Week 1 (by Bridget Rojas)
Hurrah!!! First post of the 4th year of L.A. Rooted!! I’m so glad to be writing the blog again this year. The first week went by like a breeze. Day 1 we talked about pedestrian safety because, “We take safety very seriously.”- Rio. Right before snack time we talked about resilience and using our special talents to help the community. After exploring a bit around the Vista Hermosa Park, we went to another part of the park and talked about the San Gabriel Mountains and how we need to protect all open green spaces. Next, they gave us plants and we all gave each of our own plants a name, (don’t judge I named mine William), and we were given a project where we had to take a picture with our plants at places where we thought a native garden was needed. At the end of the day we talked about love, respect, and discipline. Which by far was my favorite part.
Day 2 was a blast as well. We had our first biking day and we went up the Court St hill twice, (thanks a lot Rio!!!), and later talked about nature and health. We also had a great lunch from the Wednesday Crew and we had a bit of free time. (Which included a race to the restrooms with a fellow camp-mate named, Jeremaya). A while after that w separated into 2 different groups and made sure everyone had their biking skills in order. Rio taught us comeback students to new bike skills that personally scared the bejeezers out of me called Rock Dodge and Quick Stop. (According to Rio, these skills are usually taught to adults…but i guess you’re going to teach them to us anyways…RIO! Once a savage, always a savage, that’s my Rio. Later on, when we got back to the firehouse, we had two workshops. The first was with Joy where we talked about the exhibit and learned how there are different jobs for everyone working in an exhibition. The second workshop was with Sandra where we learned more about field notes and how you can take samples of things called “rubbings”. Overall it was a great day.
Day 3 was by far my favorite. We biked up and down hills to Rio’s house. The sweat nearly drenching my whole face, biking up those hills was a challenge and I could feel my legs growing new muscles. After packing our bikes in the back of Rio’s house we go to have a seed discussion with Annabelle and we learn from her how herbs can be used for a tea or for steaming. I’d recommend both. Herbs can also be used as an alternative to using prescription or over-the-counter drugs. It’s both great for your body and an amazing feeling. It feels like all the negative energy in you is getting washed out. Later, we had my favorite lunch of the week, quinoa with tomatoes, kale, and cucumber. Alongside it, pinto beans and orange slices. The quinoa salad was just wonderfully delicious, I went for seconds, thirds, and fourths. The coolest part of the day was the cipher we did, which is like a musical/sound mash-up. Then, afterwards we did a little meditation and tasted bougambilia oil and we all had our own little visions or memories while meditating. My vision was first I saw a little green plant growing out of the ground and then it turned into the bougambilia flower and there was a beautiful sunset in the background. Finally we went back to Camp HQ and of course we had the ups and downs of the hill, which made me realize that the hills in Echo Park are a great representation of life. You have your ups and your downs but you gotta get from A to B somehow and in the end its worth it. Walking home from camp, my face was redder than a clown’s nose but, heck I was happy after a great first week of camp.
~by Bridget Rojas
Wishtoyo/Chumash Village Camping Trip -By: Bridget RojasI
Although it may have been a bit difficult to fall asleep last night, the camp fire we fell asleep to was extremely relaxing. As the second day of our wonderful camping began attacking about 7 o’clock in the morning, all the little, and big, sleepy heads were awoken with the blow of Mati’s beautiful sounding shell. Next, we had a delightful breakfast which was oatmeal, apples and my favorite…BANANAS!!! 🍌🍌🍌 .
Afterwards, we had a morning ceremony to the Sun which was very enjoyable and gave me a bit of energy. Then we all got ready for a small walk, (although some called it a hike), to the beach. By far I think the beach was my favorite part of the camping trip. Anyway, we walked along the shoreline of the beach and even though it took awhile to find a good spot we finally found one!!! We all set down our things and I dived right into the waves. They were much bigger than the day before but I think it was a challenge from Poseidon to me. For me to get out all the courage inside of me and use my energy to dive into the much bigger waves he was throwing my way.🌊☀️💦.
After about an hour and a half, the waves seemed to have given me some muscles becaus my arms and legs felt tight, sore, and I was kind of cold.😬😬. Everyone started cleaning themselves and getting ready for lunch. After we all had a tofurkey or meat sandwich, we started doing arts and crafts and made appreciation bracelets, or necklaces, or keychains for the following Closing/Appreciation Ceremony.
When the meaningful, moving, and emotional ceremony ended everyone said their THANK YOUS and GOODBYES. We all left with both sadness of our departure and happiness of all the new things we have learned. I would personally like to thank everyone for being there with me on the camping trip. I loved it so much.😍💖⛺️
A Trip to the Chumash Village by Jose Chavez
We arrived at the Chumash Village where we were welcomed in open Arms. There we met the Chumash elders and leader of the village. As soon as we got settled in with in packing our bags and setting up our sleeping bags, we began ceremonies and as well a small taste of hiking into the woods. The Chumash people explained to LA Rooted about the roots of the Chumash people and the struggles they endured in today’s day. They also expressed there culture to us and how things were done within there village. After this, we had a chance to go to the beach which was very close to the village. The water was clear, but a bit rigorous due to the waves. However, that didn’t stop LA Rooted, as we swam through the tough waves and had fun doing so.
The night then came, and we watched a video in the ceremony lounge. The video explained to us about how the Indians who lived here first before the Americas were “discovered”, were mistreated and taken advantage of. After, we went into the ops as we slept through the night with the fire lit ready to wake up for day 2 in the Chumash Village.
LA Rooted Closing Ceremony – Saturday, July 25th
Come join us for the closing ceremony of LA Rooted’s 2015 summer program!
The event includes an exhibit that features photography, artwork and other installations made by the LA Rooted Youth throughout the summer.
There will also be a silent auction and some itemsfor sale, with all proceeds going to benefit LA Rooted programming!
More details coming soon.
Saturday, July 25th
4pm-8pm
534 E. Edgeware, Los Angeles 90026
For more information please email info@losangelesrooted.org or call us at 323-452-3707.
Tuesday, July 14th -by Bridget Rojas (3rd week)
As I arrived to the firehouse today, I could already feel the astonishing aura of the coming day. We did some rejuvenating yoga and “time traveled” to the Chumash people and listened to Jo’s soothing voice, smelled the fog of the burning sage nearby, and saw deep inside our imaginations. Next, we went over our camping list and made sure that we had all our quintessential items within our bags. Such as extra underwear which Rio very adamantly suggested we twirl in the air to be absolutely positive. But instead, most of us just laughed about it.
Afterwards we were rolling out of the firehouse ended up going up an abundant amount of steep hills. Which I couldn’t “bear” to bike up. ( Lol. Inside jokes between Rio and I.) Anyways, we started a Mural workshop and talked about why images can have so much meaning to them. My personal favorite was a gorgeous mural on the displacement of Chavez Ravine.
Finally, we had our potato/ starch-filled lunch which was gladly made with love by Anabel, Cynthia, Javi, Michael, Zumi, And Karo. And I have to say I’m ecstatic that someone finally got me to like potatoes!!!! While we ate our infinitely amazing lunch we all happily watched a wonderful Disney classic called Lilo & Stitch on Netflix. I’m pretty sure that today was one of L.A. Rooted’s best days.
~Bridget Rojas, L.A. Rooted: 3rd Year Alumni
P.S. -CANNOT WAIT FOR OUR CAMPING TRIP TOMORROW!!!!
Rhythmic Resistance: SAMBA!
SAMBA!!! This Sunday 3-5pm at RAC, 2515 W. 7th St, 90057
As one of our Fire Keepers put it: “We will be lucky if we look like this baby!!”
Sunday’s instructor: Jenny Garcia loves to dance! She has been dancing samba for over ten years. She currently dances with the company Samba N’Motion and has taught samba classes at CityArts! in Providence, Rhode Island, Brasil Brasil Cultural Center in Los Angeles, and Capoeira Mandinga in Beijing, China. In the past she has danced with New Works/ World Traditions, Critical Mass Dance Company, and Mezcla Latino Dance Company. She is currently a full time student of Traditional Chinese Medicine and treats patients with acupuncture, herbs, and nutrition in the clinic at Yo San University. She hopes to open a healing center in the future which will offer movement and holistic healing, and be a resource for social justice movements.
Samba Dance Class:
Samba is a dance form from Brazil and has many variations, but one basic step. This class is for all levels and is about having fun, moving, improvising, and responding to the music and to each other.
Rhythmic Resistance: Dance for Freedom is a series of dance classes that will help raise funds for Youth stipends. A project of Los Angeles Rooted, participants of Rhythmic Resistance will not only learn some great moves, but will also get a history lesson on the transformative and revolutionary aspects of several genres of music.
It is a 5 week series starting Sunday July 5 from 3-5pm.
The classes will take place at the space of Revolutionary Autonomous Communities (RAC), 2515 7th St, Los Angeles 90057. We will have day care and delicious energizing drinks.
$10.00 each if you bring a buddy or $15.00 individual. Tickets will be sold at the door.
In the coming weeks we will explore Samba, from Brazil, hip-hop, Latin Cumbia and Merengue, and modern dance. Uplifting our health, spiritual vibration and gathering dancing tools to empower ourselves and our communities.
Thursday, July 9th (2nd week)- By Bridget Rojas
As we come to the end of our second week we all gravitate closer and closer together. Today as we were riding to Mac Arthur Park everyone’s communication on the road was excellent. I saw those beautiful little hand signals and heard the shouts of POTHOLES BEHIND and CARS AHEAD!!!
When we arrived at Mac Arthur Park we had free time, unknowingly waiting for the wondrous and mouth-watering lunch. One of the reasons it was so mouth-watering was because we were doing food meditation and had to compose ourselves ( especially me in particular ) from devouring the bean-and-cheese pupusas to the very last crumb. (Although it was quite refreshing to thank all the hard work just to get those dainty little pupusas to our plates.)
I think our photo activity right BEFORE lunch, (pardon my lack of sequence), was one of my favorite parts of the day. We all chose themes that appealed to us and I chose mine as Mobility and Movement. I specifically remember this little black duck that stood in the edge of a mini island with his wings up on both sides expanded to their extent. And he was just standing still like that ready to dual another. (Or so we assumed.)
Anyways, afterwards we went to RAC (Recreational Autonomous Community) and learned about how to make an Aquaponics system. Everyone loved the hands-on work in order to make one. Aquaponics, according to Brenda (one of our little wavy-haired teachers), is a way of growing plants using fish waste (fish poop). It works in the same way as putting fertilizer (or manuer) in a pot with soil. Everyone loved it and it was much more fun than I anticipated. But, then again I’ve always had high expectations for L.A. Rooted.
~Bridget Rojas 3rd Year L.A. Rooted Alumni
Day 5 (Wednesday, July 8) by Jose Chavez
Today we did intense bike riding. The ride was full of hills and uphills. The ride today was also longer than yesterday’s ride. Our destination was at the Los Angeles River, where we met up with Emily. There, we went to explore the river, and travel inside the little “jungle.” After, we ate some delicious lunch, that our awesome Wood Gatherers go out of their way to bring to us.
Then we did some yoga! This time spent relaxed our amazing bodies. Some of us even fell asleep…we then biked back, and went on a journey to see more of our city. The journey back reminded all of us of biker safety. And to keep the children safe…
When bicycling on the road, it’s important to have self awareness. All in all, another great day today, and can’t wait what’s in store for us tomorrow!
Los Angeles Rooted 