Damani + Cameron Antonio

Hijo + Great Nephew

Just thinking

about new life

New Energy

moving forward

no matter how hard

how easy

distracting

uncomfortable

glorious

I met Beth Nixon's

daughter today

Ida, 9months old

piercing + vibrant

blue eyes

bundled up

and strapped

to Mama Beth's back

ready to face

the cold Broad street

whooshy winds and icy air

New life

makes me happy

A baby

a new poem

a new smile on

Damani's face

Marissa's brite

dark brown eyes

hopefull

as she stares

at Cameron's

new face

I got to

remember

that every day

brings a new chance

for new life

 

Juarez, Mexico

October 3, 2009

by Creative Writing Workshop Participants

and Julia Lopez

Siento la sensacion
Amor libre
enfrente de las rejas
Poder libre
sin miedo
sin prejuicio

Mi vecino es
mi hermana
mi hija mi abuelito
la sierra que nos vela
nuestra madre
que nos cuida

Siento la sensacion;
Ahora, Papa es un amigo
caminando siguiendo una linea derecha
empujando la arena
con los dedos de sus pies
caminando derecho,
desde un lado del Arroyo al otro

No hay entrada
ni salida
todo es abierto

Paso por el camino
entrando sin miendo
saliendo con seguridad
saludo a mi vecino
veo su sonrisa
su piel color de canela
color de la tierra morada

Paso por el camino
veo la fuerza de su casa
pedazos de madera
una rompecabeza de cemento
cubierta en miel y chiles
y el olor de ayer

Veo el carino de su hijo
el abrazo de las flores
un regalo de rayas de luz
un corazon partido
por el agua hambriento
y las letras de un poema
volando hacia el cielo

Siento la sensacion;
miles de mananas
sonidos de paz
un parque alumbrado
calles pavimentadas
mis sobrinas
jugando futbol
las kermeses y su musica,
Kioskos, y dulce chipotle en el aire
veo a nuestros vecinos
vigilando la comunidad
con amor y tranquilidad

Siento la sensacion;
los artistas cantando
el himno de la libertad
del Arroyo del Indio
hacienda muecas
a lo imposible

On Saturday, November 14th
I became an Alumni of the
2009 Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute!
I started as a NELI Fellow in April. One of the most rewarding parts of the program was the incredible network of support of NELI participants and Julia's working group the "VIPS". The non-profit community is very diverse and unique. I appreciate the opportunity to share the NELI experience with many of its most dedicated leadership!

I am up doing Centro closing work because I do not have internet access at the job.

These are the last few days. I will soon, no longer be, an Executive Director. I will need to change the title of this blog or create a new one? I don't know-its been weird. 

This is how we close it...
On The Streets!









Centro Pedro Claver Youth
reflect on their summer 2009
experiences working the
"Art, Change and Entrepreneurship'program.
Centro staff and board join in acknowledging
the youth participants great work
and future plans.

It is all bitter sweet-30 years of amazing
youth leadership,
activism,
revolution,
and lots of love!

what happens next?

CPC Youth-Summer 2009
30th Anniversary









57 days
turmoil + revelation
disillusion + a clear blue sky
a newborn brown baby
love immediate
without conditions
rainstorm + heatwave
first pair of
apple bottom
jeans
the food line grows
doors close
Monday August 31
the Aloe
pushed itself out
the pot is too small
work
work
work
never ends
will stop
the door opens
I dream t holding
Marilyn's Monroe's face
telling her
everythings gonna
be alright
I dream t of
porcelain rabbits
6 feet tall
in disney ballgowns
ears erect
Ricky holds my face
and tells me
everythings gonna be
alright
I dream t of
giant bald eagles
flying
by my window
whoooosh...
Magda treats
mani cure pedi cure
she holds my feet
and tells me
everthings
gonna be alright
whoooosh...
there is a drunk man
in Denver
unemployed
mugged by 8
black men
the day before
she arrives
his fairy tale
I hold my
sisters hand
facing east
I sing to her
everthingsgonnabeallright
the door opens
Monday August 31
walking through
Mami is smiling
holding the baby
in front of the
christmas tree
singing
I know you are a
good girl
and everything
is
gonna
be
alright

I am so small
I am almost invisible
how can I contain this much love
just think of your eyes
they are small but see such magnificence
paraphrased poem by Rumi




I have stepped back
off the edge
read my
free preview copy
stress management
self-care handbook
Michelle shares her lessons
from NALAC
leadership institute
taking control
as an individual artist
decide to become conscious
what I want to do
and the work I have to do
to do it
individual mission
individual vision
identify a personal board
who do I ask
that would care if
I didn't exist!
Zoia gave me a journal
from Belize
It will contain
my individual
one year plan