A local, student marimba group struck a chord — literally and figuratively — in the ballroom of Sonoma State University Thursday morning.
Serving as the opening act of Los Cien’s 12th annual State of Latino Community Address, the members of Bellevue Union School District’s Play Marimba!, practiced what the event’s emcee and speakers would later preach as vital to the Latino community’s future and well-being: community involvement and investments into the future through culture.
“Belonging isn’t something we wait for, it’s something we create, together,” said Óscar Chávez, president and CEO of the Community Foundation Sonoma County, Los Cien board member and the event’s emcee or so-called “sutradahr,” a Sanskrit word for “the one who holds the thread.”
The county’s largest Latino-serving organization also featured a lineup of two nationally renowned speakers, a Sonoma State University dean and local “rising professionals.” All shared their stories, insight and advice to the audience of 600 on how to approach the coming era with the power of love and importance of storytelling as a way to strengthen the community – particularly for local Latinos.
“We must tell the truth,” said keynote speaker Valarie Kaur, an award-winning activist and author. She addressed genocidal violence, “authoritarian takeover” of the Trump Administration, roving immigration enforcement, racial profiling and the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who was fatally shot earlier this month at Utah Valley University.
Her dialogue centered on focusing on “revolutionary love” as she wove stories of ICE immigration enforcement as well as racially-motivated violence against her Sikh Punjabi family in the wake of 9/11, toward “organizing around love.” Kaur was accompanied by Afghan musician, Qais Essar, who played the rabab, a lute-like instrument from Central Asian, at various points throughout her speech.
María Teresa Kumar, a Colombian-American political activist raised in Sonoma, shared her story as an immigrant and co-founder of Voto Latino, an organization that’s registered over 2.1 million voters in the last 15 years, she said.
Kumar repeatedly encouraged civic participation to garner political leaders’ attention, especially to support causes close to Latinos’ hearts.
“Cause we recognize when we start running for office it’s just not about our leadership, but we also start changing the game. And I have to tell you often times people will say, ‘How do I start?’” she said. “For young people in this room, consider running for school board. Because that’s the biggest change that we can do right now. Get involved.”
Executive Director Herman G. Hernández highlighted a number of Los Cien programs and events – such as its yearly Puentes Y Ganas award — an annual honor given to local Latino youth — and the Bridge Program, a board-leadership training program now in its second cohort, he said.
Speakers mentioned the current presidential administration’s diminishing of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives – such as millions in funding cut from Hispanic Serving Institutions like SSU – and crackdown on immigrants via broader immigration enforcement.
“We need to move into more community connections like we’re doing here today. Foster cultural awareness, linguistic awareness and support personal growth,” said Dr. Laura Alamillo, Dean of College of Education at Sonoma State University.
The panel of rising professionals, moderated by Tramaine Austin-Dillon and featured Gricelda Correa, Danny Chaparro, Josue Chavez and Reynalda Cruz, shared their experiences in today’s world, from ways they care for themselves, how they confront challenges, and how they show up for others in their community.
The event closed with comments by Lisa Carreño, Los Cien’s board chair, as well as president and CEO of United Way of the Wine Country.
“The future belongs to those of us who believe in the beauty of our dreams,” she said.