On February 5, 2011, the Raza Press and Media Association (RPMA) meet at the Rodolfo Acuña Gallery and Cultural Center in Oxnard, CA. The following are minutes of this meeting.
After the meeting, members attended the film screening and discussion of “Yo Soy El Army-America’s New Military Caste,” with guest presentation by the film’s director Marco Amador at the same location.
AGENDA
1:00 PM Welcome/Introduction
Meeting was called to order and facilitated by Ernesto Bustillos
I. GUERRILLERA/O DE LA PLUMA AWARD 2010:
A. The RPMA recognized Luis Moreno as the winner of the RPMA Guerrillera/o Award for 2010. A short biography and tribute to Luis Moreno is found in the winter issue of the RPMA’s journal, Guerrilleras/os de La Pluma.
II. MEMBER REPORTS:
A. Ben Prado: Compa Ben is the editor of La Verdad (newspaper of Unión del Barrio) and El Pueblo Unido (Raza Rights Coalition), and maintains the facebook and web sites for these organizations.
B. Antonio Velazquez: Through Clavo En El Corazon is working to publish a three volume collections of social/political commentaries.
C. Lucia Laguna: Lucia is currently working on producing a youth newsletter in the area of Sylmar/San Fernando and coordinating the publicity work of Uníon del Barrio in Los Angeles region.
D. Erika Garcia: Came to meeting to observer/participate and is currently working with the Southern California Immigration Coalition’s (SCIC) outreach to the community.
E. Marc Baca: As member of its “press committee” of the SCIC is working on its newsletter and assisting the RPMA with editing of materials.
F. Jose Moreno/Luis Moreno: Presently living in East Lansing, MI, they sent their report via e-mail. They have produced two issues of Guerrilleras/os de La Pluma (Fall and Winter 2010), regularly updated the RPMA web site, created several podcasts with Radio Free Aztlán, assisted the Save Our Barrio Coalition with their web site, and worked as part of/members of the Xicano Development Center in Lansing, MI.
G. Ernesto Bustillos: Worked on the propaganda for the Save Our Barrio Coalition (flyers, posters, pamphlets, and flyers), is the editor of Las Calles Y La Torcida (newsletter of the Chicano Mexicano Prison Project), and is part of the Association of Raza Educator’s (San Diego) publicity committee.
III. REPORT FROM COORDINATOR/MESA MEMBERS:
A. Membership/Organization (Francisco Romero): Reported on using social media networking (internet posts, facebook, and email messages) with the objective of informing and recruiting for the RPMA. Every member will sent a minimum of two contacts (individual or publication/organization) who should be officially approach for membership in the RMPA. Compa Francisco will follow-up. Francisco will develop a list of individuals who will serve as an advisory committee. RMPA members will contribute to the list and finalize the advisory committee by next general meeting.
B. Finances (Antonio Velazquez): Ideas for raising funds were discussed. At next general meeting, every member will present a fund raising project –that they themselves will be responsible for its implementation– for approval by general membership.
C. Coordinator (Ernesto Bustillos): See Coordinator’s Report.
D. Web-Site (Luis Moreno): Discussion took place on web site. Everyone recognized its importance and excellent postings. Ideas to making the site more user friendly were brought up. Any suggestions will be discussed at the next general meeting.
V. UPDATE ON RPMA PROJECTS
A. Guerrillero/as de La Pluma: Everyone felt the last issue was excellent. Deadline for next issue is Feb. 20, 2011; the theme/central topic of the Spring 2011 issue will be “Genocide, Colonialism, Academia, and the Media”. We will request that contributor’s write/or express themselves from a media perspective.
B. Web Site: We will discuss this area of work at our next meeting.
C. Finances/Fundraising: See above in Mesa reports.
D. Membership: See above in Mesa reports.
E. International Delegation: Ernesto presented a general description on a delegation to visit Nicaragua, in late June or early July. The report included costs. areas of work/activities, the itinerary, etc. Five people committed to participating, pending monetary/personal situations: Ben, Ernesto, Lucia, Antonio, and Francisco. Several fundraisers for the delegation will take place. Francisco and Lucia will lead this work.
D. Publications: The publishing of two books is pending.
VI. DISCUSSION
On the current ” Attacks on Ethnic Studies and Campaign of Repression Against La Raza (Racist Laws, Deportations, etc). Through several round tables, this discussion took place from a media perspective (the role of the media on our oppression) and what the RPMA can do to counter/or put an end to this oppression. We encourage members to write articles that “report” on Raza responses (actions, press conferences, etc.) to current attacks. Express our anger with the dynamics a situation where many of those (professors, teachers, etc.) who should be on the front lines of this struggle (in an active way), are silent. As media workers struggle to “reframe” the debate from a defensive mode, to one that exposes the colonial/capitalism system as the real source of all social/political/economic problems. Article is being written by Pablo Aceves and edited by Marc Baca on this particular issue.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 2:30PM