TODO Austin December 2013

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Volume V / December 2013

Visit our new website!www.todoaustin.com

Carolina Velez, Juan Martinez, Angela salas, Amit Motwani, darling Cumana, derek Bonyuet, desiree Mata, Joy scott, Casie Bishop (L-R). | Photo by Diana Sanchez

Holiday Harmony in ATX

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

TACO BAr

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!!!

december Line-up ouTdoor ShowS are “weaTher PermiTTing”- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Sun 12/1 The recouPeraTorS (3:00)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - wed 12/4 The LarrY monroe radio Show (6:00)Thu 12/5 LoS fLameS (6:30)fri 12/6 The bob fuenTeS Show (6:30)SaT 12/7 TrenT Turner (2:30) & eL TuLe’ (6:30)Sun 12/8 bLue miST (3:00)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - wed 12/11 The LarrY monroe radio Show (6:00)Thu 12/12 bonneViLLe counTY PineboX (6:30)fri 12/13 The bob fuenTeS Show (6:30)SaT 12/14 aL dreSSen (2:20) & eVe monSeeS (6:30)Sun 12/15 miTch webb & The SwindLeS (3:00)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - wed 12/18 The LarrY monroe radio Show 6:00)Thu 12/19 naTaLie Zoe (6:30)fri 12/20 The bob fuenTeS Show (6:30)SaT 12/21 LoS TiPicoS de cuba (2:30) & The banZai ProJecT (6:30)Sun 12/22 The michaeL guerra band (3:00)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Thu 12/26 The LooSe wheeLS (6:30)fri 12/27 The bob fuenTeS Show (6:30)SaT 12/28 PonTY bone (2:30) & Son de reY (6:30)

Volume V, number 8PUBLIsHeR/edITOR // Gavin Lance [email protected]

ART dIReCTOR // Dave McClinton // dmdesigninc.com

AssOCIATe edITORs // Evelyn C. Castillo, Katie Walsh, Erica Stall Wiggins

senIOR edITORs // Lobo Corona, Sonia Kotecha, Diana Sanchez, Lesley Varghese, Yvonne Lim Wilson

COnTRIBUTInG edITORs // Güner Arslan, Anthony Garcia, Mia Garcia, Harish Kotecha, Alexandra M. Landeros, Callie Langford, Cristina Parker, Monica Peña, Paul Saldaña, Blake Shanley

Contributing Writers/Photographers/Artists // Mohammad Al-Bedaiwi, Skylar Bonilla, Adriana Cadena, Roy Casagranda, Cindy Casares, Priscilla Cortez, Ruben Cubillos, Nora De LaRosa, Rose Di Grazia, Julian Fernandez, Christian Gonzalez, Laura Donnelly Gonzalez, Harmony Eichsteadt, Layla Fry, Jessica Garza Cherry, Mark Guerra, Mari Hernandez, Ryan Hutchison, Yadira Izquierdo, Korina Jaimes, Chaille Jolink, Ryan Jordan, Ramey Ko, Heather Lee, Julia Lee, Liz Lopez, Otis Lopez, David Marks, JoJo Marion, Caitlin Moore, Cristina Parker, Preya Patel, Esther Reyes, Marion Sanchez, Hani Saleh, Dani Slabaugh, Corey Tabor, Blanca Valencia, Kristina Vallejo, Kuetzpalin Vasquez, Joseph P.A. Villescas, Bowen Wilder

Web Design // Mike Hernandez

Cover // Photo by Diana Sanchez

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:[email protected], 512.538.4115

TOdOAustin.com is a vibrant new

website site providing multimedia

features, the print journal content,

enhanced event l istings, special

creative features and staff and

community-led blogs, with l inks

to archived past printed issues,

augmenting social media networks

in Austin’s multicultural community.

HABLA Austin

City bans slaughtering on urban farmsBy Susana Almanza

On November 21, Mayor Lee Leffingwell made the distinction between urban farms and outdoor entertainment. The Mayor stated that outdoor entertainment was not an urban farm use. The Austin City Council agreed in passing a new ordinance. Mayor Leffingwell led the effort to end the slaughtering of animals in single family zoning. Urban farmers now realize that they must respect low-income people of color neighborhoods.

I want to give blessings to the thousands of people who supported protecting the integrity of East Austin low income working class and communities of color. Your message was loud and clear. We will no longer allow the slaughtering of animals in residential neighborhoods. Special events will require a Temporary Use Permit with a limit of six per year. Unfortunately, the Council continues to allow the commercialization of single family homes, whether through short term rentals, urban farms, possibly stealth dorms and the rezoning of single family land to commercial services mix use. We have to continue to protect single family zoning, which is definitely under attack.

Farm advocates celebrate policy wins By Austin Urban Farms

The folks that testified for urban farms on November 21 were a diverse group of Austinites and urban farm advocates, farmers

like Paula Foore of Springdale Farm, East Austin neighbor Julian Limon Fernandez and his conjunto band Los Texas Wranglers, renowned food writer Ellen Sweets, “The Natural Gardener,” John Dromgoole, and many more neighbors, students and members of the Austin culinary and food community, like chef Paul Qui.Some of the policy wins from the ordinance passing include: urban farms are continuing to be permitted in every zoning district in Austin; market gardens are legal whereas before the November 21 decision, it was illegal for residents with less than one acre to grow and sell on their property. This is a win for small-scale food producers; urban farms can sell third-party goods (like milk, cheese, and protein) on their farm (using up to 20 percent of retail space), and the ordinance makes it legal to sell cottage foods from urban farms; urban farms can now have up to two dwelling units on their property.

sIMOne TALMA FLOWeRs TO LeAd iACTInterfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT), one of the most

pervasive and active ecumenical organization in the area, announced the selection of Simone Talma Flowers as its new Executive Director. “This has always been my passion – building bridges between faith communities in Austin and Central Texas,” Talma Flowers said. “It’s an exciting time.”

iACT brings together more than 100 faith communities in the Austin area. “She genuinely cares about helping those in need and

is dedicated to interfaith connections and the diverse identity of Austin,” said Rabbi Neil F. Blumofe, Senior Rabbi at Congregation Agudas Achim.

AndeRsOn VILLAGe BRInGs neW AFFORdABLe HOUsInG TO eAsT 12TH sT.Community leaders and City of Austin officials celebrated November 23’s ribbon-cutting for Anderson Village, a 24-unit apartment complex at 3101 E. 12th St. The $2.8 million project which broke ground earlier this year, demonstrates a commitment to affordable housing and a successful collaboration between the Anderson Community Development Corp. and the Austin Housing Finance Corp., the City’s affordable housing arm. Most of the units are set aside for residents earning at or below federal guidelines for 60 percent median family income, which equates to less than $43,920 annually for a family of four.

Greater Austin is most economically segregated city in the U.s.

According to the 2013 Travis County fair housing study, Greater Austin is the most economically segregated city in the United States. These figures are based on 2012 Pew Research Center data.

According to 2010 American Community Survey data, 66,564 of 193,801 lower-income households across the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos region lived in majority lower-income neighborhoods, a share of 34.3 percent. A similar share of the region’s 121,632 upper-income households, 42,850, or 35.2 percent, lived in upper-income neighborhoods. Therefore, the RISI score for the region in 2010 was 69.5.

The score of 69.5 defines Greater Austin as more economically segregated than any other metropolitan region for which Pew published RISI calculations. “Quantitative validation from The Pew Center for what we have experienced for decades,” said Austin community leader, Kathy Vale.

It is not without context, as the Pew Center noted that three Texas metropolitan areas, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, have the nation’s highest degrees of segregated upper-income households.

Respectively in those areas, 25 percent, 24 percent and 23 percent of upper-income households live in predominantly upper-income areas. Of the 10 largest metro areas in the United States by number of households, Houston and Dallas have the highest overall RISI scores (60 and 61), topping New York and Los Angeles. Pew researchers connect the high RISI scores in Texas to the phenomenal population expansion in its metropolitan areas, reflecting influxes of households at both ends of the income scale: lower-wage immigrant families as well as skilled professionals.

This observation is consistent with the gentrification patterns reported in and beyond Travis County by AI stakeholders. The study can be found at http://www.co.travis.tx.us/health_human_services/cdbg/pdfs/20130927-draft-housing-rpt.pdf

TODO AUSTin // Dec 2013 // TODOAUSTin.cOm 03

Residential Segregation Comparisons Chart

by Metropolitan Region,2010 RISI

1. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 69.52. San Antonio-New Braunfels 633. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown 614. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington 605. New York-Northern New Jersey 576. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield 557. Detroit-Warren-Livonia 548. Columbus 539. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana 519. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington 51

11. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach 4912. Baltimore-Towson 4812. Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale 4814. Kansas City 4714. Cincinnati-Middletown 4714. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 4717. Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor 4617. National 46

Source: Fry, richard and Taylor, Paul. “The rise of residential Segregation by Income.” Pew Social and Demographic Trends, Pew research center. released August 1, 2012. Local calculations by M&L.

City Council discusses urban farms. (Photo by Austinurbanfarms.org)

A Community Conversation about Racism is Long Overdue in AustinBy Paul Saldaña

On November 21 at the Austin City Council meeting, I had the distinct honor and privilege to stand with Latino East Austin community leaders like Susana Almanza, Daniel Llanes, Angelia Noyola, Gilbert Rivera, Jane Rivera, Dave Cortez, Librado Almanza, Carmen Llanes Pulido, Peggy Vasquez, Anita Quintanilla, and Rosa Santis in an effort to preserve and protect single family zoned land in the Govalle Johnston Terrace neighborhood planning area over the controversial Urban Farm Ordinance.

On a Council vote of 6-1 with Councilmember Mike Martinez voting no, slaughtering, processing and composting of animals for commercial purposes is now prohibited on single family zoned properties.

While the vote was favorable for the Govalle Johnston Terrace neighborhood, the forum created the opportunity to further address the ongoing challenges associated with the gentrification of East Austin, the need to protect, preserve and sustain affordable housing opportunities and the issue of racism against communities of color. The tension in the Council Chambers was extremely intense; divided not by the green colored urban farm t-shirts, but by the color of skin.

At times, the testimony was uncomfortable, insulting, disrespectful and stereo typical; making a mockery of our Latino cultural values. Whether it was the seven minute video with “El Rancho Grande” type background music with subtitled interviews of minority senior citizens and people of color who were clearly prompted to offer opinions perceived to favor the urban farms; the parade of immigrant farm workers forced to wear green t-shirts; and/or the musical parody performance/testimony of a well-known conjunto group singing about how they love the little “burritos” on the urban farms; clearly, a community conversation about racism is long overdue.

The East Austin neighborhood planning process was initiated in the late 1990s as a mechanism and tool to address neighborhood and community concerns regarding the intrusive encroachment of unwanted limited industrial and commercial uses in proximity to single family homes and neighborhoods created by the infamous 1928 Master Plan. The East Austin Overlay

idea was envisioned as the opportunity for Eastside neighborhoods to be empowered and to determine their own land-use destiny by completing neighborhood plans that, presumably, would favor residential and neighborhoods. When the Govalle Johnston Terrace community went through the neighborhood planning process and adopted their Neighborhood Plan and Future Land Use Map (FLUM) in 2003, the farms and/or land in question were deemed as an opportunity to sustain the existing single family uses. The torturous evolution put forward by the Govalle Johnston Terrace community should be kept in perspective, respected and protected.

Concern, and anger, over gentrification has grown in communities across the country and East Austin as housing rental and sales prices have soared. Decreases in affordable housing units have accompanied the higher prices in many places, and as a result resident displacement from neighborhoods long ignored that now attract higher-income households.

Increased housing prices themselves are not a problem per se. It is when costs increase in predominantly lower-income neighborhoods where residents’ incomes do not keep pace that displacement can occur. As housing prices increase, lower-income households are at risk of being pushed out because of the prohibitive costs and limited household earnings. It is this geographic component, along with restricted economic opportunities, that makes gentrification-related displacement a problem.

Balancing the revitalization of neighborhoods while reducing the risk of displacement of low-income families poses a challenge for city officials and housing practitioners.

City governmental involvement and leadership is vital to addressing affordable housing needs regardless of the stage of gentrification. Local government plays a key role in creating regulatory policies that support and remove barriers to housing development, providing project financing or technical support, and sending a message that affordable housing is an important component of the broader community.

Attentive management of regulations and city programs can help create opportunities to affect neighborhood revitalization/gentrification and displacement, or hinder them. If a city does not proactively support the provision of affordable housing and become involved in efforts to manage gentrification, it will be that much more difficult for the community to do so.

Juarez Lincoln, the original Mexican American Cultural Center and the protest by Mexican-American/Chicano Community in the 1980s to save the building, center and Los Elementos mural.Photo courtesy of Gilbert Rivera.

04 TODO AUSTin // Dec 2013 // TODOAUSTin.cOm

Bishop Vásquez asks for volunteersBy christian Gonzalez

Bishop Joe S. Vásquez is asking Central Texas Catholics, especially service organizations, to volunteer to assist victims of the Halloween flood in Central Texas.

“As Catholics, we need to reach out and assist those in our community whose lives have been disrupted by this natural disaster. Please consider volunteering your time to help our brothers and sisters. I also ask you to join me in prayer for all those affected by the flooding,” said Vásquez. “This is a perfect service opportunity and a chance to do corporal works of mercy, by service groups, youth groups, families, Knights of Columbus, campus ministries, and individuals. I invite everyone to help.”

Tasks include cleaning mud, furniture, carpeting and personal items out of homes. Sheetrock and other construction materials need to be removed and placed on the curb for city pick-up.

Volunteers are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing for the work, including closed-toe shoes. Please bring gloves, flat shovels and utility knives. Minimum age is 12 (with an adult) or 18. Signups are being coordinated through www.handsoncentraltexas.org.

Individuals or group leaders will have to register and create a login to use the website. After that, select a date and then an individual or entire team can be signed up at once. Open dates range from now through December 22.

It is recommended that, if possible, groups from parishes wear shirts that identify them as being part of a Catholic organization.

AIsd student transfer policy for the privilegedBy Paul Saldaña

Like Austin Independent School District, a November 25 article in the Austin American-Statesman about student transfers failed to acknowledge that AISD’s transfer policy does not include AISD transportation for students seeking a transfer to another campus. Hence, the ongoing number of schools under capacity and under-utilized in East Austin.

The City of Austin and AISD continue to

operate incongruent policies: the City states everything east of IH-35 is our desired development zone, yet affluent families with children moving into East Austin use the transfer policy as their trump card to send their children to other schools. The lack of guaranteed AISD transportation is not a problem for these affluent families. This also means that our low-socio-economic students and families must seek public transportation and/or walk to potential new schools, often at least a two hour commute before and after school.

Typically, low-income families get stuck in historically low performing schools. We have two AISD school districts, one east and one west.

Carver Photog WorkshopThe George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center presents “A Smile On My Face,” a free 10-week black and white photographic workshop for students ages 11-19. Participants will master the fundamentals of photography, including but not limited to operation of a 35mm SLR camera, composition, storytelling and dark room use.

Space is limited and enrollment is taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrollment for spring sessions starts December 7. Orientation will be held Saturday, January 11, from 1-3 p.m. and classes will start the week of January 13 and run through March 29 (no classes spring break week). Classes will meet once a week with an exhibit on Saturday, April 26. For more info call (512) 974-4926.


MACC Youth Art exhibitThe Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center presents “Celebrating the Holidays,” a youth and teen art exhibit on Wednesday, December 11, at 6 p.m. in the Community Gallery. Admission is free.

“El Colectivo” is an exhibit of art and culture by ESB-MACC students and education staff. The exhibit celebrates ESB-MACC youth and adult programs, exposing students to the cultural arts and acts as one of the most important service’s the Center provides for Austin. The exhibit runs through January 25, 2014.

The evening will include musical performances by the Austin Community Steelband, the Tiarra Girls and ESB-MACC Youth Guitar Class. An awards ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. Free parking is available. For more info see www.maccaustin.org.

Musicians Perform in support of Women at Taylor detention CenterBy cristina Parker

Austin-based musicians Kiko Villamizar, Son Armado, and Las Krudas came together for a special performance outside of the T. Don Hutto immigrant detention center in Taylor on Sunday, December 1. The musicians staged a musical performance in solidarity with the 500+ women who are currently detained at the facility. Advocates, allies, and members of human rights groups from Austin participated in a caravan to Taylor to show their support for these immigrant women.

“The women detained at Hutto have been separated from their families and struggle tremendously because of this separation, particularly during the holiday season,” said Rocío Villalobos of the immigrant rights coalition Texans United for Families (TUFF). “The majority of the women we visit at Hutto are asylum-seekers who are fleeing some form of violence in their countries of origin. The women have survived harrowing ordeals and the act of being detained

exacerbates the trauma they have already experienced.”

The artists performing at this special show were all Spanish-language musicians that represent various musical genres, from hip-hop to son jarocho. “I want to let the women at Hutto know that they are not alone,” stated musician Kiko Villamizar. “Music was a kind of medicine that saved my life and I hope it can serve a similar purpose for the women being unjustly held in detention.”

The T. Don Hutto Detention Center in Taylor was originally constructed as a medium-security prison that was later transformed into a for-profit detention center for immigrant families. After years of protests and litigation, the campaign to end family detention at Hutto was successful. In late 2009, the Obama administration called for the release of families from the detention center. Sadly, the facility was not permanently closed, but transformed into a detention center for asylum-seeking women shortly thereafter.

Texans United for Families is part of a national movement calling for an end to detentions and deportations in order to prevent the separation of families. In addition to hosting this musical performance, TUFF plans to organize a winter clothing drive for the women detained at Hutto.

The Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR) works consistently to educate and prevent human rights abuses within those disenfranchised poor communities throughout the regions, including the Texas and Southern New Mexico border community, as well as to advocate and push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and sensible national border enforcement policies.

In Austin and throughout the region, BNHR create various Human Rights committees that are comprised of members and families from the area “colonias.” The organization’s aim is to educate, empower, and build the consciousness of impacted and disenfranchised members to organize and take action.

BNHR works nationally from Washington DC and currently we has three offices located in Far El Paso and Southern New Mexico. BNHR

is currently fundraising to help contribute and sustain the work that the BNHR Directors, Coordinators, and Human Rights Promoters are doing within communities such as Austin.

We encourage readers to help contribute before the end of the year to the Border Network for Human Rights. December 10, 2013, will be the 65th Year Anniversary since the UN Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948.

This will be the 15th Year Anniversary of the Border Network for Human Rights. You can help with contributions of $15 to $65 and help the advancement and promotion of Human and Constitutional Rights throughout the USA. To donate, visit www.crowdrise.com/bordernetworkforhumanrights/fundraiser/bnhr

I M M I G R A T I O n

65th Anniversaryof Un declarationof Human Rights

KoreanAmericanGala12/21The 4th annual Austin Korean American Community Gala will be held at the Asian American Resource Center on Saturday, December 21, at 6 p.m.

It is a Korean tradition to celebrate the end of the year, and the event in past years has brought as many as 700 people together for an evening filled with food, art, music, dance and communal spirit.

Paul Kim of the Korean American Association of Greater Austin, stated in 2012, “As far as our presence in Austin, it’s strong. We’re very diverse and we’re pretty tightly knit. I wanted to introduce ourselves as a viable group to take an active role in the goings of the city.”

General admission is $30. RSVP by December 10 by calling (512) 491-7101 or write [email protected].


Huston-Tillotson University’s Community Health and Wellness Center to Address African American Mental and Physical Health Care Provider shortages

Identifying a critical need, Huston-Tillotson University officials have implemented the 21st Century Solutions-Based Listening Tour with a team of medical professionals prepared to address the disparities in mental health care services for the Central Texas African American population. According to the 2012 Community Health Assessment for Austin/Travis County, mental health and the need for services were the foremost community health issues listed. Today’s focus on the Affordable Health Care Act, which now offers services and coverage for individuals living with mental illnesses who previously did not have access or were denied mental health coverage also raises the immediate need for African American mental health physicians who are non-existent in Central Texas.

Huston-Tillotson University has partnered with Austin Travis County Integral Care (ATCIC), Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services (HHSD), a Federally Qualified Health Clinic (FQHC), and other key stakeholders to provide mental and behavioral health practitioners committed to servicing a diverse population that has been absent of minority caregivers and service providers. In addition, the City of Austin, recognizing the health disparities in Travis County for African American residents, has endorsed the HT initiative with a resolution and support.

Currently, Huston-Tillotson University serves a population of nearly 1,000 students from diverse backgrounds who have access to a campus Health Services Center managed by a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), and the Counseling and Consultation Center (CCC) managed by a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Obstacles occur when services beyond the campus are needed such as lack of health care facilities and services that are geographically convenient, lack of access to services and service providers who are culturally sensitive, lack of access to resources to afford quality health care services, including medication, lack of confidence in the way in which patients are treated, lack of

access to service providers who are of the same ethnicity and/or race, lack of access to adequate transportation modalities, and lack of access to effective and consistent follow-up services.

“A disproportionate amount of health issues are housed in urban communities similar to where Huston-Tillotson University resides,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Larry L. Earvin. “Our focus is on solution-based outcomes that address symptomatic causes, ranging from lack of exercise and improper diet to stress, anxiety, and depression.”

“HT’s newly erected Community Health and Wellness Center with its gymnasium, classroom, and health services components will strategically bring together the community and campus offerings to focus on holistic approaches to health—specifically in the areas of recreation, evaluation, education, and human performance. The three pronged approach of patient care, research, and community interventions will significantly improve the environment of care for the minority residents of East Austin,” Earvin concluded.

“When I first learned of this project, I wanted the City of Austin to be a partner. Mental health costs are felt throughout our community in our shelters, housing, emergency rooms and public safety and I applaud HT’s initiative to help improve services to our East Austin communities,” said Austin City Council Member Mike Martinez.

For more information: Linda Y. Jackson, Director of Public Relations and Marketing, Huston-Tillotson University,512.505.3006, [email protected], or Andrew Moore, Chief of Staff to Council Member Mike Martinez, 512-974-2264, [email protected].

Hindu Charities for America strives to get the Indian community together to take responsibility to address social issues in United States, a country that has given most of us and our children a new home and prosperity. Since its inception, Hindu Charities has donated school supplies to homeless and other economically disadvantaged children school supplies. Since last year, both Indian and Jewish community have worked together in this effort.

While school supplies help to provide an opportunity to needy children to attain skills, it will also help then build better lives for themselves and their families. To this end, Hindu Charities has launched a Memorial Tuition Scholarship program where eligible kids will receive $500 to $1,000 scholarships.

November’s Diwali GivingFest was the irst fund raiser to help raise fund for this effort. Additionally, it gave an opportunity for people to donate winter coats/blankets to refugees and gift cards to children who are in foster care.

Austin Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole was the chief guest. She also helped to get a $500 fee waiver to be used toward a scholarship.

The event, which had a capacity turnout, was organized by Sandhya Dittakavi of Akruti Collection and Shruti Anand of Monsoon Dance, with help of numerous people. The participants thoroughly enjoyed the program and the talent on the stage was highly skilled and professional. Many volunteers helped to execute the program. As a result of this event, over $14,000 has been raised for scholarships that will help launch the program in the Austin area. This included proceeds from Directory of Businesses. We hope to continue this work in Austin and bring it to other cities.

Asian Austin newsMONTHLY BUSINESS BUzz: CODE NExTThe Greater Austin Asian Chamber and the Asian American Resource Center present the Monthly Business Buzz: CodeNext on Wednesday, December 4, from 6-7 p.m. at the Asian American Resource Center.

The City of Austin is about to revisit a land development code written 30 years ago that has evolved into what many people describe as complicated, burdensome and an obstacle for quality growth. The Imagine Austin plan lays out our vision for a compact and connected city. To achieve the community vision, we must update Austin’s land development code, which determines how land can be used throughout our city, including what, where, and how much can be built. This will be a unique process with new tools and approaches based on understanding the character of your neighborhood and the larger community.

GAAC wantsto hear the public’s experiences and stories about the places where you live, work and play. What is working and what could be improved?

GAACC ANNUAL MEETING AND MIxERGAACC will be hosting their Annual Meeting and Mixer Wednesday, December 11, from 6-8 p.m. at its offices at 8001 Centre Park Drive.Come and

mix and mingle with GAACC members and meet Asian area business owners and professionals as well as our Board of Directors.

To RSVP, please visit the website www.austinasianchamber.org/events

MULTI ETHNIC CHAMBER ALLIANCE The Greater Austin Asian (GAACC), Greater Austin Hispanic (GAHCC) and Capital City African American (CCAACC) Chambers of Commerce, along with Hispanic Organizations Working Together as One (HOWTO), are hosting the Multi-Ethnic Chamber Alliance (MECA) Holiday Social at IBC Bank at 8998 Research Blvd on Tuesday, December 17 from 6-8 p.m.

Guests are invited to enjoy an evening of networking, refreshments and music. Sponsors include music by DJ Rocking Reuben, food from EM Gourmet, Satay Restaurant and more. Admission is $10 which can be pre-paid online through respective chamber websites or at the door. Fees collected will benefit survivors of Austin floods and Typhoon Haiyan.

GAACC executive director, Marina Bhargava said, “We invite the business community to attend this party for a festive evening with all our minority partners and give back to the less fortunate here and in Asia at the same time.” The event is expected to draw 250 businesses, civic leaders, and elected officials.

Art After six Stop by The People’s Gallery at City Hall for extended gallery hours and talks by artists from the 2013 exhibition on Friday, December 13, 6-8 p.m. Artist talks begin at 6:15 p.m. in Council Chambers. The gallery will be open for self-guided tours and artworks are on display on the first three floors. Pick up a gallery guide on the first floor.

The theme for December is “First-Time People’s

Gallery Artists,” with featured artists: Lisa

Eisenbrey, Alyssa Taylor Wendt, and Suzanne

Koett. The People’s Gallery is a program of the

Cultural Arts Division, Economic Development

Department. Parking is available in the City Hall

garage. Be sure to tell the attendant that you are

attending Art After Six and bring your parking

ticket inside for validation.

diwali GivingFest Helps Raise Awareness and dollars | By Harish Kotecha

HTU President Larry L. Earvin

Preya Patel

Saturday, December 7 at 6 p.m. and will include a procession led by children, followed by adults and Mariachi Relampago. The Posada commemorates Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem in search of shelter prior to the birth of Jesus. The procession will make its way through St. David’s Church, ending at Eden Center. Everyone is welcomed to then feast on food and refreshment, sing Christmas carols and join in traditional activities such as the breaking of the piñata for treats. Though admission is gratis, contributions for Trinity Center are encouraged. St. David’s is located at 8th and Trinity in downtown Austin.

ALTA’s La PastorelaAs it is customary every holiday season for the last 16 years, the Austin Latino Theater Alliance (ALTA) presents its production of a traditional interactive bilingual Pastorela comedy for the whole family. This year, under the direction of Patricio Villarreal Avila, the old traditional Christmas Latino Pastorela brings to life contemporary characters from Austin’s everyday life within a well known story in, “A Sheperdela’s Storia.”

Under Villarreal and musical director Kiko Villamizar, 12 enthusiastic actors give life to this fun Christmas comedy, accompanied by live music and an original stage specially designed by renowned plastic and visual artist Claudia Montero from ArteStudio Austin. Gathering people from different origins, races, genders, ages and more, the theater play is an invitation to celebrate the holidays not only as part of the audience, but by participating in the Christmas festivity by accompanying these new shepherds on their way to their sought after destination.

The script for this Chicano tragicomedy was edited, enhanced and organized by Villarreal based on the original screenplay by Luis Valdes, and with contributions from local authors Thomas Salas, Marylou Castillo, Marita de la Torre, Kiko Villamizar, Christopher Edwards and Diego Villarreal. The Pastorela is staged in the Black Box of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC), Thursdays through Sundays, December 12-22. General admission $15, $10 children under 13. Tickets for all shows are available through altateatro.com, eventbrite.com, or at the theater entrance.

Fifth Annual Puerto Rican Christmas FiestaCelebrate the fifth anniversary of this event with a live performance by international Salsa sensation Charlie Cruz and the local talent of Orquesta Trabuko on Saturday, December 14, 8 p.m. at Emo’s (2015 E Riverside Dr). Also, enjoy a traditional performance by the Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance; plus more surprise appearances. With authentic Puerto Rican food for sale by Chago’s Caribbean Cuisine. Come with friends and family, including the kids, and be a part of the biggest “parranda” in Central Texas.

TODO AusTin // Dec 2013 // TODOAusTin.cOm 07

Myriad holiday events, sites and

sounds abound throughout

the city as tradition mixes with

novelty. Here are some events

that will echo with laughter and

solemnness.

‘Trail of Lights’ The Trail of Lights runs December 8-22 in Zilker Park, bigger and better than ever. The two-week schedule, “Austin’s own holiday party,” retruns to its traditional 15-day format featuring all that makes Austin’s seasonal pageant unique. Producers have developed additional activities, more convenient transportation and experiences involving ethnic communities of every stripe that will make the 2013 Trail of Lights the top destination event of the holiday season.

“The Trail of Lights is our true, Austin winter holiday celebration,” said Mayor Lee Leffingwell. “The 2012 Austin Trail of Lights was the largest event in Austin, gaining national attention as one of the top ten holiday lighting events in the country by USA Today. The 2013 Trail of Lights continues that tradition for our community, showing the world that Austin is a place where we take community celebration and support seriously.”

“By returning to the event’s original timeframe, we are making it easier for everyone in Austin to plan a night out to see the lights, create holiday memories and celebrate all they love about our community,” said Mario Espinoza, Trail of Lights Foundation board chair.

The world’s tallest man-made Christmas Tree, towering 155 feet, will return once again, along with the 1.25-mile trail of lights. See austintrailoflights.org for more info.

st. david’s downtown Posada The Third Annual St. David’s Downtown Posada is

Trail of Lights

Our Lady symbolizes the solidarity of Catholics

throughout all of North, Central and South

America. Here are a few of the many Masses

and events on offer on Thursday, December 12:

st. Mary Cathedral (203 E 10th St.) Rosary

and Mass at 6 p.m. with OLG reception in the

Bishop’s Hall.

Our Lady of Guadalupe (1206 E 9th St.) Feast

Day, Wednesday, December 11. 10 p.m. Doors

open for the rosary, Tlaltechuhtli Danza Azteca

de Austin, Mariachi Los Toros, Matachines of

Our Lady of Guadalupe and Spanish Midnight

Mass with Bishop Joe Vasquez. Reception in

Parish Hall afterwards.

st. Catherine of siena (4800 Convict Hill Rd.)

7 p.m. Mass featuring an re-enactment of the

story of St. Juan Diego and his encounter with

Our Lady of Guadalupe. Refreshments will

follow in the courtyard.

st. Ignatius Martyr (126 W. Oltorf St.) 5 p.m.

Matachines de San Ignacio. 6 p.m. Mass with

reception in Family Center.

st. John neumann (5455 Bee Cave Rd.) Mass

at 6:30 p.m. with reception following at 7:30

p.m.

santa Julia (3010 Lyons) Wednesday,

December 11 10 p.m. Mass followed by

mariachi music. Thursday, December 12, 5

a.m.-7 p.m. Traditional hymns with mariachi at

5 a.m. 4:30 procession.

st. Louis King of France (7601 Burnet Rd.) 4

a.m. Mariachis, rosary, Mass and recption in

Wozniak Hall. 5:30 p.m. program.

st. Thomas More (10205 N FM 620) Mass at

8:30 a.m.

St. Mary Cathedral

sW Key Holiday PosadaSouthwest Key’s Latino Arts Preservation Program students will narrate, sing and dance the audience through a traditional Mexican Posada on Thursday, December 19, 6-8 p.m., at the Southwest Key campus (6002 Jain Ln.). Kids can meet Santa Claus and enjoy arts and crafts, piñatas, face painting and more. For more information contact, Melissa Villarreal at (512) 583-2568 or email [email protected]

noche de Película: “Pastorela”Agent Jesus Juarez (aka Chucho) has always played the Devil in his town’s Nativity Play.

This Christmas, when the new pastor of the church recasts the role, the two men engage in a battle between good and evil. Hosted by the Spanish Conversational Group at Esquina Tango. Friday, December 20, 8:30-11 p.m. at Esquina Tango (209 Pedernales St). For more info go to esquinatangoaustin.com

Annual Kwanzaa Family CelebrationAfrican native and educator Elizabeth Kahura will bring Kwanzaa to life with storytelling, music and art for all ages on Monday, December 30, 2-3 p.m. at Carver Branch (1161 Angelina St.). Kwanzaa is a unique African American celebration with a focus on family values, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year, featuring activities such as candle-lighting and pouring of libations, and culminating in a feast and gift giving.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: There are several events honoring the Patroness of the Americas, the Virgen de Guadalupe.

Virgin of Guadalupe

KUTX, Alt. Latino dial up diversity

The new public radio station, KUTX 98.9 FM, began broadcasting full time music programming after breaking off from its sister station KUT 90.5 FM in January, 2013. Mirroring an ever-evolving Austin demographic, the KUTX programming schedule crosses genres and generations. “It goes back to the open mindedness that we have in terms of programming, that we’re not adhering to one specific genre,” explained KUTX Program Director Matt Reilly of the open format the station follows. “Moving forward I would only imagine that would increase as Austin becomes more diverse as well.” On August 21, Austin radio listeners welcomed Alt. Latino Radio, featuring the ever-evolving world of Latin alternative and Spanish rock music. Alt.Latino Radio, produced by NPR Music, is an expansion of their free web-based service where the hosts examine the role of Latin alternative music in American and Latin culture, and connect listeners 08 TODO AUSTin // Dec 2013 // TODOAUSTin.cOm

with influential Latin singers, athletes, actors and

more.

Latino 102.7 “Mas exitos!” fulfills need

Another station making its debut this year was

Emmis Austin Radio’s Latino 102.7, which features

a diverse mix of Top 40, Rhythmic, Dance and

Spanish Pop artists such as Pitbull, Romeo Santos,

Prince Royce, Don Omar, Mana, Shakira, Jennifer

Lopez, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and more. Latino

102.7 Program Director, Armando Ulloa, “El

Chiquilin,” noted, “Austin’s vibrant and bilingual

Latino population continues to grow and set the

trends for the marketplace. We’re proud to bring

Latino 102.7 to fulfill an unmet need of providing

today’s biggest hits, with deep local connections,

and local personalities that are on the cutting edge

of pop culture in Central Texas. We encourage

Spanish and English hit music fans in Central Texas

and around the world to tune in.”

Immigrant rights advocates rally, rage

They traveled from all across Texas to converge in Austin on February 22, thousands strong, to deliver a message to the legislature: We demand immigration reform. Esther Reyes, Executive Director of the Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition, told the crowd, “I think we are being heard, what do you think?” She and others laid out Texans’ demands: Stop punitive and accountable enforcement in our border communities. Stop the deportations and separation of families as a down payment for reform. Create a fair pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Keep American families together. Five associates of AIRC were later arrested on June 27 in Austin for staging a protest against the border militarization provisions in the United States Congress’s latest immigration reform bills. About 300 immigration reform activists flooded W. 6th Street and Lavaca in Austin just before rush

hour. They shut down traffic, blocking cars with hand-held giant cardboard fences — representing the border wall.

City African American facility opens

The City of Austin’s new African American Cultural and Heritage Facility opened in March with a new building and restoration of the historic Dedrick-Hamilton House. The development of the cultural institution will benefit Austin, not only in terms of culture, diversity, resources, tourism, and activities, but also economically. The area referred to as the heart of the African American community in East Austin, once hosted some of the most famous rhythm and blues singers at the nearby Victory Grill and was integral in the civil rights movement. The facility will add to this cultural significance with programming for arts, culture and entertainment and will house the Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce that provides services focused on supporting African American

TODO Austin Salute to the Time TravelersThe achievements of several Austinites and organizations in 2013 signaled the evolution of the city, their actions transforming our community from its segregated past towards a more socially inclusive future. // By TODO Austin staff

Immigrant rights’ leader Esther Reyes KUTX DJ Jody Denberg


businesses citywide. Activities will be scheduled in partnership with the community.

Long Center rebrand en español

CEO Jamie Grant did something no major arts group in Austin had done before when the Long Center unveiled a high tech, bilingual website on April 2 to more effectively market to the Latino community. “This is a major turning point for the Long Center,” said Grant, which “increases our

later adopted the map, which takes a giant step toward fair geographic representation for all citizens. Among the first eight members of the commission drawing the 10 districts were six Hispanics (including super social justice advocate Carmen D Llanes Pulido), one white and one Native American.

La Raza turns up the heat on injustice

May was an eventful month for those involved in

community based organizations involved in community based health, healthcare, and basic needs. LHCF laid out its mission: to make quality, affordable health care accessible to everyone by increasing the number of insured Texans, improving health care quality, lower costs, and reduce health disparities, believing that “transformation will occur only when consumers are engaged—especially the underserved and vulnerable community member. Participating in partnership with those

serve and foster the Asian American community and Austin community at large became a reality on September 28.AARC manager Taja Beekley envisions the Center becoming a cultural destination for the City of Austin while also providing much needed services. “The facility is called the ’Resource Center’ because our mission is not only about cultural programming, but also providing other services and information to an underserved community,” Beekley said. Asian

ability to engage the community in meaningful dialogue.” The forward-leaning rebrand will begin to fill a void and more effectively address Austin’s diverse population. “I am very excited for this project,” said Monica Peraza, Vice President of the Hispanic 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, the launch of a bilingual website is an important first step in recognizing this phenomenon.”

Council single member districts a reality

Monday evening November 18, the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission voted unanimously to adopt their final map for the first-ever single member districts for the Austin City Council. After almost six months of meetings, including 14 Public Forums, the City of Austin

the Hispanic Quality of Life initiative. The HQLI, which was initiated in 2008, was handed to Austin City Council on June 27. It was evident in the findings that Hispanics in Austin have not seen the same economic boom and development as the rest of the Austin population. Also in late spring, the fight to protect the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center from developers escalated. On June 5, Hispanic leaders hosted a press conference to oppose the sale of city-owned property located next to the entrance of the ESB-MACC, then later that evening, 100-plus provided testimony at the ESB-MACC Advisory Board meeting, with shouts of “la cultura no se vende.”

Latino HealthCare Forum strategy

On July 17, Central Health invited the community to review Central Health’s draft three-year Strategic Plan. In response, LHCF conducted a community meeting on July 25 with representatives of

entities responsible for health and healthcare is a critical step of engagement.”

KLRU marks Latino Heritage Month

For more than two generations, KLRU programming has been a reliable indicator of Austin’s cultural climate. With ethnic demographic trends favoring our Hispanic population, the station’s September offerings reflected that dynamic. A six-hour documentary series, “Latino Americans,” was aired, complimented by “Vamos al Baile,” a special produced by Leonard Davila featuring Little Joe y La Familia, Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution, and Joel Guzman with Sarah Fox. “Arts in Context: Tardeadas” also showcased Conjunto Los Pinkys, noted for its weekly show at the White Horse, a popular Eastside honky-tonk which sees a diverse audience personifying the changing area.

Asian American Resource Center opens

Twenty years ago, what started as a distant idea to

Americans account for 6.5 percent of Austin’s population and is the fastest growing segment of the population.

eastside urban farm issue settled

The Food Sustainability Policy Board recommended expanding Austin’s “current and vague urban farm code with changes that could boost the city’s grow local, eat local movement.” The panel’s opinion was approved by a 7-1 vote by the Planning Commission on September 24, apparently ignoring the input of two neighborhood groups. “This is a land grab,” said Susana Almanza, director of People Organized for the Defense of Earth and her Resources. “We see the discrimination when there are no urban farms in West Austin,” said Almanza. “Yet, we have people coming to East Austin to buy land, set up an urban farm, kill animals, and it’s OK?” A compromise was offered at Council on November 22 when a new ordinance was passed.

Long Center’s Jamie Grant

Gilbert Rivera advocates for Latino rights. (Diana Sanchez photo)

KLRU airs “Vamos al Baile.”

Carmen D Llanes Pulido and Susana Almanza (Librado Almanza photo)

AARC opens


Franklin O Leal and Luis Ramirez

Olivia Prendes and Odaymara Pasa Salvador Munguia and Celso Piña

Alejandra Saldaña, José de Loera, Alicia Saldaña, Abigail Gutiérrez and Priscilla Gallardo

Susana Jimenez Monica Fossi and Anjanette Gautier of ALTA

HispanosNet AustinBy Diana Sanchez


The Howlin’ LoboBy Lobo corona

Well, another year in Austin fades away with plenty of new additions to the local music scene and lots more to add into the history of the Live Music Capital of the World. 2013 Austin had its first world music festival, WOBEON, experienced for the first time in history ACL Festival canceling one whole day, we witnessed amazing performances during SXSW like Nick Cave, Stevie Nicks, Cafe Tacvba and Prince, saw a great collection of acts at ACL Live like Rodrigo y Gabriela and the historical taping of Nine Inch Nails, to the live shows with DeVotchKa, Sting and Janelle Monáe. Our city was also lucky to have The Cure, Depeche Mode, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath in town, but the most important thing is that the support for local music and musicians seems to have taken a better direction with more support, major changes and projects coming together, and we would not have all of this without keeping focus on our local music scene and keeping Austin music thriving. We love the city we live in, let’s keep supporting all local acts and enjoy another year in the ATX. Happy Holidays.

MAKING TRACKS

santanaSantana collaborated with some of the best Latin artists in the industry for his upcoming new album, “Corazon,” which will be released in early 2014. Artists include Lila Downs, Juanes, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Gloria Estefan and Chocquibtown. You can bet this album has a lot of “heart” in the making, lyrics and music and surely will be an item for all to enjoy.

Los Amigos Invisibles’ vocalist Julio Briceño recently released his new side project Chulius & The Filarmónicos under Nacional Records. The debut Chulius album, “Shorts & Sandals,” features collaborations with Elastic Bond and Gil Cerezo from Kinky. Having toured over 60 countries with Los Amigos Invisibles, including memorable performances at Coachella, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, Julio Briceño has been wowing fans across the world with the same high-energy live shows, catchy melodies and playful lyricism.

LOBO’S BITES

east side shows highlight decemberUranium Savages, the band that holds onto the “W” in Weird, paints the “M” in Music, shakes the “F” in Fun, and highlights Austin’s local music scene as the longest performing troupe will be celebrating their 39th Anniversary with a full show over at the East Side’s Gypsy Lounge on December 12. The show would be fun, weird and full of Music Savage Style. Since December 12, 1974, these fellas have seen it all and this could be their last show together. Show at 9 p.m. and there’s no cover.

SEFO, singer/songwriter from Madrid, Spain, now residing in Austin, will perform an Acoustic set inside the intimate stage of the Gypsy Lounge. After coming off a tour with the world famous Franco De Vita, his set will include material from the album, “Escalada Horizontal.” Wednesday, December 11 at 10 p..m. No Cover.

La Vida Buena is set to release their first music video at Holy Mountain (617 E 7th St.) on December 19. Their music is a straight punch to any dance floor, with a mix of funk, Latin and hip hop. This nine piece band promises to be the next big act in the local scene. Catch their shows in evolution to stardom. Also included on the bill are Son De Rey and Pagame.

el Tule’s first saturday at Guero’sUnder the oak trees on SoCo, the chimeneas will be going; tacos de trompo and your favorite beverages will be available and there’ll be fun a’plenty on the dance floor for El Tule’s residency gig at Guero’s on Saturday, December 7, 6:30 p.m. Each first Saturday of 2013, the band has held

court and you have one more opportunity to join the hilariously fun “conga lines” one more time this year.

Music for the HeartJoin the Amala Foundation for a beautiful evening of heart-opening music featuring Nizami and his son Faraz on December 8, 6:30-8 p.m. December 8th, 6:30pm-8:00pm at December 8th, 6:30pm-8:00pm at Amala Foundation (1006 S. 8th St.). A 17th-generation musician, Ustad Ghulam Farid Nizami is one of the foremost musicians from Pakistan. His performances include Classical Indian, Ghazal, Geet, Qawwali, Bhajan, Pakistani Folk & Sufi music. Learn more at UstadNizami.com. Suggested donation is $20 for the concert but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. If you can’t attend, consider making a donation to the Amala Foundation at www.amalafoundation.org.

Texas Music Museum Holiday FestivalHead over to 1009 E 11th St. for the Texas Music Museum Holiday Festival on Saturday, December 14, 1-6 p.m. The event is free. On the program is a presentation and book signing by Dr. Jason Mellard titled, “How the 1970s Transformed the Texan in Popular Culture.” Also at the museum is an art bazaar featuring holiday items from local artisans and musicians. You can also tour the current exhibits, including “Texas Music Historical Journey 1800-1930,” “Contributions of East Austin African American Musicians to Texas Music,” and “Tejano Music, Spotlight on Austin.”

Trail of Lights music spotlight Trail of Lights originated as a community gathering that quickly blossomed into an event that today appeals to people of every classification. The music line-up, likewise, has grown more diverse and this year, there are three nights in particular that should see a mass blending of cultures.

Friday, December 13, is Heritage Night, with general admission beginning at 7 p.m. On the Community Stage are Avery Ranch Dance & Yoga, Dance Discovery, Manor Honors Choir, Tiarra Girls Band and Greater Austin Dance Theater. The Main Stage features Austin High School Ballet Folklorico (8 p.m.), and David Ramirez at 9 p.m. The next evening finds Miranda Gil headlining the Community Stage with Shirley McPhail School of Dance, Bollywood Shake, Star Center Dance Co., and GenYratioN.

Saturday, December 21, Vallejo takes the Main Stage at 9 p.m., with Austin Civic Wind Ensemble-Concert Band, Dance by Carly, Samantha Quintanilla and Austin Harmony Chorus on the Community Stage. For more info and schedule go to austintrailoflights.org

Cherrywood Art FairChula League, an East Austin based non-profit supporting the arts, artful public landscapes and arts education will present the 12th annual Cherrywood Art Fair, a free event, on December 7-8, 10-5 p.m. at Maplewood Elementary (3808 Maplewood Ave.). The event is a perfect way to celebrate the holiday spirit and the Maker Movement with unique, locally made art from 89 selected artists and makers, live music, a food court with eclectic local purveyors, and creative activities for the whole family. Among the musical highlights are Troy Campbell, Money Chicha, Colin Gilmore and The Painted Redstarts. For more on the fair go to www.cherrywoodartfair.org

A HOWLING NEW YEAR’S EVE

How to say hello to 2014? Dancing to the grooves of Grupo Fantasma is one way, as the band brings in the New Year on Tuesday, December 31, at the Belmont. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the show at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale in advance for $30 and are $35 at door, with VIP tickets at $60. For more info go to thebelmontaustin.com

Huerta Culture and Les Brouvas are another top option on December 31, at El Sol y La Luna.

Joan Fernandez will be joining the musicians on stage as the night’s party begins at 8:30 p.m. Huerta Culture will take the stage at 11 p.m. and play a short set before taking a break for the midnight ceremonies and a champagne toast. Les Brouvas, a group of brothers visiting from France, whose ages range between 11 and 23, regularly play in the French Riviera using jazz rhythms, 60’s rock, old time blues, Latin music, reggae, rap and their own compositions.

A memorable night is in store for those lucky enough to get tickets to see Willie Nelson at ACL Live on December 30 and New Year’s Eve. W Austin’s has various events/offerings as well including a Remix & Revelry Party featuring a performance by Austin’s latest break-out musician, Max Frost.

The first Wobeon Fest presented Dubtonic Kru and more

Uranium Savages play Gypsy Lounge on December 12

Santana will pay tribute to his roots on his next album.

(Maryanne Bilham photo)

CHRONICLES OF UNDERCOVER MExICAN GIRL:

Thoughts on Being a White Privileged Hispanic

By Alexandra m. Landeros

When I was growing up in a primarily Mexican American area of Los Angeles, I was told I looked and acted “white” by fellow Mexican Americans. In Mexico, I was called a güerita, which technically means “blonde,” although my hair is a medium-brown color. After moving to Austin, living in a primarily “white” area, I would occasionally get asked about my racial or ethnic background – it was not always obvious, it seemed.

I was born and raised in the United States, but both of my parents – and at least two to three generations before them – were born and raised in Mexico as Mexicans. My first language was Spanish, and I can still speak, read, and write Spanish. So I began identifying as an American girl with Mexican heritage. It made the most sense that way.

There have been recent events in Austin where the local food / urban farm movement has been seen as one made up mainly by “white privileged people.” Does that mean I am a white privileged person because I am part of this movement? The U.S. Census gives me the choice of White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander – with the option to choose Hispanic/Latino* as my origin.

*Hispanic refers to people whose origin is Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Spanish-speaking Central or South American countries,

or other Hispanic/Latino, regardless of race.

According to the U.S. census, I am a “white Hispanic.” What if I didn’t consider myself white? My parents and three of my four grandparents are all darker skinned than I am ... but if you wanted to get very specific, they are actually “olive” skinned. I have relatives who are very “brown.” My skin is more accurately “creamy natural” or “buff beige,” according to the make-up industry. At least they seem to recognize it’s not a black and white world.

I also recently stumbled across the novel “Caucasia” by Danzy Senna. I haven’t read it, but I looked it up on Wikipedia, and the description says: “‘Caucasia’ brings up the conflict between race as a phenotype versus


race a performance. Race is more than skin deep and requires a certain life practices to accompany your race. For example, being white is more about having a great deal of success in life than the color of your skin.”

Ah! Ok, so really, it’s not so much about the color of my skin. It’s more about socio-economic class. So how does one define success? What is privilege? My parents moved here from Mexico in their early 20s, without having finished college. After running a little taqueria in the rural outskirts of Aguascalientes, they decided that they needed to move to the United States to provide a better future for their children.

My mother did eventually go back to finish her college degree, while working full-time and raising us kids. My father worked as a service technician with Sears. We shared houses with relatives until I was in the 4th grade, when we moved into our very own 1000-square-foot house that was in need of some serious repairs in a working class neighborhood in a very industrialized suburb of Los Angeles.

I went to college, thanks to giant school loans that I will have to repay for the rest of my life. I am also now paying a mortgage on a cheaply-built 1100-square-foot home from the late 1970s in a working class neighborhood in a non-trendy part of town. But it’s comfortable, and I feel safe in it. I recently acquired a new-ish used car that I share with my “white” husband (before that, we shared a 1983 mechanically-failing Mercedes Benz that I had been driving since 1998).

I always have enough healthy food to eat (mostly from the local farmers markets), but I don’t have health insurance. I wear my clothes until they literally start to fall apart, and then I sew or patch up the holes. Most of my clothes

are hand-me-downs and thrift store finds. I do work that I enjoy, but I do have to work 50-60 hours a week to make it happen.

I am able to save a little bit of money – for emergencies and very occasional frugal vacations – only because I do not indulge in buying material things, and we do all the home cleaning and maintenance ourselves. I actually hate shopping. We do enjoy going out to eat, but we have to limit how much we spend and how often we do it.

Do these things define success and privilege? I don’t know. Maybe they do, maybe they don’t, depending on who you ask. It’s all relative anyway, isn’t it?

I work as a grassroots activist with a nonprofit and am a freelance writer, and my husband is a freelance musician creating hard-to-sell music. We could both have chosen a corporate career path and could arguable be in a position where we’d be far more privileged and successful than we are now. But we didn’t. We chose not to. I suppose that is a sort of privilege. We choose to live the way we do. Nobody forced us.

Given what society all around me is telling me, it’s pretty hard to argue against the idea that I am a white, privileged Hispanic. But what happens if I want to reject that label and all that it implies? Another idea out there is that those people who are either privileged white people – or privileged / disconnected people of color – who don’t acknowledge these labels and that they are part of a racist system are ... well, I’m not sure what they are. What do you think? What does that make me? Maybe it makes me racist, too. Naive? Blind? Wrong?

Perhaps, what if ... I am just human.

Increase Knowledge on Heart disease / By monica Peña

Salima Rockwell, assistant University of Texas volleyball coach, shared her compelling story of being a stroke survivor and not being aware of the symptoms at the Austin American Heart Association’s November breakfast. Others who spoke on heart disease, known as the silent killer, and its related issues were Tina Bonci, associate athletics director at UT and Dr. Parul Desai, cardiologist at Heart Hospital of Austin, with emcee Jennie Covert Stewart of Covert Auto Group and 2014 Go Red for Women Chair.

The theme of the morning was heart disease and its serious health threat to women everywhere, killing more women than all forms of cancer combined.

Symptoms of a heart attack women should be aware of include:

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, the neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.

• Other signs may be breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light headedness.

The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women is the world’s largest network working to end heart disease. Women have the opportunity to join the millions of others who support the project and use their voice to help make a difference in the lives of loved ones. Heart disease kills approximately one woman every minute. Plan to be part of the movement, make choices, speak up and spread the word at the Go Red for Women Summit. For more info visit austingored.ahaevents.org.

Dr. Jennifer Walden, Jocelyn Johnson, Jennie Covert Stewart, Desmond Milvenan, Brooke Brown, and Erika Holland (L-R).

C A R I d A d

CAsA(Court Appointed special Advocates) of Travis County

VOLUnTeeR sPOTLIGHT

Will Mazurek, has lived in Austin for most of his life. After attending Southwestern University as a history and anthropology major, he spent four years in the Navy. Will says Japan was his favorite place to live because of the incredibly friendly people willing to share their culture. Now he works full-time for a data center management company while also taking undergraduate classes under the GI Bill. While he enjoys the occasional quiet weekend watching football, he spends most of his free time with his nephews as well as with friends and their families. Will started volunteering with CASA and working with teenagers over a year ago. Community and civil service has been in his family for generations so he feels CASA, along with his military service, is ensuring he continues that family tradition.

“I’m trying to make sure that everything I put out in the world is positive and beneficial to everybody,” says Will. “I knew when I came for my first interview I was doing this for myself as much as for the kids, but that part doesn’t even occur to me now. What’s going on with the kids is the most important thing. I just try to act as a liaison between adulthood and where they are right now in their lives.



edible Austineat drink Local Week:Urban agriculture expert Will Allen to appearBy Dani Slabaugh

Will Allen is many things. Urban farmer, son of a sharecropper, former disco owner, retired professional basketball player, McArthur Genius Grant recipient, and the keynote speaker for Edible Austin’s Eat Drink Local Week, December 7-14, an annual homage to local food. Given the recent conversation in Austin around issues of food, race, and urban farming, Allen’s visit couldn’t come at a more appropriate time.

His recent book, “The Good Food Revolution,” explores the issues of race and food that are woven into his and his family’s story. The son of a sharecropper, Allen spent his youth growing food with his father, and it wasn’t

until later in life that he returned to the soil. “Once my parents left South Carolina, they no longer saw farming as slave’s work,” he writes. “When I tilled my first garden and hosted meals, I realized that growing food no longer felt like slave’s work to me.” Allen goes on to wax poetic about worms, the future of urban farming, and the hope it offers to the urban youth he engages at Growing Power, the compact powerhouse cross between urban farm, community center, food hub, and experimental research station in downtown Milwaukee. Allen reflects with a certain fondness on his one-time routine of farming from the hours of 4 a.m. to 10 a.m., working his full time job corporate job, and then farming a few more hours before bed. The passion he felt for growing food – good food comes through on just about every page.

Allen’s passion for food is shared by many here in Austin, but he also has a unique perspective that is particularly relevant as Austin engages in ongoing conversations about race, gentrification, urban farms, and food justice. His words concerning the impact of receiving a McArthur Genius Grant speak particularly to food justice. “Few black people who were struggling to change the food system had received this type of validation, though poor food affected people of color more than other communities. I realized that by bringing

farming and fresh food to the city, I could play

a part in healing a painful rift in the African

American history between its agricultural

past and its urban present. I could help to

rebrand farming as something that could be

entrepreneurial and black-owned rather than

something associated with sharecropping and

slavery.”

You can catch Allen on Sunday, December

8, 7:30 p.m., at Stateside at the Paramount.

Purchase tickets at www.austintheatre.org

or at (512) 474-1221. After Allen’s talk, Texas

Tribune’s Evan Smith will moderate a panel

discussion around the issues of sustainable

agriculture with Erin Flynn, Dr. Michael

Webber, and Don Shaffer. After the talk and

panel, patrons may stay and shop at Edible

Austin’s Farmers Market in the Theatre’s lobby.

Edible Austin celebrates local, fresh food

grown and produced in Central Texas with its

bimonthly publication and online resources.

Edible Austin Eat Drink Local Week, now in

its 7th year, is Austin’s premier local food

event who’s mission is to raise awareness of

and to grow the local food community while

raising funds for local non-profits Sustainable

Food Center and Urban Roots. Edible Austin

Eat Drink Local Week events can be found at

www.edibleaustin.com.

soups On!By Rose Di Grazia

In this nasty cold weather how about a bowl of hot soup? But not just any soup will do in my book! Ever go to those places that claim they have soup and all you get is some semi-warm broth with a few vegetables floating in it and no meat? You wanna yell, “where’s the meat?” So as you can see, if you pop a bowl of soup on the table in front of me and it’s cold and there’s nothing in it but one vegetable, I am sending it back. For some folks like me, soup may very well be your lunch or supper. I am not paying $6 for a bowl of what may as well be Ramen noodle from the dollar store. That’s crap! So not that you are laughing and listening, read on to find out three spots where you can get a decent bowl of soup.

KeRBeY LAne CAFe // If you want a spicy bowl of tortilla soup that will open up your sinus passages, this is my number one recommendation. The broth is delicious! Also, you may want to order a healthy salad with it. I always do. www.kerbeylanecafe.com

TRUdY’s // This place has great tortilla soup, too. It is also spicy and hot always. If you go there right about five o’clock you will have your pick of tables. Don’t forget they have a great happy hour! While you’re at it, order the nachos with the Tinga spicy meat. They have the best nachos too! www.trudys.com

eL JACALITO // This soup comes from my old stomping grounds on Oltorf. If you have a sore throat, this really is my

remedy for what ails you. Their tortilla soup is never a big disappointment. Ever. When your soup comes, if you order the small bowl you will get a decent size piece of pollo, potatoes, carrots, cabbage etc. Need I say more? This is the best homemade soup in Austin! | (512) 445-4109

Here are some other non-Mom and Pop places to go for soup. Try Jason’s Deli, Olive Garden, Chili’s, etc. For all you soup Nazi chefs out there that don’t fill up the bowl, and don’t dig down deep into the bottom of the pot to make sure I get some protein, if I get a bowl of soup with only broth I am sending it back! For all you readers out there, let’s band together and all send it back if it’s not what you expected. I know you can’t send all your xmas gifts back, especially the used ones. But you can send the soup back or ask for your money back.

Tiny Taiga CondensationBy Blake Shanley

Take a wee stroll with ME, would you please?

YOU’re walking in a beautiful, dense, thriving forest on an warm Autumn day. An easy breeze sweetly snakes in and out around the trees, tickling the top layers of your skin in a constant greeting upon each step. Rays of sunlight slice through the canopy and line your path with fiery linear beacons of energetic authority.

The dampness of moss and dewy piles of fallen leaves softens your senses to the underbelly of a rich ecosystem of absolute earthly delight.

The palette of green and brown blinds your eyes and soul with its unnatural natural intensity and you wonder if color could get any brighter. With further heightened inspection through the veil of neutral magic you start to see rounds of red and orange, beads of yellow and beige, blossoms of pink and purple, spheres and ovals, fruits and nuts, leaves and berries, mushrooms and meals, water and air - an abundant pantry of nutrient and life.

You reach your hand out and start to collect the gifts your intuition tells you were made for your pleasure, for your survival and for your journey.

You kick off your kicks and dig your tootsies into the chilled, damp dirt and feel a thread of life traveling its way up your core, quietly electrifying all of your ins and outs. You breathe deeply and your eyes open wide to the world around you as if walking outside from a dark room. You sit on a fallen log, secretly teeming with tiny communities filling their own baskets with bits and scraps found nearby, and you put a handful of your harvest into your mouth.

The clean, concentrated and clear flavors burst and nourish your thoughts and your traveling vessel, and instantly, you feel full and fulfilled.

You see a shimmer in the corner of your eye and follow it to your own private sparkling pool created effortlessly by a small waterfall. You immediately throw off all of your clothes and jump in, giggling and screaming at the freeze and electricity that embraces and exhilarates you like a child. You are awake and you are alive and you know you are truly in the right place at the right time.

Right place. Right time. All the time.

Will Allen


The NutcrackerL O n G C e n T e R

By caitlin moore

A few surprises await audiences who will attend Ballet Austin’s “The Nutcracker” this year. Virtually unchanged since 1996, the 51st annual production now boasts all new sets and costumes, helping Artistic Director Stephen Mills more fully realize his vision of the beloved holiday ballet.

Mills has chosen to adjust the time period – he now presents the story in the era in which “The Nutcracker” was written (1816) rather than during Edwardian times (several years later). The new costumes are more historically accurate, and along with the updated props and backdrops, allow Mills’ choreography to be expressed as originally intended.

These changes have been accomplished with the help of two respected artists in their field, Judanna Lynn (costumes) and Holly Highfill (scenery). Lynn has designed costumes for top ballet companies including the San Francisco Ballet and the Boston Ballet, and she is also a former dancer and resident costume designer at the Juilliard School. Lynn has spent weeks putting together the new Nutcracker costumes, scouring fabric shops around the world and carefully working to create pieces that are colorful, fun and true to E.T.A. Hoffman’s original story.

Highfill has created scenic work for numerous ballet, opera and theater companies, and she is also known for her contributions as a mural painter. Her hand painted pastel backdrops are meant to enhance the overall experience by contrasting with the dancers’ richly colored costumes and allowing their movements to pop.

Sticking with tradition, Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky’s festive score will be performed by the Austin Symphony Orchestra and various local “celebrities” will take turns playing the role of Mother Ginger each night. Nutcracker performances begin at the Long Center Dec. 7 and run through Dec. 23. Tickets prices start at $15 and can be purchased at balletaustin.org.

BriDge2BriDgeFrom Montopolis Bridge to 360 Bridge, everything Austin

Ballet east dance Company’s “Transcendence of Realms” is a mesmerizing adventure, honoring the layers of the human spirit as we transcend between realms of time and space within the physical and spiritual planes. With new works by Andrea Ariel, J.P. Flores, Jessica Martinez-Zamarripa, and Associate Director, Melissa Villarreal. December 5-7, 8 p.m.; December 8, 2 p.m. balleteast.org

One of the most acclaimed ensembles of traditional music in Ireland, danú brings a heartwarming and high-energy Celtic Christmas celebration to Bass Concert Hall, Thursday, December 5, 8 p.m. Direct from County Waterford, the spirited band is known for its authentic interpretations, ebullient performances, mastery of Celtic instruments and breathtaking vocals. texasperformingarts.org

From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, comes a hot new Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, “Memphis” is about a radio DJ who wants to change the world and a club singer ready for a big break. December 10-15 at Bass Concert Hall. texasperformingarts.org

Arriving from Buenos Aires at Esquina Tango, Thursday, December 12, 9 p.m., the Alejandro Ziegler Quartet brings authentic arrangements from the Golden Age of Tango (1940s and 1950s), recreating the sound of the orchestras of Di Sarli, Pugliese, Troilo, and Gobbi, among others. Thursdays are “Esquina Passion” night, with Glover Gill on the first and third Thursdays. esquinatangoaustin.com

The Holiday Hip-Hop Theatre explosion runs December 19-21, 8 p.m., at the Vortex. The event provides a full evening of family-friendly performance, hosted by Zell Miller III, and featuring DaShade Moonbeam, Mindz of a Different Kind, and some of the area’s best B-boyz, poets, dancers, singers, and theatre artists. Don’t miss the next incarnation in this unique series. vortexrep.org

A Gospel According to Jazz Christmas with Kirk Whalum, Lalah Hathaway, and Gerald Albright warms One World Theatre on Saturday, December 21. Grammy award-winning saxophonist Whalum, winner of two Stellar Awards –Gospel’s highest honor – hosts the annual concert with noted saxophonist Albright, and Hathaway, one of music’s premier vocalists. oneworldtheatre.org

shen Yun returns to the Long Center with an all-new production, December 27-29. Experience a journey into a long-lost world you cannot see anywhere else—from ancient legends to heavenly palaces to the dusty plateaus of the Middle Kingdom. The show moves quickly through regions, dynasties, and legends, with ethnic and folk dances filling the stage with color and energy. thelongcenter.org

C e L e B R A T I n G d I V e R s I T Y

THe deFeAT OF GRAndFATHeR deVIL &

nAVIdAd nUesTRA

FIRsT BAPTIsT CHURCH

Get ready for a charming and festive evening of holiday cheer based on Hispanic traditions with the pairing of Josefina Niggli’s amusing one-act play, “The Defeat of Grandfather Devil,” and a special Christmas concert featuring Ariel Ramirez’ “Navidad Nuestra,” Saturday/Sunday, December 7-8, 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary at First Baptist Church of Austin (901 Trinity).

Directed by FBC Minister of Music and Worship, Louise Avant, the First Austin Sanctuary Choir and Chaski present the folk drama “Navidad Nuestra,” a Christmas Cantata sung in Spanish centering on the story of the Nativity and performed in the rhythms and traditions of Hispanic America.

“The Defeat of Grandfather Devil” is being produced by Trinity Street Players and is a traditional Pastorela translated and adapted by Josefina Niggli in the humorous tradition of the 12th-Century Spanish Shepherds’ Play.

Theatre artist and director Jésus Pantel and producer Debra Watkins will help you celebrate the holiday season with a short play based on Los Pastores, which has been performed at Christmastime for centuries in Mexico and the southwestern United States.

With a laughable tone, the Spanish-themed play follows the travels of a group of herders as they journey to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Christ. Along the way, they face the harassment of the scheming Grandfather Devil.

Chaski will provide the delightful and festive music for “The Defeat of Grandfather Devil.” Admission is free and donations will be gratefully accepted. Feliz Navidad!

TODO Arts==================================

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JOIN THE EXPERIENCE!For information on becoming an Alliance Partner, volunteering, or supporting our cause, please contact us at: 1400 Smith Rd., 101B. Austin, TX 78721. 512-386-7336

Presents

Celebrating the HolidaysCelebrating the Holidays is an Annual Juried Youth Art Show that represents the best holiday

inspired works by artists ages 4 - 18 from the Austin area.

youth & teen art exhibit

Austin Community Steelband | The Tiarra Girls | ESB-MACC Youth Guitar ClassReception: 6pm Wednesday, December 11

In the Community GalleryEl Colectivo: An exhibit of art and culture by ESB-MACC Students and Education Staff.

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 711 Relay Texas.

La ciudad de Austin está comprometida 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.

600 River Street, Austin, TX 78701 | www.maccaustin.org | 512-974-3772

TODO Austin December 2013

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