ABOUT THE PROJECT: A CHARRO FOR CHANGE

You must tell your own story, so it is not told for you. This is what is at stake for our community if we do not take control of the pen writing the story of our community in real time, or worse no story is written at all.

I lived a unique, but also common narrative growing up male in the Folklorista community across the American southwest. 20 years of being involved in this community across its many legacies and paradigms has brought me to a sense of urgency to strengthening this social practice within community solidarity, reforming cultural diaspora, and as a performing art. 

The strides made in literature, on-going festivals, coalitions, and social media within the last 20 years are several. However, I feel more needs to be done. So here you are and here I am ready to dive into crucial conversations in the "-isms" of folklorico blanketed by complacency and power dynamics. It can be the unique and common narratives we share, the social capital we share to benefit, or the sense of urgency to address issues that are harming this cultural, community space. All of these elements brought myself to start the project A Charro For Change.

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Ever since I launched this project, I have received positive support from folkloristas in the southwest. To see what I am up to, browse the site, learn about the passions I share with others, and explore what excites and interests you as well. 

Vision:

The A Charro for Change (C4C) project aims to address areas of complacency and lack of access in the folklorista Bay Area community to create crucially needed conversations to spark change to build such as, but not limited to, male folklorista retention, a more gender neutral and supportive space, and the communal mantra of being all from the same community. 

Plan of Action:

1) Address issues that affect our folklorista community on a public, social media platform.
2) Create an interpretative and thematic dance presentation reflecting our vision with recruited younger males as mentees.
3) Create a leadership and learning space such as an academy for folklorista youth in the Bay Area.

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