Fundraiser

On Friday, October 9^th, Rodrigo and I supported, volunteered at and attended a fundraiser for a project of Homies Unidos.  The event which took place at Salon Acapulco in the northern area of South Central Los Angeles was an important community event put on by Homies Unidos and El Comite de Mujeres Patricia Marin.   The event was a billed as a mini concert in support of incarcerated women and their children in E Salvador and featured local community performers, including mainly hip hop acts of young activist/artists.  Rodrigo volunteered doing various things including set up, signage, and helping in the kitchen.  I shared some poetry as well as set up a vending booth regarding other causes and related issues and creations.

While unloading outside, cop cars were messing with some young gang members a few businesses down on the corner.  First thing I thought of was how messed up it was that here we are at a Homies Unidos event and what if some of the homies got caught up or picked up by the cops.   It was a reality check for me and oddly enough it seemed that everyone kept their distance from that area and it wasn’t anyone from Homies that were being questioned.   

The event had a smaller turnout then expected and for the large space that it was.  Still there were members of the Homies Unidos community there to support and especially to come together in a positive space to commune and convene at this important transitional time for the organization.

While there Rodrigo and I met key members of Homies Unidos as well as the larger community of supporters including past employees, current homies and others who have worked and supported Homies Unidos through the years.  It was an important event to be a part of on many levels and I feel that working with Homies Unidos at this key time in their history as an organization (with their director, Alex Sanchez being jailed on trumped up charges) is very important, supportive and potentially life changing for both Rodrigo and I’s worldview and work with community based organizations and political and social justice causes. 

      

Police harrassing youth near the Homies Unidos event.

Aztec dance opened the event with a blessing.