connection

Rising Above It All

May 13, 2017 Finding The Good

I came upon this Denver Post article about Gavin Arneson a senior at Clear Creek High School while browsing on Facebook this morning. Despite a difficult and chaotic childhood, not to mention the recent loss of his father, Gavin has conquered these multiple challenges with determination and resilience and the support of a caring community.  He graduates school valedictorian this spring, serves as president of Clear Creek’s student council and honor society, was awarded the National Honor Society’s annual $20,000 scholarship (the only one in the country) and has received a four-year, full tuition scholarship to study nursing at New York University.  He is an impressive young man.

I don’t know Gavin or the community members that stepped up to help him succeed, but I wanted to share my appreciation of this story.  Thank you all for providing a wonderful example of how spirit, love, and compassion can make this world a better place.  Kudos to you all!

Quote by Charles de Lint pm sunflower background

Mestizo Futures

October 10, 2016 Finding The Good Musings

My daughters and I attended an inspiring Hispanic Heritage Month presentation at our local library on Saturday.  The presenters were two local creative activists – Eutimia Cruz Montoya and Adrian Molina, a.k.a. Molina Speaks.  Montoya is “lineage-raised contemporary curandera (spiritual healer), herbalist, licensed acupuncturist, Real Foods Activist, and Food Systems Educator” — a “modern day medicine woman”.  Molina “describes himself as a Chicano/Latino/Indigenous/Mestizo Futurist” who uses poetry and hip hop lyrics to share the voice of diverse communities and a connection to the natural world.  These two powerful young artists expressed a strong love of humanity, family and the connectivity of all peoples in both traditional and contemporary stories, songs, and dances.  My daughters and I enjoyed the presentation immensely!  If you have an opportunity to experience the work of either of these individuals, I strongly recommend it!

One term that caught my attention was the positive claiming of the word “mestizo” — which both referred to as persons of mixed ethnic heritage, often both Indigenous and European.  Both my husband who is Cherokee and mostly German and my daughters (adopted through foster care) who are Mexican and Caucasian could claim this term to describe themselves.  Our country is trending toward this demographic and I believe it is a beautiful progression.  Montoya and Molina spoke of the importance of celebrating all heritages and moving toward a more inclusive future where all individuals are equally loved and respected.  That would be a beautiful world indeed.