Announcements

Venezuela, once known for its a pro-Washington politics, has given rise to President Hugo Chávez’s “socialism for the 21st century” and anti-imperialist defiance. Ever since a US-backed coup in 2002 failed to oust Chávez, he has been Bush’s most bitter critic on the world stage. Now, backed by Venezuela’s poor majority and with the leverage of an oil-driven economy, Chávez is attempting to consolidate what he calls the “Bolivarian revolution,” named for the leader of the 19th century wars of independence. On the Venezuelan left, however, there is a debate about how to really achieve “socialism for the 21st century.” Come to a presentation and discussion on Venezuela’s revolutionary process and what it will take to win self-emancipation for the workers of Venezuela.

What up world. Tommorrow night i will be playing with a lot of other folks to raise funds for Resistencia Bookstore’s S.O.Y. project.

If you wanna hear me play some cumbias and Fania joints show up early!

Here is the info:

The event will feature music by Cerronato, an authentic yet innovative version of Colombian vallenato & cumbia with a mix of traditional & original tunes, Ocote Soul Sounds (solo) aka Martin Perna (Antibalas, TV on the Radio) sometimes psychedelic latin funk, sometimes 21st century digital trova and nueva cancion, this music comes siempre from the soul, siempre con sabor, and DJ E Be Lo on the 1’s & 2’s spinning a diverse blend of beats including cumbias, hip-hop, soul and funk.

Spoken word performances by Chicana poet/activist Erika Gonzalez, and SOY student/poets from Johnston High School, Phylicia Fabian, Saray Rosales, and Oscar Valenzuela, under the direction of Johnston High School teacher Camille DePrang.

Special guests include Santos Ruiz with B-Boy City and SaulPaul, Tower to Tower: one man’s story of how he went from a Texas jail cell to graduation from UT Austin.

Graffiti art for sale by Nate Nordstrom and raffles with art, photography by Sandra Dahdah, books from Resistencia Bookstore, and tattoo gift certificates from Ancient Ink Tattoo. All proceeds will go to the SOY project to publish the writings of the Johnston High School poets.

Join us to honor & celebrate the young voices of the Eastside!

This Spring, SOY conducted a two month intensive writing clinic with Johnston High School students under the supervision of Camille DePrang. Facilitated by raulrsalinas & Rene Valdez, SOY engaged the students with relevant issues affecting their communities and inspired them draw from their own life-stories to write poems or “medicine stories” on subjects such as TAK’s testing, racism, family, culture and liberation.

Here is a link to a recent article from the Austin Chronicle about the students struggle and the workshops at Johnston:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A479765

Resistencia Bookstore, casa de Red Salmon Arts
1801-A South First St.
Austin, Tejas
512-416-8885