TODO Austin March 2014

Visit our new website! www.todoaustin.com

Volume V / March 2014

It was Gavin’s idea.

Inside HABLA Austin Marina Bhargava Bellas Artes Alliance Cesar Chavez

Latin Rock Ascends at SXSW

Nortec Collective presents

Bostich + Fussible

c e n t r o u rLocalba n a Campaign against HABLA Austin

Resistencia Bookstore moves East The iconic and beloved bookstore established in 1981 by Chicano poet and community activist Raúl Salinas has moved to 4926 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Unit C1 (on the corner of E. Cesar Chavez Street and Spencer Lane). Over the years, the bookstore has sponsored/endorsed readings and political forums that included nationally and internationally known writers, human rights activists, and indigenous artists. The bookstore also sponsors read-ins and provides space for grassroots organizational activity by various groups. Resistencia has also housed Red Salmon Arts, a Native American/Chicano based cultural arts organization with a history of working within indigenous communities of Austin since 1983.

public’s input regarding the overall project goals including: site planning, building planning and programming.

The Montopolis Recreation Center has served the community as a center for recreation and community events for over four decades. The building, while providing a facility for sports and recreation, is in poor condition and can no longer meet the needs of a growing and vibrant community. The City of Austin process will pave the way for design and construction of a new facility at the existing site. To participate on-line visit SpeakUpAustin.org and click the “Montopolis Community Center Project” tab. Department staff will also be taking your comments by telephone via the City’s 3-1-1 hot line. For more information contact the Montopolis Recreation Center at 512-385-5931.

Montopolis Rec Center holds design meeting The Austin Parks and Recreation and Health and Human Services Departments invite the community to the third Montopolis Recreation Julia Alvarez and Community Center Design Input Meeting, on March 6, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m., at the Montopolis Recreation Julia Alvarez to appear at UT Center Gym, 1200 Montopolis Drive. Acclaimed novelist, poet, and essayist The Department would like the Julia Alvarez speaks about her life

TODOAustin.com is a vibrant new website site providing multimedia features, the print journal content,

and work with University of Texas at Austin professor Jennifer M. Wilks in a Harry Ransom Lecture on Monday, March 31, at 7 p.m. in Jessen Auditorium at Homer Rainey Hall. A book signing and reception follows.

Much of Alvarez’s work is considered semi-autobiographical, drawing on her experiences as an immigrant and her bicultural identity. Her unique experiences have shaped and infused her writing—from such award-winning novels as “How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents” and “In the Time of the Butterflies” to her poetry. Alvarez’s archive resides at the Ransom Center.

Pan American Round Table scholarships The Pan American Round Table, a nonprofit woman’s organization, has announced the application process for several scholarships and awards for University of Texas at Austin students and for an economically disadvantaged Austin Hispanic woman who would like to complete her education.

The deadline to apply is March 14.

The Austin Chapter is accepting the following applications: The Charles Wilson Hackett Memorial Scholarship of $2,000 is awarded to a graduate student for outstanding achievement in Latin American Studies at UT-Austin.

The Jeannie Hunter Hackett Memorial Scholarship of $2,000 is awarded to an outstanding Latin American undergraduate at UT-Austin. The Mitty Guerra Memorial Scholarship of $2,000 is awarded to an economically disadvantaged Hispanic woman residing in Austin for the purpose of completing her educational goals.

This year the Pan American Round Table is celebrating 92 years of its founding and through these years the organization has fostered knowledge, understanding and friendship among the people of the Americas. To apply visit the website at www.partt.org

Volume V, Number 11 PUBLISHER/EDITOR // Gavin Lance Garcia info@todoaustin.com

enhanced event listings, special

ART DIRECTOR // Dave McClinton // dmdesigninc.com

creative features and staff and

ASSOCIATE EDITORS // Evelyn C. Castillo, Paul Saldaña, Katie Walsh, Erica Stall Wiggins

community-led blogs, with links to archived past printed issues, augmenting social media networks in Austin’s multicultural community.

SENIOR EDITORS // Lobo Corona, Sonia Kotecha, Diana Sanchez, Lesley Varghese, Yvonne Lim Wilson CONTRIBUTING EDITORS // Anthony Garcia, Mia Garcia, Harish Kotecha, Alexandra M. Landeros, Callie Langford, Genoveva Rodriguez, Monica Peña, Blake Shanley

S-Comm Heats Up

By Dani Slabaugh

On February 3, six activists working with Grassroots Campaigns were arrested in Austin for blocking an entrance to Travis County Jail in protest of a policy known as S-Comm or “secure communities.” Activist Annanda Barclay, working with the group, sat down with me prior to the action to discuss the group’s motivations and goals.

Dani Slabaugh (DS): Can you tell me what brought you to this action and what got you involved in this?

Annanda Barclay (AB): I have been working with TUFF (Texans United for Families) for about two years now. They do a lot of things like a mediation, show documentaries like “Punishments and Profits” and show them around the city to help get people aware of Texas families that are being disconnected through immigration deportation by the for profit prison industry. I heard about TUFF through Rocio Villalobos and she was involved in this action and I was like, great, it’s about time we have something like this as we have been very peaceful and cooperative for a period of time now and we are a point now where something big needs to get done and say that we’ve really had enough. That’s how I got involved.

DS: I read recently that Travis County deports more immigrants than any other county in Texas. Can you speak to that?

AB: Travis County is pretty notorious in our realm of organizing for deportation. In the last year and a half its felt like its speeding up, especially with more attention being given. A lot of the different people we see at detention centers are being moved from one detention center to the next more rapidly once we get them in our system and try to visit them, or they get deported. We have several mothers getting deported and their children are U.S. citizens and this is a normal practice. It’s a major problem and its right under our noses. The church I attend is literally right next door to ICE Federal downtown and every afternoon at about 1 p.m. I see the bus where they are taking people to the for-profit prisons and detention center which you would never know, you would think it’s just a bus here in the middle of Austin, this giant double decker bus.

DS: I know the way it’s phrased often is that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is a way of finding and deporting criminals. Can you speak to that?

AB: ICE does, in a sense, try to find and process criminals specifically; it’s not people with US papers and documentation. The targeted community is the Latin American community. You are not having ICE go after anybody from

Contributing Writers/Photographers/Artists // Shruti Anand, Mohammad Al-Bedaiwi, Güner Arslan, Marina Bhargava, Adriana Cadena, Roy Casagranda, Cindy Casares, Priscilla Cortez, Ruben Cubillos, Nora De LaRosa, Rose Di Grazia, Christian Gonzalez, Laura Donnelly Gonzalez, Harmony Eichsteadt, Layla Fry, Mark Guerra, Mari Hernandez, Ryan Hutchison, Yadira Izquierdo, Korina Jaimes, Chaille Jolink, Ryan Jordan, Ramey Ko, Heather Lee, Julia Lee, Liz Lopez, Otis Lopez, David Marks, JoJo Marion, Caitlin Moore, Cristina Parker, Preya Patel, Esther Reyes, Lisa Rodriguez, Marion Sanchez, Hani Saleh, Dani Slabaugh, Corey Tabor, Blanca Valencia, Kristina Vallejo, Kuetzpalin Vasquez, Joseph P.A. Villescas, Bowen Wilder Web Design // Mike Hernandez Cover // Bostich Fussible TODO Austin: Multicultural Media for All of Austin. TODO

Cont. on P. 5 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. © 2014 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 // MAR 2014 // TODOAustin.com 03

Texas’ Young Latinos Must be Reached and Urged to Vote

By Paul Saldaña

‘Su voto es su voz!” translates to “Your vote is your voice,” a constant theme repeated within the Latino community. We have all heard the numbers quoted by census pundits: The Latino population is growing, with more than 52 million Latinos in America, and politicians should take notice. However, the lingering question is whether ongoing population growth will transfer into political power. If so, when and how?

Clearly, for years now, Latinos have been in a position to change the political landscape of local, state and national elections. Here’s a snapshot of the potential for Latino voters in Texas using the latest census data. If we were to take the top 10 cities in Texas with the largest Latino populations which include the cities of Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, Laredo, Corpus Christi, Brownsville and McAllen - the total Latino population equals nearly 4 million. If you estimate the total number of eligible Latino voters in these same 10 cities, there are more than 1.7 million potential Latino voters. The estimated number of eligible Latino voters in Austin is nearly 120,000.

But even as the Latino eligible voter population is increasing, Latinos continue to face a voter registration gap when compared with whites and blacks. According to data produced by Latino Decisions, a national research data organization, despite massive voter registration drives in 2008 and 2010, only 60 percent of Latino citizen adults were registered to vote, compared with 70 percent

American YouthWorks H.S. Faces Closure

By Parc Smith American YouthWorks, CEO

For over thirty years, American YouthWorks has been a key education and job skills training link for thousands of young people who have needed an alternative to the cookie-cutter public education system. Today, however, our charter high school program faces closure by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). We are appealing TEA’s decision. We hope to show them how they’ve got us wrong. We want to assure all that if TEA denies our appeal, we will continue to serve the community through our other education, job skills training, and AmeriCorps service programs.

The proposed closure is an unintended consequence of legislation which was passed in 2013 and which was aimed at poorly performing charter schools. TEA has a rigid checklist by which they judge schools, and our special circumstances don’t fit precisely with their criteria. As an 04 TODO Austin // MAR 2014 // TODOAustin.com

of blacks and 74 percent of non-Latino whites. Of the 21 million Latinos who were eligible to vote in 2010, only 6.6 million actually headed to the polls.

The underlying question is how to determine the strategy that will once and for all motivate Latinos to register and vote. The key, I believe, lies within our Latino youths.

communities is culturally relevant and addresses the fundamental roots of our greatest challenges, such as education and economic success. The messaging must be centered and relevant to the actual lives of Latinos.

This type of grassroots mobilization has already began to take shape in Austin and proved to be effective via local initiatives and calls to action like the East Austin Voter Registration Project, Hermanos De East Austin, Hispanic Voters Count in Austin, and Hispanic Advocates Business Leaders of Austin. Political parties, politicians and political consultants are finally beginning to take notice.

On the national level, every month, 50,000 Latinos turn 18 and become eligible to vote; that’s 600,000 potential new voters every year. According to a Nielsen report issued last week, Latinos will represent the majority of the population growth in America over the next five years. And while the overall U.S. population is aging, the Hispanic population remains young. According to the report, more than 60 percent of the Hispanic population is younger than 35, and 75 percent are younger than 45. The median age of the group is 28, compared with the overall median age of 37. In Austin, more than 1 in 3 Latino residents were younger than 18 in 2010. And more than 70 percent of the Latinos were 35 and younger.

So how do we capture the undivided attention of Latino youths? Various research studies indicate that many Hispanics are tech savvy and are 28 percent more likely than non-Hispanic whites to own a smartphone. That leads to Hispanics outpacing all other ethnic groups in mobile data service consumption. Clearly today’s Latino youths are influenced by social media forums, especially those available on smartphones.

Introducing the concepts of grass-roots organizing, activism and leadership with a focus on voter registration and get-out-the-vote initiatives has the potential to truly motivate and effect a change in Latino voting. This approach can be successful as long as the mobilization of our example, TEA says American YouthWorks’ high school should have earned $7.62 in an interest bearing checking account. Instead, our money was in an endowment account where it earned $7,093. “Nope” says TEA, “you didn’t meet our financial criteria.”

TEA discounted or dismissed a number of other elements in their assessment of our high school, all as exasperating as the ones mentioned above.

Here’s the reality: American YouthWorks’ high school is doing great. Our school’s budget is in the black, we have an endowment, and we’re meeting academic standards. Young people who have not been successful in traditional high schools are graduating from American YouthWorks and going on to college and careers. For many of our alumni, our high school represented their last chance of either graduating or dropping out forever.

Right now, we’re appealing TEA’s assessment of our high school. We have a very strong case and hope to show TEA how their rating system didn’t work in measuring our school.

data and incorporating a grass-roots message that our future relies on mobilization and voting creates a greater sense of urgency. “We’ve lost our homes, our jobs, and access to a quality of life”; if this does not make us vote now, what will?

While the opportunity to effect change certainly lies with Latino youth, instilling the cultural value and tradition of our civic duty that “su voto es su voz” is the responsibility of all of Latinos. Several years ago, UPS developed a new branding and messaging centered on their infamous brown delivery trucks and the brown uniforms of their drivers. They said, “Look what brown can do for you.” In our latest call to action, Latinos should be stating, “Look what brown can do for ourselves.”

For example, a recent survey published by the Pew Hispanic Center highlights that Latinos have gotten the worst of a bad economy. A majority of Latinos, 54 percent, believe that the economic downturn that began 2007 has been harder on them than on other groups in America. Large numbers report that they or someone in their household has been out of work in the past year and that their personal finances are only fair or poor. Transcending this

Footnote: In July of 1998 the State of Texas implemented a new directive requiring high school deputy registrars. Yes, that’s correct, section 14.046(a) of the Texas Election Code requires all public and private high schools to provide a deputy voter registrar and register high school students who are eligible to vote.

In December of each year every high school receives a letter from the Secretary of State of Texas, reminding all high school principals of this directive. In Texas, young people may register to vote at 17 years, 10 months, but must be 18 years of age on Election Day to vote.

Carver camps are coming soon. Registration for residents of Austin began on February 22, and registration for nonresidents will begin on March 7 at 8 a.m. Camp dates are: YAS Spring Break Camp: March 10-15; Broadway Bound: June 9-July 26; YAS Summer Camp: July 28-August 15.

Financial aid is available. Please call 512-974-3911 for more information. For more information about our camps, please call the front desk at 512-974-4926.

Upcoming events in March include: Monday-Saturday, March 3-15, SXSW at the Carver’s Boyd Vance Theatre. MondayFriday, March 10-14, Youth Arts Safari Spring Break Camp 7:45 a.m., Carver Museum. On Thursday, March 13, Jack White Exhibit Opening & Reception 6 p.m. in the Gallery. Then on Thursday, March 20, National Sales Network at 6 p.m. in the Boyd Vance Theatre. Folktales Book Club is on Friday, March 21, 6 p.m., Classroom. Saturday, March 22 is Genealogy Workshop at 1 p.m. in the Classroom.

Black Women of Achievement is at 6 p.m. in Boyd Vance Theatre, also on Saturday, March 22. Saturday, March 29, is Visions in Rhythm Dance Company at 7 p.m., Boyd Vance Theatre. Thursday March 27 we have Cultural Lounge at 7 p.m., Boyd Vance Theatre. And Sunday, March 30 is Andee Kinzy at 4:30 p.m. in the Boyd Vance Theatre.

Cont. from P. 3

Southeast Asia, Europe. Africa doesn’t get nearly as much (attention), their focus is very intentionally towards Latin Americans. There is a major problem, especially under president Obama. He’s been the number one president to deport people in the history of the United States. It’s massive. A bill is going through congress to increase the security on the border. It’s incredibly problematic and people may not realize how much tax money it takes to keep somebody in detention and this hasn’t been a standard practice for a long time in our history.

Normally people are up for their hearings, but they are still able to be in the general public. Most people think that those who are in detention are criminals, when In fact, if they have broken anything is normally a civil offense, (for example) running a stop sign, and that has been enough to get them detained and possibly deported, separated from their families. It’s a hot mess and a major problem.

DS: You mentioned that there had been some mothers that had been deported and their kids were left here. What happens to the children?

AB: What happens to children is they are without a parent. There are some cases where the other parent has a green card, in which case, they are able to be taken care of and in some instances if they are American citizens and they have no parents then they become a ward of the state. It’s a major issue that is breaking up communities all around. We are all about America and American families but if you are breaking up families then it doesn’t make any

“A Tribute to Cesar Chavez”: 2014: takes place in the Black Box Theater on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, 9 p.m.

The first film featured is “A Class Apart”, directed by Carlos Sandoval and Peter Miller in the Black Box Theater on Fri. at 7 p.m. The film concerns the small town of Edna, Texas, in 1951, and a field hand named Pete Hernández who killed a tenant farmer after exchanging words in a gritty cantina. It led to a landmark civil rights case.

“The Fight in the Fields: César Chavez and the Farmworkers’ Struggle” plays twice, both Fri. and Sat. at 8:30 p.m. Directed

by Ray Telles and Rick Tejada-Flores, tells the story of Chávez and the nonviolent movement including the grape and lettuce boycotts of the 1960’s and 70’s. It’s a true story of hope and courage against overwhelming odds.

“Antonio Pantoja: ¡Presente!” plays Sat. at 7 p.m. Antonia Pantoja was a visionary Puerto Rican educator, activist, and early proponent of bilingual education, inspired multiple generations of young people and fought for many of the rights that people take for granted today. Unbowed by obstacles she encountered as a black, Puerto Rican woman, the film is an eloquent tribute to her.

sense and a lot of people are getting deported to places where their lives are in danger or they are going back to a country with which they really have no relationship. This is a major issue that we really need to address.

DS: When I hear people talk about immigration they talk as if it’s disconnected from any other policy. Are there other policies that you can see as a root cause of a lot of immigration related to economics?

AB: Immigration and immigration detention is directly related to the prison industrial complex.

What that means is you will see high levels of incarceration of African American and Latinos.

That is a part of the prison industrial complex and you will also see the death penalty, like here in Texas, these are all related and all part of the same system. Most of them are for-profit, so that means that the government contracts out to a private company so you have a major ethical issue of the government paying a private corporation to house or detain people, or to jail people. This means that these companies aren’t out for the wellbeing of these individuals, they don’t care about their circumstance, they care about making a profit. It behooves the private prison industry to have maximum filled facilities. That is business sense, bottom line. Most people don’t even know that businesses are obligated to legally maximize their bottom line for their shareholders. That creates a major ethical problem specifically when it’s targeting communities of color and migrant

As a cultural destination in Austin, field trips to the Asian American Resource Center can be accommodated upon request. To schedule a tour or field trip to the Asian American Resource Center, please complete and return the Tour/Field Trip Request form at www.austintexas.gov/aarc. Once your request is received, staff will review the form and respond to the request within one week’s time. All tours require two week advance notification.

Senior Tea and Recreation is held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Join us for tea and coffee as we start our day at the center. Our center is also equipped with two ping pong tables, games, and an arts and crafts room. Game offerings include mahjong, Chinese/Japanese/Korean chess, mancala, caroom, and more. Free. Call 512-974-1700 for details.

Taste of Asia Culinary Workshops kicked-off in February, and the series of culinary workshops that feature survey classes on different facets of Asian culinary traditions continues in April.

The classes are meant to familiarize participants with flavors and cuisines around Asia as well as serve as a springboard for future culinary series that are more in-depth. The next date is April 16, from 6-8 p.m. ($25).

communities. There is a saying, the “School to prison pipeline.” If you read Michelle Alexander’s book, “The New Jim Crow,” and you see private prisons looking at the tests scores of 4th and 5th grade black males to find out how many jail cells they will need by the time they are 18 years old. That’s real. That’s not a made-up thing.

Deportation and immigration is directly linked to that. It’s the same system with companies, targeting a different group of people.

DS: Are there international policies that have been enacted in the recent pass that have led to spikes in immigration? Are there other things at play that are root causes?

States is like an empire. We go into countries like El Salvador and take their natural resources we go and help set certain people in power in the government. It sounds like some type of conspiracy theory but it’s not. When you have this happening you realize that we are literally destabilizing populations of people around the world, specifically South and Central America that can no longer provide a safe space for themselves.

A lot of the women we see in TUFF are victims of military abuse whose husbands or boyfriends have been in the military and have physically abused them or their children and they are seeking asylum. This is serious. These populations are so destabilized that natural resources aren’t an option you can’t really farm anymore because everything has been mined out and there is pollution and abject poverty. (The U.S.) has played a major role as to why people are coming here.

DS: What is the message that the group wants to send?

S-Comm Protest (Arielle Lewis-Zavala photo)

AB: Yes, nobody wants to leave their place of origin, people are leaving because they have to leave. Most people don’t realize that the United

AB: The message we want to send is that these deportations have to stop and that the sheriff is largely responsible. Most people may not realize that the sheriff has to sign off on every deportation.

Sherriff Hamilton is up for reelection soon so it behooves him to listen, especially now that all eyes are on Austin. It is the number one city to move to in America. Austin has a lot at stake in this. There is a major Latino community here, a major educated community here, so this is big.

TODO Austin // MAR 2014 // TODOAustin.com 05

asian austin AA: What was your attraction to your vocation?

What drew you to do the work you do?

MB: I was married to an Indian who moved here when he was three and who was very assimilated into the mainstream culture of America, so that was my initial experience. It was only after we divorced that I found my way back to the Asian community. I began working for the Greater Dallas Asian Chamber of Commerce, running their non-profit business assistance center in 2007 and enjoyed it immensely. I’ve been in the non-profit world since.

AA: How did you first get involved with the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce? What is the goal of GAACC under your direction?

Asian Austin’s A-List

Marina Bhargava

By Yvonne Lim Wilson

Marina Bhargava is the Executive Director of the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, overseeing the overall operation of the Chamber.

She earned her BA and MA in economics from Northwestern University. Prior to joining the Chamber, she worked for SAHELI, a domestic violence agency, where she created trainings for and built relationships with the various Asian communities in Austin, and hired and managed 20 contract interpreter advocates.

Business Administration.

Marina was also the Business Development Director at the Multiethnic Education & Economic Development Center in Dallas. This was a nonprofit business assistance center to support underserved micro-enterprises by offering workshops, coaching retreats and technical assistance. During her tenure there, Marina was named 2009 Minority Business Champion by the Dallas Fort Worth district office of the Small

Marina Bhargava (MB): I was in law school in Singapore with an intention to work on gender equality issues and the United Nations when I met my ex, fell in love, quit law, got married and moved to Chicago, got a MA in economics, moved to Orange County, California, had two kids, moved to Dallas, got divorced. So, the short answer is my life just happened although I have to say it hasn’t been a bad ride overall.

Asian Austin News The Asian Chamber held panel discussions on the contentious Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Trade Agreement on February 26 at the Asian American Resource Center. The event examined what trade agreements mean for Austin and Texas and who will capitalize on new tech markets in Austin’s top Asian trade partners, Japan, Vietnam, and Malaysia and also Canada and Mexico. Joining in the event were Deputy Assistant State Secretary, William E Craft Jr, and senior executives and federal officials from Citigroup, Intel, McGraw Hill Financial, Foreign Agricultural Service and local business leaders.

specialists and practitioners discussed two international trade topics designed to assist businesses in selling internationally. The first session covered reaching international buyers and second session navigating international requirements including regulations and compliance law. The afternoon session consisted of two panels on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement being negotiated between the United States and partner countries. The first TPP panel featured government trade officials addressing the potential benefits of a comprehensive TPP Agreement. The second panel consisted of representatives from internationally engaged businesses who highlighted the TPP priorities of the U.S. business community.

During the morning session, expert international

Asian American Resource Center

Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce

06 TODO Austin // MAR 2014 // TODOAustin.com

Marina is proud mother to two independent young women who currently attend the University of Southern California and Northwestern University.

In her spare time, she reads, volunteers at various arts events, and does yoga, boot camp and Latin dancing to stay healthy.

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

MB: I first got involved with the Texas Asian Chamber of Commerce in when I moved to Austin in 2010, volunteering for the Lunar New Year Gala. I knew there were two Asian Chambers and was happy when they merged in 2012, applied for the executive director position later that year and was hired in February 2013. In the year since I started, I have implemented programs that offer something for all the different business segments in our community. Our mission specifies advocacy, connections and education as our pillars, so I’m making sure we offer these. Our tagline speaks about prosperity for all, so my job is to make sure we are relevant to the various parts that make up our fragmented community. This is challenging given our limited resources but it is a goal that I’m striving towards.

traditions here inspire me.

AA: Are there generational issues, or cultural issues, or both, between young and old Asian American Austinites?

MB: It’s natural that there would be. Every generation looks at the next with some terror and for immigrants, there is that additional layer of complexity of straddling two lives basically. I think it’s an enriching experience when there is open communication, understanding, flexibility and respect. Both my daughters will tell you how lucky they feel to have a mother who grew up in Malaysia.

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?

MB: We live a progressive city that wants to engage with its citizens and there is a core group of Asian Americans who are responding. It is still pretty thin but inspiring nonetheless. We need to encourage more folks to participate and give back to the community that has given them so much. We also need to speak out about existing biases which we ourselves may have a hand in perpetuating. For example, the Model Minority myth but also the lack of Asian Americans serving on corporate boards, or the emasculation of the Asian American male, or the high suicide rate among Asian American female elders, among others.

AA: What does the American Dream mean to you?

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

MB: When I was a kid growing up in Malaysia, America was this people who championed tolerance, justice and equality. More so than any other country, it would lead the way for the rest of humanity to follow in building a color-blind society based on those values. I still feel that America embodies these values and therefore, offers a great environment for anyone to achieve their potential, whatever that might be.

MB: I don’t know if this is a cultural value. It is what I think of as a Buddhist value and that is openhearted-ness. It is a simple attitude towards life that I try to follow, to be open to what the Universe presents to you. It is simple but not easy as it requires courage, humility, tolerance, patience, humor! And it all begins with being that way with one’s own self. _______________________________________________________________

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

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.

MB: The physical beauty of Austin, the connection among the different Asian ethnic groups, the strong environmental, progressive and tolerant The leading scholar of Cambodian American culture and diaspora, Dr. Cathy Schlund-Vials, will deliver a lecture about popular culture drawing from her book “War, Genocide, and Justice: Cambodian American Memory Work,” at AARC on Tues., March 4. “Battling the Khmer Rouge: Cambodian American Hip Hop” runs 7-8:30 p.m. AARC is collaborating on the event with the Center for Asian American Studies at UT Austin.

UT Center for Asian American Studies Dr. Cathy Schlund-Vials will also talk about her book at U.T. on Tues., March 4, at UTC 4.124 from 4-5 p.m.

On Wed., March 26, “The Strange Career of the Filipino ‘National’: Race, Immigration, and the Bordering of U.S. Empire” will explore the

incorporation of Filipino immigrants in the U.S. during the first half of the twentieth century, focusing on the interplay of colonialism, racial boundaries and citizenship policy. This talk will illustrate how the geo-political imperatives of U.S. imperial expansion repeatedly collided with domestic practices of racial exclusion. 12-1:30 p.m., Liberal Arts Building (CLA) 0.128.

“Gateway to the Orient: Seattle’s Nikkei and West Coast Urban History” features Dr. Shelley Lee on Thurs., March 27, 12:30-2 p.m. in Garrison Hall (GAR) 4.100. Through the case of Japanese Americans in Seattle before World War II, this talk explores the significance of U.S. Pacific expansion and Japanese migration for West Coast urban development, and how, in turn, the Pacific port’s pursuit of status as a “gateway to the Orient” shaped the lives of its Asian residents.

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS broadcast 18.1, cable 9 klru.org

KLRU celebrates Women’s History Month

Makers: Women Who Make America Monday, March 17 at 9 pm This comprehensive and innovative documentary tells the story of one of the most sweeping social revolutions in America’s history, as women asserted their rights.

Performing Possibilities: An Arts In Context Special Thursday, March 20 at 9 pm Through the use of theatre, Conspire seeks to provide women prisoners a revolutionary and creative approach to a better life.

Also This Month

Women In Chemistry

A Special Evening of Music

Women And Girls Lead

This documentary profiles eight remarkable women who have made important contributions to the field of chemistry.

KLRU presents an evening of music on Friday, March 28:

KLRU presents stories about women and girls who are making a difference both locally and globally. Watch these inspring stories at klru.org/wagl

Thursday, March 27 at 9 pm

Patina Miller on Live from Lincoln Center at 8 pm Esperanza Spalding on Austin City Limits at 9 pm The Villettes on Hardly Sound at 10 pm

Tickets on sale now!

Facility fee and convenience charges may apply.

April 3–6 TM/© Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved.

Frank Erwin Center Box Office TexasBoxOffice.com • 512.477.6060

Vestido Rojo Conference Go Red Por Tu Corazón celebrates the energy, passion and power we have as Hispanic women to band together to wipe out heart disease, the No. 1 cause of death for Latinas.

TM/©2014 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved. 65429 2/14

Join us for this FREE bilingual event just for women: - Health screenings (cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, BMI) - Healthy cooking/nutrition workshop - CPR & Zumba demonstrations - Presentation on risk factors & heart disease prevention - FREE heart-healthy lunch!

March 29, 2014 8am - 1pm Crowne Plaza 6121 North IH-35

www.heart.org/austin | #GoRedATX

For more info: 512.338.2439 or Elizabeth.Roque@heart.org

become a favorite friend at sesamestreetlive.com

Good Times at Güero’s For great tunes and great rita’s! Please join us for live music on our outside jardin stage, every Thursday through Sunday.

Thanks to the fans & bands who support us!!!

March Line-up outdoor shows are “weather permitting”

Taco Bar

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------SAT 3/1 MC & THE MYSTICS (2:30), EL TULE (6:30) SUN 3/2 THE RECOUPERATORS (3:00) -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 3/5 RADIO SHOW THU 3/6 LOS FLAMES (6:30) FRI 3/7 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW (6:30) SAT 3/8 THE BREW (2:30), AMANDA CEVALLOS (6:30) SUN 3/9 BLUE MIST (3:00) -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 3/12 RADIO SHOW -----------------------------------------------------------------------THU-SAT 3/13-15 SXSC -----------------------------------------------------------------------SUN 3/16 BOB FUENTES PRESENTS: ULTRA SUEDE (1:00), MITCH WEBB (2:00), WINK KEZIAH (3:00), BIG BAND TEJANO (4:00), EL TULE’ (5:00) -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 3/19 RADIO SHOW THU 3/20 RICH HOPKINS (6:30) FRI 3/21 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW (6:30) SAT 3/22 PAUL ORTA (2:30), THE TEXAS TYCOONS (6:30) SUN 3/23 MITCH WEBB (3:00), THE SWINDLES (6:30) -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 3/26 RADIO SHOW THU 3/27 SCREW BALL (6:30) FRI 3/28 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW (6:30) SAT 3/29 TED RODDY (2:30), ERIN JAIMES (6:30) SUN 3/30 CHICKEN STRUT (3:00)

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Bellas Artes Alliance Bringing Latin Music to the Mainstream // By Evelyn C. Castillo

Latinos in Austin have been practically invisible from the mainstream cultural and social fabric of the city even though they make up 35 percent of the population. If East Austin native and businessman Andrew Ramirez has his way, though, this won’t be the case for much longer.

Ramirez founded the burgeoning Bellas Artes Alliance non-profit organization three years ago with the aim of closing this gap of visibility.

The organization raises public awareness and appreciation of Latino heritage by promoting, preserving, and advancing the music, arts, and culture of the Latino community. Ramirez serves as its chairman.

It’s a gap that Ramirez, a native Austinite, says he’s been acutely aware of since his childhood days growing up in East Austin.

“As I think about growing up in East Austin, I think about it as a duality,” said Ramirez. “Our strong community ties gave us a sense of belonging and pride in who we were. We loved our culture, the food, the music and the dance. Austin, the capital of Texas, was our town. At the same time, we knew we were different, excluded, unwelcomed. East Austin Mexicano families had been in the area for generations. Yet, much of what happened outside of East Austin was off limits to us.”

A self-described “change agent and risk taker,” Ramirez has since enjoyed a very successful career in both the public and private sectors. He is the CEO of Rz Communications, Inc., a past chairman and founder of the Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and member of the City of Austin Small Minority Business Resource Committee.

He says his life’s purpose is “to charge forward into the breach and try to open minds and pathways to Chicano inclusion in the cultural and economic fabric of this city.” The organization is the driving force behind the Pan Americana Festival, which debuted three years ago during SXSW and showcases local and international Latino musicians as well as Latino filmmaking, theatre, dance and visual arts.

“I simply thought everything would be better if our culture were included,” he said. “Austin is emerging as a global hub of cultural innovation. Latinos need to make a contribution and benefit from the economic stimulus that this trend creates.”

One might be hard-pressed to say there’s a shortage of musical offerings at the SXSW festival, but a quick perusal of the line-up of musicians set to perform this year gives you an idea of how few Latino artists are scheduled to perform out of hundreds of artists and bands. There’s only one Tejano (a popular genre among Mexican-Americans) band scheduled to perform at an official SXSW showcase.

Ozomatli and Grooveline Horns at PAF 2012. (Dave McClinton photo)

“The Pan Americana Festival is an opportunity to add to the missing soundtrack with Latino artists and the culture from local and national stages,” said Mike Martinez, Austin City Council member and co-chair of Pan Americana festival. “Festivals like this serve to bridge Austin’s creative Latino communities with the rest of our community and the country.”

The event draws over 5,000 people every year to the ESB-MACC at the heart of downtown Austin.

In this state-of-the-art plaza, local artists perform alongside international Latino music sensations, getting the crowd dancing to everything from cumbia to funk, reggaeton to Tejano, salsa to rock and roll. Between bands, audiences enjoy the latest innovations in Latino filmmaking, theatre, dance and visual arts.

The Pan American Festival is only the beginning and more cooperation among the diverse cultural enterprises in Austin is needed to encourage both economic opportunities for artists and build a foundation for future Latino artists, according to Ramirez.

“Building Austin into a global mecca for artists of all genres is not a zero sum game. The success of one endeavor adds to the success of all or most endeavors,” said Ramirez. “My hope is that BAA and PAF will enjoy the support that SXSW, ACL and

Andrew Ramirez and Mike Martinez

others enjoyed in their beginnings. Perhaps we can elaborate on this at another time. What I would like to see is more collaboration and support from those involved in this activity.”

In that vein, Ramirez has set ambitious goals for the future of the Bellas Artes Alliance. By working with allies and like-minded people he hopes to continue to grow the organization and that it will become the standard bearer for promoting Latino culture in its many forms.

“We are attempting to take BAA to the next level. Our goal is to have a Hispanic ACL event, with a wide range of presenters, including mariachis, folklorico, Tejano, norteño, etc., and also eventually include film, visual arts, culinary arts, dance, etc. We would also like to see the corporate sector participating on a broader basis and connecting to a wide range of Latino artists,” said Ramirez. “It takes leaders, organizational alliances and individuals with diverse expertise to make it happen. My dream is to cultivate that enthusiastic team of padrinos and madrinas working enthusiastically to build BAA and PAF for our community and our city.”

Kinky at PAF 2013 TODO Austin // MAR 2014 // TODOAustin.com 09

Howlin’ Lobo

pay close attention to them during events like free music week. You might experience something extraordinary and could see the next U2 performing

By Lobo Corona for the first time. Pay close attention to the posters on every corner and stay alert for the surprise SXSW time offers yet again plenty of choice shows, too, from Outkast to Robert Plant to Daft events beginning with Nacional Records official Punk. Could happen. During SXSW in Austin all is showcase on Thursday, March 13 at Palm Door, 8 possible. p.m. Artist performing include Nortec Collective’s Bostich+Fussible (México), Ana Tijoux (Chile), Natalia Clavier (Argentina), AJ Davila (Puerto Rico), Irene Diaz (L.A.) and Fofe y Los Fetiches (Puerto Rico).

Outernational back in town New York City’s Outernational is known for their The same date, Cosmica Artists and uplifting genre-bending rock’n’roll performances; Saustex Showcase at Javelina, 8 p.m., looks the Rock Opera “Todos Somos Ilegales,” their Tom promising, with The Copper Gamins-Los Niños de Morello produced EP’s “Future Rock” and “Here Is Cobre (Mexico City), The Krayolas (San Antonio), The Rose,” their psychedelic Day of the Dead tribute Sergio Mendoza y La Orkesta (Arizona), The Hares to Lou Reed, and much more. With their upcoming (San Antonio), A Pony Named Olga (Berlin) and LP, “Welcome To The Revolution,” on the way, look for several Austin dates, including March 11 at Soho Austin’s own Como Las Movies.

Lounge, March 13 at Red Eyed Fly, March 15 at No doubt, SXSW has become a monster driven Sahara Lounge, and March 21 at Flamingo Cantina. by corporations and moved by waves created with millions of green notes, thus unsigned bands Pachanga Latino Music Festival News have less space every year to operate, so don’t The Pachanga Latino Music Festival recently forget to catch those acts wherever you can and announced the lineup for the 2014 festival, which will mark its seventh year. The festival will take place Atash on Saturday, May 10, at Fiesta Gardens and a limited number of discounted tickets are now on sale at pachangafest.com/tickets. Regular G.A. ticket price is $33. Pachanga’s roster of performers from around the globe and across the U.S. include Julieta Venegas, El Gran Silencio, La Santa Cecilia, Gaby Moreno, La Vida Bohème, Sonido San Francisco,

Niña Dioz, Del Castillo, Chicha Libre, Making Movies; and DMK. Calling all Conjuntos If you have a Conjunto band and would like to perform at the 1st Annual Manchaca Conjunto Festival and Car Show, April 25-27, email lostexaswranglers@ yahoo.com for more information.

An Evening with Julio Iglesias The buzz is strong for Julio Iglesias’ date at Austin City Limits Live! on Tuesday, April 1. As the 1983 Guinness Book of Records recognized on awarding him the only Diamond Disc ever given by this institution, Iglesias is the artist who has sung and recorded in the most languages in the history of music. It’s a rare opportunity to see the best-selling male Latin artist in history. Tickets are on sale at acl-live.com

LOBOS BITES

Latin Alternative Music Conference Mark the date for LAMC’s 15th Edition, taking place July 8-12 in New York City. To register visit latinalternative.com

MAKING TRACKS

Leticia Rodriguez (Nadyia Marshall photo)

Leticia Rodriguez debuts ‘La Americana’ With her debut CD “La Americana,” Leticia Rodriguez revives the past, works through a family memory and honors her Tia Eva Garza with a compilation of songs revived from her repertoire. Sharing her family’s history with her music is how Rodriguez honors her past and mixed Latin heritage, along with breathing new life into Latino music. The album is receiving kudos in the Latin and jazz worlds and Rodriguez will support it with a tour this Summer and Fall.

Atash’s ‘Everything is Music’ celebrated Seven-time Austin Music Award winners Atash will be taking their live experience to a new level at Stateside Theater at the Paramount with the theatrical performance, “Everything Is Music,” to coincide with the release of their latest studio album of the same name, out on March 25. Hints of flamenco, qawwali, thumri, rock, reggae and jazz are all flawlessly woven into the record. The band enlisted the talents of Naga Valli on Indian vocals, percussionist Abbos Kosimov, guitarist Fareed Haque and chorus singers from Les Petits Chanteurs of Haiti.

“We blend different cultural streams,” Atash’s Riggio says, “but it never sounds like we’ve consciously mixed these elements. The sound is a product of who we are as individuals. We don’t care if our audience knows the traditions we come from. We just want to bring them into the same space with us, to play and celebrate life and make them dance.”

Music4Life delivers Ed Robinson single Back with a new single on the Austin-based label, Music4Life, is Ed Robinson, who delivers a sweet lover’s rock tune called “Hard to Get” about a woman who is playing hard to get and how his persistence will eventually pay off. The Jamaican-born Robinson, a veteran of the reggae music industry, enlisted John Patterson (John Mono) and R.J. Johnson (DJ-RJ) for the release. “Hard to Get” was mixed by legendary Jamaican mixing engineer, Steven Stanley in Kingston.

‘Road to Austin’ Debuts

By Tara Veneruso

On May 19, 2007, an unprecedented event called the Road to Austin was unveiled to an audience of 20,000 people at Auditorium Shores. Over 60 legendary all-star music performers gathered to give the performance of a lifetime including Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson, Delbert McClinton, Bobby Whitlock, Malford Milligan, Joe Ely, Eric Johnson, Ian McLagan, Joe Ely and many more. They had all come out to support Stephen Bruton’s Artist Wellness Initiative.

poor health, he somehow gathered the strength to bring together this incredible roster of talent for “Road To Austin” to help other artists. His goal was to create a program for local Austin artists to receive preventative care and early detection of life threatening diseases. With typical Bruton swagger, he courageously led his 15-piece band through 38 songs and the evening was declared “Stephen Bruton Night” by then Austin Mayor Will Wynn.

At the time, the Grammy award-winning producer Bruton was battling throat cancer after months of intensive radiation and chemotherapy treatment.

Only two weeks out of treatment and in very

After Bruton’s passing, director/screenwriter Gary Fortin set out to honor his friend and make a measurable difference in his name. The feature documentary, “Road To Austin,” chronicles how

Mexican American Experience

on Thursday, joined by multiple accordion performers on stage including Rick Fuentes (accordion/keyboard and vocalist with Ruben Ramos & The Mexican Revolution), J.R. Gomez (vocalist with Los Kumbia All-Starz) and the emerging talent, Julian Olivarez, among others. J.R. Gomez is also scheduled to perform with his band that evening.

By Elizabeth Lopez

The Mexican American Experience (MAE), will return for the fourth continuous year to the grounds of the Emma S. Barrientos-Mexican American Cultural on Wednesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 13. The event, produced

by Crossroads Events, will showcase local and regional talent in collaboration with the MACC and PARD.

Grammy winning artists Joel Guzman and Sarah Fox will lead a tribute to the late accordion master, Esteban “Steve” Jordan

Longtime friend of Bruton and legendary music industry professional Ken Kushnick said, “We’re not trying to release a movie. We’re trying to launch an initiative.” Traditionally, feature films seek Hollywood distribution companies to get

their films into the world. But after Bruton lost his battle to cancer in 2009, the filmmakers along with Kristofferson established the Artist Wellness Program to honor Bruton. Instead of traditional distribution, the “Road to Austin” filmmakers are releasing a 3-hour double disc BluRay DVD with proceeds to benefit Bruton’s Artist Wellness Initiative. Bruton once told a friend during his long battle with cancer, “It makes no sense to wait until someone is sick before we try to help them.”

Kushnick points out that proceeds from BluRay sales will go to support Bruton’s Artist Wellness Program. “The guiding principle of the program is to diagnose sooner to keep artists from getting ill.”

Pan Americana Festival 2014

Northern Mexico. Nortec creates a unique sound that has become a musical emblem, its effect not only on border music but on a generation. Also on Friday’s bill are co-headliner 3 Ball Mty, Master Blaster, Piñata Protest, and Poc.

The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) and Bellas Artes Alliance host the 4th Annual Pan Americana Festival, a free, two-day event March 14-15.

Debuting three years ago, the festival has become one of the signature events of the SXSW Music and Media Conference. A free shuttle service will be available to and from parking lots at Sanchez Elementary School, Martin Middle School and Fiesta Gardens. Refreshments will be sold on-site.

The project is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin. Visit bellasartesalliance.org for more information.

On Saturday, March 15, Los Amigos Invisibles headlines. The band formed in Caracas, Venezuela in the early 1990s as an answer to the lack of variety offered by the “rocker” and dark acts that flooded their city’s theaters and radio waves. Instantly becoming Venezuela’s only “dance band,” they began a crusade to convince the owners of forgotten discothèques that dance is not only salsa and merengue and that electric guitar does not have to be “punk.” With its original line-up still intact, the band comprises Julio Briceño (a.k.a. “Chulius”, vocals, percussion), José Luis Pardo (a.k.a. “Cheo” or “DJ Afro”, guitar, songwriting), Armando Figueredo (a.k.a. “Odnam”, keyboards), Mauricio Arcas (a.k.a. “Maurimix”, congas, percussion), José Rafael Torres (a.k.a.

“Catire”, bass), and Juan Manuel Roura (a.k.a.

“Mamel”, drums, percussion). Mexican Institute of Sound is Saturday’s co-headliner, with Los Rakas, Buffalo Blanco and Poc on the bill.

On Friday, March 14, Nortec Collective presents Bostich & Fussible brings over a decade of creating the sound that defined the border. From its metamorphosis, the production of Tijuana Sound Machine y Bulevar created by Bostich and Fussible (Ramon Amezcua and Pepe Mogt) infuses popular electronic music with the popular music from

MAE was established to showcase the diversity of the musical sounds created by artists within the Mexican American/Tejano/ Chicano. The music line up will include award winning musical artists, as well as emerging talent that continues to create music grounded in sounds from the past, yet blending them with their own current music influence and experiences.

Wednesday features the legendary Grammy winning artist, Little Joe y La Familia, the highly decorated headliner Gary Hobbs, and Ashley Borrero, winner of the first annual Tejano Idol contest. Perhaps just as noteworthy is the return after a long hiatus, of Austin’s Street People including vocalist Leonard Davila.

Austin became the “Live Music Capital of the World,” covering the mid 1800s to present day and features eight songs from the three-hour concert. With spectacular footage and sound, the 75-minute version of the film has its official SXSW World Premiere on March 13 at 4:30 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center’s Vimeo Theater.

But the “Road to Austin” is so much more than its initial SXSW feature film screening.

Little Joe

Music begins at 6:30 p.m. on both nights with the grounds open to the public at 4:30 p.m. for partaking of the open air event in the Zocalo area of the cultural center along Lady Bird Lake. No ice chests are allowed at the event and established Austin based businesses will be onsite with food and beverages for a fee. Attendees are encouraged to take lawn chairs while enjoying live music during Spring Break.

Los Amigos Invisibles TODO Austin // MAR 2014 // TODOAustin.com 11

Film Austin

By Tara Veneruso

This March, Austin becomes the most important film city on the globe with world premieres, incredible screenings and top-notch educational events. With ground-breaking programming from organizations such as the Mexican American Cultural Center’s “Tribute to Chavez,” the Austin Film Society’s “Texas Film Awards” and the hundreds of SXSW Film events, Austin will be flooded in film.

between LA and Barcelona while recent recipient of the Adrienne Shelley Director’s Award, Leah Meyerhoff, brings us “I Believe in Unicorns” about a teen runaway discovering the trouble with love.

Meyerhoff’s film is executive produced by one of my personal faves, director Allison Anders.

The Documentary Feature Competition line-up takes us around the world on grand adventures including “Mateo,” which follows America’s first white mariachi singer on his misadventures in Cuba. From the Netherlands, Diana Whitten’s “Vessel” chronicles the journey of sea captain and activist Dr. Rebecca Gomperts. A potential competition winner, “Print the Legend,” follows the race to bring 3D printing to your desktop.

weaves together his film on so little resources” in “Cumbres.” On the opposite end of the budget spectrum, Juan Antonio Bayona’s chilling psychological horror, “Penny Dreadful,” stars Josh Hartnett and Argentian director Juan Jose Campanella’s period drama “Halt and Catch Fire” will air on AMC this summer.

The music and movie power-combo dominates with incredible selections including the Jimi Hendrix bio, “Jimi: All Is By My Side,” starring Outkast’s Andre Benjamin. Martin Shore explores the legacy and soul of Memphis and Mississippi Delta musicians in “Take Me to the River” while director Beth Harrington focuses on the legacy of the Johnny Cash and June Carter musical dynasty in “The Winding Stream.” Gary Fortin’s “Road to Austin” showcases Stephen Bruton while Greg Oliver gets ZZ Top, Tommy Shannon and other Texas music legends for his story, “Johnny Winter: Down & Dirty.”

The Austin Film Society honors filmmakers at the Texas Film Awards March 6 with Master of Ceremonies Luke Wilson, honorees Amber Heard, David Gordon Green, Mac Davis and Louis Black, special presenters Priscilla Presley and Danny McBride with Star of Texas Award recipient Robert Rodriguez for his film “From Dusk Till Dawn.”

Speaking of honors, congrats to AFS Founder Richard Linklater for winning the pretigious Berlin Film Festival Silver Bear Award for Best Director for “Boyhood,” which received thousands of rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival. The film screens at SXSW March 9. Check out Linklater’s incredible weekly series “Jewels in the Wasteland: A trip through ‘80s Cinema” running through May 28 at the Marchesa Theater. Linklater will intro and hold discussions for each film. Highlights include Jonathan Demme’s “Melvin and Howard” on March 19 and the March 26 screening of Godard’s “Every Man for Himself.”

Head of SXSW Film Conference and Fest, Janet Pierson, and her team selected this year’s remarkable program from a record 2,215 featurelength film submissions composed of 1,540 U.S. and 675 international feature-length films. One of the most prestigious areas of the fest is SXSW’s Narrative Film Competition, which includes eight world premieres. From Spain, director Carlos Marques Marcet’s “10,000KM” explores the challenges of a long-distance relationship

Chavez Biopic Opens

By Tara Veneruso

On March 28, the highly anticipated film, “Cesar Chavez,” directed by actor/director Diego Luna, opens in theaters after its March 10 SXSW premiere. Diego Luna’s powerful cinematic portrait of the legendary activist stars Michael Pena, America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Rosario Dawson (Sin City) and John Malkovich.

Chronicling the birth of a mass grass roots American movement, “Cesar Chavez” tells 12 TODO Austin // MAR 2014 // TODOAustin.com

SXSW’s Pierson helped us navigate more films from around the globe including the deeply intimate tale of Louis Sarno, Jim Jarmusch’s former roommate, who lived with pygmies for over 30 years! Michael Obert’s “Song from the Forest” joins Sarno after he joined a pygmy tribe, started a family and then returns to NYC. A standout from Spain, “Open Windows,” is a modern take on Rear Window directed by Nacho Vigalondo starring Elijah Wood. Diego Luna’s company based in Mexico City, Canana, signed on to Brazillian filmmaker Fernando Coimbra’s dark debut feature “Wolf at the Door” about a disturbing kidnapping.

the story of the epic 1960s Delano grape strike and boycott and his dedication to leading farm workers out of poverty and discrimination. Hollywood films rarely spark such an intense amount of excitement that empower and encourage individuals to take action. Chavez’s triumphant journey is a remarkable testament to the power of one person’s ability to change the world.

In advance of the March 28 release of the movie, the filmmakers and the Cesar Chavez Foundation are launching a drive to recognize the late civil rights and farm labor leader with a National Day of Service so all Americans can

While last years fest screened a lot of apocolyptic films, this year Pierson noted a large number of time travel and sci-fi submissions. Australians seem to dominate the time-travel genre with firsttime feature director Hugh Sullivan’s “The Infinite Man” and the time-travel thriller “Predestination” starring Ethan Hawke. Journey across the universe of space and time with renowned astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson in a preview of Fox’s upcoming series “COSMOS: A SpaceTime Odyssey.”

SXSW also has a growing genre of eco-based movies. Activists blockade the controversial Keystone XL pipeline in “Above All Else” while Sandy McLeod’s “Seeds of Time” works to save the eroding foundation of our food supply in a new era of climate change. Focusing in on the urgent fight to save a critical American eco-system, “DamNation” explores the changing attitude of dams in America.

10,000 km

Famous German Director Doris Dörrie’s film set in Mexico, “Que Caramba es la Vida,” takes a fascinating look into the macho world of mariachi music and the handful of female musicians choosing to overcome the odds to be Mariachis. Inspired by frightening police news he heard about Monterrey, Mexico in 2006, Pierson explains that director Gabriel Nuncio “eloquently

the captivating transmedia project “The Last Hijack.” The film combines animation and doc footage to tell a modern-day pirate story about a Somali pirate, Mohamed. Margaret Brown’s latest film, “The Great Invisible,” which penetrates the secretive oil industry to examine the Deep Horizon oil spill. Texas native Darius Clark Monroe’s deeply personal documentary, “Evolution of a Criminal,” re-investigates a bank robbery to examine how his actions affected the victims and his family.

Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood”

Austin filmmaker, Kat Candler’s highly-acclaimed “Hellion,” starring Juliette Lewis and local fave Jonny Mars, recently returned from rave reviews at Sundance. Former Austinite, Producer Tommy Palotta (“Waking Life”) teamed up with Dutch media producer Femke Wolting to create Micheal Peña in Cesar Chavez

This is the first year for SXSWAméricas, a series of events geared to connect U.S. Latino and Latin American technology, music, and film industry leaders with a focus to create new business partnerships. SXSW’s International Rep, Tracy Mann, explains that Brazil is creating a strong presence here at SXSW. SXSW’s “Latinos in Tech” is a three-day program that showcases Latino talent and innovations in the tech and new media space. In its inaugural year, the track will explore the impact of technology on the Hispanic voice.

Tara Veneruso is an award-winning film director and producer currently in post-production on her latest feature and also developing immersive, transmedia storytelling projects. Send casting and crew calls, film, tech and game industry news to filmtodoaustin@gmail.com.

take part in local activities on his birthday, March 31 (Takepart.com/Chavez). Chad Boettcher from Participant Media said, “Cesar Chavez dedicated his life to serving the needs of others, leading a movement that drew support from millions of Americans. So it seems entirely appropriate— and long overdue—to honor his tremendous legacy with a National Day of Service.

The Mexican American Cultural Center hosts a film tribute to Cesar Chavez in the Black Box Theater March 7-8, including a panel discussion “Latinos and New Media” with Paul Chavez, son of Cesar Chavez.

ca r i d a d

CASA

(Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Travis County

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Mandeep Chatha was born in India and immigrated to the U.S. at a young age. She was raised in Fort Worth and moved to Austin to attend U.T., where she studied Government, Asian-American Studies and Philosophy.

Mandeep returned to Austin after law school at Texas Tech and currently works in civil litigation. She’s a member of The Junior League of Austin, the Austin Bar Association and the Austin Young Lawyers Association. She was also selected to the State Bar of Texas Leadership Academy for 2014. Mandeep learned about CASA through her time volunteering at the Austin Children’s Shelter. “I saw so many CASA volunteers there and the kids really seemed to have a positive experience with CASA,” said Mandeep.

She feels that if CASA

volunteers weren’t on cases, there would be huge cracks in an already complicated child welfare system. “I think about how difficult life already is for these kids. They could be lost in the system if CASA wasn’t there.” Mandeep has always had an affinity towards volunteering with kids and greatly appreciates the tangible connection she can make working one on one with children on her CASA cases. “In a lot of ways you’re really in charge of them, making sure they’re safe.”

TODO Austin // MAR 2014 // TODOAustin.com 13

Civil Engineer Anali Martinez

By Monica Peña

With the belief that each generation should be better than the previous, Anali Martinez strives for that goal. “My parents are my every day motivation,” says the Del Rio native.

“My mentor is my dad. He taught me everything I know when it comes to civil engineering. He taught me that learning the fundamentals was key, but in order to really succeed in this industry, you have to meet people and make them like you. It’s all about who you know and how well you are liked when you are trying to win a project.

My role model is my mom. She came from almost nothing to the United States at the age of 11. She didn’t have anyone pushing her to do good in school, but her and her siblings knew that it was the only way to make it in this country. She graduated as a junior and then went to college to study accounting. Now she is one of the most well-known Latina credit union CEOs.” Anali Martinez graduated from UT Austin in 2012 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. She wanted to go into transportation or water

Rose’s Rave Reviews

By Rose Di Grazia

“Mi restaurante es su restaurant,” when it comes to Mi Casa according to Marilu Rodriguez, the proprietor. Mi Casa is located in North Austin in the shopping center with Big Lots just at 8766 Research Boulevard. Once inside the Mexican eatery, sounds of soccer games or Mexican music can be heard along with the clanking of pans in the kitchen. This is my place when it comes to a pan of sizzling hot fajitas mixed with onions and bell peppers. The dish is served in a cast iron skillet piping hot along with rice and Charro beans, guacamole, fresh pico, and fresh hot tortillas. Order up a Negra Especial to drink and don’t forget the Flan or Tres Leches cake for dessert. The platter for one is only $9.99 and it is enough for two regular appetites.

But if you are starved order the platter for two for just $18.99.

Marilu has owned the 14 TODO Austin // MAR 2014 // TODOAustin.com

Martinez has discovered that being involved in organizations has really helped.

“My bosses have commented that so many people know me in the industry. Being a young Latina, people always want to know my story. How did I get here? Why did I graduate so young? It is always a great ice breaker. But being known in an industry that counts a lot on ‘who you know’ gives me a leg up when I decide to move up within my field.”

resources engineering and started her career working at Klotz Associates in 2012 as an Associate Engineer in the Transportation division. Since then, she has worked on several roadway design projects and traffic signal designs. “Trying to be a leader in a male dominated field has to be the hardest challenge,” she observes. “Being young has been another challenge. People have said, ‘you are still too young to be thinking of the future.’ I feel that I know what I want in my life. There is no reason why I shouldn’t start thinking of my future goals now.”

Martinez after graduating high school as a junior at the age of 17 in 2007, made the move to Austin immediately to attend the University of Texas at Austin where she studied Civil Engineering following her father’s path.

During college she joined many Latina/o organizations on campus including a Latina-founded sorority Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. This path was not always easy as Martinez explains, “I always knew that being a minority in engineering would be difficult. Not only am I a woman, but I am of Mexican descent. My first semester in college, I took a Civil Engineering 101 class.

The professor said, ‘How many women are there in this class? Please raise your hand.’

He went on to give us statistics about how many of the women in that class would actually make it to graduation.”

restaurant for a few years now and always has a smile on her face for all her regulars and newcomers.

The place offers lunch specials for just $6.99.

Customers can choose from nine different specials. The place is filled with simple tables and booths. The walls are adorned with scenes of a market and scenes of maybe Spain or Italy.

During soccer season this place gets filled with soccer fans. Soccer fans can order dinner and watch the game. This establishment is a little gem known to many of the local neighbors that live near the shopping center.

The restaurant also has enchiladas, caldo, breakfast specials, tacos, fish, and shrimp.

So next time you are in the mood for authentic Mexican stop on in for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The place is open Mon-Thurs from 7 am to 9 pm, plus Fri and Saturday til 10 p.m. and Sunday til 10:30 p.m.

512-374-0770.

Come early or late the food is great at Mi Casa!

Looking back, Martinez sees many of her challenges as successes. “I got involved as soon as I could in engineering societies and organizations. I made it a point to join SHPE Austin and to be in a leadership position.

That year I was the secretary and I gained so much from that experience. I also became heavily involved in American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and have become well known in my field.”

Profitability through Diversity

By Monica Peña

On March 19, North Austin Influencers will host a professional development with presenter Dr. Kazique J. Prince on the transition from affirmative action to diversity management at CASA of Travis County. Discussion will include connecting diversity, inclusion and cultural competency together, reviewing evidence linking diversity to higher productivity and performance, discussing ways to increase likelihood diversity and inclusion is successful and taken seriously, and sharing ideas that support the business case for diversity: workforce capability and responding to the skills/talent shortage by being an employer of choice.; market share via insights into diverse customers and local environments.; return on investment: Engaging and retaining top talent for longer period of time.; innovation and risk management via diverse perspectives.; alignment with values and corporate social responsibility, brand, and reputation. For more info go to www. meetup.com/NORTH-AUSTIN-INFLUENCERS. Prince, founder and chief executive officer at Jelani Consulting, LLC, provides executive and

She is currently involved in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) with their Younger Member Forum (YMF) and serves as secretary. She is also a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Austin Professional Chapter and with the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas (HWNT). As President of the Austin Metro Alumnae Chapter (AMAC) of Kappa Delta Chi, she is actively looking for graduate and professional women to join the organization. “I have made it a point to volunteer. Any way I can make someone else’s life better, I will take it,” says Martinez.

Meet Anali Martinez at the next North Austin Influencers mixer on March 27 at Tortuga Flats in Round Rock as she shares her life experience. For more details on the event and to pre-register visit: http:// w w w. m e e t u p . c o m / N O R T H-A U S T I NINFLUENCERS

leadership consultation and coaching services focused on cultural competency for individuals, teams, and organizations in business, education, government, healthcare, and for non-profit groups. He collaborates with clients working on managing cultural differences by trailblazing through opposition, spearheading forwardthinking, cutting-edge initiatives and programs while successfully uniting team members behind common goals.

He is a Board Certified Diplomat in African Centered/Black Psychology through The Association of Black Psychologists and certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory through IDI, LLC. Governed by a focused vision for the future and fueled by a passion to make a difference in the new global economy, Prince has considerable experience in the areas of Project & Program Management, Diversity & Inclusion Management, and Crossfunctional Leadership Development. He also owns a powerful understanding of people and what motivates them, drawing upon unique skill sets to sell, counsel and encourage others towards meaningful, lasting change. Father of two burgeoning teenagers, he volunteers with his children’s Parent-Teacher Association as the Membership & Outreach Chair and supports various others activities in the Austin area.

Celebrating

Div e r s i t y

A UST I N UR B A N M US I C F EST A UD I TOR I U M S H ORES

Bridge2Bridge From Montopolis Bridge to 360 Bridge, Everything Austin

DiverseArts’ Fresh Black Paint is an opportunity for audiences to experience the voice of contemporary African-American visual art. This month, the works of Ketu’rah Glore are exhibited at New East Art Gallery.

Glore turns concepts of unique perspective into food for thought, and describes her style as “ethnic abstract” while remaining “universally beautiful mixed media.” diversearts.org Radha Madhav Dham presents “Holi Hai,” an exuberant and interactive celebration of the Indian festival of color, from 2-8 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 15. The program, held on the beautiful outdoor facilities’ grounds, will comprise activities for all ages. Game booths, prizes, petting zoo, inflatables, cultural dances, Indian delicacies, Holi Leela performance, play and bonfire, and arti. radhamadhavdham.org The theme of the 9th Annual Austin Urban Music Festival, “The Music Speaks,” underscores the unique way in which music acts as a universal language that enhances and sustains the city’s Afro-Centric experience musically, culturally, and economically.

Expect the fest’s usual signature programs March 28-29 at Auditorium Shores, benefitting Soul Tree Collective, includes the Book of Soul Showcase and a Fun Zone. The two-day event features national and local entertainment onstage and is family-centric. Occurring during the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays weekend, listed among hip-hop, R&B, Soul, gospel and neo-soul AfricanAmerican artists this year are Kool & The Gang, Morris Day and The Time, SMV, Larry Braggs, and Cupid.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Kool & The Gang, who count 70 million albums sold worldwide with a deep catalogue of gems that have influenced music for three generations.

Show-stoppers like “Celebration,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer Madness” and “Open Sesame” have earned numerous honors and applause for 35 years on the road, longer than any R&B group in history. Their bulletproof funk and tough, jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled band of all time.

Day is of course the artist who first posed the infamous question, “What time is it?”, generating infectious music and riveting performances as a popular concert draw since the late 1990s. SMV is a bass player’s dream team, uniting music titans Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten.

Braggs finished 2013 with Tower of Power and has embarked on a solo journey. Cupid’s R&B brand with four albums to his credit and is on the ascent.

For more info on AUM, austinurbanmusicfestival.com

see

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Austin Celtic Association hosts their annual St. Patrick’s Day Austin on Monday, Mar. 17, 3-9 p.m., at the Shoal Crossing Event Center. It’s an authentic display of Irish culture and pride with food, Irish music including Girsa, Maken & Spain Bros., Aidan, The Tea Merchants, Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums, cloggers, Irish dancers, and more. $15 adults at door/$5 for children. stpatricksdayaustin.com Austin Symphony Orchestra presents A Night in Mexico, curated by Joseph Horowitz, March 21-22 at the Long Center. Composers Copland, Chávez and Revueltas and ASO will take you on a musical journey with music that was inspired by the great country of Mexico. The night concludes with a performance of Revueltas’ “Redes,” complete with the film projected on a big screen. thelongcenter.org The two-time Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir is heralded as one of the most exciting groups to emerge in world music in recent years. Through vibrant rhythm, movement and its renowned vocal tapestry, the Choir performs a repertoire ranging from traditional African gospel songs to Bob Dylan’s “I’ll Remember You.” Bass Concert Hall, Sunday, March 23. texasperformingarts.org Ballet Austin presents the 5th Biennial New American Talent/Dance competition, March 28-30 at the Long Center. Interactive and always exciting, the search for the country’s most talented choreographers from a national pool of applicants returns to accelerate the careers of rising talent and delivers some of the most innovative and intriguing dance you’ll see. With live accompaniment. thelongcenter.org Superstar comedian, author and talk show host, Chelsea Handler, is on a national stand-up comedy tour in support of her fifth book, “Uganda Be Kidding Me.” Perhaps best known as the outspoken host of E!’s late night talk show, “Chelsea Lately,” she continues to offer audiences her fearless honesty and tongue-in-cheek commentary. Sunday, March 30, at Bass Concert Hall. texasperformingarts.org

STAPLE! Expo M A R C H ES A H A L L

By Otis Lopez

STAPLE!, Austin’s Indie Media Expo, is materializing for the tenth time on March 1-2 at the Marchesa Hall and Theatre and beckons artists, writers, publishers, fans and enthusiasts with open tentacles. Everyone age 12 and under gets in free (regular admission $15 weekend pass/$10 daily), though people of all ages are encouraged to attend panels and sit in on Lonestar Jedi’s light-saber fight and informal instruction in said art form. Mindzai Collective will be live screen-printing all weekend long in the lobby, and before- and after-parties are scheduled for attendees of all species ages 21+.

Among the panelists are Andy Hirsch, regular artist of “Garfield” and contributor to Adventure Time; Paul Benjamin, New York Times best-selling author and YALSA nominee; Monica Gallagher of Bonnie N. Collide and “Gods & Undergrads”; and Matt Udvari, founder and creative director of Part Time Evil, LLC. Chris Nicholas founded STAPLE! in 2005 for underground comic buffs and game wizards. Nicholas says that STAPLE! shines a light on “the folks who publish comics and zines, and possible literary masterworks out of their own apartments and homes. It was a natural step to connect the fans to the artists through a conference like STAPLE!” Ten years later, the event has grown mightily with over 150 exhibitors, panels on comics, webcomics, and indie game design, including an all ages comics panel on Sunday; tutorials and presentations; intriguing new favorites and old classics, and a kid-friendly, fascinating DIY multiverse of independent print. www. staple-austin.org.

TODO Austin // MAR 2014 // TODOAustin.com 15

“I’m running for Travis County Judge because we need a strong leader with proven leadership skills to bring folks together, stand up for Travis County values, and protect our quality of life.”

– Andy Brown

“Soy candidato para Juez del Condado de Travis porque necesitamos un líder fuerte con capacidad de liderazgo probada para unir a la gente, pelear por nuestros valores del Condado de Travis, y para proteger nuestra calidad de vida.”

– Andy Brown

Andy has been endorsed by these community activists and officeholders: Congressman Lloyd Doggett State Sen. Kirk Watson State Sen. Judith Zaffirini Former Mayor Gus Garcia State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez

State Rep. Mary González State Rep. Jessica Farrar AISD Vice Chair Gina Hinojosa County Attorney David Escamilla Commissioner Margaret Gómez

• • • • •

DEMOCRAT FOR TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE

Constable Maria Canchola Constable Carlos Lopez Council Member Omar Peña Former Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Tenorio AISD Board Member Rev. Dr. Jayme Mathias

Grew up in Austin, attended public schools Practicing attorney, representing Spanish-speaking clients Travis County Democratic Party Chair, 2008-2013 Fluent in Spanish Has worked across Central and South America for better living, working, and environmental conditions.

www.voteandy.com • 512-472-VOTE (8683) Pol. Adv. Pd. Andy Brown Campaign, Janis Pinnelli, Treasurer

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TUESDAY, MARCH 4 • VOTE EARLY FEB. 18-28

Andy Brown and Sen. Judith Zaffirini

Andy has been endorsed by these organizations: ✓ Circle C Area Democrats ✓ Northeast Travis County Democrats ✓ North by Northwest Democrats ✓ Austin Stonewall Democrats ✓ Austin/Travis County EMS Employees Association ✓ Travis County Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Association ✓ Austin Central Labor Council ✓ AFSCME Local 1624 ✓ Education Austin