Itzel Garcia
This interview is with Itzel Garcia, an indigenous Mexican-American who works in cultural education. Having grown up as part of a migrant family living in The Valley, Itzel speaks about how police brutality, alienation from American culture, and the legacy of colonization have all impacted her life. She shares her experience of connecting with the indigenous imagination and Mexica tradition through her work at Academia Cuauhtli, the impact that work has on her and the Latin American community in Austin, and how that work has shifted during the pandemic.
María Del Carmen Unda
This interview is with María Del Carmen Unda, a doctoral student and community organizer in Austin, Texas. Maria was born and raised in California, later moving to Texas when she enrolled as a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin. Through relationships with her professors, Maria was exposed to activist movements in Austin, inspiring her to join as a program coordinator at Academia Cuauhtli, a weekend cultural revitalization school. Maria shares her experiences as an activist, teacher, and her perspective on decolonizing education for students. She also discusses the ways in which the pandemic has affected Academia Cuauhtli and the community.
Jessica Pires-Jancose
This interview is with Jessica Pires-Jancose, an abortion rights organizer working for Avow Texas in Dallas, TX. Jessica talks about moving around a lot in their childhood and their impressions of the different places they have lived. She describes relationships with her family and her heritage, including exploring gender with her sibling and getting in touch with her Goan roots. Jessica reflects on the lessons they have learned from working in the reproductive healthcare field, such as the importance of intersectional knowledge and care. She also shares the challenges of the field, both combating anti-abortion legislation and getting democratic lawmakers to be bold in their support of abortion access.