CUIDANDO LA COSECHA

CUIDANDO LA COSECHA

By Estefania Bautista

Early in LUNA's history, activists and organizers came together because they saw an opportunity to change the inequality in East San José; however, the shared vision wouldn't become a reality if the activists and organizers couldn’t connect with the community. Thus, these change-makers began conversing with folks in the Tropicana-Lanai neighborhood to hear the community's concerns. These one-on-one conversations presented an opportunity for people to express themselves authentically. Something that history has not always reflected. What made this experience significant were the discussions with individuals who understood the community's livelihood. From the beginning, these activists and organizers clarified that this work cannot be done alone. If any change is to occur, the community must unify to find solutions and turn those ideas into action. The community members who understood the commitment opened their homes for the first house meetings.

“What made this experience significant were the discussions with individuals who understood the community’s livelihood. From the beginning, these activists and organizers clarified that this work cannot be done alone.”

From those house meetings, plans for LUNA's first actions emerged. Starting in January 2014, an action plan brought together about 250 people. The following month, about 300 people participated in another action. Then, in April, an action involved more than 500 people, and then, on May 1, for International Workers' Day, about 6,000 people gathered to protest. The gathering revealed the depths of people tired of the constant inequality. LUNA organizers took people's frustration and asked them to include those emotions in a survey. One that allowed them to formally document what they considered problems and obstacles blocking their ability to improve the quality of life for themselves and their community. LUNA collected and presented 200 survey results in a formal document: "No Podemos Lograr Nada Solos."

This survey's importance continues to resonate today because, since its release, leaders in East San José gained a new perspective: learn from each other, help each other, and trust in your power more than your fears. The wisdom attests within our current chapters, such as Gramercy, who host monthly community cleanups to make their neighborhood a welcoming environment for children to play, or our Valley Palms chapter, which, through different efforts, has fought against rent increases so no more families are displaced; our San Antonio chapter held its first resource fair, something that started as an idea then later became a reality.

Not all seeds planted in 2013 have flowered, but they are still growing. Our organization celebrates this above all: throughout these last few years, empowered visionaries have been committed to continuing to care for the harvest.

This year, our organization celebrates its 10th anniversary to uplift all who have contributed to East San José's history. We invite anyone who feels moved by the love and power of community to join us on August 10 at Mexican Heritage Plaza.

Finally, the LUNA team is proud to continue the work that Salvador “Chava” Bustamante, Jorge Gonzalez, Arturo Gomez, Quetzal Gomez, Ana, Omar Vasquez, Enrique Valencia, Steve Arévalo, and Michelle Cordova started.

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