What does it mean to come from the Border? Joe Moody says,“This is an incredibly accepting culture. It’s bi-national, an intersection of so many different people. You have got, I don’t know, 50, 60, 70 thousand people in El Paso that go to work every day across the border. And vice versa. People have family there or they go for medical servcies over there. And back and forth and so there’s this vibrant bi-national culture. It just seeps into who you are when you are born here.”  

The Borderland’s own Gloria Aguilera Terry leads the Texas Council on Family Violence, one of the most effective anti-violence agencies in the county. She splits her time between El Paso and Austin: “First and foremost El Paso will be home…I lived in El Paso my entire life to my mid-forties and took this leap of faith – you know go run this statewide organization and see what comes of it.” But what’s this 5 foot tall powerhouse doing in her spare time? Triking.

“I fell in love with storytelling early in life.” The leader of Teatro Neplanta and the Borderland Players, Adam came back to El Paso to practice his art. In a world in which everything seems like it’s already been done, actor and theater trouper Adam Zarowski knows how to innovate. 

What does it mean to be in a band? “I gravitate towards music. That’s my art expression. You can reach so many different people with the same instrument but playing it differently evokes different emotions in people…When the lights come on, the world changes for me.”    

A singer, former newscaster, community activist and attorney, I called Erica a chameleon. “At my core, I am a story teller. If I just say, ‘Who am I?’, and I have to, you know, narrow it down, I really think its about story telling. Because even in the fighting, even in the advocacy work that I do, even in the reason in coming back to El Paso, and being a volunteer for the immigration work and working in the County Attorney’s office, which is all about advocacy and helping the community, it’s still, ‘Let me get this story from these people and explain it in a way that will try to make a difference.’ Like how can I move you, how can I compel you to help this effort or to be a part of it.

Dr. Richeson tells us, “I am a clinical psychologist and my heart and soul is that. I always wanted to help people…but that’s something you learn early on. How to let someone into your heart without damaging your heart.” Despite experiencing significant trauma in her life, she has come to appreciate her experinces: “That’s the evolution. If I value me today, I have to value those things. It doesn’t mean that I liked them. It doesn’t mean they didn’t hurt. It doesn’t mean they won’t continue to hurt.”  

For more information on the story behind Jennifer Ann's Group, here is a news story from a previous guest Stephanie Valle

https://www.facebook.com/StephanieValleNEWS/videos/borderland-crimes-podcast-20-keeping-a-killer-incarcerated/7485826381534025/

Zuleiva Maldonado readily smiles and laughs in this episode and in fact every day despite a lived experience ranking as one of the most difficult and challenging I have heard. A Mexican, an American, a mom, a daughter, an adovcate, Zuleiva channels compassion in her life and work. Listen in for how, in her practice of the Art of the Calavera Catrina, Zuleiva rises again and lives and succeeds and thrives past her trauma. “It’s like telling a bad dream – I live with it. I can live with it. It doesn’t stop me [from moving] forward, but it moves me forward with the intention [of healing] others.”      

Fresh on the heels of Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos, we hear from writer Luis Jaramillo who wrote “The Witches of El Paso.” Lovingly and creatively told, his book includes time travelling ladybugs, stories of El Paso past, present and glimpses into its future, examinations of workers rights and realities, a loving embrace of feminism and did I mention the time travelling ladybugs? “When I was writing about El Paso in the book…I think there’s an idea of what the Borderlands is like…and so one of the main goals was to tell a complicated story.” Goal met, Luis!

Documentary filmmaker Julie Lunde Lillesaeter describes herself as someone who tells “stories that have some sort of meaningful impact”. When I asked her about trauma, she gave a nuanced, smart response. “After working on so many different projects, maybe in particular ‘An Army of Women’, where I worked with people who had trauma that was very deep and very dramatically impacted their life, I’ve always felt careful about using the word ‘trauma’ to describe anything in my own life.”

Consider accessing Julie’s documentary film ‘An Army of Women’ here: https://watch.eventive.org/togetherfilmsus/play/67f3e95cab4969913a48207b?m=1    

It’s a wrap for Season 3. After 27 episodes, Aaron checks in with Avery to see if he’s still into sharing his sage wisdom. And they touch on the great “Is sport an art” Debate, make funny faces and make a big decision about the future of the cast.