TODO Austin April 2014

Visit our new website! www.todoaustin.com

A few more miles to go.

Volume V / April 2014

The Civil Rights Summit

We Shall Overcome

Inside Martinez for Mayor Vote: Whole Woman UTPCR’s Peace Path Keep Austin Fed

7pm

• Opening reception for Illuminating Spirits • Shades of the Tenth Muse, a reading performance. Introduction by Dr. Maria Cotera.

8pm

• One Journey, a theater performance by Yadira de la Riva.

2pm

• Readings of poems written by women in the Texas prison system.

• “The Rehabilitative Role of the Arts in Recovery” panel discussion with special performance by Grammy®-nominated singer/songwriter Eliza Gilkyson • Acting Workshop: Theater of the Oppressed, presented by Yadira De La Riva (Dance Studio)

6pm

• Conspire Theatre presents: Performing Possibilities.

• “Unleashing Potential of Incarcerated Women Through Policy” panel discussion.

8pm

• One Journey, a theater performance by Yadira De La Riva.

600 River St, Austin TX 78701 512-974-3772 • maccaustin.org 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 512-974-3772 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.

c e n tro ur b a n a HABLA Austin

Disparity study kick-off meeting The City of Austin recently commissioned a Minorityand Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) Disparity Study. The study will examine the participation of MBEs and WBEs in public sector contracting and procurement activities over the last several years. Travis County and the Austin Independent School District are conducting similar disparity studies concurrently with the City’s. On Thursday, Apr. 3, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at City Hall, the City, County and School District will host a Kickoff Meeting for interested business owners. The meeting will provide an opportunity to learn more about the purpose of the study, key tasks that will be performed, and about the specific opportunities that will be available in the coming months to provide feedback to the study team.

Tony Diaz, a founder of the Librotraficante movement and part of the Texas-wide coalition demanding that Mexican American Studies be implemented as a curriculum for Texas high schools, said, “There are more than 1,200 school districts in Texas. Yet, there is no officially recognized Mexican American Studies course in Texas, which serves five million students, over half of which are Hispanic.” For more info on the march, see www.librotraficante.com U.T. study shows lower academic success for men of color Despite higher levels of engagement in the community college experience — from rarely skipping classes to accessing tutoring services more frequently — male students of color have lower academic outcomes than White male students who are significantly less engaged, according to a recent University of Texas at Austin report.

“Aspirations to Achievement: Men of Color and Community Colleges” showed that, “Despite Black and Hispanic males reporting higher aspirations to earn a community college certificate or degree than their White peers, only 5 percent of those who attend community colleges earn certificates or degrees in three years, as opposed to 32 percent of White males,” said Kay McClenney of U.T.

Tony Diaz of Librotraficante

Librotraficantes supports Mexican American history The Texas State Board of Education Chair, Republican Barbara Cargill, has trapped Mexican American history behind bureaucracy and is blocking the democratic process, says Librotraficante, a group partnering with nonprofit organizations to help receive, catalogue, distribute and provide an open environment for students and communities to access books.

The Librotraficante Caravan will bring their art car, the “Librotraficante Think Tank,” to Austin on Apr. 8 to help “break the GOP logjam of Mexican American Culture.” A BookRave kick off and live on-location Nuestra Palabra radio broadcast is scheduled Apr. 8. On Apr. 9 at 8 a.m., the art car will lead a march along Congress Ave. before the group testifies at an SBOE board meeting.

TODOAustin.com is a vibrant new website which delivers multimedia features, the print journal content,

Using the center’s survey data and past scientific research, the report offers two major reasons for the lower academic outcomes: stereotype threat and college readiness. To address these achievement gaps, the report recommends that community colleges must first acknowledge the reality that “systematic disparities in opportunity and privilege characterize the lives — and educational experiences — of people of color in American society.” It suggests colleges implement high-impact practices that will benefit all students, such as fostering personal connections, setting high expectations and offering high-quality instruction from very engaged faculty members.

HABLA Platica video now available The first official Hispanic Advocates Business Leaders of Austin (HABLA) video is now available online, produced by the organization’s members, Héctor Calles and Elena Q. Rodriguez, digital media partners from Calles/ Rodriguez Productions. The video, which can be found at hablaaustin.squarespace.com/news, highlights HABLA’s goals as an organization and its position in the community as a Hispanic/Latino think tank.

Volume V, Number 12 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

Mike Martinez to Announce Mayoral Campaign April 5

Austin City Council Member Mike Martinez said on March 19 that he will formally launch his campaign for Austin mayor on Saturday, April 5. Martinez said he would announce his campaign in each of Austin’s 10 new City Council districts.

In announcing his kick-off plans, Martinez said that experienced leadership is needed in the mayor’s office to facilitate the big changes ahead for Austin.

“With an entirely new City Council, City Hall is going to be moving in a new direction,” said Martinez. “That’s why I believe Austin needs a leader with City Hall experience in the mayor’s office. As mayor, I will work with the new Council to ensure we hit the ground running and that geographic representation is successful and effective from day one.”

Martinez said he has supported a shift to geographic representation since first running for City Council in 2006, and voted as a Council member to put the 10-1 proposal on the November 2012 ballot.

Martinez also announced his first set of policy priorities and proposals as a candidate for mayor. They include: • Create a new “Austin Affordability Index” that restricts City tax and spending increases.

• Advance new citywide policies to help ensure equal pay for equal work.

• Work with state legislators to increase the minimum wage in Austin to $10.10.

• Work with the community to create a comprehensive plan to fight poverty in Austin.

• Work with AISD and community leaders to expand access to Pre-K education in Austin.

• Make new investments in both roads and urban rail to address Austin’s traffic crisis.

• Expand Austin’s role as a national leader in the fight against climate change.

• Create a new regional Water Conservation Task Force to coordinate strategies for future water supply.

• Work with Travis County and surrounding cities to be leaders in wildfire prevention.

• Establish policies and programs to end veteran homelessness in Austin.

• Consider consolidation efforts in city departments to improve efficiency and operations.

Martinez is in his 22nd year of public service. Before being elected to the Austin City Council in 2006, Martinez served as an Austin firefighter for 13 years, including three years as president of the Austin Firefighters Association. Martinez was re-elected to the City Council in 2009 and 2012. Martinez currently serves as Board Chair of Capital Metro, and as Chair of Council subcommittees on Public Health and Human Services, MinorityOwned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise, and Small Business. Since 2006, Martinez has earned “Best of Austin” status in the Austin Chronicle’s annual reader’s poll five times. Martinez is a long-time resident of East Austin, where he lives with his 15-yearold son Alejandro, his wife Lara Wendler, and their one-and-a-half-year-old son Diego.

Contributing Writers/Photographers/Artists // Mohammad Al-Bedaiwi, Güner Arslan, Skylar Bonilla, Maria Cristina Gutierrez-Boswell, Adriana Cadena, Roy Casagranda, Cindy Casares, Priscilla Cortez, Ruben Cubillos, Nora De LaRosa, Rose Di Grazia, Julian Fernandez, Christian Gonzalez, Laura Donnelly Gonzalez, Harmony Eichsteadt, Layla Fry, Jessica Garza Cherry, Mark Guerra, Mari Hernandez, Ryan Hutchison, Yadira Izquierdo, Korina Jaimes, Chaille Jolink, Ryan Jordan, Jennifer Kim, Ramey Ko, Julia Lee, Liz Lopez, Otis Lopez, David Marks, JoJo Marion, Caitlin Moore, Cristina Parker, Esther Reyes, Marion Sanchez, Parc Smith, Dani Slabaugh, Corey Tabor, Blanca Valencia, Kristina Vallejo, Joseph P.A. Villescas, Bowen Wilder.

Web Design // Mike Hernandez Cover // LBJ Library photo by Yoichi Okamoto

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. © 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 // APR 2014 // TODOAustin.com 03

Vote as a Whole Woman

By Maria Cristina Gutierrez-Boswell

Our greatest downfall as women will be our silence. Relinquishing the last vestige of private thought to another’s idea of you is like building a whole house out of only sinks and nails. You lose many key pieces.

I was the Democratic Election Judge in Travis County’s precinct 346 during the joint primary on general election day, March 4, 2014. I chose to be one because, as a part of my internship as a Political Science and Women’s Gender and Sexuality major, I wanted to be an educated part of the voting process, beyond casting my own ballot. I looked forward to the behind the scenes work. As part of my duties (which were extensive) I could hand out a physical ballot sheet to the various people in line. Ballot sheets are not required to be looked at, but it can help act as a guide, listing all candidates who are participating in the election, depending on which party you were voting for before one enters the electronic voting booth. They came in to colors: blue (Democrat) and pink (Republican). When one finally reached the first step of the voting process, one of the required questions to ask the potential voter, after I.D. checked out, and their name was found, was “Which primary would you like to vote in?” The only choices were either Democrat or Republican. People vote their conscience or who they most relate to, so the decision should have been quick and simple.

Imagine my anger (internal) when I saw a woman show up with her male companion, reach for a blue ballot sheet and then be told by that same man, “Oh NO, you don’t want a

blue one.” She let go of it faster than if he told her she was picking poison ivy! “No, you want the pink one.” He then continues to instruct her of which candidates THEY wanted to vote for. Imagine my frustration at witnessing countless women coming in and not knowing which primary to vote in when prompted.

Finally, the mind-blower: My disbelief when a few women, not ANY men, assumed they were voting in an election race between Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis, and watching their chagrin upon discovering they were participating in an “unnecessary” election.

Whatever the case, all voted the way their men wanted them to vote. It was the saddest part of the day. Did they realize what power they gave away?

Famous feminist author, Germaine Greer, argued that women are born into the world whole people, but as we grow, we become slowly incapacitated through discrimination and injustice. Our lives are on the line here.

How can we win the big war (the passage of ERA which essentially would prevent laws against equality for women from continuing to be legal) when the battles (knowledge of local candidates and what they will do for women) are being fought so ignorantly? We, as women, have been trained to think like princesses, waiting for their princes, instead of queens who rule without high kings. Those of you voting like your men because you think what your man wants you to think, unconsciously rely on a romantic vision of patriarchal protection which result in giving away parts of you and parts of me, and the rest your sisters!

These rights are ours, not separately, but as a whole woman! Be that whole woman!

(The opinions expressed here have nothing to do with the process of working and supervising as an Election Judge, nor anything to do with Travis County Elections. Gutierrez-Boswell, an Austin resident, is a WGSS and PS double major form Oregon State University.)

Photo by Callie Richmond, TexasTribune.

04 TODO Austin // APR 2014 // TODOAustin.com

Millennial Latina on Native Soil

By Genoveva Rodriguez

Picture this: one three-lane highway connecting your city from north to south; four major roads that connect east to west; panaderias just around every corner and tortillerias in every neighborhood. This is how I grew up in the quaint, intriguing and 100 percent Hispanic city of Brownsville, Texas. I guarantee there is no other place like Brownsville.

My experience with cultural diversity growing up in a border town, spending my entire adolescence and some adult years crossing the Rio Grande into Matamoros, Tamulipas, in Mexico and back, didn’t provide much of a cultural experience. Observers have noted that there is not much of a cultural difference on either side of the border, and they are mostly right. In fact, when I tell my friends in Austin that I am visiting family in the valley, they joke that I will be trekking to Mexico for the weekend. So you can only imagine what a huge difference it was for me—people call it culture shock—when I moved to Austin.

dismissed because I’m not from here. I’m not an original, born and bred, Austinite. So I work to gain the native’s respect because I hope that this city, one day, will experience what could never exist in Brownsville: diverse unity.

My views of this city are obviously different from the mainstream as I am a young, border-bred Latina. That’s not the face of Austin today, at least by reputation. I am highly influenced by my upbringing, and while I wish my hometown could be a city with life and meaning that other cities look up to and model themselves after, I have new challenges in Austin.

When I first arrived, I saw Austin as an immigrant sees the United States. To me, Austin was a place of opportunity, to build myself as a professional and learn from the best. Brownsville is a wonderful place, it’s where my family and deep heritage reside, but I could not see myself being the person I wanted to be there. I wanted my mind to be broadened, to be flexible in my ideas, and eventually be accepted as well-rounded because of my background and experiences.

I love Brownsville, but Austin is my home now.

Upon arrival in Austin, there were many things that I found intimidating and straight up frightening. First thing were the highways throughout the city. There were so many options and so many different names, from Mopac to Loop 1 to Highway 71. And where was Highway 290? Still, I knew I just had to venture out, get lost and find my way back.

This eventually became my mantra for life in Austin in general.

Another intimidating aspect was the fast pace and genuinely diverse people in Austin.

I thought there was but one group and place I belonged in the city – the Latinos East. I was drawn to the tight-knit community and quickly felt right at home. But, I quickly found that I didn’t quite fit in to any one group. Actually, seven years later, I find myself identifying with so many more groups that this city fosters on a theoretical plane. While I feel a part of the Latino community, I am also a young professional, a millennial, and more importantly to some, a non-native Austinite.

While I’m invited to the table, I often feel

I see Austin as the melting pot of our great state, full of potential to be one of the top cities in every aspect including racial unity, just as the U.S. appears to the world as a land of cultural contrasts. I feel more a part of this city in seven years as I feel a part of Brownsville after 22 years. Though not a native, this is my Austin as much as it is yours.

I hope you believe that, too.

Celebrate the earth with Kitchen Divas at the Farm Feast Dinner at the Carver Museum and Cultural Center on Thursday, Apr. 24, 6-9 p.m., honoring local farmers and food artisans and serving the best of their produce and products at a Diva-licous dinner. April honorees are Carol Ann Sayles and Larry Butler of Boggy Creek Farm. Proceeds benefit the Kitchen Diva Health Outreach for underserved Central Texas communities. $100 per person for a fabulous feast!

Check-in is 6:30 p. m., feasting begins at 7:00 p.m. and the honoree presentation is at 8:30 p.m. Pre-reservations preferred. Send name, address, phone number and number attending the Farm Feast to info@divapro.com. Payment info and reservation confirmation will be sent by return email.

Celebrate Me! spotlights the country of Argentina this month on Saturday, Apr. 12, noon- 4 p.m. The free public event is the next in a travel event series exploring different cultures from around the world and celebrating their similarity and diversity. This month’s journey will include exploring the language, food, geography and history of Argentina is presented by Esquina Tango in collaboration with the LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections. For more info call 512-974-4926.

This month’s Cine de Oro feature film is Tuesday, Apr. 29,

The first annual African American cultural and award event, AFTV5

featuring the 1955 release, “Miracle of Marcelino,” directed

Expo, is Saturday, Apr. 5 at AARC. Produced by African Television

by Ladislao Vajda. The story concerns Marcelino, an orphan

Network, the event will include an expo from 2-5 p.m., and a fashion

who grows up in a monastery. One day when he eats his

show, entertainment from Ibrahim Aminou and Kalu James and an

small meal in a room full of old things, he gives a piece of

awards gala from 6-11 p.m. The events focus on African American

his bread to an old wooden Jesus figure; indeed, it takes the

small business, community leaders and networking. AFTV5 is a

bread and eats it. Getting a wish granted for his donation,

non-profit and non-partisan video production organization with

Marcelino wishes to see his mother. In Spanish with English

a social focus.

Subtitles, runs 90 minutes. Free admission with 9:30 a.m. screening.

As part of the History, Arts and Nature Division’s Planet Music Series, AARC is hosting a performance by April Rain School of

The Sam Z. Coronado exhibit, “Sam: His Life and Work,” runs through Apr. 19. The exhibit chronicles his life and work plus examines Coronado’s personal life with photos, writings, drawings, and previously unseen works. It explores the

Chinese Dance and Austin Chinese Chamber Orchestra. The two Austin performance groups appear on Sunday, Apr. 6, 2 p.m. in the AARC Ballroom. Seating for the public begins at 1:30 p.m. and the free event runs from 2–4 p.m.

depth of his artistic accomplishments including his impact

Celebrate World Tai Chi and Qigong Day at AARC on Saturday,

on Latino printmaking and provides insight into the talent of

Apr. 26 and promote the related disciplines. The free public

this extraordinary man who was honored with the renaming

event featuring multiple local schools runs 9 a.m.-1 p.m. On

of the Center’s main gallery in February, including a new

the morning program is meet and mingling with practitioners,

sign. Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.;

followed by group Qigong, mass Tai Chi, closing Qigong, masters’

Friday, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

demonstrations, and a fundraising event.

Catholics’ Encouraged to Help with Pastoral Plan As part of a process in developing a Pastoral Plan for the Diocese of Austin, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez announced the opening of a survey intended to capture information to help the diocese plan for the next five years.

The 43-question survey is available online in English and Spanish. All Catholics, including those who are not participating in church life, are encouraged to take the survey, which will be open through April 27.

The survey can be taken anonymously at www.austindiocese.org. The survey asks questions about the state of church life, faith formation and social issues.

Austin Animal Center Focuses on Pet Adoptions The City of Austin’s Animal Services Office launched a Spring Awareness campaign in March on the importance of pet adoptions in the community. The theme of the campaign, which runs through May, is “Give a pet a better life,” and focuses on Austin families who have saved the lives of shelter pets.

Each year, thousands of lost, unwanted and abandoned pets enter Austin Animal Center. During this campaign the Center is asking for help to minimize the length of time a pet has to wait before finding a new home.

“The Diocese of Austin has begun the process of developing a Pastoral Plan, which is similar to what a business would call a strategic plan. It will help us define our goals and priorities for the coming years.

So, everyone’s input is essential to our success,” Bishop Vásquez said. “Recently, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, conducted a survey of bishops. To comply with his request, we used an online tool to collect information. We decided to use that same process to conduct our own survey. I encourage everyone to take the survey.”

Public service announcements will be seen on outdoor billboards, in local newspapers and heard on television and radio.

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete online. Those without access to the digital survey can contact their local Catholic Church and request a paper survey, which they can fill out and leave at any Catholic Church.

“One key message of this campaign highlights the fact that in any other city this pet might not have had a chance of surviving, so thank goodness this pet was in Austin.” Smith said.

The results of the survey will be collected and analyzed by a 33-member Pastoral Plan Steering Committee with the assistance of the diocese’s consultant, Chicago-based Essential Conversations.

“Achieving the goal of saving at least 90 percent of the pets that come to Austin Animal Center each year is a phenomenal accomplishment, and sustaining this success for three years running is a true testament to the unwavering support from Austinites,” said Abigail Smith Chief Animal Services Officer.

Seasonal public awareness campaigns are just one of many strategies the City implements to help keep Austin a No-Kill city.

Since February 2011, the Austin Animal Center, its partners and the community have been able to save the lives of 90 percent or more of the animals that enter Austin Animal Center. Since then, more than 42,000 animals have been adopted or placed with local rescue partners, close to 4,000 have been placed in foster homes and volunteers have donated 139,000 hours of service to help Austin’s homeless pets.

The Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop, is open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. For more information go to www.austinanimalcenter.org, call 3-1-1, or visit www.facebook.com/austinanimalservices for daily pet updates.

The City also maintains the Town Lake Animal Center, 1156 W. Cesar Chavez St., as an overflow animal adoption location and it’s open 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

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

University of Texas Project on Conflict Resolution Explores Paths to Peace

By Otis Lopez “The world is full of people who don’t think the same way, so if you’re going to get anything done that involves other people, you’re going to have to figure out how to deal with them,” observed Dr. Madeline Maxwell, director of the University of Texas at Austin Project on Conflict Resolution (UTPCR), from her campus office in March. “In this modern world, most of us can’t just hide out in enclaves of people we grew up with and understand us. We need to learn new ways, and we need people who can translate between us – not just translate language but translate styles and other differences. We need more ways to unite us to live peaceably together and work together to get things done and enjoy our lives.”

UTPCR is a project focused on just that goal, one promoting study and research in conflict resolution, reconciliation, and communication across boundaries. A renowned professor of Communication Studies, Maxwell teaches students to mediate and facilitate disputes and controversies and how to work together cooperatively. The well-trained students (grad and undergrad) in turn offer free mediation and strategic planning services to the Austin community.

On April 10-11, UTPCR presents the first annual Conflict Conference at U.T., to include two days of research and theory and a presentation on the current United States Government Strategy for Countering Violent 06 TODO Austin // APR 2014 // TODOAustin.com

interviews with Austin musicians, “Musician’s Off the Record,” and public programs such as a collaboration with the LBJ Library, “Instruments of Freedom,” where icons of the Austin music scene like Jerry Jeff Walker, Kinky Friedman, Roky Erickson and Sara Hickman came together to discuss music and social change.

Other symposia focused on key visual as well as music artists on managing personal conflict because of their activism, as well as how they balance their artistic goals with their activism.

Concerts followed both arts symposia.

Extremism. Notable is inclusion of community issues, along with the student and researcher involvement. The final panel discussion concerns local initiatives to manage urban youth violence.

Maxwell started UTPCR 10 years ago and organized it on three levels: community programs, academic research and teaching, and community training. “Young people are growing up around the world in structures that close them off to others instead of opening them up, that teach them to shut the other guys down instead of to listen to what they have to say, to fear and resist even contact with others who are different,” said Maxwell.

“That’s not a direction that will bring much joy in living. This attitude extends beyond politics into schools and personal relations. Kids in the same schools are so busy judging and avoiding each other that well-being is precarious.

“At UTPCR, we want to participate in changing that, in celebrating the joy of living more freely. We want young people to experience more freedom. We see music, art, and film, along with conflict communication skills, as instruments of freedom. We believe that we have to mix it up – to bring people together from different backgrounds and free them to explore. I believe that such exploration and joyful living requires different strands of study.”

The goals of the program include developing problem-solving strategies and skills in negotiation, mediation, and facilitation, as well as analyzing the elements of conflicts and recognizing the impact of different styles on conflict. Maxwell chairs both undergraduate and graduate academic certificate programs for the students.

Academic research and training has yielded two books and numerous academic articles on mediation by Maxwell and her current and former graduate students. It has also taken her to invited presentations in Sweden and earned her an international award for peace education in Mexico last fall.

“I think that living a curious, active, engaged life paying attention to the crises and problems of the world and talking them through with people whose ideas may be very different,

always alert to actions you could take, contributes to a more peaceful world, one in which we coexist and sometimes cooperate,” said Maxwell. “It can develop habits of mind that make people open to the ideas of people different from themselves and habits of action for doing what you can, and habits of communication for working with others.

It can make them open to leadership that may come from surprising places. It reminds them of the humanity of those in opposition and shows them that they can tolerate more diversity than they thought. It can show them that peace is not with holding and passive but engaged and dynamic. It can give them a way to exercise freedom.”

UTPCR is unique for academic programs, though it underscores a U.T. motto, “What starts here changes the world.” “There is no question that it would be a good thing to change the structure of the world,” said Maxwell, who believes that the world needs big changes to support the well-being of more people to live as they wish, and it starts with small steps. “Meanwhile, I want to train people to care about the world that is far away and to act when they can globally but to develop the habit of acting locally to make the choice towards peaceful coexistence and engagement. Perhaps thousands of small acts will contribute to that better world. We demonstrate, develop, and test these ideas in our projects.”

Maxwell has invited people working for peace to the campus for community dialogue, from Hans Blix, a U.N. Arms inspector from Sweden who spoke at U.T. in 2004, to Dr. Susan Szmania, who will be at U.T. on April 10 to update the community on the State Department’s latest methods for combating violent extremism. Szmania has been working with extremism most recently in Sweden and Spain – and is a former student of Maxwell’s.

But Maxwell believes that some of the most powerful moments that avert violence or unite people come through the arts or serendipity. “Music and pop culture are strong forces that can pull us apart but often unite us,” she explained. She’s pursued this idea through research, including a series of video

The “Bridging Divides Award” was instituted to recognize those who pull divided people together to make a positive change. The first recipient and model for the award was Willie Nelson, who was feted at a dinner at the Frank Erwin Center in 2008 and has supported UTPCR since. UTPCR’s student organization is, in fact, called the Willie Nelson Center Students, as students work on raising funds to take the program from a Project to a Center on Conflict Resolution.

In March, Maxwell helped Glen Dolfi bring musicians from Azerbaijan to campus to talk with students and perform. This June, one of Maxwell’s favorite projects returns, the U.T. Global Ethics and Conflict Resolution Summer Symposium. High School students from as far away as Viet Nam learn some conflict management and negotiation skills, get acquainted with university experts on various hotspots and challenges to a better world – all while they make videos and write songs and tap into their creative side. The camp program has led to peace education awards from Albert Einstein UNESCO Education University and the Institute for Interfaith Dialog.

Dr. Madeline Maxwell

“A mother wrote me that her teenage boy had surprised her at the dinner table not long after coming home from our summer symposium,” said Maxwell. “One, instead of leaving the table early as per usual, he listened and joined in to a conversation about foreign policy.

Two, he listened to his little sister’s comment and responded to her idea instead of putting her down for talking at all. I consider this the evidence of major success!”

For more information on the summer camp and other programs, go to www.utpcr.org.

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

KLRU examines Austin’s History

Austin Revealed

Civic Summit: East Austin Revealed

Thursday, April 24 at 8 pm

Thursday, April 24, at 8:30 pm

Austin’s civil rights history told through first person interviews with Hoover Alexander, Ada Anderson, Gary Bledsoe, Linda Conner, Wilhelmina Delco, Larry Jackson, Joan Khabele, Bertha Means and Tommy Wyatt. The series also explores issues of gentrification.

A community discussion examining East Austin’s race issues, past and present.

African Americans in Austin have historically formed communities east of I-35, originally by law. Today gentrification threatens to dissolve the close-knit relationships and communities built over time. As our city grows, how can we productively discuss these issues in a way that leads to positive action?

Also This Month

In Performance At The White House: Women Of Soul Hosted by President and Mrs. Obama, Women of Soul will be an all-star celebration of the American female artists whose work has left an indelible and profound impact on our national musical culture, across blues, jazz, soul, R&B and Rock & Roll.

Monday, April 7, at 8 pm

Arts In Context: Perception Unfolds Groundbreaking experimental dancer Deborah Hay blurs the lines between dancer and viewer. She uses technology to trace the choreographic viewpoint as well as challenging the viewer’s perception of dance and space.

Thursday, April 24, at 7:30 pm

Community Cinema Screening: The New Black This documentary takes viewers into the pews, the streets, and kitchen tables as it looks at how the African American community grapples with the divisive gay rights issue. KLRU’s free Community Cinema documentary screening of The New Black takes place May 6 at 7 pm at the Austin Public Library Windsor Park Branch Library, 5833 Westminster Dr.

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

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

Mark your calendar

for the American Heart Association’s annual event to help us be more physically active

National Walking Day Wednesday April 2, 2014

www.startwalkingnow.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!!!

april Line-up outdoor shows are “weather permitting”

Taco Bar

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 4/2 KDRP RADIO SHOW (6:00) THU 4/3 LOS FLAMES (6:30) FRI 4/4 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW (6:30) SAT 4/5 ANDRE’ THIERRY & ZYDECO MAGIC (2:30) MC & THE MYSTIXS (6:30) SUN 4/6 THE RECOUPERATORS (3:00) -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 4/9 KDRP RADIO SHOW (6:00) THU 4/10 THE FABS (6:30) FRI 4/11 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW (6:30) SAT 4/12 THE BREW (2:30) & THE BANZAI PROJECT (6:30) SUN 4/13 BLUE MIST (3:00) -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 4/16 KDRP RADIO SHOW (6:00) THU 4/17 SON DE REY (6:30) FRI 4/18 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW (6:30) SAT 4/19 TRENT TURNER (2:30) & AL DRESSEN (6:30) SUN 4/20 Closed for Easter -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 4/23 KDRP RADIO SHOW (6:00) THU 4/24 HOOK HERRERA (6:30) FRI 4/25 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW (6:30) SAT 4/26 THE TEXAS TYCOONS (2:30) BONNEVILLE COUNTY PINEBOX (6:30) SUN 4/27 CHICKEN STRUT (3:00) -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 4/30 KDRP RADIO SHOW (6:30)

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Obama, three former Presidents to Appear at Civil Rights Summit

“We shall overcome.”

When President Lyndon Johnson spoke those words before a Joint Session of Congress, he made the cause of overcoming injustice the cause of all Americans.

Johnson began his quest for a more just and honorable America with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the most transformational civil rights legislation since Reconstruction and a crucial step in the realization of America’s promise.

In the years that followed, LBJ passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Together, this triumvirate of laws would ban discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, or national origin and helped establish the legal foundation in fulfilling the long elusive promise of equality among all Americans.

On April 8-10, the LBJ Presidential Library will host a Civil Rights Summit to mark the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The summit, comprised of afternoon panel discussions followed by evening keynote addresses, will reflect on the seminal nature of the civil rights legislation passed by President Johnson while examining civil rights issues in America and around the world today.

President Barack Obama will deliver the keynote address and be joined by three former Presidents who will also deliver remarks at the Civil Rights Summit: Jimmy Carter will speak on April 8; Bill Clinton will speak on April 9; and George W. Bush will speak on the evening of April 10. First Lady Michelle Obama will attend the summit with the president.

“Fifty years ago, President Johnson’s vision for a

more just and honorable America contributed to the passing of the Civil Rights Act, the most transformational civil rights legislation since Reconstruction and a crucial step in the realization of America’s promise,” said Mark K. Updegrove, director of the LBJ Presidential Library. “But his vision went far beyond ending racial discrimination. He believed that education, economic opportunity, health care, clean air and water, and access to the arts and humanities, among other things, were inherent civil rights for all Americans — and it’s reflected in his legislative legacy.”

The Civil Rights Summit is this year’s cornerstone event of a multiyear anniversary celebration of President Johnson’s prodigious legislative legacy.

Throughout the course of the next several years, the LBJ Presidential Library, the LBJ School of Public Affairs, and the LBJ Foundation will partner to commemorate the anniversaries of seminal laws signed by President Johnson that continue to resonate today.

“We are truly honored to host President Obama as the keynote speaker at the LBJ Presidential Library’s Civil Rights Summit in April,” said Updegrove. “The world has evolved considerably in the half century that has passed since the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. As our first African American President, Barack Obama is the fulfillment of the promise of the Civil Rights legislation delivered by President Johnson and a bipartisan Congress.”

Participants in the summit will include current and former UT Austin presidents Bill Powers and Larry Faulkner and faculty members Michael J. Cramer and Shirley Franklin.

They will also include prominent representatives

of the Johnson administration and family, the American media, current and former elected officials, and members of academia.

“President Johnson’s legislative achievements underscore for our students how society can be transformed by the efforts of those committed to a life of leadership in public service,” said Robert Hutchings, dean of the LBJ School of Public Affairs. “Now, with the Civil Rights Summit, we will have an opportunity to hear from some of today’s most prominent and distinguished leaders as our students prepare themselves to be the next ‘get it done’ generation.”

Among these are prominent representatives of the Johnson administration and family, the American media, current and former elected officials, and members of academia.

Julian Bond, former Chairman, NAACP; Taylor Branch, Pulitzer Prize-winning author; Jim Brown, former NFL running back; Tina Brown, journalist, Tina Brown Live Media; Joseph A. Califano Jr., Chair, National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse; Head of Domestic Policy for President Johnson; Julián Castro, Mayor of San Antonio; Dr. Harry Edwards, sociologist, focusing on African American athletes; David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States; Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson; Tom Johnson, former President, CNN, former Deputy Press Secretary to President Johnson; Congressman John Lewis, U.S. Representative, Georgia; Joe Morgan, former Major League Baseball second baseman; Diane Nash, helped found Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; Todd Purdum, author, “An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Battle for the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” national

editor of Vanity Fair; Lynda Johnson Robb, daughter of Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson; Bill Russell, former NBA center; Bob Santelli, Director, The GRAMMY Museum; Margaret Spellings, former U.S. Secretary of Education, President, George W. Bush Presidential Center; Mavis Staples, singer, civil rights activist; Antonio Villaraigosa, former Mayor of Los Angeles; Andrew Young, former U.N. Ambassador and former Mayor of Atlanta.

During the summit and throughout the month of April, the “Cornerstones of Civil Rights” exhibit will be on display at the LBJ Presidential Library, linking the civil rights legacies of Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson. It features a lithograph copy of Abraham Lincoln’s final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation; the 13th Amendment, which ended slavery, signed by President Lincoln; the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed by President Johnson; and an annotated copy of Johnson’s “We Shall Overcome” speech to Congress asking for passage of the Voting Rights Act. It also includes a signature “stovepipe” hat worn

by Lincoln and a Resistol beaver cowboy hat worn

by Johnson.

Also, a Civil Rights film series runs April 2, 3, and 7, hosted by Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, UT Radio-TelevisionFilm department head and LBJ School professor, Paul Stekler, and the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

The series of documentaries and speeches chronicle the civil rights era and the pivotal role played by Johnson in the passing of the Civil Rights Act. More information on the summit may be found at www.civilrightssummit.org.

TODO Austin // APR 2014 // TODOAustin.com 09

legend, who has sold over 300 million copies of his 80 albums released worldwide. As the 1983 Guinness Book of Records recognized on awarding him the only Diamond Disc ever given by the institution, Iglesias has sung and recorded in the most languages in the history of music.

Las Cafeteras

Howlin’ Lobo

hip-hop with Mexican folk music, Native American drum and flute, stomping zapateado dancing, with uplifting English and Spanglish lyrics that tell of everyday people searching for love and fighting

By Music Editor Lobo Corona, Liz Lopez and Anthony Garcia injustice in the concrete jungle. Light refreshments will be served at the free show, which is open to the The 12th annual ¡A Viva Voz! concert, the LLILAS public.

Benson Latin American Studies and Collections’ signature celebration of Latino/a culture, is Thursday, Apr. 3, 7-9 p.m. The event at 2300 Red LOBO’S BITES River Street features L.A.-based, Las Cafeteras, an alt-son group whose energetic performances Julio Iglesias to grace ACL Live stage deftly fuse Afro-Caribbean marimbol, the jarana Julio Iglesias touches down in Austin on Tuesday, and requinto guitars of Mexican son jarocho, and Apr. 1 at ACL Live. Tickets are available to see the

Julio Briceño (Los Amigos Invisibles), Ana Alonso (Latino 102.7) at SXSW.

Wooldridge Square Park. To top things off on Apr. 16, a panel program will take place for the exhibit.

Squeezebox Mania celebrates VIII Squeezebox Mania celebrates its eighth year of production as co-founders Joel Guzman and Sarah Fox hold court at Threadgills World Headquarters Saturday, Apr.12, 8 p.m. Squeezebox Mania brings world-class musicians of various ethnic backgrounds together to further its mission of cross-cultural awareness and the diversity of the instrument. Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys perform this year and will explore the frontier between the Texas/Louisiana border, showcasing virtuosic bandleaders from borderlands on both sides of the Sabine River. $15 advance/$20 day of show.

Los Lobos returns for 5th ACL taping ACL announced the return of the great Los Lobos for an Apr. 14 taping. The East L.A. band honored its 40th anniversary with the 2013 live album, “Disconnected in New York City,” and as ACL is hitting the 40-year-milestone themselves, they’re eager to mark the Lobos’ fifth ACL performance.

Staff remarked that the last time they were on the show in 2002, the performance was so full of energy that it knocked tree set pieces down, forcing the ACL crew to conduct a repair while the band continued playing. Info on tickets to the taping will Santana Tribute be posted in April.

Calling all Carlos fans. On Apr. 19, the One-2One Bar celebrates the mastery of Santana with a AHC spotlights Latina musicians celebration of the classic, original line-up, of stellar Mexican American community archivist Gloria Austin artists performing songs from the first three Espitia of the Austin History Center has conducted albums, “Santana,” “Abraxas,” and “III.” 10 p.m. $10 a number of oral history interviews and secured cover. With Erik Flores, Chris Tondre, Lonnie Trevino, donations of photographs and other documents as Jr., Matt Danko, Jose Galeano, Alex Marrero, and part of her “In the Shadow of the Live Music Capital Jamie Hilboldt. of the World” project. The project documenting the history of Latina musicians in Austin will culminate in an exhibit in April. On Apr. 8, the exhibit “Qeremos MAKING TRACKS Cantarles una Cancion” (We Want to Sing a Song) opens in the David Earl Holt Photo Gallery. Then Sonidos de Austin Showcase on Apr. 13, a reception for Qeremos Cantarles una Three premiere local Latin groups, La Vida Buena, Cancion will be held at the AHC with a concert in Son de Rey, and Cinco Doce, perform on Saturday, Apr. 26, 9 p.m. at Flamingo Cantina. Cover is $5.

La Vida Buena incorporate hip-hop, funk, and jazz into their music and are known for taking traditional pop arrangements and adding a special twist of salsa to the mix. With the release of the “Ojos Azules” EP, Son de Rey has seen growing success, blending traditional cumbia/salsa Latin beats with pop electronica. They will release their first fulllength album, produced by Grammy winner Fabian Miriam Cruz, Patricia Ledezma, Triny Veraza, Brenda Elvira, Lizz Cardenas, Hernandez, later this year. Cinco Doce’s musical roots range from Conjunto to urban R&B as the Melana Hernandez, Irma Copado. band have developed a unique twist to traditional cumbia. They aim to complete their sophomore album in 2014.

HispanosNet Austin

By Diana Sanchez

Emilio Salazar, Lydia Lopez at ACL Live.

Paola Moore, Monica Peña at AHA Summit.

Día de la Familia In its fifth year providing a day of fun and learning for the whole family, plus finding information on college programs and services, make a trip to the Riverside campus (1020 Grove Blvd.) of Austin Community College to enjoy good food and music featuring Los Texas Wranglers while your children play and participate in activities. Free, Apr. 26, 11 a.m.

– 2 p.m.

Austin Tejano Music Coalition Place your order for the new ATMC “Puro Tejano Music” baseball caps. Just $10 at 512-577-2638.

ATMC also announced the news that Freddie Records has come on board with Tejano Idol.

In addition to giving a cash prize, the winner will receive an offer to record a tune in the label’s Corpus Christi studio. Stay tuned for more info at atmc-tejanoidol.com

FILM AUSTIN

By Tara Veneruso

MovieMaker Magazine says, “Austin is the #1 city to live in and make films.” Whether you love the process of filmmaking as a hobby or career, or if you simply love to watch films, Austin is the very best place to be or become a true cinephile. Congratulations to all the SXSW Award Winners, many stemming from Austin including Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood” (Lone Star Award), Mike Judge’s “Silicon Valley” (Episodic Audience Award) and SXSW Grand Jury Prize Winner, “The Great Invisible” from former Austinite, producer/ director Margaret Brown. Brown’s first feature was the acclaimed documentary, “Be There to Love Me: A Film about Townes Van Zandt.” “The Great Invisible” chronicles the BP Deep Horizon tragedy, which was the worst oil spill in human history. Participant Media, a film distributor that focuses on films that inspire social change, is releasing Brown’s film. Participant Media is also distributing SXSW 2014 Audience Award winner, Director Diego Luna’s film, “Cesar Chavez,” out in theaters this month. Both winning films demonstrate the power of cinema to affect global change.

On the topic of change, Robert Rodriguez recently jumped at the opportunity to own a television network securing a deal after Comcast was required to provide more diversity in cable content. However, Comcast did not add more diverse channels willingly so it took added pressure from the U.S. Congress and eventually the company acquired several minority-owned networks, including Rodriguez’s El Rey Network, an English-language network focused on Latino

‘Cesar Chavez’ Biopic Inspires Equality and Change

By Tara Veneruso

viewers. “Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” kick-started the channel and continues with a 10-episode series (on DirectTV, TWC and Comcast). Rodriguez and Diego Luna shared the SXSW stage for a panel/ conversation on their respective projects with the former expressing his commitment to showing positive Latino role-models while Luna explained the important message of his biopic, “Chavez,” to bring the Latino community together. Since Hollywood executives focus on box office reports to determine how it will support Latino films in the future, it’s important to support these films while they are in movie theaters. The bigger the turnout, the more potential that Hollywood will support Latino filmmakers in the future.

Around town this month, the Paramount and Stateside Theatres are presenting Paramount100, a journey through the history of film, to celebrate the venue’s upcoming 100th birthday in 2015.

Paramount100 (January 29–May 21) gives you the opportunity to watch powerful and historically important films on the big screen. On April 2, watch Fritz Lang’s science-fiction masterpiece “Metropolis,” and “Dracula” and “Frankenstein” on April 14, then Jean Renoir’s legendary, “Grand Illusion” on May 5. Become a Paramount “Film Fan” for discounts (austintheatre.org).

To discover job and casting opportunities, check out Texas Film Commission’s Job Hotline (governor.state.tx.us/film) with current casting calls including Elizabeth Spear’s film, “The Sauce,” shooting in September. I recommend that film, TV, game and animation industries also post a listing on Austin Film Commission’s Production Directory (austintexas.org/film-commission). The Texas Film Commission also has a production directory with searchable production resources. Other sites with casting/crew upcoming production notices include Short Film Texas (shortfilmtexas. com/category/austin), Southern Casting Call (thesoutherncastingcall.com) and On Location Casting (onlocationcasting.us).

For film and entertainment news, check out Slackerwood.com for current film news-abouttown, plus a fantastic column “Ready, Set, Fund” about crowdfunding and fundraising endeavors for Texas independent film projects, and writer Joe O’Connell’s site (joemoconnell. blogspot.com). Hollywood still turns to legendary aintitcoolnews.com marvel Harry Knowles, who started the site years ago here in Austin to give all the dirt and secret scoops on the entertainment biz.

Finally, but most importantly, the March 13 catastrophe on Red River Street left Violet Crown Cinema’s Evan West critically injured and killed his 27 year-old wife, Jamie. West’s brother set up fundrazr.com/campaigns/dinF5, to help. West has severe injuries including brain trauma, internal organ damage and bones broken in several places. Let’s support West in any way we can.

Tara Veneruso is an award-winning film director and producer currently. Send film and game industry news or casting and crew calls to filmtodoaustin@gmail.com.

Richard Linklater continues hosting his incredible series, “Jewels in the Wasteland: A trip through ‘80s Cinema.” Linklater’s intimate screenings a quarter century ago literally paved the way for Austin’s exploding film community. Shown on 35mm weekly at the Marchesa Theater through May 28, Linklater holds discussions after each film. Highlights include the April 9 screening of “Das Boot” and April 30 is Ingmar Bergman’s masterpiece “Fanny and Alexander.”

Diego Luna and Robert Rodriguez

Austin Film Festival (austinfilmfestival.com) has each one of us can make massive, far-reaching change with determination and perseverance.

Chavez finds strength in numbers by connecting with others. “You don’t have to be special or have extra strength,” said Diego Luna. “You only need commitment and the belief that change is possible.”

Director Diego Luna, known for his tremendous performances in Hollywood and Mexican cinema, was in Austin recently where he described “Chavez” as a “story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” Essentially, the film follows Chavez as he witnesses the severe injustices suffered routinely by farm workers who receive disturbingly low wages and work in terribly unsafe conditions in the farm fields of America.

Luna’s journey began over four years ago when he searched for financing through his Mexico Citybased production company, Canana (formed with his long-time friend and fellow actor Gael García Bernal). Originally, Luna sought financing in Hollywood; although many were excited to see the film, none would greenlight the production.

Luna finally received funding from Mexican financiers then prepared to film in Mexico. In fact, to capture the film’s authenticity, shooting in Mexico was a perfect match for recreating the Californian farms of the 60s and 70s because he found a farm that still utilized the older, more traditional farming methods required.

With fierce performances from Michael Pena, John Malkovich, America Ferrera and Rosario Dawson, “Cesar Chavez” is an important and timely film, which not only tells the story of an American hero, but also powerfully shows that

Making the film challenged every aspect of Luna’s storytelling skills as Chavez was a complex character and not always the most sympathetic regarding his family life. He worked tirelessly to secure living wages and safer conditions for farm

The newly released biopic, “Cesar Chavez,” is a deeply powerful film that demonstrates the power within each of us to challenge and actually change the status quo.

some spectacular year-round events. On April 9, AFF is holding the Audience Awards Series with a collection of Jury and Audience Award winning films from last years festival at Alamo Drafthouse Village. Other April events include Cine Las Americas (cinelasamericas.org) from April 22-27, and the Austin Jewish Film Festival (austinjff.org) running through April 4.

workers. To make matters more challenging, many of the issues brought up in the film are highly charged, hot-button concerns in today’s political arena.

With this film, Luna aims to helm more projects on these timely themes that affect social change.

Canana and Participant Media, a company wellknown for distributing movies that inspire and compel social change, teamed up with the Cesar Chavez Foundation and 30 nonprofit orgs to launch a petition drive urging the U.S. government to recognize Chavez with a National Day of Service (sign petition at TakePart.com).

“We as a Latino community are capable of doing what [Chavez] did back then,” said Luna. “We should celebrate that which unites and connects us. We need to become more aware of each other and to fight our battles together.” Canana’s Pablo Cruz agrees that, “Change is coming in many ways, for the film industry and Hispanic audiences. Films like ‘Cesar Chavez’ empower, raise consciousness and make people proud of who they truly are, their origins, and the name they carry.”

TODO Austin // APR 2014 // TODOAustin.com 11

Keep Austin Fed rescues food, feeds the hungry and saves the environment one meal at a time

By Yvonne Lim Wilson

Ira Kaplan was sitting at a local Austin Italian restaurant, near closing hours one evening when he saw workers stuffing bags with perfectly good, uneaten loaves of bread to throw out.

“They were throwing out hundreds of pounds a day,” Kaplan said.

That’s when the light bulb went off. Kaplan, who volunteered at local soup kitchen at the time, asked if they would be willing to donate the bread.

Management agreed, and for many years Kaplan continued the arrangement.

A chance meeting with Randy Rosens, who had been doing similar work getting caterers to donate extra food, got the two men talking about food waste in Austin and what could be done.

A van was purchased, new key volunteers came on board, and the organization has taken off. Nearly nine years later, Keep Austin Fed now boasts more than 135 volunteers and 11 regular donor organizations serving approximately 20 recipient organizations, which feeds hundreds every month.

I had the opportunity to accompany Kaplan on a food run one morning. We started off at Snap Kitchen in the Arboretum and picked up boxes of fresh food, filling the back of the van.

Snap Kitchen, which is Keep Austin Fed’s largest donor, had originally sought out KAF to help with their excess food. The meals are all sealed, dated and close to expiration, but not expired. Meals can be frozen, but Snap does not freeze any of its foods for sale.

“On the occasion (like these recent ice days) that Snap Kitchen has more meals than have sold, it is in everyone’s best interest for these meals not to go to waste,” said Laurie Berson, Snap Kitchen Marketing Team/Events. “KAF has an

SXSW K-Pop Showcase Shows Off the Talents of Paul Kim

By Jennifer Kim

Paul Kim, president of Mandoo Entertainment, had a lot on his hands during SXSW. Not only did he have numerous South Korean bands to take care of, he was also responsible for the U.S. premiere performance of the hottest K-Pop star, HyunA, to a sold out crowd at Elysium. With the support of the Korean Ministry of Culture, K-Pop Night Out featured six diverse bands from the happy, upbeat pop of Crazy Nut, to the dancefloor bass-shaking EDM artists Idiotape, 12 TODO Austin // APR 2014 // TODOAustin.com

“I will rescue a lot of food and give it to a lot of people.” Ira Kaplan picks up a food donation from Snap Kitchen. Pictured with Katie Covey, assistant manager at Snap Kitchen, Arboretum

organized network of volunteers who can take knowledgeable and immediate action in carefully placing the meals in good hands.”

Menu items that day included: Almond-crusted Chicken Bites, Chicken Cesar Salad with Pita Chips, Apple Spinach Cucumber Kale Juice, and Key Lime Pie. The van was full of meals with a combined estimated value of more than $700.

Kaplan raved about the quality of the food from Snap Kitchen, which utilizes local ingredients and no preservatives to produce nutritionally balanced, creative, chef-designed meals.

“This food costs a huge amount of money to produce. It’s not possible to get this quality of food in East Austin because it doesn’t exist. There is an amazing quality of food here... their grass-fed beef are some of the best things out there,” Kaplan said.

There, Kaplan doles out favorite dishes to families.

The Chicken Bites and Key Lime Pies are quickly snapped up. The food lasts for a few days, and another KAF volunteer will likely be back within a few days to bring more food from a different donor. KAF also brings produce, meat and bread from places like Trader Joes, local bakeries and cafes.

Patti McCabe is the Program Director of Posada Esperanza, a KAF recipient non-profit organization serving single immigrant mothers and their children. The food provided from KAF provides a nutritional balance to client diets as well as convenience for single mothers, McCabe said.

“It’s about as close to perfect a situation as you can get,” Kaplan said. “We are a conduit to get the food from point A to point B.”

“It’s a wonderful contribution they provide. We have folks who have very limited food access,” she said. “They get excited about the prepared food packages from Snap because we have single mothers trying to take care of everything. Instead of a bowl of cereal they can have top quality gourmet yummy stuff.”

“Even five years ago, it was really clear in Austin there was lots of great food and it wasn’t at all clear the very poor could access it. It really seems Keep Austin Fed is doing a great job,” McCabe said.

to teen heart-throb, hip-hop artist, Jay Park. A long line of mostly Asian American youth waited to enter the club. The talent was impressive, the atmosphere electrifying, and one could feel history being made ... then Lady Gaga entered the room. Yep, the Art-Pop Queen herself took Kim up on a personal invitation he extended to her at the convention center earlier in the day to check out K-Pop night.

Kim took some SXSW representatives to South Korea in the past to meet officials and with his team handling logistics with Brandon Cho managing bands, SXSW held its first official K-Pop showcase last year. At first the SXSW staff didn’t know what K-Pop was or how to take it. “They were shocked by the popularity and the long lines and said, ‘What is this?’,” said Kim. They realized then that there was a large grassroots fan base and that the K-pop phenomenon was real.

Next day, there was a private luncheon with the Korean Minister of Culture at Palm Door featuring Glen Check and YB Band. Another slate of six bands performed at the Seoul Sonic Showcase at Icenhauer’s on Thursday night to a large crowd.

A testament to how SXSW can lead to bigger opportunities, YB Band was the first Korean band to perform at SXSW in 2006. Each year the representation of Korean bands grows, the crowds get bigger and the reception grows more

From the Arboretum location, Kaplan travels less than ten miles to a site in East Austin to donate to a recipient organization serving immigrant families.

Not only does this effort help those in need, it also helps the environment. Food waste produces greenhouse gasses.

“Imagine all of this food going into the landfill every day,” Kaplan said. “Food makes methane in the landfill. It’s more potent than carbon dioxide.”

In 2010, the City of Austin approved the state’s first Zero Waste Master Plan which aims to reduce waste headed to landfills by 90 percent by 2040. The plan also includes measures for diverting organic waste from food to composting sites.

“This deal about food recovery is in its infancy.

Austin is on the cutting edge of this,” Kaplan said.

“They are ready for us to step up and do it. We just need more volunteers to service more donors and we have a long list of recipients in need.”

With the momentum growing around zero waste, Keep Austin Fed is poised to grow and lead Austin in eliminating commercial food waste, feeding the hungry and saving the environment.

“To find out more about Keep Austin Fed, visit their website at www.KeepAustinFed.org and visit their booth at the Funky Chicken Coop Tour on April 19.” positive, said Kim. Kim’s dream is to have a Korean showcase that lasts the whole week, similar to the showcase of UK artists at the club British Embassy.

From the large crowds and media buzz this year, that dream doesn’t seem a long way off.

Paul and Sarah Kim

cari d a d

CASA

(Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Travis County

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Jack Marshall grew up an Army brat traveling around the world, graduating from high school in Vicenza, Italy, then college at West Point. His military career ultimately landed him in Austin where he ran the Army ROTC program at U.T. Jack and his wife Sue have two sons and five grandchildren. After retiring from the military, Jack ran the investigations division for the Texas Board of Law Examiners for 26 years. Upon his final retirement, he “wanted to find something to do that I would find worthwhile and would give back to the community.”

CASA turned out to be a perfect match. “Learning about the Child Protective Services system, how busy and overworked CPS caseworkers are, was a big surprise to me. I discovered that there’s so much to do when you’re involved in a child’s life, and CPS doesn’t have time to

do it all. CASA is an integral part of that whole system.”

Jack encourages other men to volunteer with CASA as there are many youth in need of a positive male role model and not enough male CASA volunteers.

As he’s working on his second case and been volunteering for two years, Jack says, “I went into this totally blind and it’s been so rewarding for me. I can’t imagine it not being rewarding for almost anybody.”

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

Heart Disease Survivor Villanueva’s Story one of Perseverance

By Monica Peña

April Villanueva remembers dealing with health problems as early as age five. “I remember the feeling of a fish flopping in my chest. I told my mom and she said it was okay. I can remember several times a day I could feel the flopping fish feeling for many years.”

The journey through heart disease became a lifelong one for Villanueva. “When I was 13 years old, I passed out in school and went into a coma for 14 hours and nobody could figure out why, so of course the doctor’s didn’t want to look incompetent as they did not know what was wrong. They wrote on my chart that I overdosed on medication even though all of my labs showed nothing in my system. I am still fighting today to have that removed from my chart. I would have blackouts a few times a month, but all Magnetic resonance imagings were normal and the cardiologist at the time said that I was young and healthy.”

The episodes continued as Villanueva at age 15 was brought to the emergency room because her heart rate was 205 bpm.

“The doctors kept me there for about five hours and then sent me home. I was still having blackout and palpations. I started having chest pains frequently but all the cardiologists I went to would say I was young and healthy and that there was nothing wrong with me,” recalled Villanueva.

Villanueva met her husband, Steve Villanueva at age 17 and he supported her quest to find answers. “About a year after the migraines started, my husband saw a news article about a

Bhatti Helps Create Community Bridges

cardiologist in Austin that found during research that usually if a patient had severe migraines, they may have a hole in their heart.”

She made an appointment with the doctor, who ordered a special test called a “bubble study.” The study entailed Villanueva receiving intravenous therapy and inserting saline, and through the study it was concluded that she had a hole in her heart. “I immediately started crying not because I was sad, but because I was so happy that someone found something and that I was not crazy. One month later, I was in the pathology lab getting the problem repaired.”

Then the symptoms came back with a vengeance. Villanueva decided at that point that she would finally go back to work as a medical assistant. She gave herself an electrocardiogram, showed the nurse practitioner who is also a paramedic and saw a cardiologist.

Villanueva went to Seton Heart Institute and was given a holter monitor, a device that is constantly monitoring the heart with electrodes. But after passing out at work, she received a pacemaker. She had a third degree heart block. “I have had my pacemaker for one year and I feel tons better. Had a few hiccups over the past year which required hospitalizations but no more passing out and I have tons of energy. Ever since my diagnosis, I have been more aware of my body. I try to eat healthy even though there are a few days we all need some ice cream. I exercise and do not smoke.”

“Every year, we have a health fair at my job, 3M, as I am a medical assistant and EMT. I invited the American Heart Association in Austin to attend the health fair.” Brooke Brown of AHA asked her to join the committee. “Of my five kids, so far my oldest daughter has been in the Austin Heart Walk with me. Hopefully this year my whole family will be able to attend,” concluded Villanueva.

Ramp up Leadership Skills

By Monica Peña

has allowed me to explore a more non-traditional career path which was a very good thing for me.

While my family may not have initially agreed with my choices, they were of the mindset that I needed to find something I was good at.”

Austin-based realtor Sumina Bhatti believes that through “being involved in the community through AYREP, NetIP Austin, and my meetup group ‘Austin Tea Geeks,’ I create ways for the community to join together over a similar interest which I hope helps, in some small part make Austin the fun, unique city that it is.”

Sumina is committed to moving the real estate industry forward through technology and education. “I keep myself fairly educated by attending classes and technology forums that groups like AYREP/ABoR, Realty Austin and other groups provide. It is a constant learning experience as technology is ever evolving.”

Bhatti, who has lived and worked in the city for over 14 years, uses her attention to detail to assist both buyers and sellers in a real estate transaction.

“I have been a realtor for seven years,” Bhatti shares. “I started off as a professional organizer and at some point starting working with realtors to help them get organized. I realized that the skills required to be a good agent were things that came naturally to me. So I decided to get my license as the market shifted in 2007.”

Meet Bhatti at the North Austin Influencers mixer at The Dojo on Wed, April 23, from 6-8 p.m.

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.

Born in Reading, England to parents born and raised in Kenya, Bhatti’s grandparents migrated from India to Kenya in the 1950’s. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but my family was very diverse and open minded compared to others. I have been brought up with a fairly open-minded family who 14 TODO Austin // APR 2014 // TODOAustin.com

By Monica Peña

Prince, founder and chief executive officer at Jelani Consulting, LLC, provides executive and

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.

C e l e b rati n g Div e r s it y

Sor Juana festival ESB - M A C C

Bridge2Bridge From Montopolis Bridge to 360 Bridge, Everything Austin

Tapestry Dance Company presents “Rhythm, Reason & Reality,” a collection of rhythmic creations including “Anacruses,” “Listen,” “Voices of Rhythm, Ears Wide Open” and the NEA American Masterpieces production, “The Souls of Our Feet.” Jazz, R&B and spoken word jazz showcase the company as musicians and improvisational artists. Apr. 4-6 at Rollins Studio Theatre. thelongcenter.org India Fine Arts presents two dynamic shows this month.

Torch bearers of Lalgudi bani, violinists G.J.R Krishnan and Vijayalaksmi are featured Saturday, Apr. 5, 6:45 p.m. at Gloria Delgado Theatre/St. Michael’s Catholic Academy. At the same locale Saturday, Apr. 12, 6:30 p.m., renowned Carnatic classical musicians, Ranjani and Gayathri, perform the unique beauty of the music genre. austinifa.org

“Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz: A Tribute to Mexican Women” is a free, multidisciplinary festival that honors one of Mexico’s greatest writers and the first feminist of the Americas, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a 17th-century Mexican nun who valued the education of women. The festival, FridaySaturday, Apr. 18-19 at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, includes theater performances, panel discussions, music, acting workshops and an art exhibit.

One of the UK’s foremost dance theater companies, Motionhouse, bring their stunning water-inspired piece, “Scattered,” to Bass Concert Hall, Friday, Apr. 11, 8 p.m. Dancers create startling and passionate dance theater, fusing images, action and dynamism to surprise, challenge and delight on an infinity stage where movement and film integrate in a new and breathtaking way. texasperformingarts.org George Lopez, a multi-talented entertainer whose career encompasses television, film, standup comedy and late-night television, performs Saturday, Apr. 12, 7:30 p.m. at Bass Concert Hall. One of the most influential Hispanics in America, the premier comedic talent hosted “Lopez Tonight” on TBS, and starred in the hit sitcom, “George Lopez,” which ran for six seasons on ABC. texasperformingarts.org

In collaboration with Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, ESB-MACC will present an art exhibit that pays tribute to the creativity of women in confinement, and poetry readings by incarcerated Texas women with two panels to discuss the issues that women face while in prison and after they are released.

Founded in 1994, the Austin Reggae Festival is one of Austin’s premiere concert events, celebrating reggae, world and dub music, delicious food, vendors and diversity, as well as the power of giving. Included in this year’s lineup are Inner Circle, Easy Star All-Stars and Everton Blender. A portion of ticket proceeds benefit the Capital Area Food Bank. Apr. 18-20 at Butler Park. austinreggaefest.com

The schedule begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Apr. 18, with a public reception for the exhibit opening and welcoming followed by “Shades of the Tenth Muse,” by Jovita Gonzalez, a conversation between Sor Juana and poet Anne Bradstreet, adapted and directed for reading performance

by Linda I. Crockett with an introduction by Dr. Maria Cotera. A performance by Yadira De La Riva follows.

Some of the funniest, wittiest, oddest world-class comics from around the globe perform at the Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival, presented by the Paramount Theatre, Apr. 23-26. The marathon sidesplitting nights at several venues features over 100 comedians, from headliners The Kids in the Hall, Demetri Martin and Hannibal Buress (photo) to up-and-comers. moontowercomedyfestival.com

Saturday, Apr. 19 events begin at 2 p.m., with poetry readings, a panel on art in the prison systems and another on policy, Yadira De La Riva performing “One Journey,” and Conspire Theatre presenting “Performing Possibilities,” were four women tell their own stories of struggle and triumph, sorrows and joy set against the larger backdrop of women’s incarceration in Texas.

The 51st annual Eeyore’s Birthday Party returns Saturday, Apr. 26 at Pease Park, heralding springtime in Austin with free-spirited characters parading in colorful, playful outfits, with dancing, live music, food and drink benefitting local non-profits, children’s area, arts, crafts and carnival games, family-oriented contests and drum circles with a variety of instruments. Free. (Craig Busch photo) eeyores.org

Bobby McFerrin B A SS C O N C E R T H A LL

By Otis Lopez

Ten-time Grammy Award-winner Bobby McFerrin has dazzled audiences all over the world, blurring the distinction between pop music and fine art, goofing around barefoot in the world’s finest concert halls, exploring uncharted vocal territory, collaborating with artists from Yo-Yo Ma and the Vienna Philharmonic to Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. With his new project, spirityouall, Bobby brings it all back home, re-imagining Americana with beloved spirituals and original tunes, embracing bluegrass and the baroque, heartfelt lyrics and wordless melodies, joy and sorrow. Across genres, across boundaries, across generations, spirityouall raises the roof with joyful grooves.

Bobby’s history as an instrumentalist and bandleader is key to understanding his innovative approach to mapping harmony and rhythm (as well as melody) with his voice. “I can’t sing everything at once,” he says, “but I can hint at it so the audience hears even what I don’t sing.” All that pioneer spirit and virtuosity has opened up a great big sky full of new options for singers; so have Bobby’s experiments in multi-tracking his voice (“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” has seven separate, over-dubbed vocal tracks; Bobby’s choral album “VOCAbuLarieS” (with Roger Treece) has thousands. But virtuosity isn’t the point. “I try not to “perform” onstage,” says Bobby.

“I try to sing the way I sing in my kitchen, because I just can’t help myself. I want audiences to leave the theatre and sing in their own kitchens the next morning. I want to bring audiences into the incredible feeling of joy and freedom I get when I sing.”

Presented in partnership with KLRU, Thursday, Apr. 24, 8 p.m. at Bass Concert Hall. texasperformingarts.org TODO Austin // APR 2014 // TODOAustin.com 15

“Bobby McFerrin’s greatest gift to his audience may be changing them from spectators into celebrants and transforming a concert hall into a playground, a village center, a joyous space.”

—The Los Angeles Times

April 24, 2014 8 pm BAss ConCert HAll

BoBBy C m F e r r i n spirityouall

Tickets at texasperformingarts.org | $10 student tickets Presented in partnership with KLRU