood center Since Fall 2013, Austin Voices for Education and

Delivering diversity in media to Austin for more than five years, TODO Austin printed journal, and

TODOAustin.com

offer

news, opinion, cultural arts and lifestyle stories written by, about, and for all ethnic communities in

multicultural

Austin.

Youth has been facilitating planning for the former Allan Elementary building. An Early Childhood Center is underway, with adult classes and a STEM Resource Center in the works. The Early Childhood Center currently has three Child Inc. Head Start classes with 51 students, with more classes being added soon. AVANCE and the Literacy Coalition will begin offering programming for parents and young children in Spring 2015. Other partners, including Skillpoint Alliance, are planning adult education programs and STEM summer camps this year. Also, the AISD Parent Support office has moved to Allan. The building will also be used to house community meetings and events.

TEDxYouth Austin to host youth gathering TEDxYouth Austin is hosting a community forum on Feb. 14 at Westlake High School, open to all middle school and high school youth in and around Austin. With engaging stories, inspiring performances and intriguing presentations, students will celebrate what it means to make the invisible visible. Registration is free but limited. TEDx started 30 years ago as a program of local, self-organized events. For more info, visit www.tedxyouthaustin.com Council amends Housing Ordinance The Austin City Council voted unanimously on Dec. 11 to approve an amendment to the Housing Discrimination Ordinance (Fair Housing) which adds source of income as a protected class, effective Jan. 12. Approximately 5,700 families in the area receive tenant-based rental assistance each month. The source of income amendment includes the Housing Choice Voucher program, formerly Section 8, which works to ensure that families live in quality affordable housing. The program, administered by the Housing Authority of the City of Austin, works with private-sector landlords and is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Other rentalassistance programs are coordinated by the Travis County Housing Authority, Caritas, the Salvation Army, the Social Security Administration, the Veterans Administration and Austin Travis County Integral Care, among others.

Volume VI, Number 9 PUBLISHER/EDITOR // Gavin Lance Garcia info@todoaustin.com ART DIRECTOR // Dave McClinton // dmdesigninc.com ASSOCIATE EDITORS // Evelyn C. Castillo, Paul Saldaña, Katie Walsh, Erica Stall Wiggins SENIOR EDITORS // Lobo Corona, Sonia Kotecha, Diana Sanchez, Lesley Varghese, Yvonne Lim Wilson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS // Anthony Garcia, Mia Garcia, Harish Kotecha, Alexandra M. Landeros, Callie Langford, Genoveva Rodriguez, Monica Peña, Blake Shanley

City launches Austin: Welcoming City survey

The City of Austin launched the Austin: Welcoming City survey on December 19 to develop a shared definition and vision for Austin as a “welcoming city” to international newcomers.

The goal is to capture the experience and perspective of Austin/Travis County residents to inform and define what “welcoming” means in the context of our community.

“The purpose of the Austin: Welcoming City Initiative is to develop a shared definition and vision for Austin as a ‘Welcoming City,’” said Angela-Jo Touza-Medina, City of Austin Commission on Immigrant Affairs Chair. “Shared is the key word - the visioning document that results from this process must be owned by this community - hence the importance of residents taking a moment or two to engage in this conversation.”

Chair of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs, Angela-Jo Touza Medina.

Economic Development Department Director.

“With 24 percent of all start-ups in Austin founded by foreign-born entrepreneurs, it is essential for our continued success that new immigrants feel welcome in Austin.”

Last year, the City of Austin joined the ranks of the Welcoming Cities and Counties Initiative

by Welcoming America, a national grassrootsdriven collaborative, that works to align innovative cities to promote mutual respect and cooperation within their communities to help immigrants integrate into the social fabric of their adopted hometowns.

The Austin Welcoming City Survey, which will be available through the end of February, 2014, can be found at: http://austintexas.gov/ internationalwelcome.

Top Three Facts about Foreign-Born Austin Entrepreneurs: In 2011, 859 immigrants in Austin were techpreneurs – which ranks Austin at number 10 among U.S. cities.

According to Brookings, the Austin region ranked number 36 in the U.S. for individuals employed in foreign-owned establishments. Ranking represents a total of 29,180 jobs, or 4.6 percent of our entire private employment workforce.

Austin has a ratio of 9.8 immigrant entrepreneurs per 10,000 workers - higher than Dallas (6.8) and Houston (9.6)

Input from the survey will directly inform a visioning document for Austin as a Welcoming City and result in a subsequent report that will be finalized in summer 2015.

“Austin’s immigrant population is a key contributor to our economy and cultural community,” said Kevin Johns, City of Austin WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS/ARTISTS // Güner Arslan, Maria Cristina Gutierrez-Boswell, Alejandro Caceres, Adriana Cadena, Gabriela Candanoza, Roy Casagranda, Cindy Casares, Gabriela Castaneda, Priscilla Cortez, Nora De La Rosa, Rose Di Grazia, Ashwin Ghatalia, Christian Gonzalez, Laura Donnelly Gonzalez, Jessica Ellison, Layla Fry, Mark Guerra, Mari Hernandez, Yadira Izquierdo, Korina Jaimes, Chaille Jolink, Ryan Jordan, Ramey Ko, María Teresa Kumar, Callie Langford, Heather Lee, Julia Lee, Esteban Lopez, Liz Lopez, Otis Lopez, David Marks, JoJo Marion, Ben Monterroso, Caitlin Moore, Cristina Parker, Raul Rangel Uribe, Esther Reyes, Marion Sanchez, Shubhada Saxena, Mark Silverman, Dani Slabaugh, Corey Tabor, Rama Tiru, Blanca Valencia, Kristina Vallejo, Tara Veneruso.

WEB DESIGN // Mike Hernandez COVER // Opportunity Districts and Austin

The Austin: Welcoming City initiative is led by the City of Austin’s Commission on Immigrant Affairs and supported by the City of Austin Economic Development Department, Austin/ Travis County Health and Human Services Department, the Immigrant Services Network of Austin, Travis County Health and Human Services & Veterans Service Research & Planning Division, Caritas of Austin, and Capital Metro.

TODO Austin // Multicultural Media for All of Austin. TODO Austin is a free print and online journal for all of Austin highlighting our multicultural heritage and promoting the concept of community in an ethnically diverse city.

Circulation throughout Austin, from the Westside’s Pennybacker Bridge to the Eastside’s Montopolis Bridge.

TODO Austin is published by Spark Awakened Publishing. © 2015 Spark Awakened Publishing. All rights reserved.

The views expressed here are the authors and should not be taken to represent those of Spark Awakened Publishing or of any of its associates or partners.

ADVERTISING/SUBMISSIONS/EDITORIAL: info@todoaustin.com, 512.538.4115 TODO AUSTIN // JAN 2015 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 03

Seven Keys to Fulfilling Your Destiny

By Corey Tabor

As we begin a New Year, many are excited about New Year’s resolutions. So often with a new year, we feel we have a chance for a new start. This is true. You can start new right now and start seeing changes in your life. Your goals can’t simply be based on what you want to do but need to be based on who you are.

For years, I read and studied purpose discovery based on a number of factors including passions, gifts, abilities, skills, personality and experience.

Throughout the years, I was able to narrow my life purpose down to the following statement: To inform, instruct and inspire people to fulfill their purpose. This purpose allows me to use my gifts, abilities and skills to make a difference in the world. With my purpose in focus, I am able to live out my purpose in every role I have.

From purpose discovery, I began to look for principles that I could use daily to live out my purpose.

1. Discipline – The ability to say “yes.” You have to say yes to an opportunity to fulfill your destiny.

2. Decisions – The ability to say “no.” Sometimes you have to say no, so you can say yes to something else.

3. Excellence – Doing the best you can with what you have. So often, people don’t get started in their destiny because they are waiting for something instead of doing the best they can with what they currently have.

4. Effort - Doing the best you can even when you don’t have to. The difference between good and great often lies in the effort one is willing to put forth to see their destiny fulfilled.

5. Expectation – Learning to manage your expectations provides the fuel needed to continue pursuing your destiny. I share more in a presentation I have about the “Expectation Equation” that allows you to experience surprise and satisfaction more than disappointment, all based on management of expectations.

6. Education – Learning to learn. Education is not simply about gathering or memorizing information but it is learning how you learn. Once you learn to learn, you can learn anything needed to move you forward towards your destiny. Learning to learn involves understanding your learning style and gaining insights into how you learn best.

7. Experience – Matching your education with experiences that allow the education to stick. There is a “stickiness” factor to experience that moves our education from theory to reality. As we gain real life experience in the area we are learning, we can have the wisdom to apply our education to our lives.

These principles are what I call “Seven Keys to Fulfilling Your Destiny.” There are two “D’s” connected to five “E’s” that allow you to fulfill your destiny.

1. Discipline 2. Decisions 3. Excellence 4. Effort 5. Expectation 6. Education 7. Experience Over my life, I have used these seven keys to fulfill my destiny and I believe that if you apply these principles, you can see results in your life as well. This is a brief overview of information.

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If you are able to maximize each of these seven keys, you will see doors opening to your destiny.

Corey Tabor is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Full Life Community Church, a missional, maturing, multicultural church in Austin that lives to reconcile people to God and one another. He is also Program Director for Austin LifeGuard, a sexual risk avoidance program in Central Texas.

In addition to being Founder and President of III (Triple I) Coaching, LLC, a life coaching and ministry coaching firm, he has written various books, workbooks and workshops designed to inform, instruct and inspire people and organizations to fulfill their God-given purpose.

Wealth inequality has widened along racial, ethnic lines since end of Great Recession

Meanwhile, the median wealth of non-Hispanic black households fell 33.7 percent, from $16,600 in 2010 to $11,000 in 2013. Among Hispanics, median wealth decreased by 14.3 percent, from $16,000 to $13,700. For all families — white, black and Hispanic — median wealth is still less than its pre-recession level.

A number of factors seem responsible for the widening of the wealth gaps during the economic recovery. As the Federal Reserve notes, the median income of minority households (blacks, Hispanics and other non-whites combined) fell 9 percent from its 2010 to 2013 surveys, compared with a decrease of 1 percent for non-Hispanic white households. Thus, minority households

By Rakesh Kochhar and Richard Fry may not have replenished their savings as much Pew Research Center as white households or they may have had to The Great Recession, fueled by the crises in the draw down their savings even more during the housing and financial markets, was universally recovery. hard on the net worth of American families.

But even as the economic recovery has begun Also, financial assets, such as stocks, have to mend asset prices, not all households have recovered in value more quickly than housing benefited alike, and wealth inequality has since the recession ended. White households are much more likely than minority households widened along racial and ethnic lines. to own stocks directly or indirectly through The wealth of white households was 13 times retirement accounts. Thus, they were in better the median wealth of black households in position to benefit from the recovery in financial 2013, compared with eight times the wealth in markets.

2010, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of data from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances. Likewise, the wealth of white households is now more than 10 times the wealth of Hispanic households, compared with nine times the wealth in 2010.

The current gap between blacks and whites has reached its highest point since 1989, when whites had 17 times the wealth of black households.

The current white-to-Hispanic wealth ratio has reached a level not seen since 2001. (Asians and other racial groups are not separately identified in the public-use versions of the Fed’s survey.)

All American households since the recovery have started to reduce their ownership of key assets, such as homes, stocks and business equity.

But the decrease in asset ownership tended to be proportionally greater among minority households. For example, the homeownership rate for non-Hispanic white households fell from 75.3 percent in 2010 to 73.9 percent in 2013, a percentage drop of two percent. Meanwhile, the homeownership rate among minority households decreased from 50.6 percent in 2010 The stability in household wealth follows a to 47.4 percent in 2013, a slippage of 6.5 percent. dramatic drop during the Great Recession.

From 2007 to 2010, the median net worth of While the current wealth gaps are higher than American families decreased by 39.4 percent, at the beginning of the recession, they are not from $135,700 to $82,300. Rapidly plunging at their highest levels as recorded by the Fed’s house prices and a stock market crash were the survey. Peak values for the wealth ratios were recorded in the 1989 survey — 17 for the whiteimmediate contributors to this shellacking. to-black ratio and 14 for the white-to-Hispanic Our analysis of Federal Reserve data does reveal ratio. But those values of the ratios may be a stark divide in the experiences of white, black anomalies driven by fluctuations in the wealth and Hispanic households during the economic of the poorest — those with net worth less than recovery. From 2010 to 2013, the median wealth $500. Otherwise, the racial and ethnic wealth of non-Hispanic white households increased gaps in 2013 are at or about their highest levels observed in the 30 years for which we have data. from $138,600 to $141,900, or by 2.4 percent.

Leaving aside race and ethnicity, the net worth of American families overall — the difference between the values of their assets and liabilities — held steady during the economic recovery. The typical household had a net worth of $81,400 in 2013, according to the Fed’s survey — almost the same as what it was in 2010, when the median net worth of U.S. households was $82,300 (values expressed in 2013 dollars).

“Sankofa – Art of Africa” is now showing through March 14, 2015, with items donated by Curtis and Nina Batts, Ann Marie Harrison, Timothy Koock, Ada Simond and Robyn Turner.

Classes continue including “Keys of Life” with Daphne McDole.

Piano lessons are every Tuesday, 4:30-7:30 p.m. and Thursday, 7-9 p.m. If interested in “Keys of Life,” please call 512-833-0546 or email missmcdole@keysoflife.com. “Rhythm is Life” African Drum Classes are Saturday, 2-3:30 p.m. Dance studio instructor is Ibrahim Aminou teaching basic African cultural rhythms. Drum classes are $50 (adult) $25 (child) for a six-week session or $10 (adult) $5 (child) drop-in. Buy your Carver Cultural Class Card today! Six to 12-week punch cards for families, adults and youth.

Call to Collectors! Do you have a collection of baseball cards, stamps, books, or any other collection related to African American history or culture? Please email gaila.sims@austintexas.gov to participate in a future Carver event.

Genealogy Basics: An Introductory Class on Genealogy is every fourth Saturday of the month, beginning January, 2015, from 10-11 a.m. at the Carver Genealogy Center. Due to limited space, participants are required to RSVP. For more info contact Cynthia at 512-974-4380.

IACT celebrates Republic Day of India

By Ashwin Ghatalia

On Saturday, January 24, the Indian American Coalition of Texas (IACT) is hosting a banquet at the Asian American Resource Center to celebrate the 66th anniversary of India’s Republic Day (the official Republic Day is January 26). This marks the day in 1950 when a newly independent India declared itself a secular democratic republic, enshrining individual rights in its constitution.

The day, however, has been celebrated since 1930 as the day of independence, when the founding fathers of India declared their intention for complete independence from Britain and acknowledging the need for fundamental rights for all. These early thoughts have been enshrined in the Constitution of India.

Thursday, Jan. 15, ESB-MACC and Cesar Chavez Foundation present “Cesar’s Last Fast” film screening. Then, on Saturday, Jan. 17, we’ll have the closing reception in the gallery with the Cesar Chavez Foundation. At the end of the month on Saturday, Jan. 31, look for the Jaime Arredondo Gallery Opening.

Tuesday, Jan. 27, the Cine de Oro series continues with a screening of “El Mago.” Cantinflas goes from the streets of Mexico to the palaces of the Far East where he becomes a Caliph, a magician, and other characters, each one providing another facet of Cantinflas’ human comedy. Seniors will enjoy a healthy lunch immediately following the film. Please arrive by 9:15 a.m. as screenings begins at 9:30 a.m. Admission is free.

Currently on exhibit in the Sam Z. Coronado Gallery is 2014 Arte del Corazón annual youth art exhibit. Each December, the ESB-MACC works with area schools and organizations to give students the opportunity to display their artistic creations for the general public. Exhibit runs through Jan. 17, 2015.

Free parking is available to those attending our programs, galleries and special events. A temporary parking pass is available in the main office.

Within Austin’s growing diverse Indian-American community, IACT fills the overarching need for public voice and civic engagement related to public affairs affecting both this community as well as the community at-large. IACT’s mission is to educate, engage and empower the Indian American community towards greater civic engagement and participation in their local community.

This year’s banquet keynote speaker will be Dr. Sayu Bhojwani, the founder of NALP (New American Leadership Project), the only organization in the country preparing first and second generation immigrants for civic leadership. Bhojwani was New York City’s first Commissioner of Immigration Affairs. Among her many achievements are roles including frequent contributor to the Huffington Post, CNN in America and a visiting scholar at Rutgers

Friday, Jan. 9, 6-8 p.m. is the “Faces and Places of Asia” opening reception. This solo exhibition beckons viewers to join in photographer Rama Tiru’s journey and soak in an expansive visual display of the Asian continent. Some places, like the Great Wall of China, feel familiar and some faces invite friendship, like the smile from a woman from Mandhava, India. But the show reflects other images that depict new scenes and evoke solemn reflection.

Refreshments provided. Free.

In January, look for “The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs” film screening + Civil Rights Exhibit debut. The period of time between the mid-1950s to the late 1960s in the U.S. was defined by the struggle for civil rights and new radical campaigns of civil resistance and nonviolent protest. Moved to action by the African American movement, Asian Americans fought with the same spirit to solve shared issues and an end to discriminatory practices.

Among these early activists were Grace Lee Boggs, Yuri Kochiyama and Larry Itliong, whose contributions are often overlooked in American history textbooks. Learn about their valiant and unique contributions to this era, as they fought alongside other minority groups, above and beyond their Asian American heritage. Free.

AARC Ballroom.

University Eagleton Institute of political affairs.

Among the invited guests at the Republic Day India Banquet are local and state elected leaders, with this year’s special guest of honor Parvathaneni Harish, Consulate General of India, Houston.

Harish is the veteran of Indian foreign services and also served as joint secretary and officer on special duty under the Honorable Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari.

Each year, IACT also likes to recognize local Indian American leaders who exemplify IACT’s mission.

This year’s IACT trailblazer award will go to Dr. Snehal Shingavi, assistant professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin. Shingavi teaches South Asian literatures in English, Hindi, and Urdu, as well as the literature of the South Asian diaspora. He is the author of “The Mahatma Misunderstood the politics and forms of literacy

nationalism in India” (Anthem Books, 2013).

Among his many academic pursuits, Shingavi is an activist who works towards promoting social justice for all underrepresented communities through social action and demonstration. IACT will also be recognizing Ketan Kharod, J.D. with a Community Engagement award for his ongoing commitment to community leadership. Kharod is the President of the Board of Directors of Asian American Family Support Services (formerly known as SAHELI) and an active participant in Austin’s “Be the Change” National Day of Service Event.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are $45 per person and will include a networking opportunity, formal sit down dinner, keynote address, awards and cultural program. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.iactaustin.org or by emailing, iactaustin@gmail.com

Historically, many outsiders came to India, some as invaders, some simply to explore opportunities, some to educate, some to escape from persecution. Many made India their home. Protecting individual rights, concern for minorities, celebrating diversity and secularism – all create a set of shared values between India and the U.S. Some of those values expressed in the U.S. Constitution are embodied in the Indian Constitution.

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ASIAN AUSTIN

ASIAN AUSTIN’S A-LIST

Snehal Shingavi

By Yvonne Lim Wilson

Snehal Shingavi is assistant professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin, where he teaches South Asian literatures in English, Hindi, and Urdu, as well as the literature of the South Asian diaspora.

He is this year’s recipient of the Indian American Coalition of Texas’ Trailblazer Award, for “the ways in which he educates, engages and empowers our community towards social activism and civic engagement.” Shingavi received his PhD in English from the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of “The Mahatma Misunderstood: the politics and forms of literary nationalism in India” (Anthem Books, 2013). He has also translated Munshi Premchand’s “Sevasadan” (Oxford, 2005) and the Urdu short-story collection, “Angaaray” (Penguin, 2014). He has a forthcoming translation of Agyeya’s, “Shekhar: A Life” (Oxford, 2014) and of Bhisham Sahni’s autobiography, “The History of Today” (Penguin, 2015). He is currently working on a book-length manuscript titled, “Slumdogs and Millionaires: the aesthetics of poverty in the era of neoliberal development.”

Asian Austin (AA): Did you know what you wanted to do with your life or did it just happen?

Snehal Shingavi (SS): Does anyone know what they want to do? My mother jokes with me all the time that she remembers me saying with deep conviction that I wanted alternatively to be an economist or an environmental activist. Reality is much more serendipitous than the plans we make. I became an English major late in my academic life, and the decision to become an academic was not really a decision. I just had a lot of questions that I wanted to answer and I wanted the time to answer them. There are days when I’m surprised that I am an academic and a teacher. Activism, on the other hand, found me.

AA: What was your attraction to your vocation?

What drew you to do the work you do?

SS: Literature poses very interesting questions about our relationship to each other and our ability to understand people who are not really at all like us. This is also what drew me to activism. I find it extraordinary that although we are all driven by the same basic desires and needs, we express them in such profoundly different ways. Part of what excited me about the work that I do (both academically and as an activist) is that the representations of other people who are so similar to ourselves is always presented to us as if it is completely alien and occasionally terrifying. I like being in a position to break down those walls. This is oddly enough the reason that I teach, translate literature, and am an activist all at the same time.

AA: What does the American Dream mean to you?

SS: Honestly, it’s a broken promise. The majority of people who live in this country have no opportunity to take advantage of the American Dream. Even the greatest American novel about the American Dream, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” exposes the American Dream as sham. I think that we all have dreams and hopes for our futures and that they are constantly frustrated by economic and political realities that we encounter.

Part of what has drawn me to activism is the idea that the American Dream is actually not possible for so many people who desperately want it.

AA: Is there anything particular about Austin that inspires you?

SS: I’ve met some really outstanding people in Austin who are doing some incredible work. You might not know what is actually happening in this city under the surface until you stop and look. For instance, Cristina Tzintzun at the Worker’s Defense Project is doing amazing work making sure that day laborers in Austin actually have their rights respected. Or my friend, Dave Cortez, who has tirelessly been working to make sure that environmental regulations are put in place and

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enforced in Austin. What’s really great about this city is the people who have been trying really hard to make it a better place, especially for those who are least able to demand justice for themselves.

AA: Asian Americans are becoming a powerful force in Austin economically, culturally, politically and otherwise. How do you see Asian Americans fitting into the larger Austin culture and community?

SS: I think that we ought not think of Asian Americans as a homogeneous block. There are some Asian Americans, quite well off, who are playing a role in the civic and economic life of Austin. There are others, working class, refugees, immigrants, who are not part of this powerful force. I think that there are several roles for Asian Americans to play, but too often what gets prioritized are a sanitized set of power politics of respectability, and not the detailed attention to the kinds of things the neediest people in Austin need. So there are very important differences between Vietnamese and Cambodian Texans, on the one hand, and perhaps Indian and Chinese Texans.

AA: What do you consider the most important cultural value for you and for those close to you?

SS: I think I’d like to begin by questioning the

idea of “culture” and of “value” embedded in culture. In India, for instance, there is no one “Indian culture” (my family happens to be Jain, for instance) and every “culture” has a variety of “values” many of which are contradictory.

On the one hand, we like to think that the family is very important in Indian culture, but if you go and read the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that you have to be willing to slaughter your family in the service of your “dharma.” Or, more recently, people who believe that the government is corrupt from bottom-to-top in India are the same ones who believe that Narendra Modi’s clean chit for the massacres in Gujarat comes from uncorrupted judicial sources. If there is one value I hold, it is one that my parents taught me, and that is to look at the world from the perspective of the most downtrodden and subjugated, and to remain unsatisfied until there are no more downtrodden and subjugated people in the world any more.

AA: In light of the award you will be receiving from IACT, for you, what does it mean to be a “trailblazer” in the community? What are some of your “trailblazing” goals for the future?

SS: I’m humbled to be thought of as a trailblazer. Mostly, I feel like I do what so many other people in our community are doing, namely fighting for justice for others. I’ve been proud to consider myself a student of important Indian activists like JP Narayan, MN Roy, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Yassin Malik, and Irom Sharmila (among others). I like being an activist because it forces me out of my comfort zones and into spaces where I have to meet new people and learn new things and marvel at what other people are brave and daring enough to try. I’d like to continue to do this.

AA: Anything else you’d like to share?

SS: As an Indian American kid, I never fit in with other Indian Americans, who seemed to have very clear goals and paths in mind. I had questions. I guess I would just like to say to all of the other Asian kids out there who don’t fit in and who only have questions that there are real, meaningful things, that your questions can contribute to the world if you have the courage to keep asking them.

--------Asian Austin at www.AsianAustin.com is an online news source featuring news about Asian American people, organizations and events in Austin. Visit the Asian Austin website and “Like” us on Facebook for calendar and event details! Contact publisher Yvonne Lim Wilson at yvonne@asianaustin.com.

“Faces and Places of Asia” PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT

by Rama Tiru Although Rama Tiru has already travelled twice around the world, she believes her journey—a boundless artistic quest emboldened by a passion for photography—is still ever evolving. The current solo exhibition at the Asian American Resource Center (free opening reception, Friday, Jan. 9, 6-8 p.m.) beckons viewers to join her in this journey, to soak in an expansive visual display of the Asian continent, including images from India, China, Tibet, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Japan. Some places, like the Great Wall of China, feel familiar and some faces invite friendship, like the woman from Mandhava, India, smiling outside her door. But the show reflects many other images that depict new scenes and evoke solemn reflection.

Previously, the Austin-based Tiru has showcased her work both in India and in the United States in many diverse venues, and is honored to now exhibit at the AARC. She hopes the features of the faraway, both soil and society, will conjure memories of home for Asian immigrants and spark an interest in the minds of young Asian Americans and others to learn about places they may have never been but may now want to go.

Tiru has been a photographer for the last 30 years with expertise in commercial/industrial photography and has the honor of being the First Woman Industrial Photographer of India. Her art photography evolved from her prowess in classic commercial photography and portraiture, and her technical expertise in digital techniques. Her creative experimentation with a variety of lighting techniques and photography of specific installation themes has led to breathtaking and unique visions of mundane objects.

Tiru currently teaches photography as an Adjunct Professor at the Austin Community College and has published a photo documentary book, “Austin East of I-35,” with images and interviews of the people of East Austin. The AARC exhibit will be on display through March, 2015. For more about Rama Tiru, visit www.tirugallery.com.

TODO AUSTIN // JAN 2015 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 07

‘Opportunity’ districts signal a new era for City Council

By Genoveva Rodriguez

The 2014 Austin City Council election was definitely one for the history books with seven women, four minorities, and both Democrat and Republican representatives winning at the ballot box. For the first time in more than 100 years, the citizens of Austin were able to elect a council member for individual geographic districts spread throughout the city.

Now, the ethnic majority population will see themselves better reflected at City Hall, with Districts 2, 3, and 4, the Hispanic Opportunity Districts, represented by Delia Garza, Sabino “Pio” Renteria and Gregorio Casar, and District 1, the African-American Opportunity Seat, filled by Ora Houston.

Just a couple of short years ago, in 2012, the 10-1 City Council system was officially voted on and approved by the community. A crusade for geographic representation began decades ago with neighborhood activists paving the way and rallying for better access to City Hall. This month, their dreams have finally been realized.

For as long as most remember, the council has been run as a six-member, at-large elected council, wherein each council member was elected by citywide vote. Essentially, you had to raise an abundant amount of money to spray the town with mail pieces, scatter signs in yards and along the highways, and usually hire a group of “volunteers” to walk strategic neighborhoods pursuing votes. Historically, Austin council members have resided in a few Westside zip 08 TODO AUSTIN // JAN 2015 // TODOAUSTIN.COM

codes, which in large part implied that in order to win a council seat, you had to be affluent enough to loan your campaign money to start up a proper political operation, and possess certain, large, stakeholder connections. The result was decades of mostly progressive Anglos running the city, for better or worse.

Then, along came the Voting Rights Act in the 1970’s. The act forced Austin to find a means of allowing minority representation, so a “gentlemen’s agreement” was cooked up to ensure two council seats be made available to an African-American and a Hispanic. In other words, a few Anglo leaders and business owners inadvertently (or not) determined which minority individuals would receive permission to run and win a council seat.

That model is done.

The filing deadline for the 2014 election was August 18, and by the end of the day, the City of Austin saw 78 official candidates vying for a seat as mayor or a council member. It finally appeared as though someone from the community, a grassroots leader or activist, could afford to run a winning campaign. The money did not need to be substantial, in fact, most candidates were able to walk their entire districts and meet many of their constituents. Now, meaningful connections can be made not only with insider and business stakeholders, but more importantly, the neighborhood stakeholders.

Evidently, districts along the Eastside of the city were met by community members eager to have a say in local government. In fact, in District 3, people were trying to meet and learn about 12 candidates before the November 4 general election. The idea of having a voice has renewed hope for many of those previously neglected in Austin.

Since it’s inception, the new system represented change, hope and a better future for many residents. After years of communities feeling slighted, ignored or neglected, January 2015 is the beginning of a new era.

Each newly elected council member is committed to serving the people first, listen to the voices who have been left unheard for so long, and promises to change the way business is conducted at City Hall.

TODO Austin City Council Member Snapshots New Faces of the City of Austin - For more information about the new council members, refer to the individual City Council Member’s page on the City of Austin website or visit their personal websites.

MAYOR STEVE ADLER Adler grew up in a middle-class family in Washington, D.C., graduated from Princeton University and UT law school (with the aid of scholarships), and started a private practice focused on eminent domain law. For over 30 years, he’s represented hundreds of clients, served on nonprofit boards such as Ballet Austin and the Austin Anti-Defamation League, and has a history of uniting disparate voices.

DISTRICT ONE - ORA HOUSTON Houston has been a longtime political and social activist and has lived in East Austin most of her life.She is a retired program administrator for the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and worked for Senator Gonzalo Barrientos.

office, for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and as a consultant for hospital districts. She also served as ED of Integrated Care Collaboration.

DISTRICT SIX - DON ZIMMERMAN Zimmerman is a fifth generation Texan, graduated from Texas A&M. He has lived in District 6 since relocating to Austin in 2000, and has been a community activist against high and increasing taxes. He served as President of the NorthWest Austin Municipal Utility District #1 in 2002.

DISTRICT SEVEN - LESLIE POOL Pool is a long-time resident of Austin and an activist preserving established neighborhoods while supporting local small business. She has served on several committees and commissions since the early 1990’s including chairing the Seaholm Reuse Planning Committee and 2012 Bond Task Force.

DISTRICT TWO - DELIA GARZA

DISTRICT EIGHT - ELLEN TROXCLAIR

Garza, a practicing attorney, previously worked for the Austin Fire Dept. where she pushed for collective bargaining rights, an issue that was put on the ballot—and passed—in 2004. She was also a part of the 2012 charter revision committee and lobbied for the 10-1 system.

Troxclair manages her own small business and has worked at the Texas State Capitol. She is a member of the Host Committee for St. David’s Toast of the Town and also supports fundraising efforts for scholarship money for Central Texas students wishing to pursue health related careers.

DISTRICT THREE - SABINO RENTERIA Renteria, a lifetime resident of East Austin, is retired from IBM. He has served on neighborhood associations as well as been political active throughout Austin. Renteria has also sat on various city boards such as the city’s community development board and the environmental board.

DISTRICT FOUR - GREGORIO CASAR Casar has worked with the Hispainc/Latino community, serving as the political director the for the Worker’s Defense Project. He organized construction workers at City Hall about safety problems and pay disparities which prompted Council to enact policies to protect workers.

DISTRICT FIVE - ANN KITCHEN Kitchen got her law degree from UT and served a term in the state House of Representatives.

Prior, she worked in the attorney general’s

DISTRICT NINE - KATHIE TOVO Tovo was first elected to Council in 2011 and has worked for affordability initiatives such as adopting resolutions for property tax reform, advocating for reasonable utility rates and consumer protections, and led initiatives for the Women and Children’s Shelter and others.

DISTRICT TEN - SHERI GALLO Gallo is a sixth-generation Austinite and is a real estate and mortgage broker who specializes in residential and investment property. She has served as chairperson for the Housing Authority City of Austin, the Austin Apartment Association and the UT School of Social Work.

Good Times at Güero’s For great tunes and great rita’s!

Please join us for live music on our outside jardin stage, every Wednesday through Sunday. THANKS TO THE FANS & BANDS WHO SUPPORT US!!!

JANUARY Line-up OUTDOOR SHOWS ARE “WEATHER PERMITTING”

TACO BAR

1412 S. Congress Avenue • Austin, Texas 78704 Open Weekdays 11am-11pm; Weekends 8am-11pm

-----------------------------------------------------------------------FRI 1/2 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 SAT 1/3 THE BREW@ 2:30 & SON DE REY @ 6:30 SUN 1/4 THE RECUPERATORS @ 3:00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 1/7 KDRP RADIO SHOW @ 6:00 THU 1/8 LOS FLAMES @ 6:30 FRI 1/9 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 SAT 1/10 THE TEXAS TYCOONS @ 2:30 & DR. ZOG @ 6:30 SUN 1/11 BLUE MIST@ 3:00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 1/14 KDRP RADIO SHOW @ 6:00 THU 1/15 BEYOND THERAPY @ 6:30 FRI 1/16 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 SAT 1/17 JIM SRINGER @ 2:30 & TIPICOS DE CUBA @ 6:30 SUN 1/18 MITCH WEBB Y LOS SWINDLES @ 3:00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 1/21 KDRP RADIO SHOW @ 6:00 THU 1/22 AUSTIN HEAT @ 6:30 FRI 1/23 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 SAT 1/24 PAUL ORTA @ 2:30 & TEX THOMAS @ 6:30 SUN 1/25 CHICKEN STRUT @ 3:00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 1/28 KDRP RADIO SHOW @ 6:00 THU 1/29 TRENT TURNER @ 6:30 FRI 1/30 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 SAT 1/31 AL DRESSEN @ 2:30 & MC & THE MYSTIX @ 6:30

www.GuerosTacoBar.com

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS broadcast 18.1 cable 9

KLRU presents powerful new programs in January!

klru.org

Downton Abbey

A Path Appears

Sundays at 8 pm starting January 4th

Mondays at 9 pm starting January 26th

New loves, new secrets, new Downton! Downton Abbey returns to Masterpiece Theater for an epic fifth season of intimately interlaced stories centered on an English country estate.

This three-part documentary — the sequel to writer Nicholas Kristof’s Half the Sky — investigates young women in America and throughout the world forced into a life of prostitution and the innovative programs that have evolved to empower them to lead more fulfilling lives.

Community Cinema preview screening Tuesday, January 6th, at 7 pm at the Windsor Park Branch Library. Go to klru.org for more details.

Also This Month on KLRU

Our Time is Now

Odd Squad Saves The World

Arts In Context: Rude Mechs

Documentary following six New Mexico teenagers as they strive to finish high school, wrestle with personal challenges, and pursue their dreams. Part of KLRU’s American Graduate initateive learn more at klru.org/americangraduate

The Odd Squad is a high-tech agency run by kids equipped with the world’s most advanced and unpredictable gadgetry.

Rude Mechs create original productions that represent a genre-defying cocktail of big ideas, cheap laughs, and dizzying spectacle.

Monday, January 19, at 8 am and 3 pm and Friday, January 23, at 9 am and 3 pm

Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 pm

Monday, January 5, at 9 pm

#AMGRADTX

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS is community supported. More than 85% of our funding comes from the public. Please consider investing in KLRU.

To Do Música

By Liz Lopez

Cañonazo’s Steve ‘Rat’ Silvas keeping Tejano genre alive utilizing young talent Steve “Rat” Silvas is the musical director and keyboardist for Cañonazo. To many Latin music insiders, the current Austin-based band needs no introduction. Those who follow Tejano music for the past few decades are aware of Silvas’ extensive career playing and recording with big bands. A glimpse of the history behind the artist, who started Cañonazo initially about a decade ago, reveals a youth nine years of age already playing keyboards in the Baptist church where his father was a preacher in Junction and later Colorado City.

Once the family moved to Central Texas in the early 1970s, it meant the start of a different life for Silvas.

“I played locally from 1970–1974 with bands such as The Impressions, Dave Gutierrez, Frank Nuñez, and Ray and Rudy Vasquez and The Chicanos. I lived in Waelder, Texas, and they (the bands) would go pick me up and drop me off (from the gigs),” said Silvas in a recent conversation. “So I started to figure I had something (going). I moved to Austin then. ” Silvas declared 1975 as the beginning of his professional career when he performed with Augustine Ramirez for four years, followed by a couple of years between the Royal Jesters and backing Ruben Ramos. In the early 1980s, he and his brother, Gilbert Alba, started the Super City Band, which allowed them to perform and record together.

Silvas stated, “About two years later, Sunny (Ozuna) heard me playing an Armando Manzanero song.

Fred Salas had produced a CD for him and Sunny asked me to teach his guys (musicians) how to play boleros.” After performing briefly with the Sunliner band, Silvas returned to Austin. It was during a gig in Chicago with another band that he was picked up

by Al Chavarria from Grupo Mayo and from there he started earning lucrative wages for a while.

not materialize. Subsequently, the lead singers Cañonazo leaned on were a husband/wife team, Tony and Erica Pacheco. Nikki Lopez sang with the band for two years, as well before departing.

A veteran and savvy musician if there ever was one, Silvas has recreated Cañonazo to reflect the dynamic young talent residing around Texas, especially those that are interested in the Tejano genre. “Yes, I was looking for people who have a fresh face and ideas,” he said. The most tenured member of the band at present is Lubbock native, Jazz Garcia, on drums. “Jazz Garcia has played three years with the band. He was not a Tejano player at the beginning – he played more jazz music with NYOB- Not Your Ordinary Band.” Silvas added, “I ran into vocalist Erika Santana doing karaoke – a Selena song. She has a strong voice and in key. So I started looking for musicians.” He added Chris Perez from Gonzalez to play guitar and 21-year old Rogelio Quintanilla, known as “Q,” to play bass guitar. The latter has been with the band two months. Silva remarked, “I do Christian music too and found him (“Q”) at a revival. He played for two bands and he wanted to be in a Tejano band.”

Robby Garza, a 26-year old Eagle Pass native, rounds out the group on vocals. Last October, he placed a close second in the annual Austin Tejano Music Coalition’s Tejano Idol contest.

Silvas provided some background on the up-andcoming artist, who he first heard sing during a benefit hosted by Garza’s family members in Austin.

“Robby has been with me for about a year. After having Carlos Z in the band, I knew what Robby had and what I could do with him.” Silvas describes Robbie as “a good person; he is a humble, a likeable person with a tremendous voice.”

With the youthful singers on board, Silva discovered there would be a learning curve, though one he knew the talented vocalists would gladly engage.

“When Robby came, I wanted him to learn (the song) ‘Tejano Enamorado.’ But he did not know who Latin Breed is. Erika did not know who Laura Canales was. They did not know Jay Perez or Tortilla Factory. Today’s musicians did not grow up on it (Tejano), so a lot of it has to do with that. This is why I am bringing it back.

“Today’s music is okay, but not if it is not strong.

Strong music is like Little Joe, Tortilla Factory and Latin Breed. They have a strong sound.” Silvas believes, though, that he does have the ability to recognize that with music, “everybody is unique in their own sound.”

As a musical director, Silvas sees a need to act as a bridge between generations of musicians. He regards the music he has played for over 40 years as a platform to address the next wave of artists.

“Since Tejano seems to be fading away a bit, these guys are doing old-school stuff – SINGING – not rapping.” Silvas said he previously gave songs to Robby to learn “and now Robby is calling me about what songs he wants to do. Since Erika learned about Laura Canales, she likes her music and has learned it.”

Silvas shared an exchange he had with local radio personality, Joe Morales, who told him that nobody plays the late Canales’ music, so Silvas is trying to bring back her music. “I’ve got them learning ‘Borrachera’ – Robby said he’d try and I told him he will learn it. I don’t let up, but they do know how to approach me so they can say what they are comfortable with. I tell them if there is something with the arrangement they don’t like, they need to say so, as they will be singing it for the rest of their life.”

Despite the extensive career and all that he is doing with the young new artists, Silvas believes that, “‘Q’ has come a long way, too. I am his– well–I am not a teacher, but everything I know, I teach them. If they are willing to listen, they will learn. I learned from people I played with in the bands and those that are in other bands.”

Silvas has a unique perspective about the vocalists he calls bandmates with Cañonazo. “I let the singers take the limelight. I want them to be recognized as the stars. I see it as selfish to have my name in the band. We call it our band. It takes everybody to make a unit. I don’t do it be myself.”

His life journey brought him back to Austin, and in 1984 he was invited to join Little Joe Hernandez’s popular band, La Familia. This time around, Silvas was not only playing keyboards, but also contributing to arrangements, producing and recording with the Grammy winning outfit. The time and anecdotes Silvas provides about his career with Little Joe y La Familia can fill a volume on its own. Subsequently, Silvas played for a year with Archie Bell and the Drells. More recently, he has performed with his brother’s band, Yayo Castillo y Rumores, as well as Bidi Bidi Banda.

Silvas started Cañonazo about 10 years ago, which included a period with a featured singer from Guadalajara, Carlos Zaira, for one year. “I tried to get him signed with Capital Records – he is a great singer and he had won a Vicente Fernandez vocal competition over there,” Silvas said, but it did

Cañonazo, with Steve “Rat” Silvas (R). David Muñoz photo.

Currently, the band is in the studio recording, allowing more teaching moments for Silvas. “I am starting them on the recording aspect,” said Silvas. “We are in the arranging mode. I am sharing what I learned – with the singers to the drummer – front row to the back row.” The goal is to have the CD completed by March, as there is a surprise planned in April centering on Erika Santana.

Erika Santana and Robby Garza. David Muñoz photo.

“I don’t want this music to be forgotten and I’m using these guys to be role models for the younger artists who want to come out as musicians and singers.”

TODO AUSTIN // JAN 2015 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 11

Brentmas!

Day 1/24/15

The Reivers are John Croslin, Cindy Toth, Kim Longacre, Garrett Williams, and Eric Friend.

In February 2008, the band reunited for two sold out shows and have performed in Austin fairly regularly since. Word is they imagine they might make a decent wedding band, especially if you like amazing impressionistic songs about freight trains in the rain and cowboys.

Celebrate the late great Austin music icon, Brent Grulke, this month on Saturday, January 24, at The ABGB, 1305 W. Oltorf St. Show starts at 8:30 p.m.

The irresistible force and Creative Director of South by Southwest, Grulke was born on January 25, and friends and associates will be rocking into his birthday with some of Grulke’s favorite bands mixed as loud as he would have loved. All friends (old and new) and folks who love live music are invited to join the celebration.

Bands featured include the Wannabes, with Jennings Crawford, Kevin Carney, Hunter Darby, and Steve McCarthy. The band, who released the “Dead True” single in 1992 and later, a debut album for national release, “Mod Flower Cake” (1994) on DejaDisc, claim to be “a wonderful bar bad,” but a horrible wedding band.

Music Spotlight

MIGRANT KIDS

By Raul Rangel Uribe

Migrant Kids is a three-piece Austin-based band, transplanted from Detroit where they formed three years ago, who are riding the crest of their successful, self-titled debut album. With nine tracks conveying a psychedelic formula, their sound mixes the use of percussions with peaceful ambient atmospheres and powerful vocals. The album was produced at a local studio, Cacophony Recorders, recorded by the facility’s owner Erik Wofford. Tracks “Canvas of Me” and “Act I” have already been introduced on local radio stations, including KUTX and Radio Mujer Austin.

Their success has reached deep into the local community as the band has already performed at several important venues such as The Mohawk, Red 7 and The Parish, to name a few, and the band was also honored by the mayor at City Hall with their own official “Migrant Kids Day” in Austin.

Brent Grulke

SuperEtte is Dom, Susie, and Matt, the unholy three-headed hell spawn mixture of Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Aaron Neville. “Yours Til the End” is their first EP release.

The Howlin’ Lobo

By Liz Lopez

Brown Sound News Haydn Vitera posted recently about his work on the songs for the new EP from Aaron Navarro. He stated, “Stay tuned amigos, this is gonna be a killer CD! Hats off to the pickers!” Visit Aaron Navarro’s page for updates and news about the release. Vitera is also currently working on an EP with Omar Vallejo.

The band consists of three members: Bryan O’Flynn (drums), John Zakoor (voice, bass, and guitar) and Miguel Ojeda (voice, synth and guitar).

Incorporating the combined use of English and Spanish in their lyrics, their sound creates an environment where Hispanic culture meets English speaking crowds who don’t expect to hear

Bravo, who will also serve as president of the newly formed division at AMG. AMG Latin represents notable and emerging artists.

Austin nonprofit Black Fret hosted its inaugural Black Ball gala on Saturday, Nov. 8 at The Paramount Theatre, where the 2014 Black Fret Grant Recipients were officially announced. The 2014 Black Fret grant winners are Amy Cook, Elizabeth McQueen, Erin Ivey, Gina Ghavez, Graham Wilkinson, Lincoln Durham, Mother Falcon, Quiet Company, The Rocketboys and Wild Child.

Street People has a pre-release of “El Sueño,” an original tune composed by Johnny Degollado and produced by Gilbert Velasquez, that is available for download. Look for the new Street People CD to be released soon. Before the holidays, some of the musicians (Leonard Davila, Hector, Alex and Gilbert) were going over a rhythm arrangement of an original tune composed by Tony “Foreman” Matamoros’ brother. Visit the group’s Facebook page for updates.

Soloist in America, composed of members Heitor Saucedo and Miguel Gamboa, have been performing more frequently in Austin this past year. I first heard them at the ESB-MACC and a recent post

by Austin Artist Show stated they were “playing classical music for patients in hospitals, hospice, nursing homes, churches and nursing maternity wards ... all for charity.” It is also noted “they are available for performance and even cello and violin lessons.”

Beverly Hills based AMG announced late last fall a merger with Austin-based Bravo Entertainment. Bravo is a longtime entertainment production company founded by president Enrique 12 TODO AUSTIN // JAN 2015 // TODOAUSTIN.COM

Street People

RECOMMENDED JANUARY DATES El Tule will be performing their cumbia, Afro-Cuban, rock, merengue, salsa and reggae style with DJ George on breaks, as well as a mini cumbia class, Saturday, January 17, from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at Esquina Tango, 209 Pedernales St. The cost is $8 and you can bring your own beverages to the venue. La Vida Buena

anything but the familiar. Music and diversity are two of the defining traits of contemporary Austin and Migrant Kids is a band that combines these characteristics well.

Migrant Kids

“Our parents were migrant workers who worked in the fields moving between Michigan and Texas from season to season,” said Miguel Ojeda in a recent interview. “We represent in both our look and sound the new breed of Latinos. Migrant Kids, a culture clash of style, food, language, and art.

For many bands it’s just another publicity thing or something they can put on their resume but for us it is really symbolic.”

Looking at how they’re already making big waves in the city, Migrant Kids come with a promising future in Austin’s evolving music culture and are band to be on the lookout for. Prepare yourselves for surprising work at two shows this month, Jan. 3 at Stubb’s and Jan. 9 at The Mohawk. Their album is available on ITunes, Amazon and Spotify, and you can find them at all the main social media networks to learn about tour dates and local shows.

will perform atthe same locale on Friday, January 30, at 9 p.m.

Their performance brings together sophisticated Latin riffs with elements of jazz and hip hop to keep dancers in step and the crowds grooving. These are definitely two shows to catch! 512.524.2772 www.esquinatangoaustin.com *************** The Academia Cuauhtli / Eagle Academy, a language and culture revitalization project, will have their inaugural event on Saturday, January 10 from 12-3 p.m. at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. The celebration includes performances by the school district’s mariachi and ballet folklorico students, as well as Mexican dancers with copal who will explain the meaning of the dances. 512 -974-3772 *************** World Music Jam, directed by Roberto Paolo Riggio, is held at Halcyon, 218 West 4th Street, on Monday evenings. Musicians are invited to bring their instruments and join in. Luis Banuelos plays flamenco guitar on Sundays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10 p.m. www.halcyonaustin.com *************** The Hard Luck Lounge celebrated their grand opening last month with Johnny Degollado y Su Conjunto performing. The Saturday afternoon shows will return in January, but call the venue for updates or visit their Facebook page. There is no cover at the venue located at 3526 E. 7th Street. 512-867-5309 www.facebook.com/ hardlucklounge *************** Tex Garcia and Tone Brigante, Soul Fresca, Keith Corona, and others are on the bill for a Free Week show on Thursday, January 8, with doors opening at 8 p.m. at Red 7, 611 E. 7th St. Free Week runs from January 1-10 with 150 bands performing. No admission for age 21 and over and $5 for minors. For the full schedule, visit www. transmissionevents.com

Honoring Dr. King’s legacy in Austin Austin’s annual MLK Day celebration, produced by the Austin Area Heritage Council, celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy while uplifting diversity and multiculturalism in our city. The MLK Community March kicks off on Monday, January 19, at 9 a.m. with a short program at the MLK Statue on the University of Texas campus.

The march then heads towards the historic Huston-Tillotson University campus in East Austin, where multiple activities are planned. All area businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals are invited to march and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy.

Note that the MLK March will not go to the Capitol this year due to the preparations for the Gubernatorial Inauguration on the following day.

This year, coordinators are asking marchers to help by donating canned goods or non-perishable food items, which will be donated to the Capital Area Food Bank. “True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial.

It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring,” said Dr. King. Donation receptacles will be available at UT along the march. Receptacles will also be available at the festival at H-TU.

MLK Community Festival The MLK Community Festival kicks off as soon the march arrives on location at H-TU and will last until 3 p.m. Look for various types of vendors and local musical artists as planners have created a celebration that is expected to be the best ever.

The MLK Oratory Competition The MLK Oratory Competition will take place at the George Washington Carver Museum’s Boyd Vance Theatre on Thursday, January 15, 6-8 p.m. Oratory finalists will compete in a five-

minute speech based on the theme, “As a student of Dr. King’s life, what message of hope do you think he would have for the world today?” These inspiring young speakers will compete by delivering personally written speeches commemorating Dr. King’s legacy of peace and unity.

MLK Youth Scholarship Awards The MLK Youth Scholarship Awards will be presented at the MLK Youth Scholarship Awards Program 3-5 p.m., Saturday, January 17, at Austin Community College, 3401 Webberville Road, Building 8000, Multipurpose Room. The awards were created to recognize youth in the Austin community for their outstanding commitment and achievement, as well as inspire the next generation of healthcare workers. The award recipients will receive a $1000 scholarship courtesy of the Applied Materials Foundation and the Seton Family of Hospitals.

Day of Service On Saturday, January 17, United Way for Greater Austin and Hands on Central Texas invite the community to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a day of service. In January 2013, more than 420 volunteers came together to complete over 20 community improvement projects throughout Austin. Participate in service in honor of Dr. King and bring friends, family and co-workers.

Change the course of Austin’s future, starting with service. As event producers remind, the MLK Holiday is not only for celebration and remembrance, education and tribute, but above all, a day of service supporting your community. It is a day of volunteering to feed the hungry, beautifying parks, and much more. Hands on Central Texas will be hosting projects that center around MLK Blvd between Highway 183 and Chicon Streets, including local churches, parks and community centers as well as the boulevard clean-up.

Austin Area Heritage Council photo

Austin Creative Ambassador’s Judy Jensen, artist, and Usha Akella, poet/ writer, open new avenues

earned her a name as one of India’s contemporary English poets, has been translated in Macedonian, Slovenian, Turkish, Spanish etc. Most recently, she represented the U.S./India at the Struga Poetry Evenings in Macedonia at the oldest poetry festival in the world. She also was recently invited to read at the 14th annual Sha’ar International Poetry Festival in Israel this past December, hosted by the Helicon Poetry Society in Ashdod, the major poetry event in Israel.

Last fall, two women were named Creative Ambassadors by the City of Austin, visual artist Judy Jensen and poet/writer Usha Akella. The Creative Ambassador Program, managed by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department, is intended to open new avenues of dialogue and opportunity between Austin’s creative community and markets worldwide. The program designates local creatives to represent the city while traveling in promotion of their own artistic endeavors.

Usha Akella

Akella is the first South Asian in the city to hold the position. She has authored three books of poetry and scripted and produced “Ek: An English Musical on the Life of Shirdi Baba.” Her work, which has received international attention and

Among Akella’s other achievements is the Wine poem award won at Struga (the first Indian and woman to do so), the Nazim Hikmet award at the Siir festival, Turkey, and the Egan

(Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Travis County

VOLU NTEER S P OTLIG H T

Barb Kowal grew up in Massachusetts, graduated from Smith College as a two-sport (basketball and softball) athlete, and spent all her time in New England before moving to Austin in 1997 to work for the University of Texas, “taking my Boston accent with me forever,” she says. She worked for many years as the Assistant Athletics Director of Media Relations at UT, working seven days a week to oversee all the public relations and communications efforts for women’s athletics. She now serves as the Director of External Affairs for CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Barb says that “volunteerism is like a family tenet. My family was invested in the community – volunteering for local elections, Dad was a Veteran’s Agent, my brothers, sister and Mom were volunteer EMTs.” When she switched from UT to the slightly less time-consuming new job in 2008, Barb was ready to take on an engaging and challenging volunteer opportunity. “I had heard about CASA and I was intrigued by the process of learning another whole system to assist children. It was something totally different than I’d ever done.” Barb greatly appreciated the extensive volunteer training process. “The training shouldn’t be intimidating … it should show people how important our volunteer efforts are. We are listened to by the court, by judges, by CPS, by attorneys … we’re very empowered as volunteers. Our voice is heard and we have a lot of credibility for the children we represent and speak for.”

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Memorial Award. Her work has been included in major anthologies of Indian English poets, including Harper Collins anthology, and she has read for the Sahitya Academy.

Delhi Biennale, Chicago’s Navy Pier, The Detroit Institute of Arts, and The Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art in Japan.

A member of Austin International Poetry Festival’s board, Akella launched the Poetry Caravan in Greenburgh/White Plains, NY to provide poetry readings and workshops to disadvantaged people in women’s shelters, hospitals, senior homes etc. The caravan continues as a collective, offering over 900 free readings. The Austin chapter of the Caravan, though a young chapter at a year, offers children music and poetry in a spirit of community service.

Jensen specializes in reverse paintings on glass. She is currently working on a multiyear project in a 19th century Buddhist temple in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, to replace paintings which were damaged by the 2004 earthquake. These will depict the Vessantara and Siddhartha incarnations of Buddha. She was recently awarded a grant from the James H.W. Thompson Foundation in Bangkok in support of the project.

Judy Jensen

She has exhibited widely, including eight exhibits with New York’s Heller Gallery, the Galveston Arts Center, and The Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts. Group exhibitions have included Gerald Peters Gallery in New York, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Atlanta’s High Museum, the New

An NEA Fellowship Grant recipient, her works are in numerous public and private collections, including the Royal Ontario Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, McDonald’s Corporate Art Collection, and the Washington Art Consortium.

‘Asegurate’ Get Insured campaign to provide help with health insurance enrollment

By TODO Austin staff

During the initial Affordable Care Act enrollment period that ended March 2014, the Austin based non-profit organization, Primero Health, provided information and enrollment assistance by trained Certified Application Counselors (CAC).

After applying for funding, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Primero Health with a Navigator Grant. Navigators assist consumers who seek assistance with enrolling for insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, but receive authorization to do so once they are certified after meeting both state and federal requirements.

Primero Health CEO, Lily Vela, stated, “Funding is used to help increase enrollment of the uninsured and underserved populations in Travis County through in-person assistance, outreach and educational activities.” The “Asegurate”

Get Insured bilingual campaign is part of their outreach activities to educate the Hispanic/Latino population in Travis County about health insurance options during the Open Enrollment period for the 2015 plan year, November 15, 2014 through February 15, 2015.

Grant funds helped to increase staff from the prior plan year as well as to expand the hours of operation at its central location, 1701 E. 7th Street in Austin. The office hours during the week are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and assistance is provided in an office setting that allows for privacy to discuss health coverage options and eligibility for Premium Tax Credits to help pay the cost of insurance.

Primero Health has expanded its service area to include existing partnerships with local churches and other community entities including the Austin Public Library and the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic, the oldest, continuously operating free clinic in Austin.

Church volunteers from Our Lady of Guadalupe, Cristo Rey, and St. Julia churches continue to support the Navigators by participating in outreach efforts and are committed to improve access to health care coverage for the most vulnerable members of their communities.

Consumers can still shop for and enroll in 2015 coverage.

For consumers who enroll by January 15, 2015, their coverage will be effective February 1, 2015. For consumers who enroll between January 16, 2015 and February 15, 2015, their coverage will be effective March 1, 2015. For more information and to set an appointment, call 512-4331796 and visit www.healthcare.gov.

CELEBRATING

DIVERSITY

ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO ORCHESTRA ACL LIVE

BRIDGE2BRIDGE From Montopolis Bridge to 360 Bridge, Everything Austin

The Austin Symphony and 2013 Gramophone Awards Artist of the Year Alison Balsom perform Johann Nepomuk Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto Jan. 9-10, 8 p.m., at Dell Hall. With music from Haydn, Ravel and de Falla. Pre-concert talk at 7:10 p.m. with Bob Buckalew.

Also, chat with ASO musicians or ask Maestro Peter Bay questions during intermission through ASO’s free mobile app. austinsymphony.org Salvage Vanguard Theater’s “Three Zisters” is an amalgamation of a modern adaption of Chekhov’s “Three Sisters.” The performance explores the innate conflict between performing classic texts and the changing roles of gender and performance in contemporary culture. Oh, and the sisters played by Heather Hanna, Jenny Larson, and Caroline Reck, are zombies. Jan. 22-Feb. 14. salvagevanguard.org

There are songwriters who sing their songs, and then there are songs who sing their writers.

Alejandro Escovedo, who appears Saturday, Jan. 10, at ACL Live, is one with his muse and his music. Over a lifetime spent traversing the bridge between words and melody, he has ranged over an emotional depth that embraces all forms of genre and presentation, a resolute voice that weathers the emotional terrain of our lives, its celebrations and despairs, landmines and blindsides and upheavals and beckoning distractions, in search for ultimate release and the healing truth of honesty. Sometimes it takes the form of barely contained rage, the rock of punk amid kneeled feedback; sometimes it caresses and soothes, a whispery harmony riding the air of a nightclub room, removed from amplification, within the audience.

His rise has been gradual, a steady incline rather than a quick ascendance, but it has deepened and burnished his music, made it closer to the bone, where it begins to break, deepening his insight and his ability to find that insight in performance.

His tireless touring, and dogged determination to place one album after another, has taken him through many musical scenes, remaining the same persona within each, of an artist who doesn’t settle for the easy way out.

He and his Orchestra will be joined at ACL Live by Elias Haslanger and Church on Monday, featuring Dr. James Polk, Jake Langley, Daniel Durham, and Scott Laningham.

The company where he’s worked for the past 10 years is moving to another planet, and cabaret singer and playwright Ethan Lipton doesn’t want to go. “No Place to Go” delivers a hilarious, irreverent and personal musical ode to the unemployed. Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra performs this 2012 OBIE Award-winning theatrical song cycle Jan. 23-24, 7 p.m., at McCullough Theatre. texasperformingarts.org Surupa Sen and Bijayini Satpathy, the magnificent duo from South India’s Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, perform solos and duets inspired by the epic Indian poem Gita Govinda at the Fine Arts Theater, Lanier High School, Saturday, Jan. 24. The piece is accompanied by a musical ensemble of voice, harmonium, mardala, violin, and bansuri, recounting the love between Krishna and Radha. austinifa.org The game-changing brass quintet Canadian Brass has performed in virtually every major concert hall in the world, been seen by hundreds of millions of people on television, sold two million of their approximately 100 albums worldwide and contributed nearly 600 new works and arrangements to the brass quintet repertoire.

They’ll appear in Dell Hall, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m. thelongcenter.org Among the world’s top contemporary dance companies and a global cultural ambassador, Hubbard Street Dance demonstrates fluency in a wide range of techniques and forms, and deep comprehension of abstract artistry and emotional nuance. Celebrating its 37th season, the company brings its exuberant and innovative repertoire to Bass Concert Hall, Thursday, Jan. 29, 8 p.m. texasperformingarts.org Best-selling author Bill Bryson is one of the world’s most beloved and prolific commentators, finding delight in the minutiae of travel and the subtleties of culture. Bryson will regale the Long Center audience Friday, Jan. 30, 8 p.m., with his quirky observations, eyeopening tales and self-effacing humor through reading and sharing stories and anecdotes from his acclaimed, best-selling books. thelongcenter.org

THE BOWIE PROJECT 2 ROLLINS THEATRE Following the critically acclaimed run of “The Bowie Project” last winter, Andrea Ariel Dance Theatre, together with Super Creeps–the Austin-based David Bowie tribute band–and the New York City-based Soundpainting group, Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble, will blend their talent and passion once again for “The Bowie Project 2: A Rock & Roll Soundpainting,” Jan. 29-31 and Feb. 1.

Accompanied by the unmistakable sounds of the living legend, the imaginative production takes the audience on an enthralling journey of dance and theater in a rock & roll concert that draws extensively on Bowie’s life and work.

The concert, which features a new selection of Bowie songs not used in the original performance, seeks to spark curiosity and unearth an interest in the art of Soundpainting–the craft of live composition through a sign language used to conduct improvised performances among musicians, actors, dancers, visual and media artists. “David Bowie’s music, story and the progression of his ever-changing persona is the content from which we are drawing universal themes around our ever-evolving human search for identity, and the struggles and triumphs we all experience,” said AADT’s Artistic Director, Andrea Ariel.

The visual and aural spectacle transports audience members to the 1970s, when Bowie–in search of his muse–released the entrancing albums “Station to Station” and “Low,” and the uplifting song “Sound & Vision.” Traveling back through time, the show stops off at another central point in Bowie’s life, 1969–the year Americans first stepped foot on the moon and the year that Bowie achieved fame with his classic,“Space Oddity.” By the ending, the show has made a full revolution and returns to the 1970s by closing-out with the hit “Heroes,” followed by encore songs, to which audience members are invited on stage to dance with the performers.

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U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett

Standing With Austin to Keep Families Together Constituents who believe a family member may be covered by the President’s executive action can contact U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s office with questions at: Phone: (512) 916-5921 Email: Lloyd.Doggett@mail.house.gov

“The President’s pro-family immigration action will expand opportunity for many of our neighbors and spur economic growth in Texas. Finally, many immigrant families can stay together without being forced to pay a price for obstructionists in Congress.”

— U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett

FEATURED JANUARY 2015 EVENTS:

FREE

Faces and Places of Asia: Photography Exhibit by Rama Tiru

Opening Reception: Friday, January 9, 6-8pm. On display Jan-March.

A visual tour of Asia from the Great Wall of China to smiling faces of Mandhava, India.

Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road - www.austintexas.gov/aarc

Drawing Salon at the Ney

Every Saturday in January, 10am-noon Be inspired! Draw from Elisabet Ney’s extensive collection of sculptures.

Staff will provide instructive lessons and art materials.

304 E. 44th Street - www.austintexas.gov/elisabetney

FREE

riendly

ly f & fami

Global Grooves, Austin Moves

Featured this month:

www.austintexas.gov/planetmusic

Dance Around the World!

Featuring 4 dance groups, performances, dance lessons, a fashion show, and more.

Friday, January 23, 7pm - 9pm, Free. Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd.

Visit our Facebook page for all upcoming events! www.facebook.com/ArtsInParks The City of Austin is proud to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require assistance for participation in our programs or use of our facilities, please call 512-974-4000.