“The guerilla must move amongst the people as a fish swims in the sea.” — Zedong Mao.
In the context of the movements to create political change in the United States, and especially California and in particular Los Angeles, political organizers need to be able to swim in an inland sea with many tributaries from ponds that contain different populations of fish species. Some of those ponds are integrated to greater or lesser degrees and some of those ponds are for the most part, segregated to a predominant ethnic group.
Lots of groups and leaders talk the talk about “diversity” but when it comes to walking the walk with vigorous, positive efforts at outreach to the many communities and neighborhoods that make up Los Angeles as a whole, they fall short with all too much frequency. I am proud of my own record and the leadership of San Fernando Valley/Northeast Los Angeles Chapter of NOW (National Organization for Women) in helping to build a diverse group of activists. I give kudos to my friend and former National President of NOW, Patricia Ireland, for having seriously pushed diversification during her administration years ago. Unfortunately, her successors have not been as vigorous and committed to internal affirmative action as she was.
On December 17, 2011, we held a joint Holiday Party/Election Meeting for SFV/NELA NOW along with a founding meeting of CALLAC (California League of Latin American Citizens, state affiliate of the National League of Latin American Citizens) at the home of Norma and Jose Luis Ramirez in Arleta (the neighborhood I grew up in, a couple of blocks away). People came from as far as San Diego, Contra Costa, and Tulare counties for the event, drawn both by the content and on the reputation of my “once a year water-smoked turkey” with regular and vegetarian stuffing.
Water smoking is an all night process; yesterday's turkey and stuffing may have been my best ever in decades!
People describe gatherings I put together, both social and political (which are frequently both simultaneously) as veritable “United Nations” events. Yesterday we had in attendance, amongst immigrants alone, two Columbians, one Nicaraguan, one Israeli, one Peruvian and four Mexicans. Angel and Argentina Davila-Luevano, who are respectively the National Vice President and Vice President for the Far West of NLLAC joined us from Northern California.
Entertainment was provided by Carol McArthur (who along with her friend Alejandro performed some of her original songs that are on her outstanding newly released CD How Good it Feels; email me if you want one, they’re only $10 each). Carlos Casarez who graced us with his presence from Dinuba in Tulare County, also entertained and delighted with his own guitar skills.
The newly elected board of SFV/NELA NOW that emerged from the meeting includes:
Co-Presidents: Cynthia Conover & Jan B. Tucker (myself)
Board members: Linda Pruett, Roxana Inga, Dan McCrory, Renata Sdao, Norma Ramirez, Jose Luis Ramirez, Betty Knight, Jeff Belmont, Tina Black, Mia Lee, Patricia Nazario, Kade Sdao, Sandra Luz Gallegos, Carol McArthur, and Deborah Greenspan.
We have LGBTI people and straight people; women and men, immigrants and native born. On our board we have Jews, Atheists, Catholics, Protestants, and Wiccans. We include white, black, brown, yellow and red: A Peruvian, a Native American, Mexicans, a Korean, an African American, and a Puerto Rican-American. But this is nothing to brag about. This is not enough.
Last year we had far more African Americans in attendance. We had a Yoruba from Nigeria in attendance (he tried to make it this year but couldn’t because he had missed his email until too late). In the past we’ve had South Asians and Middle Easterners. We have to do better at attracting them, including them, and empowering them before we can even think of resting on our laurels.
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