TODO Austin April 2013

Visit our new website! www.todoaustin.com

Geddy’s in the Hall.

Volume IV, 12 / April 2013

LAS ARTES EN AUSTIN, AHORA BILINGÜES

INSIDE Immigration Ramey Ko Lila Downs CASA

Jamie Grant AND THE Long Center Lead a Cultural Charge

Latino Cultural and Historic Preservation By Karen Garza The 2010 Census counted 50.5 million Latinos in the United States, which account for nearly seventeen percent of the total U.S. population. Yet, despite our 400-year history in North America, our Latino culture, heritage and history are almost non-existent at historic sites across America. Only three percent of the 86,000 sites on the National Registrar of Historic Places explicitly recognize and celebrate our country’s ethnically diverse culture.

There is a general sentiment that the discourse on American History has largely ignored Latino contributions. This privileging of some sites over others often manifested itself in the destruction of places associated with Latinos’ past. With this loss of physical places, the culture (language, food, religion, family structure, music, dance) and stories are the only remnants of this history.

Unfortunately, Austin’s history is no different.

Local residents Gilbert Rivera, Johnny Limon, Gloria Mata Pennington, Juan Oyervides, Kathy Vale, Alicia Perez, Susanna Almanza, Martha Coter and Paul Saldaña participated in strategy meetings during the month of March regarding the historic houses and district on Rainey Street. Sadly, the City and Historic Landmark Commission have recently approved the removal and proposed relocation of six additional houses from Rainey. The original National Registry Rainey Street Historic District included a total of 35 contribution houses dating back to 1885. Only 17 contributing houses remain.

Rainey Street’s Mexican American Culture Needs to Continue

Although it did not start out as a Mexican-American neighborhood, the Rainey Street area has become an important part of Austin’s history.

Notes from Hispanic Advocates and Business Leaders of Austin.

When Rainey Street was started in the 1880s it was an all-white, middle-class neighborhood. That continued until WWII when Mexican-Americans were finally getting educated and could own their own homes. Slowly, more Hispanic families started moving into the neighborhood and brought along their culture.

By Paul Saldaña and Karen Garza

At the time, Austin was known as one of the most segregated cities in the Southwest, but Rainey Street became an exception. It was one of the only places where you could see Mexican-Americans and Anglo Americans living together without any problems.

Over the past few years, Rainey Street’s Hispanic image has become rocky with high rises and bars taking over the street. The city does not know what to do with the area. Instead of letting it turn into something else, it is important for Austin’s Hispanic community to preserve the Latino culture that started there.

In order to help protect the historic integrity of the area, a structured plan that will aide in the continuation of Rainey Street’s preservation and history is greatly needed.

Stay tuned as our Latino community continues to work toward a strategic, comprehensive preservation plan to preserve the MexicanAmerican history of Rainey Street.

If you have anything that could be useful in putting together Rainey Street’s history please contact Karen Garza at kgarza@ brisacommunications.com. Any pictures, information, or contact information would be greatly appreciated.

TODOAustin.com Taking Austin’s intercultural message to the global stage, TODO Austin is proud to announce the launch of our new website, TODOAustin.com. The vibrant new site provides the content appearing in the current TODO Austin printed journal, along with outstanding multimedia features, enhanced event listings, special creative features and staff and community-led blogs.

TODOAustin.com features links to archived past printed issues, where you can find stories and photos from TODO Austin’s past four years. Social media already connects the global web of Austin’s multicultural community. With enhanced social media networks, TODOAustin.com users will enjoy sharing, re-tweeting, pinning and boasting directly from the website. We will continue to engage our melting pot of cultures in positive, communitybuilding dialogue, while providing Austin its only multicultural media both online and in print.

Volume IV, Number 12 PUBLISHER/EDITOR // Gavin Lance Garcia info@TODOaustin.com • 512.538.4115 ART DIRECTOR // Dave McClinton www.dmdesigninc.com ASSOCIATE EDITORS // Evelyn C. Castillo, Katie Walsh, Erica Stall Wiggins SENIOR EDITORS // Güner Arslan, Cindy Casares, Sonia Kotecha, Lesley Varghese, Yvonne Lim Wilson CONTRIBUTING EDITORS // Mia Garcia, Harish Kotecha, Alexandra M. Landeros, Callie Langford, Cristina Parker, Diana Sanchez, Blake Shanley 02 TODO Austin // April 2013 // TODOAustin.com

Contributing Writers/Photographers/Artists: Mohammad Al-Bedaiwi, Heather Banks, Joan Brook, Adriana Cadena, Sirsha Chatterjee, Priscilla Cortez, Ruben Cubillos, Chi Dinh, Harmony Eichsteadt, Layla Fry, Karen Garza, Monica Giannobile, Mark Guerra, Mari Hernandez, Ryan Hutchison, Yadira Izquierdo, Chaille Jolink, Ryan Jordan, Ramey Ko, Heather Lee, Julia Lee, Liz Lopez, Otis Lopez, David Marks, JoJo Marion, Valerie Menard, Crystal Moreno, Preya Patel, Monica Peña, Esther Reyes, Paul Saldaña, Marion Sanchez, Ernesto Santillan, Hani Saleh, Azim Siddiqui, Jessica Solis, Chris Summers, Corey Tabor, Blanca Valencia, Kristina Vallejo, Kuetzpalin Vasquez, Joseph P.A. Villescas, Bowen Wilder, Selena Xie. Web Design // Mike Hernandez COVER // Long Center for the Performing Arts photo.

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. © 2013 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 – 1400 Corona Drive - Austin, TX 78723

ESB-MACC Latino Arts Residency Program The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is looking for Latino artists to apply for the new Latino Arts Residency Program. Application and guidelines for the residency program can be found under the Latino Residency Program link at maccaustin.org.

“This is a great opportunity for more of our area cultural artists to access the space at the ESB-MACC the way it was meant to be used because of prohibitive rental fees in the past,” said Juan Oyervides, Chair of the ESB-MACC Advisory Board.

“They will not only have a greater opportunity to have their work displayed, they will have a place to create their work as well. I want to encourage everyone that knows a Latino making a full-time or part-time living in the cultural arts to let them know about this new program which we think will transform the ESB-MACC like never before.”

Austin Fire Department Recruiting // One of the Austin Fire Department’s goals is to mirror the diversity of Austin, including Hispanics, African Americans, Asians and females. The AFD is a great opportunity for those looking to start a new career with great pay and benefits. Interested applicants can contact Marion Sanchez at 512-974-021 or email marion.sanchez@austintexas.gov.

Granting Citizenship Would Boost Economy by $1.4 Trillion Dollars // As the state of the economy continues to be a hot topic, professors from Washington College just completed a report which argues that granting citizenship to illegal immigrants could potentially stimulate the economy. As actual citizens, the immigrants would make more money that would be put back into the economy. Keep in mind that this would not make an immediate impact; it would take a few years for these people to completely reap the benefit of becoming citizens.

2020 Census // The Census Bureau is looking to add Latinos as their own group in the 2020 census. Initially, the Bureau was looking to define all Latinos as white, but that does not seem to be working. In the 2011 Census, 18 million Latinos chose “some other race.” This is especially important because the Latino population is continually growing in the United States. Non-Hispanic whites are on the way to losing their majority in the next 25 years Pope Francis // The installation of Pope Francis has brought both positive and negative feedback from those who consider themselves Latinos in the Americas. Even though Pope Francis, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born and raised in Argentina, his parents were both from Italy. Many Americans have started debates on what exactly makes someone “Latino,” be it from indigenous blood, recognition of one’s culture or otherwise.

THE EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER

A TRIBUTE TO SOR JUANA 2013 Friday, April 12, 7pm Film Screening/Black Box Theater Yo, La Peor de Todas (I, The Worst of All) Introduction by Gregory Pappas, Ph.D. Saturday, April 13, 7 - 9pm

by er c i s Mu hamb !

C tin Center s u A ic Mus

Opening Exhibits

Main Gallery Margarita Cabrera’s: “Brought Us with Me” & Community Gallery Mayorga “Organic Tendencies” Paloma Mayorga’s:

6pm Panel Discussion/Black Box Theater “Sor Juana’s Legacy: Paving the Way for Feminine Creativity” With an introduction by Dr. Gregory F. Pappas, Professor of Philosophy at Texas A&M University and a leading Sor Juana scholar.

Mon-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-5:30pm, Sat 10am-4pm 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 special assistance for participation in our programs or use of our facilities please call 512-974-3772 or Relay Texas.

La Ciudad de Austin está compromitda 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.

R E S TA U R A N T, B A K E RY & B A R Tex-Mex breakfast and lunch since the 1950’s “Best Freakin’ Migas” – Best of Austin Awards

1511 East 6th Street 512.478-2420

Mexican Food and Cantina Great Lunch Specials and a great price Come try our Happy Hour from 4-7pm!

1107 North IH 35 • 512.467.4444

Latino’s Looking for Reasons to be Offended

By Evelyn C. Castillo

Some Latinos are way too sensitive about, well, being Latino.

I find my comment more than a little ironic since I’m sitting in the media center at a NASCAR race in Phoenix. I’m the only Latina journalist here, so far. Last night, a white woman came up to me at a kick-off reception and greeted me in very broken Spanish. I could have chosen to be offended, then, and I could sit here and gripe about the lack of diversity in this room right now, but I’m not going to. I’m just not offended and I think other Latinos should stop being so sensitive, too, in similar situations.

the real Tony Mendez has said he doesn’t even consider himself Hispanic. Here, too, I feel Latinos were way too sensitive. I don’t believe a role should automatically be given to actors solely because they match that characters’ ethnicity. It’s a narrow-minded way of thinking that’s just as bad as the thinking that typecasts Latinos as maids, gardeners and gangsters.

I’ll tell you what I do find very offensive: being told I’m not Latino or Mexican enough.

On a press trip last year in Mazatlan, Mexico, a Mexican official asked me if I identified as “American” or “Mexican.” The look on his face when I said American was as if I had just spit on him. The other journalist with us, a woman from Chicago, said she preferred calling herself Mexican. He smiled and gave her a nod of approval, but all I got was a frown. I’m used to it though. I’ve been accused before of acting and talking too “white” and betraying my Mexican heritage.

The way I see it is, I don’t have to speak in Spanish all the time, watch telenovelas or listen to Mexican music to validate the Mexican in me.

I’m more than aware that we don’t live in a perfect society and there are plenty of things going on in this country every day that are offensive to Latinos, but lately some of us are just offended by almost anything. Take for example the passing of singer Jenni Rivera. After her tragic death, I couldn’t hear the end of some Latinos complaining that mainstream media had ignored her in life and it was only now paying attention to her because she was dead. Well, this is certainly true, but the falsehood here is the accusation that Rivera was not covered in mainstream media before because she was a MexicanAmerican. Rivera didn’t get any mainstream coverage because she sang banda, not exactly the type of music that appeals to the masses in America—plenty of Latinos as well for that matter. I couldn’t find a reason to be offended here even if I was looking for one.

The film “Argo” recently won an Academy Award for Best Picture of the year, but this didn’t spare it the backlash from many Latinos for having the lead character, a Hispanic CIA agent, portrayed by a white actor. Ben Affleck directed the film and played the part of Tony Mendez—a role many Latinos felt should have been given to a Latino actor. What’s sort of ironic is that 04 TODO Austin // April 2013 // TODOAustin.com

It takes Equality to Save Our Public Schools

By Joan Brook

This letter is in response, to Michael Brick’s Op Ed piece to the New York Times, “When Grading is Degrading,” November 22, 2012.

I was in the audience February 13, 2013, when Reagan High School Jazz Ensemble, Cheerleaders, and First Year Choir performed, and Principal, Anabel Garza and author, Michael Brick, addressed parents and community members about the changes underway at Reagan. Brick had recently released his book, “Saving the School,” after spending a year shadowing Garza and two other teachers. The informal gathering was held at Windsor Park Library, an area deemed “a poor neighborhood on the Eastside of Austin, known for racial tensions and high teen pregnancy rates,” Dana Goldstein reported in August in an online journal called “The Daily Beast.”

Goldstein had written a review of Brick’s book, and went on to describe, “A school so poor that the government must pay for over eighty percent f the kids to eat lunch,” Goldstein said.

Brick’s book is kinder in its assessment of the neighborhood. Yet, I believe both Brick and Goldstein miss the point in their reporting of the conditions at fault for failing school reform.

Brick blames “endless tedium of standardized test drilling,” and Mitt Romney’s suggested “myopic” policies for teacher accountability as Austin Independent School District’s “failure to build a sustainable public school for our neighborhood.”

I have my own view. I’m a former teacher in the neighborhood, and unless you “walk the walk” of the 155 faculty and staff who work every day at Reagan High School serving those kids, you’re only getting a small strand of the complex and convoluted web of problems that went into creating urban “failing schools.”

“What about successful charter schools?” one community member asked Principal Garza.

I know that I will continue to encounter people who take one look at me and assume I don’t speak English. My Phoenix episode probably won’t be the last time I walk into a room where I’m the only brown person, either. The true offenses lie in the systematic attitudes of discrimination, classism and racism within our society. Now that is something worth getting mad about.

“Charter schools give kids and parents opportunities to opt out if they’re not successful,” Garza said. “In my school, you don’t get to opt out. It’s not a fair comparison.” All the kids at my school, including special education kids and second language learners are expected to pass the same rigorous standards in just three years as our native speakers. How can you expect that? But we do the best we can.”

Brick writes of Reagan as a school where teachers were able to improve overall test scores through “passion, intelligence, grit and love.” Garza also isn’t afraid of going the extra mile. Relating the anecdote of a young parent handing her house keys, “Go into my house and get my kid out of

bed,” the inexperienced mother asked. “So I did,” Garza said. “Is it legal? I’m not sure, but our attendance rate has increased from seventy percent to ninety-two percent.” Garza demands any parent who isn’t willing to guarantee their child’s attendance at school by 8:00 am must sign a document declaring, “I don’t care about my child’s education.” The discipline rate at Reagan High School has now decreased to one percent.

In response to questions regarding the 15 required standardized tests per year regulated by the Texas Education Association, Garza feels some kind of assessment is necessary and growth should be measurable. “But measured from a beginning standard to an end result,” Garza said.

“We should be able to say, this student started here and this shows how much they’ve improved.”

Garza doesn’t work alone. Area churches provide between 400-600 volunteers that go into the classrooms and tutor kids. “Pride is beginning to counteract resentment,” Garza said. “But it’s been a slow process over five years since I started here. You can’t expect change within one year.”

Now called an “Early College High School,” Reagan boasts students with as many as 33 college credits by the time they graduate, and for the first time this year, the 9th grade class scored as high as the 11th graders on the PSAT pre-college readiness test.

For those students interested in a trade immediately after high school, Garza recommends a balance between vocational education options and technology training.

“We’re educating everybody in the public schools,” Garza said. “I’m developing good citizens and a healthier society.”

“I give out hugs freely,” Garza said. “You are somebody at my school.”

This attitude of scholarship is paying off at Reagan High School and at the younger “feeder” schools. The St. John’s neighborhood where Reagan lives won’t let their schools close.

Designated as “Academically Unacceptable” according to Texas accountability standards more than six years ago, Webb Middle School faced a similar fate. The parents and teachers in this “poor” neighborhood rallied together with the principal and several volunteer groups and held mandatory after-school tutoring, weekend neighborhood walks to meet residents, schoolyard gardening days and evening community dinners providing free babysitting and English classes for parents.

“Public education isn’t free,” Garza said, “but the price you pay for an education is hard work and determination.” That doesn’t sound so “poor” to me.

RITA Addresses Sen. Cornyn with Prayer Vigils

By Cristina Parker

RITA members in Austin, the Valley, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and El Paso held a series of vigils in late March at the offices of Sen. John Cornyn to pray for a just and humane immigration reform.

The events brought people of faith together from all across the state to pray and work for reform.

In total, hundreds paid visits for a twofold purpose: to have a prayer vigil and a legislative visit. The Senator’s office allowed eight people to enter for a 75-minute meeting in Dallas while others remained outside to hold vigil. The group told stories of their own experiences and those of

COMPLAINT: Rampant Abuse

by Border Patrol Agents

By John Michaelson, Public News Service-TX

The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agency (CPB) is facing a handful of lawsuits and potential lawsuits over claims of rampant misconduct against both immigrants and U.S. citizens. An alliance of advocacy groups recently filed actions against the CBP outlining 10 such cases. Six of the plaintiffs are from Texas.

Adriana Pinon, a senior staff attorney with ACLU of Texas, described one such incident.

“Our client is a United States citizen who was forcibly thrown to the ground, injured and arrested by a CBP agent while she was going about her routine day, and the CBP agent took these actions without any justification,” Pinon said. “As a result, she

their family members, illustrating the need for a humane immigration reform.

“We raised concerns about the militarization of the border, the need for a pathway to citizenship and adequate VISA allotments to provide for workers to come legally,” said Pastor Dean Reed of Arlington.

“We challenged the Senator to be a moral voice in the debate over reform, and reminded him that his faith gives clear and repeated instruction to be compassionate and hospitable to the foreigner.”

The action came on the same day that new polling was released showing that religious Americans

was physically and emotionally injured.”

Pinon added that the woman did not interfere with police, nothing was found in a search of her car or belongings, and no charges were brought.

Customs and Border Patrol does not comment specifically on pending litigation, spokesman Bill Brooks said, but he added that “we don’t tolerate misconduct or abuse within our ranks, and we fully cooperate with all investigations of alleged unlawful conduct by any of our employees and contractors.”

Pinon said these kinds of abuses are all too common in border communities, and that has to change.

“For the agents that we have on the border, we do need more training, and we need accountability and some transparency, so we can precisely figure out when these incidents happen and how to find solutions that will stop them from happening in the future.”

The filings come amid a national discussion

overwhelmingly support a path to citizenship for undocumented Americans. They believe that immigration reform should focus on keeping families together and protecting the dignity of every person.

The poll, conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute found that the values of keeping families together and protecting the dignity of every person are rated very or extremely important as principles to immigration reform by almost eighty percent of Americans. Additionally, sixtynine percent of Americans also say that following

on immigration reform. Several proposed plans include a path to citizenship, but some want that coupled with thousands more agents patrolling the border. Pinon said CPB is already the country’s largest law enforcement agency, and expanding that without accountability could make a bad situation worse.

“It’s important right now to call attention to these types of abuses because a lot of people are calling for more border patrol agents as a precondition to getting any sort of comprehensive immigration reform passed,” she said, “but the solution isn’t just putting more boots on the ground.”

The complaints and lawsuits claim that Border Patrol agents routinely make racially-motivated arrests, employ coercive interrogation tactics and imprison those arrested under inhumane conditions.

More information from the American Immigration Council is available at http:// bit.ly/cNIFcs.

the Golden Rule — by “providing immigrants the same opportunity that I would want if my family were immigrating to the U.S.”— is a value that is very or extremely important.

Delegation leader Maria Robles thought one piece of the conversation was especially important. “We asked if they can work on more effective ways to secure the border, like infrastructure at the ports, and address immigration reform at the same time,” Robles told the group. “I think they do understand that we really have to work on both issues at the same time.”

New Data on Undocumented Americans

By Cristina Parker New data released in March is good news for those who want to move forward on citizenship for 11 million undocumented Americans. Latino voters reject the idea of waiting for politicians to declare that the border is secure before moving forward on reform.

Asked by Latino Decisions if they would prefer a plan for a clear pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants or a plan that would only give them probationary status until the border is declared by politicians to be fully secure, seventy percent of Latino voters chose a clear pathway to citizenship.

The evidence is mounting that Americans are rejecting the idea of increased border enforcement as a requirement for immigration reform. Instead, Americans support common-sense solutions for immigration and the border.

And there are more reasons for some to move forward. The poll also shows that both major parties have a lot to gain — or lose — in the debate over immigration. In fact, Republicans have recently been changing their tune on immigration reform.

The polling showed that thirty-two percent of Latino voters were more likely to vote Republican if the party steps up and fights hard for immigration reform, but thirty-nine percent of the same voters would turn against the GOP if Republican House members vote to defeat reform this year.

TODO Austin // APRIL 2013 // TODOAustin.com 05

Heman Sweatt Symposium on Civil Rights 2013 The 2013 Heman Sweatt Symposium on Civil Rights will feature a call to action addressing the “Future of Black Life in Austin.” A panel presentation will feature guest speakers including Shannon Jones, III, director of Health and Human Services Austin/Travis County; Margo Frasier, police monitor for the Austin Police Department; Meria Carstarphen, Austin Independent School District Superintendent; Marc Ott, City Manager for the City of Austin; Art Acevedo, Austin Police Department Chief; and representatives of the City of Austin’s African American Quality of Life Commission.

The symposium is an annual event organized by students, faculty and staff at The University of Texas at Austin named after the first African American admitted into the UT School of Law after the Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case of Sweatt v. Painter in 1950.

Young “the inside man of the black revolution.”

By challenging America’s business and political communities directly, Young was able to make inroads where other civil rights leaders could not.

His efforts to open the doors of equal opportunity were often attacked by the very people he was trying to help. The film chronicles the public and private trials of a man navigating a divided society in an explosive time.

“The Powerbroker Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights”

A screening of “The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights,” kicks-off the event on Wednesday, April 24, at the LBJ Library and Museum (2313 Red River St.). The 6 p.m. showing is presented in partnership with the Austin Area Urban League. Young was an American civil rights leader, President of the National Urban League, and trusted advisor of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Biographer Nancy Weiss Malkiel called

Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber Awards The Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC) will honor Juan Garza, VP of finance and development, Central Health, as their 2013 Founders’ Lifetime Achievement award recipient at the 40th Annual Awards Banquet, “Celebrando Austin,” on Saturday, April 6, at the Downtown Hilton Austin Hotel. Additionally, seven local individuals and corporations who exemplify outstanding leadership in the Greater Austin Hispanic community will be honored.

The event will commemorate the Chamber’s 40th Anniversary and celebrate the diversity and success of the Greater Austin area. The Honorary Co-Chairs for the evening are Manny Flores, CEO/managing partner, LatinWorks and Rosie Mendoza, managing shareholder, R. Mendoza & Company, P.C. The event also boasts live entertainment from Grammy award winning Grupo Fantasma, and acclaimed concert pianist Reuel.

06 TODO Austin // APRIL 2013 // TODOAustin.com

marks the 27th Anniversary of the Heman Sweatt Symposium as U.T.’s Division of Diversity and Community Engagement present the Heman Marion Sweatt Legacy Award. The award will honor a U.T. alumni, faculty, staff, student or friend who embodies the life and legacy of Heman Marion Sweatt by breaking down barriers and challenging the status quo. For more info, go to utexas.edu/sweattsymposium.

On Wednesday, May 1, the public is invited to join community leaders and City of Austin officials at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, Legends Room (2110 San Jacinto Blvd.) from 6-8:30 p.m. The discussion on the future of Austin and issues faced by the African American community is centered around the fact that the black community is the only major racial group in Austin experiencing a decline in population as families are being displaced from their historic neighborhoods throughout the city, and options for healthy and sustainable living decrease for people of color become increasingly scarce.

On Friday, May 3, the Heman Marion Sweatt Evening of Honors takes place at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center from 7-10 p.m. The black tie affair

“The eight individuals and organizations recognized at ‘Celebrando’ have shown active commitment to the growth of Hispanic business, as well as to the economic development of the local business community,” said Andy Martinez, president/CEO, GAHCC. “The GAHCC is honored to recognize the award winners for their unwavering commitment to excellence.”

Machree Gibson, 2012 honoree

The 2013 award recipients are: Businessman of the Year: Rudy Colmenero, Mitchell & Colmenero, LLP Businesswoman of the Year: Sylvia Acevedo, CommuniCard, LLC Small Business of the Year: Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop Chairs Award: Celia Israel, Mission Resources Ambassador of the Year: Shirley Sheffield, Omnibank Volunteer of the Year: Monica Peña, MUNDU Media Corporation of the Year: Dell, Inc. Founders Lifetime Achievement: Juan Garza, Central Health

Photo by Jimenez Photography

Tickets can be purchased at www.celebrandoaustin.org.

Sor Juana Festival April 13

Hindu Austin News

The Sor Juana Festival on Saturday, April 13, at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, is a multidisciplinary festival that honors one of Mexico’s greatest writers, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a 17th-century Mexican nun who valued the education of women. Sor Juana was a celebrated playwright, mathematician and poet in her own time and considered to be the first feminist of the Americas. The legacy of Sor Juana is paid tribute at the festival with culinary arts, dance, film, literature, music, theater and visual arts.

For more info, go to maccaustin.org.

Hindus in Austin celebrated Holi last month, a festival of colors signifying celebration of the various legends associated with Hinduism. The celebration reassures believers of the power of the truth as the moral of the legends and the ultimate victory of good over evil. Most Austin-area temples celebrated Holi with a fair that included cultural programs, thrown colors, vendor booths selling services and ethnic fashions, kids’ activities and a variety of foods.

By Harish Kotecha

Hindu Charities for America and Jewish Federation of Greater Austin present “Bollywood Meets

Borscht Belt,” a family event with music, Indian food and Jewish desserts and dance on Sunday, May 19, from 5-8 p.m. at Dell Jewish Community Campus, 7300 Hart Lane.

Featured performers include Anuradha Naimpally, Naga Valli, Mazel Kocktail Hour, Omkara, Monsoon Dance, Preya Patel, Yesh Rikud and more. Tickets are $18/adult, $6/child between 6-13 years and free for children under 6 years. Tickets can be purchased at www.shalomaustin.org/ namaste or by calling 512-994-4638, or by email to HinduCharities4America@gmail.com.

All proceeds will be used toward education of homeless children in Austin and Manor ISD.

Ramey Ko

Housing Law Clinic on a whim. Working for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, I discovered that I really enjoyed working directly with clients and helping people in tangible, immediate ways. That summer, I tried a stint at a big corporate law firm in Washington, DC, and decided that it wasn’t for me; instead, I decided to pursue a public interest law fellowship in Austin, and the rest is history.

quirkiness, our creativity, our easygoing and open-minded attitude - all of which I see as part of Austin’s fundamental spirit of being comfortable in your own skin and finding success and happiness just being yourself. It’s not surprising that we attract such diverse people and thrive in innovative and creative fields from software to the arts to communications and media.

AA: Are there generational issues, or cultural AA: What was your attraction to your vocation? issues, or both, between young and old Asian What drew you to do the work you do?

American Austinites?

Ko: Law is a people business, and it’s fundamentally a service industry. It’s a vocation built on human interaction and relationships, and success is not about pursuing your own benefit, but doing everything you can to empower others to achieve their goals or solve their problems. As someone with both right and left brain tendencies, I also love that the law requires you to think both logically and creatively.

By Yvonne Lim Wilson

Asian Austin’s A-List features Judge Ramey Ko, community organizer, co-founder of the Capital Area Asian American Democrats and recently announced candidate for State Representative, House District 50.

Ko is a partner with the immigration and business law firm of Jung Ko, PLLC, and an Associate Municipal Judge in Austin, Texas. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School, he previously practiced housing and domestic violence law with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and the Texas Advocacy Project. Ko also lectures on Asian Americans and the law at the University of Texas and since September 2010, has served on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which advises the Obama Administration on how to better serve the AAPI community. Ko is a member of the Austin Public Safety Commission, which oversees the budgets and policies of police, fire, and emergency medical services and also serves on the boards of the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, the Asian American Resource Center, GlobalAustin, and Asian Pacific Americans for Progress. He represents

AFSCME Local 1624 on the Central Labor Council. Ko, who cofounded the Capital Area Asian American Democrats in 2007, has served as president and vice president.

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

Ramey Ko: I realized two things at a pretty early age - I love helping people, and I love the power and beauty of language (just ask my mom how often I got in trouble for talking in class as a kid!). I knew I wanted to do something that involved these two values, but I played around with a lot of ideas before taking my current path. At one point, I thought about being a novelist, an elementary school teacher, a history professor, or a diplomat; I even considered being a chef.

Ko: I think generational and cultural differences are part of human nature, but I actually feel these differences are relatively smaller in Austin. Perhaps it’s the way Austin draws people through education, creativity, and politics, but I find that older and younger Asian Americans in Austin often share a lot of values. I would also say that there are probably greater differences based on whether you are a first generation immigrant or US-born than My teaching and my work in political and because of age. community organizing are also natural extensions of my spirit of service and Working in the Asian American community, participation; I was that guy in high school one challenge I see because of these and college that loved to participate in generational divides is that many Asian extracurricular activities, and I still think of my American organizations are facing future “extracurricular” work as the most exciting part challenges in terms of leadership and of what I do. continuity. Unfortunately, not many USborn Asian Americans like myself participate Whether it’s my work as a lawyer, a judge, in some of the longer-standing community or an activist/organizer, I have always found organizations, started and led by the immigrant the most reward in serving and supporting generation. Not only can this lead to problems others, especially during some of the most of communication and misunderstanding, but challenging times in their lives. we risk losing the legacy and achievements obtained through the hard work of those who AA: What does the American Dream mean to you? paved the way in this country for the rest of us. While I can’t say I have the solution, my Ko: It means having the freedom and hope is that we find ways to bridge this divide. opportunity to pursue your own dreams in your own way, no matter who you are. It I also want to highlight one specific area means everyone has an equal chance for where generational and cultural issues do happiness and success, and nobody is held pose a real challenge - mental health. As a back for reasons that have nothing to do passionate advocate on mental health issues with their character or determination, such as and someone who has personally struggled their race, gender or gender identity, sexual with bipolar disorder, understanding and orientation, religion, or other aspects of their addressing cultural issues are essential to background. fighting the stigma and misunderstanding that keep mental illness in the shadows. As Some people feel that the American Dream numerous recent studies have taught us, we has become too focused on money and cannot continue to avoid talking about mental material success, but I think that reflects an illness in our community, or Asian Americans impoverished view of human nature. Having will continue to have among the highest rates worked with diverse communities seeking to of suicide and greatest disparities in mental improve their lives, I know that people by and health in the country. large see their own prosperity and happiness as tied to that of their families, their neighbors, AA: Asian Americans are becoming a powerful and their fellow Americans. We believe in the force in Austin economically, culturally, American Dream not just because of what it politically and otherwise. How do you see promises for us personally, but because we Asian Americans fitting into the larger Austin want all Americans to share in its promises. culture and community?

Finding my specific calling did involve some measure of serendipity. By the end of college, I had decided to go to law school, but I had not yet decided to be a lawyer. I figured that AA: Is there anything particular about Austin Ko: It’s great to see Asian Americans becoming with my interest in public policy, a law degree that inspires you? a more visible part of Austin, not just because would be valuable for a number of potential of growing numbers but because the rest of careers. During my second year, I took the Ko: So much about Austin inspires me! Our Continued on Page 14 TODO Austin // APRIL 2013 // TODOAustin.com 07

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

Cine Las Americas International Film Fest Cine Las Americas International Film Festival returns April 16-21. This year’s lineup presents almost 100 films ranging from independent and big budget features, documentaries and short films from all over the world.

The film festival will take place at the Stateside Theatre in downtown Austin, the Alamo Drafthouse Village, and the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC), with additional screenings at St. Edward’s University. All screenings at the MACC and at St. Edward’s University are free and open to the public. All films are subtitled in English.

Pablo Berger’s “Blancanieves” will open the fest on Tuesday, April 16, at the Stateside Theatre.

Closing the festival is “7 Cajas” on Sunday, April 21, also at the Stateside Theatre.

BRIDGE2BRIDGE From Montopolis Bridge to 360 Bridge, Everything Austin

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Festival audiences are encouraged to purchase film passes in advance. The pass gives full-preferred access to the film festival events, including screenings and parties.

Special discounts and benefits are available for members of Cine Las Americas. Individual tickets for all screenings are also available online and at the box office of each venue.

For more information about membership and to purchase passes and tickets, visit cinelasamericas.org.

Founded in 1998, Cine Las Americas, the Latino and indigenous film festival has thrived under the guidance of Executive Director Eugenio del Bosque. Each year, its directors invite filmmakers, producers and distributors to bring their work to Austin and participate in one the most important international events of its kind. The festival offers a wide variety of entertainment, cultural, and educational choices honoring the culture and identity of the fastest growing population segment in the state of Texas and the United States.

It also focuses on building a nationally and internationally recognized film program that highlights Latino filmmaking, as well as diverse and typically underrepresented cultural perspectives.

08 TODO Austin // APRIL 2013 // TODOAustin.com

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Crank Collective presents “Cabeza de Vaca: Shipwrecked in Texas,” a musical tribute to the extraordinary journey of the 16th century Spanish Explorer who shipwrecked on Galveston island. Director John Cecil and CC transform de Vaca’s story into an enchanting, light-hearted rock musical expedition. The all-ages production runs April 3-5, 8 p.m., at Rollins Studio Theatre. crankcollective.wordpress.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The Raindrop Women’s Association hosts a series of Turkish Cooking Classes this month at the Raindrop Turkish House (12400 Amherst Dr. #108). A “5 o’clock tea party” menu is prepared Thursday, April 4. “Palace kitchen” fare is taught on Thursday, April 11, and a Turkish bakery menu is featured on Thursday, April 18. Classes run from 5-8 p.m. For more info go to raindropturkishhouse.org • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • LuckyChaos launch’s Leela, an Indian Community Theatre, with two shows in April at Salvage Vanguard Theater. “Pants,” written by Sushma-Khadepaun Parmar and directed by Sharanya Rao, is about a small town Gujarat family, and “Brown Men Don’t Swim (and other Universal Truths),” is a story of perceptions by Rao. Friday-Saturday, April 5-6 and 12-13. $10 with shows at 8 p.m. luckychaos.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • A 160-year-old tradition that began life near Venice, Italy, will come to life under a giant tent on the Long Center’s West Lawn, Friday-Sunday, April 12-14. The Zoppe Italian Family Circus will take visitors to a world of acrobatics, equestrian showmanship, canine capers and clowns with lots of audience participation. Prepare to be enchanted at the all-ages show. Tickets start at $25. thelongcenter.org • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • India Fine Arts’ production of “Ballet Krishna: A Divine Experience,” weaves stories from the life of Krishna together in a tapestry of Indian classical music, dance, and theatrical performance. The show takes viewers on a breath-taking journey to Gokulam, Vrindavan, and Mathura-- the divine realms of Lord Krishna. Saturday, April 13, 6 p.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy. austinifa.org • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The Austin Jewish Film Festival provides a cinematic examination of Jewish life and culture, an open and inviting forum for student and independent filmmakers to present their work and an exploration of universal themes including human rights, global peace, religious freedom, and tolerance. April 13-19, at the Regal Arbor Cinema at Great Hills and City Lights Theatre in Georgetown. austinjff.org • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Austin’s beloved Eeyore’s Birthday Party, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is a one-of-a-kind fundraiser benefitting local non-profit groups. The free event at Pease Park, Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m.-dark, includes live music, children’s area, maypoles, contests, food, drinks, art, costumes, a special commemorative t-shirt and more.

Non-amplified musicians are encouraged to participate. eeyores.org

APRIL

TODO Arts

---------------------------------------------------

Cult of Color // AustinVentures Studio One of Ballet Austin’s most innovative collaborations will spellbind audiences March 28 - April 7 at AustinVentures Studio Theater. Trenton Doyle Hancock’s comic book-style characters intrigue and enthrall with humorous, original choreography by Artistic Director Stephen Mills and an equally outrageous and inventive score from nationally acclaimed Austin composer Graham Reynolds. balletaustin.org ======================================

Shen Yun // Long Center

Shen Yun brings to life 5,000 years of Chinese civilization through classical Chinese dance and music in an exhilarating show April 11-13. Capturing the spirit of a culture long lost, the show moves through regions, dynasties, and legends as ethnic and folk dances fill the stage with color and energy. Athleticism, thunderous drums, masterful vocalists and animated backdrops transport you to another world. thelongcenter.org ======================================

Alison Balsom // Bass Concert Hall

The virtuoso trumpeter joins the versatile and ambitious chamber music outfit, The Scottish Ensemble, for an elegant evening of classical bliss, Tuesday, April 16. The two-time Female Artist of the Year at the Classic BRITs, Balsom brings an international reputation as one of classical music’s great ambassadors and is among the most distinctive and ground-breaking musicians today. texasperformingarts.org

Las Artes en Austin, Ahora Bilingües The Long Center Leads a Cultural Charge

By Gavin Lance Garcia There are those rare occurrences in life, when no major arts group in Austin had done, something you meet someone so inspired, you know they’re revolutionary – on such a level, it would magnify the shortcomings of colleagues in the field. bound to make a difference for the good.

The Long Center for the Performing Arts’ CEO, Jamie Grant, is such a character. I sat with Grant and Long Center Trustee Lesley Varghese last summer to discuss diversity – or the lack thereof – in Austin’s performing arts community. We spoke of half-empty houses, failed ticket campaigns aimed at ethnic minorities and timid marketing strategies rolled out by some organizations who struggle with diversity.

On April 2, Grant put his promise to create opportunities for cultural inclusiveness into action, announcing that the Long Center, “Austin’s Creative Home,” has unveiled a high tech, bilingual website to effectively market to the Latino community. The move, in effect, makes Spanish one of two languages for arts commerce and ups the ante in the cultural arena.

“This is a major turning point for the Long Center,” said Grant. “This new look and new website not only create a cutting-edge, high tech presence for us online, but they also increase our ability to engage the community in meaningful dialogue.

From learning about our history to purchasing tickets for our latest upcoming shows and events, we will be more accessible than ever to the Austin Community.”

Grant, less than two years’ removed from his native Canada, didn’t mince words when he spoke of Austin’s arts groups standing on shaky ground in the wake of a major demographic brownout. He didn’t shy away from talk of the arts community’s “problem” with the city’s underserved population.

Sitting on the edge of his seat, he spoke of his experiences in Kitchener, Canada, where as head of the Centre on the Square, he encountered a similar issue. His response then was to build a The forward-leaning rebrand will begin to fill a bridge between French and English-speaking void and more effectively address Austin’s diverse population. “I am very excited for this project,” said communities in an attempt to win new patrons.

Monica Peraza, Vice President of the Hispanic During our visit, Grant promised to do something Alliance for the Performing Arts and a Long

Center Trustee. “The Long Center is the creative hub of Austin and was built with the intention of serving the entire community. Latinos are and will continue to shape the cultural landscape of Austin, so I consider the launch of a bilingual website an important first step in recognizing this phenomenon.”

Latino community leaders, such as Nora Comstock, President and CEO of Las Comadres Para Las Americas, agree and see the development as “wonderful news. I so love the idea of creating spaces that are multicultural/multilingual. This is a step in the right direction for the greater internationalization of Austin.”

Complacency is not the mark of Grant and his Long Center team, whose new website offers a fresh prospective and features a “responsive design” built by Creative Suitcase, the firm which led the project. “The fact that our new website is bilingual is a huge leap forward for us in terms of making our incredibly diverse spectrum of programming accessible to an ever wider audience,” said Grant.

It’s a smart investment and a bellwether of the new order for the arts in Austin. “The creation of a bilingual website acknowledges our culture as part of the culture of Austin,” said Susana Almanza, co-director of PODER. “The voices of Austin and their commemorations and holidays are all part of Austin. Adelante with the Long Center state-ofthe art bilingual website.”

Austin Lyric Opera’s ‘Faust’

By Mia Garcia

Witness the ultimate struggle between good and evil in Austin Lyric Opera’s “Faust,” April 25,27,28 at the Long Center. Gounod’s dramatic tale of an aging scholar, an innocent young woman and the Devil himself.

The final production of ALO’s 26th season, Gounod’s ‘Faust’ is the classic tale of a man’s deal with the devil in order to give himself another chance at youth and love is abounded with Gounod’s unforgettable melodies. Tenor Jonathan Boyd makes his ALO debut in the title role Faust; bass-baritone Jamie Offenbach debuts for ALO as Mephistopheles (who has been praised as “made for the part”); and Korean baritone Hyung Yun makes his ALO debut as Valentine.

In the opera, Faust, an aging scholar, wants another

New World Music Festival, WobeonFest, Launches WobeonFest (also known as the Austin World Music Festival) debuts April 6-7 at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center in downtown Austin. International and local artists, both established and rising - and spanning several world music genres - will be performing.

The festival will be headlined by Afropop star Angelique Kidjo on April 6 and Reggae star Collie Buddz on April 7. Other acts include award-winning Reggae band Dubtonic Kru, Afro-Colombian band M.A.K.U. Sound System, and Middle-Eastern Fusion band Atash.

chance at youth and love, and forges a malevolent pact with Méphistophélès to seduce the beautiful and innocent Marguerite. What follows is a struggle between good and evil that is destined for tragedy as only great opera can tell it.

Abounding with Gounod’s unforgettable melodies, the new production by stage director Bernard Uzan was called a “triumph” by the Arizona Republic, and is a coproduction of Arizona Opera, Lyric Opera Baltimore and Opera Lyra Ottawa, that premiered in Arizona in November, 2011.

“My purpose is not to shock people,” said Uzan.

“Here I simply want to show that the quest for Faust doesn’t belong to a specific time; Méphistophélès belongs to no time. The story belongs to humanity.

And the way we’re going to do it is to speak more to the preoccupations of today.”

For tickets go to austinlyricopera.org artists and cultural organizations that reflect the global nature of the festival.

Austin Reggae Festival Awash in Good Vibes

“It’s high time Austin had its own World Music festival,” said Jakes Srinivasan, WobeonFest creator, founder of WorldBeatOnline and a world musician himself. “Our city’s existing festival base is terrific but doesn’t adequately represent the multicultural musical tastes of this community. I’m hoping WobeonFest will begin to change that dynamic, and bring a diverse fan base here from all over Texas and elsewhere.”

By Otis Lopez

For ticket info go to WobeonFest.com.

An outdoor main stage will feature acts booked

by Angela Tharp, owner of Flamingo Cantina and producer for WobeonFest, flanked by a grassy lawn, international food and beverage vendors, and a VIP lounge. A global bazaar will spread across the expansive Zócalo area of the MACC and will feature a marketplace of merchandise,

The Howlin’ Lobo By Anthony Garcia

The Austin Reggae Festival has long been a cultural barometer underscoring the community’s high regard and appreciation of the music genre. The event celebrates dub music, delicious food and diversity, as well as the power of giving.

Featuring live world music from internationally known bands with food, arts and crafts vendors, Austin Reggae Festival began as the Bob Marley Fest in 1994 and has grown to become a major financial supporter of the Capital Area Food Bank. The festival raised over $200,000 in 2012 to help provide meals for more than 500,000 hungry Central Texas families.

Auditorium Shores will see throngs enjoying the music of the legendary Wailers, Lance Herbstrong and the Lions, and many of the world’s finest reggae outfits from Friday, April 19, through Sunday, April 21. This year’s schedule (tickets at austinreggaefest.com):

Friday, April 19: Gates open 3 p.m. MAIN STAGE: The Wailers; Ancestree; Policulture; I Drenz; Charlie’s Dub Corner; Dubwise Happy Hour with Papa C & DJ Antiquity; DJ Rootsmonger; Lab Rat; DJ Antiquity; Selector J; Bomb City Sound Saturday, April 20: Gates open 11 a.m. MAIN STAGE: Lance Herbstrong; Tribal Nation; Az One; Preston Hall & DF Dub Allstars; The Suffers; Melody Memory; Charlie’s Dub Corner; Ital Breakfast with Papa C, DJ Antiquity & Bomb City; Zion Sound Young Gunz; Shun the Selector; DJ Ivor (Survivor Sounds); DJ Meshak (Soul Iration); DJ One Note; Ras Gilbert (Shashamani Sound); DJ Franco Nero; McPullish & Charlie’s All Stars: Dubstravaganja Sunday, April 21: Gates open 11 a.m. MAIN STAGE: The Aggrolites; The Lions; Stranger; Effinays; Cilantro Boombox; A Live One; Charlie’s Dub Corner; Ska, Rocksteady and Soul Brunch w/ Proper Villain; Dr Dubbist; El Dopa; Apollo 67 Sound; DJ Chicken George; Heart and Soul Soundlivepage.apple.com; I/O & Sloppy Jackson (Weight); Dub Corner Juggling / Funclash ’13

Paris, France, own two excellent studio albums, 2010’s “Something for Nothing,” and the new, “Pardon My French.” Chasing Lions, with vocalist/rhythm guitarist Chance Sampson, Zach Castillo on lead, Luis Hernandez on drums, Will McCurdy on bass, plays a mix of alternative, pop, punk, and post-hardcore.

rock guitarist known as “The King of the Surf Guitar.” He pioneered the surf music style, drawing on Eastern musical scales and experimenting with reverberation. Arabic music played a major role in his development of surf rock as Dale declined alcohol and drugs, discouraging their use in his crew.

Hollywood Undead + Asking Alexandria April 23 // Hollywood Undead is an American rap rock band from Los Angeles. Their music features a wide variety of musical styles, generally blending hip hop with alternative rock and dance influence, however, many would identify them as rap rock. Hollywood undead is headlining “The World War III Tour” and is bringing along Asking Alexandria, a British metalcore band from York, North Yorkshire.

Passafire + Unfortunate Youth + Josh Heinrichs & Skillinjah + InnaVision + The Contrabandits April 26 // Passafire was formed in 2003 by students attending Savannah College of Art and Design.

They play hundreds of shows a year with bands like 311, Pepper, Rebelution, Matisyahu, Michael Franti, The Wailers. They’ll share the bill with Unfortunate Youth, a top-shelf alternative band from El Paso.

@ MOHAWK

Atlas Genius + The Neighbourhood April 25 // Atlas Genius is an indie rock band from Adelaide, South Australia. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Keith Jeffery, his brothers Michael on drums and Steven on bass, and Darren Sell on keyboards. Keith describes their music as influenced by bands like Death Cab for Cutie, The Police, and Beck. Also on the tour is a stellar three piece rock band, The Neighbourhood, from Norman, Oklahoma.

@ RED EYED FLY

Here’s some April going’s-on in Austin’s hard rock scene to mark in your calendar.

@ EMO’S EAST

@ RED 7 Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! + Chasing Lions April 14 // Chunk!

No, Captain Chunk!, a French pop punk band who formed in 2007 in 10 TODO Austin // APRIL 2013 // TODOAustin.com

Anacostia + Grins from the Gallows + 3 Denied + Last Judgement + Stage of Existence April 5 // Lance, Michael, Kris, Brandon, and Jared make up the metalcore band Anacostia. The band has been together for about five years now, and delivers a tight, energetic live show. Check out “Miles Away” and look for their first full length EP, “Our Week of Winter,” soon. Grins from the Gallows, a melodic metal/ progressive rock band influenced by bands like Alice in Chains and Tool, has a tune “Masquerade.”

Guitar Legend Dick Dale April 10 // Dick Dale is an American surf

Senses Fail + Real Friends + Such Gold + Minor League April 14 // Senses Fail, an American post-hardcore band from Ridgewood, New Jersey headline. The band, which took their musical influences of punk and hardcore and mixed them with poetry, emotion, literature, religion, Eastern philosophy and spirituality, includes original band members Buddy Nielsen, vocals, and drummer Dan Trapp, who are now lined-up with guitar players Zack Roach and Matt Smith, and bassist Jason Black. They’re supporting their new LP, “Renacer.” Also on the tour is Real Friends, an Emo/punk band from Chicago.

Caitlin Rose + Daniel Romano April 26 // Caitlin Rose was previously the lead singer of Nashville indie band Save Macaulay, her first album, “Own Side Now,” was released by Names Records in August, 2010. Her vocal performance and lyrics have led to comparisons to Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline. Daniel Tavis Romano is a Canadian musician and visual artist based out of Welland, Ontario.

Ancient, Earthy, Indigenous Sounds of Lila Downs For over a decade, Lila Downs has traversed the planet, bringing her dramatic and highly unique reinvention of traditional Mexican music and original compositions fused with blues, jazz, soul, and African roots, all supporting her soaring voice. Some would classify Lila as a Mexican artist, but there is no real way to categorize her music except to say that it is a unique and exciting fusion of international sounds. A musical journey with Lila Downs is always a fascinating one, simultaneously edgy and powerful, yet sumptuous and graceful. That singular talent touches down in Austin on Tuesday, April 9, 7:30 p.m. at Dell Hall at the Long Center.

Downs’ last album, “Pecados y Milagros” (Sins and Miracles), was inspired by the themes of traditional votive paintings of Mexico, as well as her infant son. The new songs were born of the reasons to find items and symbols that give us strength.

Oaxaca, California, and Minnesota, where she graduated from the University of Minnesota in voice and anthropology. Downs is usually accompanied on her musical journey by her longtime band, La Misteriosa, multicultural multi-instrumentalists who include Paul Cohen, her collaborator, producer and husband.

Her musical vision is anthropological in nature and as varied as the ancient and earthy cultures that continue to nurture and inspire her. Embracing and highlighting indigenous origins, whether in the U.S. or Mexico, has always been an important aspect of her music, as well as the topics of political and social justice, immigration, and transformation, all rooted in the human condition. She strives to make a meaningful connection with her diverse audiences through her music and performances. “I’m so lucky,” remarks Downs. “People who follow our music are from all walks of life, and they want to scratch the surface to know the whys and hows. Every day we get to connect in so many ways.”

Sometimes the sound feels like a heat fueled road trip from Oaxaca to New Orleans. But then Downs is not afraid to shake things up with a cumbia rock, beat-poet style rap, or even the chirps of an iguana, taking the music to its own enigmatic world. The path can also unexpectedly lead to ancient worlds, when Lila taps into the native Mesoamerican music and language of the Mixtec, Zapotec, Maya and Nahuatl cultures. Few artists can successfully navigate the terrain of such seemingly disparate music. But Lila Downs y La Misteriosa go to the core of it, make it their own, and bring the audience along for an emotional and memorable ride.

Downs has long been recognized by the music industry, receiving a Latin Grammy for the 2004 release “Una Sangre” and a Grammy nomination for 2008’s “Shake Away,” which was also named one of the top ten albums by WOMEX, the leading world music organization. In addition to headlining venues all over the world, she has appeared at major festival and events including Carnegie Hall, the Sacred Music Festival - appearing with such luminaries as the Dalai Lama; WOMAD; Live Earth; and the Latino Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama.

Downs, born in Oaxaca, Mexico, is the daughter of Mixtec singer Anita Sánchez and Allen Downs, a Scottish-American art professor and filmmaker. She grew up in

Hollywood also took notice when Lila played a role in the Salma Hayek film “Frida” and then performed the Oscar-nominated soundtrack song “Burn It Blue” on the Academy Awards telecast, becoming the first Mexican to perform on the awards ceremony.

Tickets (including student discounts) for Downs’ Austin performance are available at www.thelongcenter.org.

Squeezebox Mania 7

By Otis Lopez

arranger and producer. Fox is an accomplished bilingual singer and songwriter in her own right who began writing at the age of nine.

Talented, versatile and inspiring, the power couple of accordionist/producer/arranger Joel Guzman and singer/songwriter Sarah Fox has been one of the most prolific and influential duos in Central and South Texas. Their field of musical expertise runs the gamut from Rock and Blues to Folk and Jazz to Conjunto and Americana.

They’re annual Squeezbox Mania, now in its seventh incarnation, features accordion masters and a maniac accordion jam at Threadill’s World Headquarters, 301 West Riverside Drive, Saturday, April 20. On the bill are the virtuostic Guzman and Fox, Rumbullion, Zydecowgirl, The Flying Balalaika Brothers, Austin musical luminary Johnny Degollado y Su Conjunto, and the legendary original, Augie Meyer.

Doors are at 7 p.m. and tickets are $15. Guzman’s roots are deep as he was once considered a child prodigy, referred to as, “El Pequeño Gigante.” Today he is one of the most prominent accordionists, producer/arrangers in the business, with collaborations with other top country, Americana and rock artists in Tejano, jazz, country, salsa, R&B and rock. In addition to his instrumental talent, Guzman is a gifted vocalist, innovator,

In 2005, their roots music album on Guzman Fox Records, “Polkas, Gritos y Acordeones,” featuring guests David Lee Garza and Sunny Sauceda, showcased classic conjunto folk tunes and polkas, winning a Latin Grammy and the American Grammy in their respective best Tejano album category. That talent will be on display at Squeezebox Mania 7, which promises a brand of all-out musical fireworks that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

A Call Out to the Austin Music Community

By Terry Lickona

I’ve produced the PBS program “Austin City Limits” for the past 36 years, but I am writing solely as a Texan working in the music industry. I ask that you contact your state legislator in support of three bills critical to the growth and vitality of Texas music.

Senate Bill 1179, introduced by Sen. Deuell relating to a reduction in the mixed beverage tax for certain venues that present live music; authorizing a fee.

Senate Bill 1498, introduced by Sen. Deuell relating to a sales tax exemption for certain items sold to or used by certain venues that present live music.

House Bill 3095, introduced by Rep. Strama (which combines SB 1498 and SB 1179) relating to a reduction in the mixed beverage tax for certain venues that present live music; authorizing a fee.

The recording industry has decreased nearly sixty percent since 1999, leaving musicians and music businesses with less opportunities for income. Live music has since emerged as the industry’s primary business driver. There are several financial barriers that venue owners such as nightclubs, dancehalls, restaurants and bars face in presenting live music, including start-up costs, high taxes and copyright fees. Currently there are no incentives by law for presenting live music.

The intent of these bills is to create an incentive for venues to book more live music, thus contributing to the economy and culture of our state. These bills will also boost sales of sound and lighting equipment and the associated labor used to present live music. They will cut in half the TABC tax on music venue alcohol sales if a venue presents live music four or more times each week.

They will amend the exemption authorized by Section 151.3185 of the tax code for producers of audio recordings to include an exemption for these venues that present live music 4 or more times a week, and exempt them from paying sales tax on certain items related to the performance of live music such as sound and lighting equipment and labor related to music-related equipment or materials including sound mitigation.

I urge you to contact your legislator to express support for these bills. To find out your representative’s and senator’s phone number, go to www.capitol.state.tx.us/ and fill in the blanks in the “who represents me” fields.

TODO Austin // APRIL 2013 // TODOAustin.com 11

Child Abuse Prevention Month CASA Volunteers Speak Up for Children Throughout the Year

By Callie Langford

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness about the needs of children and families across our country. Last year in Travis County alone, almost 2,000 children were brought into the care of Child Protective Services after having experienced abuse or neglect in their homes.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Travis County believes every child who’s been abused or neglected deserves to have a dedicated advocate speaking up for their best interest in court, at school and in our community. To accomplish this, CASA educates and empowers diverse community volunteers who ensure each child’s needs remain a priority in an over-burdened child welfare system. Here is one CASA volunteer’s story of advocating for two young sisters to help them reach a safe, permanent home and stay connected with their family: Felicia and her baby sister Noemi have smiles that could melt your heart, in spite of having

B+ Foundation Drive at Circuit of the Americas

gone through a lot in their young lives. When Felicia was two, the girls were removed from their young mother’s home when her immaturity and inability to care for her children proved too unsafe for them. The girls were far behind in their development, and Felicia displayed aggressive behavior and had not yet begun talking. At first, the little girls went to live with relatives, but this home quickly proved unsafe as well and the children were placed with a foster family.

CASA volunteer Sue Johnson visited Noemi and Felicia in their foster home often to see how they were doing. She saw they were thriving with a foster family interested in adopting them, but she also knew how important maintaining a strong bond with their mother and their biological family was, especially early in their developmental years. “I wanted to make sure they had ties to their family history and their culture,” Sue recalls. She worked hard to preserve the girls’ relationship with their mother, but that connection proved unsuccessful. Sue was having a difficult time finding appropriate family members who could provide a good home.

Finally, a paternal cousin was found who was excited to care for the girls. After the prior disappointments, Sue wanted to ensure this would be a protective and healthy home. Sue attended the cousin’s visits with the girls in their foster home. She was very open with the cousin’s family about her concerns. Fortunately,

By Monica Peña

to win at COTA. B+ Foundation’s “Fighting Childhood Cancer Tour” was created to help increase awareness about childhood cancer and help raise more money to provide financial assistance to families of children with cancer. The effort will also include sponsored research to find cures for childhood cancers and advancements in chemotherapy.

The B+ Foundation came to Austin to race in Circuit of The Americas’ second round of the 2013 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. B+ Racing drivers Al Carter – a cancer survivor – and Hugh Plumb, are amongst the top favorites

Driver Joe McDonough, co-founder of the B+ Foundation, was personally affected when his 14 year old son, Andrew, died of Leukemia. “Each and every one can help in childhood cancer by sharing and asking what they can do today,” said

Al Carter and Hugh Plumb visit kids at Dell Children’s Hospital 12 TODO Austin // APRIL 2013 // TODOAustin.com

the family was willing to go beyond what was required to show they could provide a safe and loving permanent home.

With Noemi and Felicia living with their cousin’s family, Sue stayed in close contact with them, observing positive growth for the girls during her visits. Felicia was calming her aggressive behavior and was learning to talk. Noemi glowed with all the attention she got from her new family and they were receiving support from the entire extended family. Sue felt confident this was the right home.

Sue proved a strong advocate for the best

interests of Noemi and Felicia throughout the case. She knew it was in their best interest to remain connected to their biological family, if possible. “I told the judge how well-cared for Felicia and Noemi were by this warm and welcoming family,” Sue recalls. Noemi and Felicia were officially welcomed into their new family during a joyous adoption celebration, and their sweet smiles lit up the room.

Learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer and ways you can help raise awareness about child abuse and neglect at www.casatravis.org/ childabuseprevention.

Felicia and Noemi

McDonough. Andrew McDonough died from complications of leukemia four years ago in July, six months after the previously healthy 14-yearold collapsed and went in septic shock at a soccer tournament. After the episode, doctors didn’t expect him to survive the week. But over the next 167 days, he fought death at a Wilmington hospital, despite multiple life-threatening infections and brain surgery. His father, Joe, quit work to stay by his son’s side.

Andrew’s battle galvanized the community, which rallied behind the slogan, “Be Positive,” a nod to Andrew’s blood type and the family’s upbeat motto. On the afternoon of July 14, 2007, he succumbed to the disease, dying in the arms of his sister, Ali. Andrew’s mom, dad and sister founded The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation and through his father and the B+ movement, Andrew’s legacy lives on. The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed not only to honor his life and raise money for research of pediatric cancers, but also to provide financial support to those affected by the illness. “This is my crusade, seven days a week,” Joe McDonough said. “Many people believe that cancer is only an adult illness, but unfortunately, 46 children are currently diagnosed with the disease every day.”

The overall goal of The B+ Foundation is to “Do Good.” During the 11 races of the 2013 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Al Carter and Hugh Plumb visit kids with cancer in hospitals before racing events to make a positive difference and

keep the “B+” message alive through outreach efforts and talks. The B+ Foundation provides financial assistance to families of children with cancer nationwide. In the last two years, The B+ Foundation awarded over $1,000,000 to families of children with cancer while giving over $500,000 to support research efforts.

Carter, a stock trader and Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor from Delaware, was amazed by the buzz that B+ had generated in Wilmington and approached McDonough about displaying the logo on their race car. “Everybody knows about B+ [in Delaware],” Carter said. “Everybody knows about the kids. These race cars that we have, they’re an advertising vehicle. I’m in this series that races across the country.” But their commitment runs far deeper than just marketing and photo opportunities. Before every tour stop, they visit local children’s cancer centers and meet with the patients. Before the Circuit of The Americas race on March 2, they toured Dell Children’s Hospital cancer center, signed autographs and took pictures with children.

“If you can bring a smile to the faces of kids that are going through the worst possible thing, then that’s amazing,” Plumb said. “That’s what I’m there to do.” Added McDonough: “When I tell kids there’s a B+ race car, their eyeballs go three inches high. There’s something special about kids and racing. For a couple of minutes, they forget they have cancer.”

Visit B+ Racing website at bpositiveracing.com

East Austin College Prep Earns Reputation as Thought Leader at SXSW Gaming and Texas Capitol Schoolhouse

By Cindy Casares

East Austin College Prep (EAPrep) is building a reputation as a thought leader in education as the only school in America where game design is part of the daily curriculum. After two appearances this spring semester in front of the SXSW Gaming audience and the Texas State Legislature, EAPrep is ahead of the curve when it comes to the 21st century education.

“I think it’s a really interesting skill because I don’t think that many people know how to code,” said EAPrep 8th grader Chris Ortiz, who learned to code through the school’s Globaloria game design curriculum. It’s such a sought-after skill that EAPrep was one of only 13 schools in the entire state of Texas invited to showcase their work at the 2013 Texas Capitol Schoolhouse in February. Texas Capitol Schoolhouse is a state legislative event that gives students and teachers the opportunity to display how technology is being used to improve public schools.

“This is not just about game design, it’s about a technological approach that one takes in the school,” said Dr. Joe Gonzales, Superintendent of EAPrep.

topics of the week was teaching kids to code.

“I’ve sensed a lot of common themes being about enabling a younger generation,” Jon Berkhart Social Creative Consultant told KUT’s The Daily Buzz. Berkhart gave one of those talks at this It’s an approach that has earned EAPrep support year’s festival after Google helped him locate from industry leader Advanced Micro Devices, disadvantaged kids and teach them to code. a company that has donated nearly one million dollars over the past four years towards If Apple founder Steve Jobs was to be believed, technology labs for the school. But that isn’t just everybody should learn to code. In a new video charity. As a technology company, AMD relies from Code.org, a non-profit devoted to the vision on engineering talent—something that has been that every student in every school should have in short supply in the U.S. of late with American the opportunity to learn how to code, Jobs is students ranking 25th in math and 17th in science quoted as saying as much along with Microsoft amongst developed countries, according to a founder Bill Gates, Facebook founder Mark 2009 study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. AMD believes an investment in science and technology-focused education programs is an investment in America’s economic future.

That’s why EAPrep is using game design as a way of getting students interested in the Science, Technology, Math and Engineering or STEM fields. The same fields forecasted to have the fastest career growth in the next ten years. That focus has paid off. The school’s students were invited to demo their video games, designed to educate users on social issues, for an international audience at SXSW Interactive’s new gaming festival.

Where, not coincidentally, one of the hottest

PromRACK for Central Texas Youth By Julie Moody The cost of prom can bust a family budget, and it is an even bigger expense for teens in the foster care system. However, in Central Texas, it is easier for foster parents to send their children to prom as the community comes together each year to provide foster youth with everything they need to dress for prom.

Local teenagers in the foster care system are preparing for their respective proms with the help of PromRack, an event held Saturday, April 6, from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at 5900 Cameron Road, Mount Sinai Baptist Church. The youth will be dressed from head to toe with

CASA

Zuckerberg and a host of other tech pioneers. It’s a philosophy that Dr. Gonzales and the faculty and staff at EAPrep have embraced since the founding of the school four years ago as a way to take East Austin—with higher than average poverty and unemployment—from a community with challenges to a community with opportunities.

“The population explosion is Hispanic,” Dr. Gonzales said. “The greatest drop-out numbers are Hispanic. So if we’re looking at the finances of our country, if we don’t prepare Hispanic youth, we are not preparing a great proportion of our population to be ready to work and contribute instead of having to be helped as they get older.”

EAPrep game design students Luis Banda and Rogelio Cuevas show off his video game at SXSW Gaming. EAPrep photo.

donated prom gowns, shoes, jewelry. More than 1000 gowns have been donated for this event and more than 160 pairs of shoes have been purchased and donated to complete their attire.

Young men will be treated to lunch with male community role models, and will be provided gifts bags and tuxedo rentals and shoes for their special evening. All participants will have the benefit of one-on-one conversations with mentors from the community.

“Growing up in the foster system is a challenge, and that makes the special occasions even more special,” said volunteer project coordinator, Gigi Edwards Bryant.

(Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Travis County

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

DAWN CRANE was born in Michigan and raised in Ohio.

Being stationed at Fort Hood brought her to Texas over 20 years ago. She has a one child and three dogs. Dawn’s an entrepreneur with two small businesses including a cosmetics company that she will be re-launching this summer. Dawn loves to hike on Austin’s many trails and head to Colorado for skiing when she can. She also enjoys vintage and antique shopping. Dawn has been volunteering with CASA of Travis County for a year and a half and has advocated for five children. “I can see why it is so important to have CASA involved in this system for kids, how important it is to have someone running quarterback and keeping everyone informed, since kids can really fall through the cracks quickly,” shares Dawn.

Dawn has volunteered for many organizations in Austin and says that CASA has been both the hardest work and the most rewarding. “With kids, you really see the impact of what you’re doing,” she says. “It’s the most amazing volunteer job. You will grow in ways you never thought you needed to grow. I get so much joy and excitement when I see these kids succeed, all of their little successes … it’s just amazing.”

AISD Celebrates Youth Art Month The Austin Independent School District launched a month-long celebration of the arts on Sunday, March 24. Billboards will be displayed throughout the city as part of AISD’s Youth Art Month Celebration with ten locations showing student’s artwork beginning March 18: 1208 11th Street; 1608 35th Street; 800 Airport Boulevard; 1521 Anderson Lane; 601 Ben White Boulevard; 1602 Lamar Boulevard South; 3701 Manor Boulevard; 6400 Riverside Drive; 5500 Springdale Road; and US 290 West.

TODO Austin // APRIL 2013 // TODOAustin.com 13

TENGO HAMBRE

Cleansing & Communal: Kombucha in 3 Steps // By Katie Walsh Kombucha is a wonderful, cleansing, probiotic-rich fermented tea long celebrated in China for its many healthful and healing properties. It may be a bit of an acquired taste for the typical American palate; tart, fizzy, a little funky.

My favorite thing about making kombucha is that it’s impossible to do it totally on your own. It requires community and cooperation.

Much in the way that sourdough requires a living, reproducing “starter” culture, making kombucha requires and produces a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (or “scoby”).

So the true first step (and the most important) in brewing homemade kombucha is finding a friend who can get you started (pun intended!).

Reach out, ask around, find someone who can gift you one of their scobys and a couple cups of their own fermented brew.

You’ve also got to have a couple of non-common tools: a gallon-sized glass jar and about 8 clamp-stop hermetic bottles (these can be found online or at beer-brewing suppliers).

in a large stock pot. Remove from heat, then stir in about 1 cup of raw, organic sugar. Add about 8 bags or 2 tablespoons loose organic tea.

You can use many different varieties; good to start with black, green, or a blend. Do not use Earl Grey or anything else flavored with essential oil (it interferes with the fermentation process and can kill the scoby).

Allow the tea to steep until it has cooled, a few hours, then remove the tea bags or strain. You may speed the process with an ice bath if need be.

Step 2: Ferment.

Once the tea has cooled, stir in about 2 cups “starter” tea, kombucha that has already been fermented. Pour the mixture into a sterilized, gallon-sized glass jar and carefully slide in the scoby. Cover the top with a clean, porous rag or cheesecloth and a rubber band and store in a dark, room temperature space where it can sit undisturbed. Mark the date.

Step 1: Brew the tea.

Ferment for 7 to 10 days. In this time, a new scoby will begin forming as the top layer of the tea. After 7 days, taste a bit of the tea—younger kombucha is sweeter; as it ages, more of the sugar is metabolized by the culture and it will become more tart. Ferment until it reaches your desired taste.

Boil 3 1/2 quarts (or 14 cups) of distilled water

Before you remove the scoby from the jar,

Then, you can make your own homemade kombucha in three simple steps (thanks to Emma at TheKitchn.com for the great tutorial I learned from!):

begin the process again—brew another batch of tea. Then, lift it carefully from the jar with clean hands and set aside on a clean plate.

Reserve 2 cups of the fermented kombucha to act as the “starter” for the batch you’ve just brewed.

Step 3: Bottle.

At this point, you can either pour your kombucha into a fresh jar and infuse it with other fruits or flavors for a day or two or go straight to the bottling process.

Pour the kombucha into clean bottles, leaving about an inch of headspace. Store the bottles in a dark, room temperature space for 3-7 days, during which time the kombucha will carbonate. The longer the bottles sit, the more fizzy the drink will be (so be careful when you pop the tops to check!).

After that, store kombucha bottles in the fridge, where they’ll be delicious and ready to drink for about a month. Then, start the process all over again—using the newly-steeped tea and the reserved starter to ferment a new batch.

That’s it!

Making kombucha is a continual, regenerative process, so it requires a bit of a commitment.

But once you get into the groove, it’s actually very simple. If you find that you can’t keep the culture going, you can keep your newest batch in the refrigerator for up to six weeks.

Cont. from pg. 7

the community is noticing as well. It’s truly a testament to Austin’s supportive and diverse culture that the vast majority of Austinites see the integration of Asian Americans into our cultural, civic, and economic life as an exciting thing. I have enjoyed seeing larger and more diverse crowds each year at our community’s events such as Lunar New Year and Tet celebrations, Indian Independence Day and Republic Day festivals, and local Asian American history exhibits at the Austin History Center.

Ramey Ko with U.T. University Democrats 14 TODO Austin // APRIL 2013 // TODOAustin.com

We must also remember that growing numbers and influence are not just about others embracing our Asian American community, but also our own responsibility to take a greater role in the civic life of the larger Austin community. Whether it’s getting involved in your school’s PTA, serving on a city commission or local non-profit board, or promoting our economy through chambers of commerce and professional associations, we all have a responsibility to make Austin a great place to live for everyone. As just one

part of a diverse mosaic, we also have a duty and perhaps most impressively in retrospect, to build coalitions and seek to understand the have dinner together as much as possible. Of challenges and experiences of others. all the things my parents have accomplished since they immigrated to the United States, If Asian Americans wish to be leaders in their commitment to always keeping family our community, we must understand that first is what inspires me most. I know I could leadership is ultimately not about power or not have gotten to where I am today without influence, but taking responsibility and doing that. our part for our shared future.

AA: What do you consider the most important AA: Anything else you’d like to add? cultural value for you and for those close to Ko: One of the ways I believe Asian Americans you? can take on a greater role in civic life is to run Ko: Family is the cultural value that I cherish for office. I appreciate that this is a daunting most. Growing up, I didn’t always appreciate prospect for many, exposing yourself to the how much my parents struggled and scrutiny of the public, to smear campaigns sacrificed, leaving their homes and everyone and unfair attacks, but for those of us that and everything they knew, so that their have the opportunity, I think it is also our duty. family could live a better life. Like most Asian That is why I’m running for state representative American kids, I was raised to respect and for House District 50 to succeed Rep. Mark honor my elders and my family, but it took Strama; it’s time for us to take responsibility some maturity and time to really understand for our democracy. just how much I owe my family for the person I am today, the opportunities I have had, and Asian Austin at www.AsianAustin.com is an the challenges I have overcome. online news source featuring news about After my parents started their branch of a Asian American people, organizations and computer business when I was nine, they events in Austin. Visit the Asian Austin website often worked 90+ hours a week. Yet, they still and “Like” us on Facebook for calendar and took time to help me with my homework, take event details! Contact publisher Yvonne Lim me to piano lessons and after school classes, Wilson at yvonne@asianaustin.com.

CHRONICLES OF UNDERCOVER MEXICAN GIRL:

SLACKTIVISM:

Exactly What it Sounds Like

APRIL 2013

Tiny Taiga Condensation

By Blake Shanley

By Alexandra M. Landeros

Lately, everyone’s upset about DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) enacted in 2006, recently challenged at the United States Supreme Court by Edie Windsor, who was being obligated to pay federal real estate taxes on the inheritance of her deceased wife’s estate. If the state of New York legally recognized their marriage, which took place in Canada (before New York legalized gay marriage), Windsor would not have to pay any taxes.

The case brought up heated arguments, both for and against legally recognizing same-sex marriage and all the rights that come with it. As of January, 2013, nine states in the U.S. have legalized samesex marriage, but it’s complicated, because there is the question of when and where the marriage took place, and when the law was enacted in that state. One of the main questions is whether legal marriage should be defined by states, or whether it should decided at the national level. Big government versus small government.

Everyone is also upset about the “Monsanto Protection Act,” which President Obama recently approved as part of the Continuing Resolution, a type of appropriations legislation used by the United States Congress to fund government agencies if a formal appropriations bill has not been signed into law by the end of the Congressional fiscal year.

The “Monsanto Protection Act” is actually one of two agribusiness riders that could have been removed with amendments proposed

by U.S. Senator Jon Tester, who is the Senate’s only farmer. One of Senator Tester’s amendments would have removed a giveaway to genetically engineered seed companies that allows the continued planting of GMO crops, even when a court of law has found they were approved illegally.

This rider allows biotech companies to circumvent the few protections that currently exist against the introduction of untested GMO crops. (And it seems no one noticed the other equally destructive agribusiness rider that removed the ability for farmers to be protected from unfair and deceptive practices by meatpacking and poultry companies.) Big corporations versus local businesses.

And what are we doing about it? We’re posting rants and articles on social media. We’re changing our profile icons to clever little symbols. We’re signing one-click petitions online. We’re frustrated because our judges, representatives, senators, and our President aren’t making the decisions we want them to make. Slacktivism.

But as United States citizens, we seem to have lost sight of our civic duty, and we’ve put our country in the hands of a few legislators, while we watch reality TV and go to happy hours. When the concept of citizenship was first being developed in Ancient Greece, citizens were expected to actively take part in politics. The philosopher Aristotle had stated, “To take no part in the running of the community’s affairs is to be either a beast or a god!”

So what can you do? Do you even know who represents you at the state and national level? If you don’t, the first step is to find out who does. You can look it up: U.S. House of Representatives: www.house.gov or call (202) 224-3121

U.S. Senate: www.senate.gov or call (202) 224-3121 Texas State Legislators: www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us or call (512) 463-4630 The second step is to make a list of the issues that are important to you, and sign up to receive alerts from organizations working to create change and improvements on these issues. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Start with five issues. And look at where these organizations get their funding from. Are any of their funders a conflict of interest with the organization’s mission? Support a grassroots organization, funded entirely by the members they represent. Make a donation to help them do the work they do. Their staff is often underpaid and overworked.

The third step is to take action! As a rule of thumb, unless a nonprofit has a mailing list of hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of people, the online petitions don’t really work. What does work?

Phone calls, followed up by emails and letters. Think of it this way – if it took you 10 seconds to fill out a form and push a button, do you think that will really show the legislator or the government agency that you care?

And then there is the argument that we can’t battle it out against big government and corporations – that our voices are only a drop in the bucket, and that we can’t really make change. Some people argue that taking action is futile. So our other option is to sit back and do nothing? That certainly won’t change anything.

What will you do? As Margaret Mead said, “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For indeed that’s all who ever have.”

Green is the color of life. Literally. Look at it all around you. Green. It’s amazing!

Most of the richest, most potent and valuable sources of life on this planet come in a variety of shades of the ever-thriving, ever-vibrant, ever-living GREEN. Greens are your most important sources of vitamins, minerals, proteins, antioxidants, fibers, phytochemicals and all other necessary nutrients to support living beings. They are pure energy. Pure life. They are your go-to answers for overall health and well-being. They support and boost your immune system, feed your tissues and cells, detoxify and cleanse, defend your body from free-radicals and oxidants, balance moods, clear your mind, energize you, reduce inflammation and accelerate and promote healing.

Stock up on and stuff your face with: Marine Phytoplankton, Chlorella, Spirulina, Kamut Grass, Wheat Grass, Barley Grass, Spinach, Kale, Dandelion Greens, Sprouts, Broccoli, Parsley, Oregano, Arugula, Parsley, Cilantro, Oregano, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard, to name a few.

Forget diamonds and dogs.

Leafy greens, vegetables, herbs, cereal grasses and especially micro algaes are your real best friends.

You are what you eat. When you eat living foods, particularly the green ones, you will feel different. You will feel more alive. More awake.

More energized. More balanced.

GO GREEN! Tiny Taiga has a bunch of these greens for you at 1200 E. 11th St. #106.

TODO Austin // APRIL 2013 // TODOAustin.com 15

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!!! ALL OUTDOOR SHOWS ARE “WEATHER PERMITTING”

APRIL Line-up

TACO BAR

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

----------------------------------------------------------------WED 4/3 THE LARRY MONROE RADIO SHOW (6:00) THU 4/4 LOS FLAMES (6:30) FRI 4/5 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW (6:30) SAT 4/6 THE LEROI BROTHERS (12:00), SANTIAGO JIMENEZ (3:30),

TRACIE LYNN (6:30) SUN 4/7 THE RECOUPERATORS (3:00) ----------------------------------------------------------------WED 4/10 THE LARRY MONROE RADIO SHOW (6:00) THU 4/11 THE FABS (6:30) FRI 4/12 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW (6:30) SAT 4/13 SUSAN TORRES Y CONJUNTO CLEMENCIA (2:30),

LARRY LANGE & HIS LONELY KNIGHTS (6:30) SUN 4/14 BLUE MIST (3:00) ----------------------------------------------------------------WED 4/17 THE LARRY MONROE RADIO SHOW (6:00) THU 4/18 EVE MONSEES (6:30) FRI 4/19 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW (6:30) SAT 4/20 LOS TIPICOS DE CUBA (2:30), LAUREN ELLIS (6:30) SUN 4/21 MITCH WEBB & THE SWINDLES (3:00) ----------------------------------------------------------------WED 4/24 THE LARRY MONROE RADIO SHOW (6:00) THU 4/25 WILL OWEN GAGE TRIO (6:30) FRI 4/26 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW (6:30) SAT 4/27 THE SIDE SHOW FIVE (2:30), THE TONY HARRISON BAND (6:30) SUN 4/28 CHICKEN STRUT (3:00)

www.GuerosTacoBar.com

SPECIALIZING IN MEXICAN FOODS & PASTRIES BEST MENUDO IN TOWN! TUES - SUN 6:30 AM TO 3 PM

Thanks to the fans and our sponsors of 2013 Pan American Festival Follow Us! Follow us on Twitter at @bellasartesa

On Facebook at Bellas Artes Alliance

PH: 512-472-0017 joesbakery.com

2305 E. 7th Street Austin, TX 78701

www.bellasartesalliance.org