TODO Austin January 2018

www.todoaustin.com

I have a dream.

VOLUME IX / JAN 2018

Free Week 2018 MLK Celebration India Republic Day FotoATX

Migrations World Music & Dance Festival

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

We’re looking for amazing stories, written and illustrated by kids in Kindergarten to fifth grade!

We’ll publish all stories on our website, every kid will get a certificate, and some will get prizes.

Get more info at klrukids.org | Entry deadline is March 31st

Learn more at KLRU.org Also This Month

Victoria Season 2 On Masterpiece

Independent Lens I Am Not Your Negro

New mother Victoria is impatient to return to ruling, while Albert attempts to protect her from the news regarding British soldiers in Afghanistan.

Watch a film that envisions the book James Baldwin never finished, a revolutionary and personal account of the lives of his close friends: Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sundays at 8 pm starting January 14th

Monday, January 15th at 8 pm; Friday, January 19th at 10 pm

ATX Together CodeNEXT A community discussion around Austin development, citizen engagement and ideas on how we can work together tackling big issues.

Sunday, January 21st at 6 pm

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS is community supported. More than 85% of our funding comes from the public. PLEASE CONSIDER INVESTING IN KLRU.

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

Police Assoc., COA end talks Austin City Council Members Alison Alter, Jimmy Flannigan, Ora Houston, and Ann Kitchen put out the following statement after the Austin Police Association voted to end contract negotiations with the City of Austin:

“We were disappointed to learn of the Austin Police Association’s decision to not extend the contract and discontinue contract negotiations until next Spring. Following the Council’s vote on December 13th, the APA had the option of utilizing up to three months of extensions on the existing contract as a new contract was discussed. Unfortunately, the Austin Police Association voted to end negotiations with the City and as a result, the labor agreement will now expire on Dec. 29, 2017.

“Interim City Manager Elaine Hart released a memo last week outlining ‘the most significant effects on personnel practices at the Austin Police Department (APD) that will occur as a result of the decision by the Austin Police Association not to resume labor contract negotiations with the City.’ The effects will span things such as hiring, promotion, pay, and discipline practice within APD. While this was not the outcome that Council proposed, we accept the Austin Police Association’s decision and look forward to a productive return to the negotiation table in 2018.”

AWXAW at Elisabet Ney In an exclusive gallery show, Austin women at work and play, pioneering, bold and creative, are revealed

by Austin women photographers. Learn more about the wealth of energy and spirit Austin women bring to both sides of the camera, through works

by Ave Bonar, Amalia Diaz, Christa Blackwood, Hannah Neal and Erica Wilkins, at the home of one of Austin’s most spirited women, Elisabet Ney. The exhibit runs Jan. 10-Feb. 18, 2018.

Trail Foundation’s new projects At The Trail Foundation’s annual State of the Trail address on Dec. 8, TTF’s executive director Heidi Anderson announced 15 new projects in honor of TTF’s 15th anniversary in 2018. Slated for completion on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-andAustin’s MULTICULTURAL media source for EIGHT YEARS • Find us at TODOAustin.com

Bike Trail over the next five years, the projects range from new trailheads and bathrooms to new water access points and playgrounds. For more information, visit www.thetrailfoundation.org.

Reflecting on 2017 and welcoming the New Year

in Afghanistan and the Mexican Drug War, to name a few. The economic and political crisis in Venezuela has starved the country.

By Lesly Reynaga

On the other hand, not everything in 2017 was demise and suffering. The year kicked off a massive Women’s March against hate and in support of inclusion, reproductive rights, racial equality, LGBTQ rights, freedom of religion, the environment and more. January 21, 2017 has come to be the largest single-day protest in our country’s history, with marchers joining in over 80 other countries.

Last year was rough for many around the world.

At home, it was the first year of President Donald Trump--a man who has made serious racial and religious discriminatory remarks and whose presidential campaign is still under investigation for potential collision with Russian officials. It was also the deadliest year of mass shootings in modern U.S. history, with the Las Vegas incident still fresh as the worst of attacks in our times.

New homeless program launches. KUT photo

Hearing the Homeless program Hearing the Homeless, an outreach based Austin organization committed to serving the homeless population, is launching in January. Its mission is to encourage the artistic expression of local students around Austin while creating a work program where the homeless hand out the student’s work.

All donations will be transferred directly on to a prepaid card with administrative controls for the homeless to use to help meet their needs. In doing this, Hearing the Homeless is creating a virtual donation system that restricts cash donations; helping to enable healthier purchasing decisions for the homeless while also helping to facilitate better money management to get the homeless back on their feet.

Austin Pets Alive! wins grant As the nation’s largest No Kill city and premier resource for lifesaving programs, Austin will be home to the Maddie’s Lifesaving Academy – an unprecedented educational program to help save exponentially more homeless pets across the country. Austin Pets Alive! has received a three-year, $4 million grant from Maddie’s Fund to support the project at Austin Pets Alive and City of Austin Animal Services Office (which operates the Austin Animal Center) in Austin.

Volume IX, Number 9 PUBLISHER/EDITOR // Gavin Lance Garcia info@todoaustin.com ART DIRECTOR // Dave McClinton dmdesigninc.com EDITOR //Lesly Reynaga // lesly@todoaustin.com MANAGING EDITOR // Meredith C. Cox meredith@todoaustin.com ASSOCIATE EDITORS // Liz Lopez, Monica Peña, Katie Walsh, Erica Stall Wiggins, Yvonne Lim Wilson

Natural disasters shook the country and many others around the world: Hurricane Harvey hit right at home in Texas; Hurricane Maria caused mass destruction in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic; Hurricane Irma in Florida and the Caribbean; a massive earthquake killed over 200 in Mexico; a monsoon flooding in Bangladesh caused 1,200 deaths; a mudslide took 200 lives in Colombia; and the list goes on.

The LGBTQ community saw big wins with the legalization of same-sex marriage in countries like Germany, Austria, Malta and Australia.

The victories for women continued at the end of the year as a significant list of influential men with sexual misconduct histories came to light. From film mogul Harvey Weinstein and NBC News Anchor Matt Lauer to the Republican party’s Senate nominee in Alabama Roy Moore, women courageously came forward in accusing men who have been predators for as long as decades in what became the #MeToo movement.

The beginning of a new year is usually a sign of hope for many, especially those of us living in financially advantaged societies. It ignites the possibility of positive personal change, which can usually translate into change in our communities at large. Individual resolutions can make all the difference. Whether your desire is to exercise more, eat healthier, get a better job, or simply be a kinder person, all of these things can go a long way in building impactful societies with higher chances of growth.

It is our responsibility to continue to engage in civic affairs to assist the most vulnerable people around us. We, the people, have a key role to play in shaping the country that we want to live in today and in the future.

Armed conflicts globally have killed and displaced tens of thousands of people: Civil wars in countries like Syria, Iraq and Somalia, the War CONTRIBUTING STAFF // Rose Di Grazia, Callie Langford, César E. López Linares, Genoveva Rodriguez, Diana Sanchez PRODUCTION SERVICES // Anthony Garcia CONTRIBUTORS // Margaret Bassett, Alka Bhanot, Roy Casagranda, Cat Cardenas, Cindy Casares, Evelyn C. Castillo, Lobo Corona, Nora De LaRosa, Laura Donnelly Gonzalez, Mark Guerra, Lorraine Haricombe, Mari Hernandez, Yadira Izquierdo, Chaille Jolink, Ryan Jordan, Ali Khataw, Ramey Ko, Harish Kotecha, Sonia Kotecha, Julia Lee, Lauren Lluveras, Isabel Lopez-Aguilar, Art Markman, Cristina Parker, Carola Rivera, Paul Saldaña, Marion Sanchez, Sameer Shah, Blake Shanley, Dani Slabaugh, Corey Tabor, Rama Tiru, Carola Rivera, Aaron Rochlen, Blanca Valencia, Lesley Varghese, Lichen Zhen

Let’s welcome 2018 with open arms, an attitude of optimism and a spark for constructive transformation in our own communities and beyond.

ONLINE EDITION // TODOAustin.com 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. © 2018 Spark Awakened Publishing. All rights reserved.

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

ADVERTISING/SUBMISSIONS/EDITORIAL: info@todoaustin.com, 512.538.4115 TODO AUSTIN // JAN 2018 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 03

Austin’s New Library is an Example of the Library of the Future Lorraine Haricombe

The Austin Public Library recently opened its spectacular facility with much fanfare to respond to a diversity of needs in the Austin community.

Transformed from a traditional library filled with books and other sources of information including media, the new open design sets itself apart as a new standard to address user needs in the 21st century.

On campuses, libraries serve as cathedrals of learning. At its foundation the similarities reflect the core mission of libraries to connect users and content, to be a gateway not a gate keeper and to move beyond collections to facilitate connections, collaboration and partnerships.

A national conference called “Re-think it: Libraries for a New Age” will soon bring together academic, public and K-12 librarians, administrators, technologists, architects, designers, furniture manufacturers and educators to The University of Texas. Together, they will collectively rethink the increasingly important role libraries play in the communities they serve.

The timing of the opening of the new Austin Public Library is a perfect opportunity to highlight the resurgence of the central role of libraries in their respective communities, whether public, academic or school libraries, as they rethink their relevance amidst fast-paced changes.

From online catalogs, to self-checkout machines, to room reservations and laptop checkouts, users can now independently use and reserve library resources that extend well beyond books. And, the old rules don’t work in the new environment.

For instance, food and drink, cafes and gift shops have become normal features in libraries.

Notwithstanding the difference in the primary communities they serve, different types of libraries have implemented changes that are consistent with new needs and expectations. At its opening, Austin Mayor Steve Adler described the Austin Public Library as the “cathedral of Austin.”

04 TODO AUSTIN // JAN 2018 // TODOAUSTIN.COM

During the past legislative session, Texas lawmakers cancelled funding for the Office of Minority Health Statistics and Engagement beyond Sept. 1, 2018. In effect, this means Texas could soon become the first state in the nation without an office of minority health. This is a bad decision by our lawmakers because Texas institutions continue to operate inequitably.

Along the road toward a unified budget, a proverbial “splitting of the baby” took place: The OMHSE was able to keep its full budget for one last year. The compromise also included a name change for the program, sanitizing it of the implication that state institutions don’t serve all Texans equitably, and hinting at the decisionmaking process behind the program’s impending defunding.

The Legislature’s commitment toward understanding the systemic drivers of disparities in state institutions was historic and signified a promise to all Texans to provide equitable and, ultimately, better services. Cutting this program without a replacement and leaving Texas without an office of minority health amounts to a broken promise.

The strength of libraries is, after all, their relationship to their communities, whether public or academic. They are centers of learning, social gathering and creativity usually in central spaces, a premium in most communities and on university campuses. The Austin Public Library has not disappointed.

In a nutshell, libraries must rebrand themselves as technology-rich learning centers. The rapid rate of technological changes, coupled with new user expectations, have accelerated libraries’ transition from mediated services to unmediated services.

By Lauren Lluveras

zeroed out, Senate Finance Committee Chair Jane Nelson said in the spring of 2016 that she was unconvinced the program needed 26 staff members. The House Appropriations Committee seemed to disagree, leaving the program’s budget intact through the next legislative session in 2019.

It may seem that inequity only impacts people of color, but it is important to remember that what affects one part of our state has an effect over all of us. Legislators need to ensure all Texans have access to programs and services that strengthen opportunity and should support programs that get people to work together to solve social problems.

In an information society like ours, libraries are critical to fill equity gaps in society by democratizing access to information, education, skills training and job placement. Simply put, the Austin Public Library epitomizes how libraries elsewhere can be improved to better serve their populations.

In some respects, it is the library of the future and will meet a multitude of needs including shared learning spaces, the technology petting zoo, the innovation lounge, the children’s creative commons and the reading porches.

Texans lose after lawmakers defund the Office of Minority Health Statistics and Engagement

In some ways, rethinking libraries will mean collapsing old paradigms and sacrificing some of the nostalgia that we may have for paper and silence. If libraries are to realize a future potential, they’ll need to play a significantly more active role in creativity and productivity processes. The library is no longer a place to worship books; rather, a library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, is the delivery room for the birth of ideas.

Austin isn’t the first city in recent years to invest in new library construction. Structures in Seattle and Minneapolis are notable recent examples of significant public re-investment in libraries as an integral part of the community.

The 21st century offers a renaissance period for libraries and library professionals to imagine the possibilities for the future. The Austin Public Library exemplifies a pioneering model in Texas for other municipalities to position their libraries as instruments of social empowerment. The time is now.

Lorraine Haricombe is vice provost and the director of libraries at The University of Texas at Austin.

The OMHSE came to be in 2005 after it was shown that the child welfare crisis in Texas hit children and families of color the hardest. The program provided cultural competency training and consultative services to different state and private institutions, and it developed partnerships with community groups across Texas.

Texas’ maternity mortality rate is the highest not just in the nation, but in the developed world, and black women in Texas bear the greatest risk for maternal death. Though just 11.4 percent of births in Texas are to black mothers, they account for nearly 30 percent of all maternal deaths.

In an effort to reduce the incidence of pregnancyrelated deaths, the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force recommended the state take steps toward increasing provider and community awareness of health inequities. They also recommended increasing provider education and implementing programs that increase the ability of women to self-advocate.

Essentially, the task force outlined that programs like the soon-to-be-unfunded OMHSE are key to combating the pervasive disparities inherent in Texas health systems.

When asked why funding for the program was

Today, inequity exists in nearly every state institution. Black students in Texas are 31 percent more likely to receive school discretionary discipline action, compared with white and Latino students. Youths of color are further overrepresented in school campus tickets, arrests, juvenile probation referrals and use of force incidents compared with their peers. And still, other intuitive and predictable sorts of inequities plague Texas’ criminal justice and child welfare systems.

The Office of Minority Health Statistics and Engagement is still needed in Texas. If the state doesn’t invest in proactive programs such as the OMHSE now, Texans will bear the cost later. For some the burden will be financial, but others — Texas mothers, students and families moving through the child welfare system —will experience the weight of lawmakers’ decision through dimmer futures and shorter lives.

Lauren Lluveras is a postdoctoral fellow in the Institute for Urban Policy Research and Analysis at The University of Texas at Austin.

Thursday, Jan. 4, 6:30 p.m. Book Launch: Another Way To Say Enter. Amanda Johnston will launch her collection of poetry, “Another Way to Say Enter.” Readings and performances will take place in the museum gallery followed by a small reception. This event is a collaboration between the Carver Museum, Torch Literary Arts and Amanda Johnston.

Thursday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m. Exhibit Opening Reception: “Juntos/ Together:” Black and Brown Activism in Austin, Texas from 1970 - 1983. This exhibition is co-sponsored by the FotoATX2018 Festival, The Museums and Cultural Programs Division of Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the Cultural Arts Division. An Exhibition Co-curated by Alan Garcia and Rachel E. Winston on view at the Carver Museum and Cultural Center through April 6, 2018.

Friday, Jan. 12, 11 a.m. MLK Day Film Screening. Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. Film Screening Schedule includes “King: Go Beyond The Dream to Discover the Man” at 11 a.m.; “Eyes on the Prize: Vol. 5, Power! (1966-1969)” and “The Promised Land (1967-1968) America’s Civil Rights Movement” at 12:40 p.m.; and “Selma” at 2:45 p.m. Free and open to the public.

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What Texans should watch out for in 2018

By Davis & Associates

The election campaigns of 2016 propelled many immigration topics to the forefront of current events. Setting limits on immigration, restricting access from specific countries, and searching out undocumented residents for deportation became key subjects.

A primary topic of interest regards the influx of immigrants across the United States-Mexico border. Citing the position that Mexican and other immigrants are stealing quality jobs away from hard-working Americans, the president and legislators are proposing initiatives to restrict the flow and potentially remove certain immigrants.

With the speed at which some legislative activity and anti-immigration mindsets are developing, current Texas residents who are not U.S. citizens or green card holders should consider seeking the advice of an experienced immigration lawyer to understand their rights.

Each immigration lawyer will be following developments in 2018 regarding three wellpublicized areas that potentially affect current and prospective clients. These are:

On Exhibit: “Figúralo.” Through January 13, Monday - Saturday.

Sam Z. Coronado Gallery. The ESB-MACC’s annual youth exhibit “Figúralo” marked its fourth year in 2017. From the beginning, we at the ESB-MACC declared that this exhibit would be the exhibit that would continue to promote the creative work of the young artist, showcasing their brilliant and colorful imagination. We hope that “Figúralo” will be a source of inspiration to those searching for a bit of creativity and/or deeply engaging in the arts.

“Where I Belong” by Lizzie Chen. Ballroom | On Display January 13 - June 29. Mixed-race families open their doors to share lived experiences of Asian American Pacific Islander youth in Austin.

The exhibit is co-curated by Lizzie Chen and the Asian American Resource Center. Lizzie Chen received a Masters in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. As a first generation Taiwanese American, she is interested in capturing the stories of marginalized communities through photojournalism, such as the immigrant community. Opening Reception on Jan. 13, noon - 4 p.m.

Teatro Vivo’s “Las Adventuras de Enoughie: Un Cuento de Kindness.” Jan. 19-Feb. 25, Thursday-Sunday. Auditorium.

Enoughie knows what it’s like to be different from other kids.

He’s got a blue furry face and magical antennae. So when his new friends Esme and Hector get into an argument over their differences, Enoughie uses his magical antennae to help them resolve their disagreement and learn to empathize, trust, work together, and believe in themselves. This bilingual puppet production will be presented in collaboration with Teatro Vivo, ZACH Theatre, Glass Half Full Theatre, and The Kindness Campaign. For show times and ticket purchase (youth $14, adults $16) please visit teatrovivo.org.

“Beyond Bollywood:” Indian Americans Shape the Nation. Foyer and Ballroom | Traveling exhibition opens Jan. 29. Explore the heritage, daily experience, and numerous contributions that Indian immigrants and Indian Americans have made in shaping the U.S. Enjoy complementary educational programming throughout the exhibition period provided by South Asian Austin Moms. The project was created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Museums and Cultural Programs Division is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute. The exhibition is presented in partnership between the Asian American Resource Center and South Asian Austin Moms.

1. Texas Senate Bill 4, also known as SB4, attempts to eliminate the presence of “sanctuary cities.”

2. Determining the future of “Dreamers’, young resident offspring of foreign-born parents who are not legally documented (DACA).

3. The current administration’s goal of completing construction of an oversized, 2,000-mile wall to prevent illegal passage through the Texas/Mexico border.

The Texas SB-4 bill, passed in 2017 by the Texas Legislature and subsequently challenged in District Courts, is intended to crack down on sanctuary cities that disregard the requests of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. Individuals responsible for allowing suspected undocumented immigration violators to go free without detaining them will be punished with fines, jail terms, or removal from their position.

The legislation allows police officers to request the immigration status of anyone stopped for any reason, including minor traffic stops or while reporting or giving witness testimony to a crime.

Objections to the bill pertain to detaining individuals without probable cause. And, many argue that crimes rates will rise as people fear consequences of reporting crimes to the police.

Another highly nationalized concern pertains to the legal status of individuals who were brought

to the United States as minors and are now adults. This category, known as DREAMERS, has been pondered for nearly two decades. In 2012, former President Obama recognized the plight of DREAMERS who have become entrenched in American society yet had no legal status. He issued a “deferred action” for these individuals to forestall deportation consideration for two years while Congress discussed a sensible solution.

DREAMERS are defined as: • Individuals between 15 and 30 years of age, with high school diplomas, are still in high school or working on a GED.

In support of a “rallying cry” of President Trump’s 2016 campaign, efforts are currently underway to create a massive, 2,000-mile wall to limit the potential for illegal crossings along the U.S. Mexico border. According to a report in the Connecticut Mirror, some onsite activities have already begun the process even before Congress has formally allocated funds to move forward.

The CT Report cites that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has already started construction across the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge along the Rio Grande in Texas using existing funds. Also, soil surveys are already underway in parts of Arizona and California.

• Having lived in the United States continuously for five years.

• Have not committed a felony or significant misdemeanors • At the time of this initiative, 1.8 million individuals fit into this category.

• During 2017, the Republican-led U.S. Senate proposed the DREAM Act that defined a 3-step process for candidates to become Conditional Permanent Residents (CPR) for up to eight years. These conditions are: • Entered the United States before age 18 • Arrived at least four years before enactment • Has not been convicted of an offense requiring a prison sentence of over 90 days • Has completed or is engaged in earning a high school level education TODO AUSTIN // JAN 2018 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 05

Clockwise from top: Finn Corbett, Amalia Diaz, Erica Wilkins, Sev Coursen, George Brainard

FOTOATX 2018

January 5 – February 3, 2018 A photography festival to celebrate our city’s unique character and voice through multiple photographic perspectives at the Emma S. BarrientosMexican American Cultural Center, the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center, the Austin Asian American Resource Center, the Brush Square Museums, the Dougherty Arts Center, the Elisabet Ney Museum, Austin Central Library, Lewis/Carnegie Gallery, McCallum High School, and the Old Bakery and Emporium.

This program is a collaboration between the Cultural Arts Division of the City’s Economic Development Department, the City’s Museum and Cultural Arts Division of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, The PrintAustin Festival and our other community partners.

Visit FOTOATX.ORG for details

Something for everyone

Upcoming event: “Bella and the Beast” Bella hristova, violin stravinsky’s Violin Concerto January 12 & 13, 8:00 p.m.

Long center’s Dell Hall violinist Bella Hristova performs the beastly igor Stravinsky violin concerto in D major. the evening will also include favorites by Joseph Haydn, J.S. Bach, gioachino Rossini, and Alan Hovhaness.

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(512) 476-6064 or austinsymphony.org All artists, programs, and dates subject to change.

Embrace world music and dance at Migrations Festival

By Lesly Reynaga

When 3rd Coast Tribal Dance Festival announced that 2016 would be its final year, Liora, director of fusion bellydance company Mayura Blue, daydreamed aloud to a group of friends: Wouldn’t it be amazing if Austin picked up where 3rd Coast left off? Before long she had gathered a group of like-minded dancers, and the Austin Tribal Collective was born.

all over the world to Austin, to share everything from the roots of folk dances to the latest dance trends. Its workshops are hosted by teachers with decades of experience with fresh ideas, and the festival features musicians who inspire movement and share their expertise in many different genres.

“We believe that exposure to new ideas and new cultures is necessary to foster understanding and tolerance in a community,” said Kathy Horelica, Migrations’ Treasurer and Venue Coordinator. “We hope that the Migrations World Music and Dance Festival can help make that happen by bringing talented performers from all over the country to Austin as well as giving Austinites a chance to connect with people from other communities.”

Austin Tribal Collective’s Migrations World Music and Dance Festival 2018 will be held January 1214. The festival is a three-day series of workshops focusing on dances from around the world that represents a movement of dance and evolution of styles, an idea of travel, growth and change. The concept is inspired by the way dance--bellydance in particular--was passed through families and communities, from culture to culture, sharing and morphing from initial forms into the myriad of fusions, styles, and shapes it takes now.

This year’s Migrations will take place at three locations: Palazzo Lavaca, Austin Scottish Rite Theater and Hampton Inn & Suites Austin - at The University/Capitol. The festival features dance styles such as Bellydance, Flamenco, Drum, Zills, Bollywood, Chinese Classical Dance, ATS and Classical Indian Dance. Workshop instructors include Agni Dance Company, April Rose, Blair Logan, Daniel Kelch, Devin Alfather, Draconis, Hassan Christopher, Jamie Lynn, Jerikaye, Jun Shen, Kimberly Larkspur, Liora, Natyalaya School of Dance and Silvia Salamanca. Migrations will also include two evening shows on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as three days and nights of shopping.

Migrations’ vision is to bring dance and music from

Migrations draws its name from the migratory

Free Week 2018

(formerly known as Levees), Otis the Destroyer, Megafauna, Hard Riffs and Rival Waves at Empire Control Room. Doors at 8:30 p.m. 18 and over.

Also, Jackie Venson with Mobley and Mélat will perform at Stubb’s on the same day, with doors at 8 p.m.

Red River Cultural District is vital to the heart of the Live Music Capital of the World. This month, Red River will put on a show like no other: Free Week 2018. From January 1 - 8, venues throughout the city will host free live music shows to celebrate the artists, venues and thriving creative culture in Austin. Do512 has a complete list of showcases, but here are some recommendations.

On Wednesday, Jan. 3, The Loyalty Firm and Pull String Events will host a two-stage show at Barracuda. The indoor stage will see The Human Circuit, Built By Snow, Residual Kid, my education and The Ghost Wolves; outdoors will be Chill Russell, Cartright, Honey and Salt and The Well.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and music begins at 8 p.m. 18 and over.

On Thursday, Jan. 4, Heard Presents Holy Knives 08 TODO AUSTIN // JAN 2018 // TODOAUSTIN.COM

“At first we were simply looking for an emblem that was uniquely Austin, so of course the bat colonies came to mind,” Horelica states. “But the more we thought about it the more our bats seemed to fit.”

Horelica explained that tribal fusion, a genre and philosophy of dance that grew out of Middle Eastern raks sharqui and commonly called bellydance, recognizes and celebrates the fact the modern raks sharqui involves influences from many different countries and cultures.

Tribal fusion carries on that tradition by starting with a foundation of raks sharqui and infusing it with elements of other musical and dance forms from all over the world. The Mexican freetail bats

represent this idea that different influences have traveled around the world and interacted to create richer, more fascinating music, dance forms and communities.

The Austin Tribal Collective is made up of Lauren “Liora” Murrah, Kathy Horelica, Blair Logan, Soubhi Kiewiet, Sarah Hinman, Cori Turner, Lisa Caraway, George Marmell, Melanie Gregory, Megan Clark and Julie Mathis Flanders.

“We are all women who have discovered this wonderful family of related art forms that allow us to connect and communicate with people from all over the world and all walks of life,” Horelica continued. “Now we want to share that experience with others by bringing in performers, musicians, and instructors from other places to instruct and entertain the people of Central Texas.”

‘Coco’ sets a high bar for accurate Latino representation in film

By René Castro

By now you’ve seen it, or if you didn’t, what on Earth were you doing? Regardless, I’m not here to convince you to see it. I’m here to talk about where we go from here and what we do Post-Coco.

On Monday, Jan. 1, Stubb’s will present an all-age show with Mayeux and Broussard with Jane Ellen Bryant and Fairbanks & the Lonesome Light, with doors at 8 p.m.

On Tuesday, Jan. 2, Covert Curiosity will present WHITE DOG, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, Think No Think and Billy King & The Bad Bad Bad at The Volstead. The show begins at 9 p.m. and it’s 21 and over.

patterns of the Mexican freetail bats that spend a good deal of the year and have become symbolic in Austin.

Emily Wolfe by Whitney Hensley

On Friday, Jan. 5, Mohawk Outdoors will showcase Los Coast, Emily Wolfe, Otis the Destroyer and Palo Duro. Doors open at 8 p.m. and music begins at 9 p.m. This in an all-ages show.

On Saturday, Jan. 6, Moving Panoramas, Löwin, Go Fever and Vonne will perform at Valhalla at 8:30 p.m. The show is 21 and over.

On Sunday, Jan. 7, Hotel Vegas hosts The Zoltars, Borzoi, Vertical Vice, Pleasure Venom and Uncle Jesus at 9 p.m.

I’m not trying to be funny, Post-Coco is something I’m genuinely going to refer to because this movie has made a mark on Mexican/Latino representation in American film. “Coco” isn’t a story that happens to have Mexicans in it, à la Diego Luna in the fairly recent “Rogue One.” This film is unapologetically Mexican, a box office hit where there are occasional whole sentences in Spanish with no subtitles.

The reviews are overwhelming positive all over the world. Domestically, the film was the fourth best debut over a Thanksgiving weekend, with 36 percent of ticket sales attributed to Hispanics. The movie has not only become Mexico’s highestgrossing movie ever, but it crushed box office records in China, making it Pixar’s most popular film in that country. This goes to prove that family values and remembering ancestors is a concept that resonates across cultures.

It’s rare that I defend a piece of art so vehemently, because there’s always something to improve. But any doubt about Coco’s narrative drive is washed away watching the film dubbed in Spanish. It’s palpable how much more comfortable the majority of the cast is in their native tongue. Songs sound more at home (“Recuérdame” is the cooler, older brother to “Remember Me”).

So, where do we go from here? Hopefully we showed some suits in production houses that the Latino population in this country is rising and we’re here to stay. We’re not going anywhere. We want stories we see ourselves and our families in and we’re willing to open our wallets for them.

To Do Música

By Liz Lopez

BROWN SOUND NEWS The Texas-based group Los Aztex is led by accordion whiz Joel Guzman and singer/ songwriter Sarah Fox. They perform locally and on the national stage. They have three Grammy nominations as well as two Grammy wins in 2004 and 2005. They are celebrating their new release, “Christmas Miracles,” and held their CD release party on Dec. 18 with special guests, including Joe Ely, Max Rios, Jake Andrews and more on the festive night. Proceeds from the event will go to the organization Hungry for Music out of Washington, DC. The new release features many of the songs composed by Sarah Fox “with the exception of other songs intertwined,” as stated by the singer/songwriter. “Christmas Miracles was 5 years in the making. It is very special,” she added in a recent statement.

Guzman and Fox were part of the biggest collection of Texas musicians who appeared on the Christmas movie “Angels Sing” that was released a few years ago. The film is highly recommended with many great stars.

It was during that time that Fox began writing songs for a studio project. Her vision morphed into a Christmas production after casting some of her favorite vocalists and musicians, many of whom have collaborated with Guzman and Fox throughout the years at live concerts and on studio recordings. Altogether, the unique sounds of over 35 nationally recognized artists and close friends have come together complementing each other with an amazing grace.

Guzman Fox Records present the longawaited “Christmas Miracles,” a labor of love that combines original works and three traditional classics. The songs are “Christmas Miracles” and “Christmas Baby,” sung by David Hidalgo and Sarah Fox; “Amor en la Navidad” and “When Angels Sing,” sung by Delbert McClinton and Sarah Fox; “The Christmas Guy” and “Merry Merry Christmas,” sung by Sarah Fox and Malford Milligan; “Hallelujah,” “Los Peces en el Rio,” “Conjunto Sleighride” and “Amazing Grace” sung by Sarah Fox, Carolyn Wonderland, Delbert McClinton, Ram Herrera, Jay Perez and Nakia.

For more information about the band, visit losaztex.com or their Facebook page.

--Austin-based band Los Coast announced on their Facebook page that they will be teaming up with New West Records in 2018 for upcoming album releases. Los Coast is the brainchild of Trey Privott and John Courtney

Alejandro Escovedo

and is completed by Megan Hartman on bass, Damien Llanes on drumkit, and Nat Wright on keys. They describe their music as “a punchy, psych-tinged, lyrical variety of rock and soul.” They were named one of Austin’s Best New Acts and Best Residencies by the Austin Chronicle. Learn more about them on the Facebook page.

--The 37th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival will be held May 16-20 at the historic Guadalupe Theater and Rosedale Park in San Antonio.

Visual artists and graphic designers are invited to create an entry for the festival poster contest. The winning entry will be used as the primary marketing image for the festival and will appear on promotional materials.

There are multiple categories and prizes.

The full contest guidelines are available online, including the entry fee, theme and specifications at www.guadalupeculturalarts. org. Deadline is January 26 by 5 p.m.

--The Skylark Lounge has extended the Monday night residency of Nakia and the

Saxophonist Fred Soto

Blues Grifters into January. Show starts at 8 p.m. with no cover, but cash for tips are appreciated. “We’re so grateful to Mary and Johnny for giving us a place to show off these tunes and let us do our thang and of course to the folks who’ve been showing up each week dancing and getting down with us,” Nakia shares.

--Young Mia Garcia has announced the release of her album, “La Reina Del Mundo.”

“First of all we thank God, our family, fans and supporters for being by our side these past 2 years,” she states. The album is now available on CD Baby. A few days prior to the release, the single “Borriquito Como Tu” was released from her freshman album, which was arranged and produced by Grammy Award winning producer James Galvez with featured artist David L. Garza. This song is on all digital media outlets.

--The weekly Sunday Tardeadas that have been hosted by Rancho Alegre Radio through 2017 have been changed to the first Sunday of the month. Conjunto Cats from Seguin will kick off the series on Jan. 7 at the One-2-One Bar, 1509 South Lamar. For more information, visit ranchoalegreradio.org.

--On Wednesday, Dec. 20, the music industry lost a very talented saxophone player and friend to many around the country. Fred Soto, member of the legendary band Latin Breed, based out of San Antonio, and Big Band Tejano from Austin will be missed for his talent, humor and deep friendships established for decades with members of the music industry. The Austin Latino Music Association recognized Fred Soto with the “Idolos del Barrio” award for his extensive career in music. He was inducted into the Tejano Roots Hall Of Fame Museum most recently and is only two of multiple awards and recognitions bestowed on the talented artist.

R E C O M M E N D E D

S H O W S

Bidi Bidi Banda, the Austin-based Selena tribute band, returns to the stage this month with a 21+ show that features Boca Abajo as their special guest. Doors 8:30 p.m., show 9:30 p.m.- 2 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27 at One-2-One Bar. $10 cover.

--A-Town GetDown takes their funky dance party for two sets of funk at the ABGB. Band Members are Casey Byars, Jordan Caulfield, Quincy Cooper, Damon Garcia, Greg Goldsmith, John Voss. Friday, Jan. 26 with first set at 9:15 p.m. and second set at 10:30 p.m. This is a free show. 1305 W. Oltorf --The Alejandro Escovedo Band’s Think About the Link Tour is presented by Prevent Cancer Foundation, performing “A Man Under the Influence” in its entirety with special guests.

Alejandro Escovedo headlines the 12-city tour, with his annual tradition of starting out a new year with an ACL Live concert.

Alejandro will perform his 2001 album “A Man Under the Influence” in its entirety, and play a second set with many special guests. Chris Stamey, the North Carolina luminary who produced that album, will serve as musical director. The band will include noted pedal steel and electric guitarist Eric Heywood, guitarist Mitch Easter, plus drummer Hector Munoz, bassist Mike Luzecky, violinist Warren Hood, cellist Brian Standefer and Tosca String Quartet viola player Ames Asbell, along with backing singers, a percussion section and other special guests. The show is in some aspects an outgrowth of a concert Escovedo performed in North Carolina last month as part of the 20th-anniversary celebration for the Yep Roc record label.

Saturday, Jan. 13. Doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m. ACL Live, 310 W Willie Nelson Blvd. Tickets ranging between $28 - $42 are available at ticketfly.com.

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CELEBRATING

DIVERSITY

BRIDGE2BRIDGE From Montopolis Bridge to 360 Bridge, Everything Austin

REPUBLIC DAY OF INDIA

As six voices fill the air with transcendent music, a lone female dancer beats staccato rhythms with her feet.

Brilliant, determined, defiant, this is Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a 17th century Mexican icon. A’lante Flamenco brings Juana’s world to life through fiery Flamenco music and dance, with the Texas Early Music Project. Juana: First (I) Dream runs Jan. 5-14 in Rollins Studio Theatre. thelongcenter.org.

Austin MLK Celebration Austin Area Heritage Council (AAHC) honors Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy with an uplifting program highlighting diversity and multiculturalism in the capital city. The schedule includes an oratory competition, MLK youth scholarship awards, a day of service and a large MLK Day march and festival.

The Annual Community March kicks-off on Monday, Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. at the MLK Statue on the University of Texas campus.

It then heads to the south steps of the State Capitol for a short program and continues to Huston-Tillotson University for more activities.

Businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals are invited to march and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy.

The MLK Community Festival kicks off when marchers reach HTU and runs until 3 p.m. It will include vendors and local music acts.

AAHC, in collaboration with Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Google Fiber and Child, Inc., will host the 13th Annual MLK Oratory Competition on Thursday, Jan. 11 at St. James’ Episcopal Church, located at 1941 Webberville Road, at 6:30 p.m.

Oratory Finalists will compete in a five-minute speech based on the theme, “As we continue with the legacy of Dr. King and if he were alive today, what dream would you personally discuss with him to promote and deliver to the people of the world in hopes of creating a better place for everyone to live in?” These inspiring young speakers will compete by delivering personally written speeches.

The MLK Youth Scholarship Awards Program runs from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13. The Awards were created to recognize youth in the Austin community for their outstanding commitment and achievement, as well as inspire the next generation of healthcare workers.

Finally, on Saturday, Jan. 16, United Way for Greater Austin and Hands on Central Texas invite the public to celebrate Dr. King with a day of service. Hundreds of volunteers come together to complete community improvement projects throughout Austin.

FotoATX is a new photography festival launching in January. FotoATX, which runs Jan. 5-Feb. 3, will inspire locals and tourists alike to experience the city’s unique character and voice through multiple photographic perspectives in sites all over town. The program was developed to showcase the abundance of talent in Austin and to promote the city as a vibrant destination for visual arts fans. austintexas.gov.

TODO Arts GaelStorm photo

Celebrate the brilliance of David Bowie this month. DJ Sue will play Bowie music with 60s and 70s glitz and glam at Drinks Lounge, Saturday, Jan. 6, 9 p.m. $5. 80’s Nite Special: A Very Special Tribute to David Bowie is Sunday, Jan. 7, 9:30 p.m. at Elysium. $3. Splice Records’ annual Bowie Elvis Fest on Friday, Jan. 14, 9 p.m. at The Continental Club with three bands, costumes, games and burlesque. $15.

The Austin Symphony starts the New Year with a bang.

The talented and beautiful Bella Hristova will perform the beastly Stravinsky Violin Concerto in D Major (hence the name “Bella and the Beast”). The night will also have the contemporaries give nods to the greats of the Baroque and Classical Era including Rossini, Bach, Stravinsky, Hovhaness and Haydn. Jan. 12-13 in Dell Hall. austinsymphony.org The City Theatre Company presents Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya Jan. 12 - Feb. 4. The play is the writer’s most revered work of love, hope, and loss, and it’s both a comedy and tragedy. The characters are all struggling to find a life of meaning and happiness. Starring Beau Paul, Brianna Ripkowski, Julia Salas, Matt Flynn, Jo Rake, Mike Dellins, Laura King, Andrew Fisher and Joe Kelley. Directed by guest director Rod Mechem. citytheatreaustin.org.

Experience a night filled with determined local talent at Mr. Catfish & More’s Open Mic Showcase. Relax and enjoy an evening of excellent live entertainment and Eastside economic empowerment. Support music and local entrepreneurs alike as small business vendors in the community market feature holistic health care/beauty products, apparel, art, jewelry and more. Tuesday, Jan. 16, 6 p.m. $5 Charles Sancho Ignatius was born on a slave ship but was never a slave; was immortalized by the painter Thomas Gainsborough, and in 1774 became the first BritishAfrican to cast a vote. In this endlessly revealing, often funny one-man show, celebrated Royal Shakespeare Company actor Paterson Joseph inhabits the life in Sancho: An Act of Remembrance. Jan. 25-26 at McCullough Theatre. texasperformingarts.org

On Saturday Jan. 27, the Indian American Coalition of Texas (IACT) will celebrate the 69th Republic Day of India by hosting its fifth annual commemorative banquet. The event features the opportunity to meet local and national civic leaders, hear from leading voices on important topics relating to politics and civic engagement, and connect with friends and the community over drinks and a delicious Indian dinner.

Republic Day, first observed on Jan. 26, 1950, is the day that the Indian Constitution took effect in the newly independent India. IACT’s Republic Day Banquet is open to the public and will be attended by local leaders including city and state officials. The event celebrates the common democracy that links India and the U.S. while highlighting IACT’s work driving civic engagement.

This year’s event will feature a classic Indian dinner, a recap of IACT’s activities, cultural performances, and a keynote address by Ambassador Vinai Thumalapally and chief guest Sonal Shah. Thumalapally is the first Indian American ambassador in U.S. history. He came to America in 1974 and attended Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he spent a summer as Barack Obama’s roommate. Shah is an American economist and public official who served in Obama’s White House.

IACT will also highlight its scholarship program that cultivates young leaders by placing them in internships at legislative and government offices. This program is jointly conducted with the Asian Pacific Islander Public Affairs Association.

The scholarship program advances IACT’s core mission of increased civic participation through education, engagement and empowerment. To fund the scholarships, IACT offers local businesses and professionals the opportunity to sponsor this year’s banquet.

The event will be held at the Asian American Resource Center. Tickets available at iactaustin.org/sponsorstickets and more info about IACT and the event at www. iactaustin.org.

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LONG CENTER

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JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ +Bedouine Media Sponsor

CARLOS PIÑANA In Partnership with Austin Classical Guitar

8:00pm, Dell Hall

8:00pm, Dell Hall

GOLDEN DRAGON ACROBATS 3:00pm, Dell Hall

FIND YOUR SEAT AT THESE AMAZING LONG CENTER PERFORMANCES thelongcenter.org