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More Than A Painting On The Wall

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Back in the fall of 2011, leaders of the CAPACES Leadership Institute met with Woodburn city council officials for approval to paint a mural on the exterior of their building. Reluctance from the city to pass an ordinance allowing for publicly displayed murals led to a campaign that has since been known as the CLI Mural Civic Engagement Campaign.

Fast-forward to 2013–After several testimonies, the passage of a mural ordinance, the creation of a Public Mural Art Committee, and a mural design submission, the day the CLI has been waiting for has arrived: A vote by the Woodburn Public Mural Art Committee to approve painting for the CLI’s mural design (set for Tuesday, June 26th).

On the heels of an historic vote by the city to allow for the CLI to paint a mural that will stand as a monumental landmark, we’ve interviewed mural organizer Dalila Ortiz for her perspective on the campaign she has helped lead:

Q: Tell us about the Civic Mural Civic Engagement Campaign and the Mural Project?

A: The mural campaign was an opportunity not just to paint, but to bring the community to paint a farmworker mural that represents the community. The goals of the campaign were:

1) Paint a mural that would reflect the contributions of the farmworker community,

2) Work with farmworker families to engage the Woodburn City Council to change its city ordinance,

3) Bring in a well-rounded muralist in Juanishi Orosco, who painted PCUN’s mural, to paint the CLI mural and mentor for young local artists,

4) Foster a community building activity that would bring together the Woodburn community and facilitate a dialogue about farmworker contributions.

Q: What phase is the CLI mural currently in?

A: We are awaiting a public hearing for Tuesday, June 26th. On that day, we hope to get the Woodburn Public Art Mural Committee, appointed by the city council, to approve our application and the mural design we have submitted.

Once passed, we hope to have our mural painting kick-off on July 13th, which coincides with the CLI’s second anniversary as an organization.

Q: The CLI faced many obstacles in passing a mural ordinance, what was the turning point?

A: After the city dismissed our desire to paint a mural, we went back to the community. I had many discussions with families, where we received a lot of input and feedback. The community began to take ownership of the mural and the idea that it could serve as a narrative of the contributions of farmworkers.

Once the community took ownership, the city council began hearing swarms of testimony in support of a mural ordinance. I think the city council soon realized that they no longer held the views of the community and felt compelled to work with us in passing an ordinance.

Dalila (left) and Juanishi (right). Dalila has led the mural civic engagement campaign, that hopes aims to get city approval to paint a mural at the CLI. Juanishi, aims to lead the mural painting.

Q: Wow! Changing gears now, tell us about the design of the mural?

A: The design of the mural encompasses the elements of the surrounding community from the perspective of the farmworker. For example, the design incorporates the image of farmworkers picking berries and a woman holding tulips, a reflection of the existing industry in the mid-Willamette Valley. The mural also includes images from our past such as Japanese workers in the mid-Willamette valley pre-world war II and of the more recent image of Latinos voting in the 2012 election.

The mural also carries heavy symbols of education, emphasizing how important education is for the community, and tying the role of the Institute.

Q: Who will be involved in painting?

A: Juanishi Orosco will be the lead muralist, and will be accompanied by hand-picked painters to help lead the mural painting. Juanishi, as many may or may not know, helped paint the iconic PCUN mural displayed in their Riseberg hall. We will also have the community at-large to help paint the mural. We’ll have farmworker families, youth, and other leaders coming in to help paint.

PCUN Mural by Juanishi Orosco

Q: How can people help?

A: People can help by contributing their time to come down to the leadership institute and help paint. Generally we’ll be painting between 10:00am and 7:00pm. Another way for folks to help is by making a donation, to help us fund the painting. We’ll come out with more information on both soon.

Q: What does the mural mean for the movement?

A: The mural is a landmark, it portray the history of Woodburn through the eyes of the farmworker. It will raise-consciousness for people driving by of a history not often told.

Q: Finally, What does the mural mean for the community, and the families who worked with you to change the mural ordinance?

A: It feels like we, Latinos and farmworkers, are finally being acknowledged. That we are not a “hidden” community and it brings pride to know that our contributions to the community are being recognized. This project means so much more than a painting on a wall.

Coming soon… Mural Design unveiling…

Formal Education Meets Popular Education: A Test Drive for CAPACES 101

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Ever entered a lecture hall anticipating dialogue, a sharing of ideas, values and experience only to receive… well, a lecture? This form of education is common in many universities across the  country, which explains why this past April many OSU students were in for a surprise as they arrived in Woodburn to participate (or take a test drive) in CAPACES 101, one of the CAPACES Leadership Institute’s (CLI) popular education courses.

The partnership between the CLI and OSU’s Advanced Spanish Coordinated Studies Program led by Loren Chavarria included five Tuesday sessions in the CLI’s facility in Woodburn and volunteer opportunities with CLI’s youth program TURNO, Radio Movimiento, and FHDC to name a few.

Popular education, often described as education for critical consciousness, has Latin America traditions that often targeted low-income and marginalized communities. The concept: rather than have top-down teaching such as teacher-pupil, we have peer-to-peer teaching initiated by a facilitator. The premise: that no matter what occupation, income bracket, and level of formal education, everyone can participate and contribute by drawing upon their life experience or through engaging activities described as dinimicas. CAPACES 101, a five-session, ten hour course covers:

  • CAPACES 101 Introduction, which provides an overview of the CAPACES 101 format based on popular education, which utilizes a facilitator, who leads discussion, draws from the audience’s experiences.

  • Historias y Logros or our History and Struggle, which provides a brief description of the history of the movement, from PCUN’s (Oregon farmworker union) humble beginnings to the development of other organizations.

  • Valores e Ideas Claves del Movimiento or Values and Ideas of the Movement, which provides the key values and ideas of the CAPACES movement and identifying what they mean to us and their importance.

  • Los “Ismos” or the “Isms”, which aims to uncover our own prejudices and offer tools to analyze the different isms and phobias such as: racism, institutional racism, sexism (machismo), and homophobia.

  • Riquezas y Convenios Colectivos or Wealth and Collective Bargaining, which covers the concepts of wealth, who possesses it, and uncovering our own personal assumptions. The class also covers the importance of Collective Bargaining in relationship to the farmworker movement.

“This course and experience was all around wonderful. It met our program’s objectives of our five C’s (Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities) as well as the additional area of
Consciousness.” Said OSU faculty member Loren Chavarria

 “It was great for the CLI staff to be able to connect the formal education with the world of popular education. I think everyone had fun and learned a lot from one another.” Shared Executive Director Laura Isiordia.

A Tale of Two Paths: A Path to Education and a Path to Leadership

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Two weeks ago, the CAPACES Leadership Institute hosted the  Tom Ruhl Scholarship Fund Gathering, a fundraising event for a Marylhurst University scholarship to benefit young Latino leaders who face barriers to higher education. Former Governor Barbara Roberts, a Marylhurst University grad, headlined the program, offering a reading of her book Up the Capitol Steps for the 100 plus people in attendance.

Dalila Ortiz, the CLI’s special projects coordinator, was announced as the first recipient of   the Tom Ruhl Scholarship. Here’s what she had to say:

“Thank you Marylhurst University! Because of you, students like me will have the opportunity to reach their dream of going to a university!” 
Dalila, who arrived to US when she was fourteen, became involved with FHDC’s Nuevo Amanacer’s after school program as a volunteer and later became a full time organizer, helping connect farmworker families to social services. Dalila will enroll at Marylhurst University in the fall of 2013 and  hopes to use her education  to give back to the community and the movement she calls home.
Following the event, Barbara Roberts spoke with several  youth leaders from the CLI’s TURNO program about her path to leadership, more specifically her Governorship.
“It was great to hear a women leader, who was governor, describe her hardships and how she overcame her challenges. She made me believe that my dreams mattered and that I too can be leader in my community, maybe even a Governor! My education and leadership development are my keys to that dream.”—Julizza Ramirez, 16

Oregon Arts Commission Grants CLI’s Farmworker Struggle Mural!

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This past January, the Oregon Arts Commission granted $6,500 for the CLI’s Farmworker Struggle Mural through it’s Arts Builds Communities (ABC) grant.

The mural project, which hopes to paint the first mural in the city of Woodburn, will be lead by world renowned muralist Juanishi Orosco. The project will begin this spring and will conclude at the end of the summer through an unveiling ceremony.

The Oregon arts Commission is a champion of the arts in Oregon who believe that the arts make Oregon a stronger, better place to live and work. The Oregon Arts commission granted $114,000 in Arts Build Communities (ABC Grant) grant program this year. The Commission is able to support community arts development projects, such as the Farmworker Struggle Mural, through a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more volunteer opportunities contact Dalila Ortiz at dalilao@capacesleadership.org

Interested in funding the Mural project? Contact ranfisv@capacesleadership.org

 

Save The Date: Former Governor Barbara Roberts to Speak at Gathering

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The CAPACES Leadership Institute (CLI) invites you to meet the first Tom Ruhl Scholarship gathering, where a candidate will be revealed. Our special guest will be former Governor Barbara Roberts who will be  reading from her autobiography, Up The Capitol Steps. The event is free, but donations will be  requested for the benefit of the scholarship fund.

Following the reading, we will step next door to the fabulous new home of the CLI for a reception and book-signing. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information on the CLI and the Tom Ruhl Scholarship Fund check out: http://capacesleadership.org/tom-ruhl-scholarship-fund/

When: Wednesday, March 20th  Time: 7pm

Where: PCUN’s Risberg Hall, 300 Young st, Woodburn, OR 97071

 

For more information contact: Ranfis Villatoro, (971)242-9964 or ranfisv@capacesleadership.org