In honor of Pride Month, we are celebrating LGBTQ+, Latinx-owned businesses in San Francisco. If youâre interested in a delicious rainbow alfajor, a beautiful fashion piece, or making art with other Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), we encourage you to explore these businesses. Alfajores Narciso is a Peruvian bakery established in 2012 by Patricia […]
Posted inBooks
Chicana feminist author Ana Castillo releases latest work, âDoña Cleanwell Leaves Home: Storiesâ
This review is a bookend on the shelf. On one end of the shelf is 1987, when I was an El Tecolote employee and reviewed Ana Castilloâs first novel, âThe Mixquiahuala Letters.â I loved it and felt lucky to meet her at the now-gone CafĂ© Nidal near the [former] AcciĂłn Latina office. The other end […]
Posted inNews
Nowhere to Turn: Few Legal Paths for Migrants Fleeing War, Hunger and Climate Change
From the shores of Greece to the U.S. southern border, across Turkey, North Africa and along the length of the Americaâs, the flow of humanity fleeing war, violence, poverty, and hunger is rising year-by-year. And, experts say, government policies are exacerbating this growing humanitarian catastrophe even as climate change threatens to swell migrant numbers to […]
Posted inDevil's Advocate
The Devilâs Advocate: Frida and Diego color the San Francisco Opera
I attended the latest production of the SF Opera: âEL Ășltimo sueño de Frida y Diego,â (âThe last dream of Frida and Diegoâ). These two iconic Mexican political and artistic figures strongly enhanced the 20th Century. The ongoing fascination with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area, was strongly nurtured […]
Posted inNews
Reimagining Art In Community Education Spaces: Q&A with inaugural art fellowsÂ
Name: Ariana Martinez-Cruz Alias: Sew Frisco Age: 35 Occupation: Embroidery & Fiber Artist, Costume Designer & Owner/operator of our family cleaning business with my partner Victor Cruz Hometown: San Francisco How would you describe your art? Memories and or statements brought to life through intentionally sourced layers of fabrics, thread, and beadwork. My artwork can […]
Posted inNews
âThey Needed a New Targetâ â Wave of Anti-Trans Laws Sweep State Houses
A North Carolina native, Sailor Jones is a longtime organizer and community advocate who for more than two decades has fought for social justice in his state. As a member of the trans community, that fight has now taken on renewed urgency. âThis is my home. This is my North Carolina and Iâm not going […]
Posted inNews
Opinion: Time is Ripe for More Poetry
The recent brouhaha in Florida about banning Amanda Gormanâs poem âThe Hill We Climb,â is actually more about the reading level of adults in this country, like Daily Salinas, who first protested the poem than about the content and context of the poem. The question that should be on everyoneâs mind is this: how is […]
Posted inNews
Salvadoran choreographer celebrates culture, pride through dance
From cumbia, folklĂłrico, salsa, tango, zumba and more, Salvadoran dancer Jâaime Martinez-Castro has been sharing and teaching his dance skills in San Francisco for 33 years. Castro is the owner and artist director of Latin American Workout, where he not only teaches dance and fitness classes, but also the art, music, and culture of Central […]
Posted inNews
The Devilâs Advocate: Indelible moments
As we travel through life, we are gathering experiences. Good and bad. Some experiences clearly stand out, from the very moment they took place. They also have a soundtrack: the words that were spoken when those events took place. Generally, we treasure the unmistakably positive. Although that which is initially negative, as time passes, might […]
Posted inNews
In wake of Mission shooting, our community needs healing
A drive-by shooting in the Missionâs 24th street corridor left nine injured Friday night, posing the question as to how our community can heal from violence. SFPD Captain Thomas Harvey said that all nine victims are expected to live. One had sustained more serious injuries when they were hit in the abdomen. Legislative Aide to […]