“For one thing, I personally have an issue withhyper-intellectualizing my feelings.” Same Gus, same.

“You know I just kind of describe myself as like a spark plug, youknow where I’m just igniting energy.” That’s just the kind of person you wantas a friend for exploring a new place and for learning about the healing powerof journaling. J’Hana explains in her irreverent and firecracker way howjournaling has helped her overcome and address profound traumas in her life.

Avery once told me that sports are not art. Leave it to Curtis Clay to challenge Avery on this – Curtis said he wanted to “have a conversation with Avery” about this. A former college football player with a brief period with Dallas Cowboys, Curtis has used his love and knowledge of sports to be a mentor for men and boys, encouraging them not to get stuck in the “man box” of masculinity

See a public art project in El Paso? Chances are Ben Fyffe hashelped foster its development. Fresh off the triumph of the years-long in theplanning opening of the Mexican American Center in downtown El Paso, Bendiscusses his work on behalf of the city in fostering art projects. He’s theart connoisseur and munipal patron of the arts we all want to be when we growup.   

Ryan Rox has found her stride. Fresh off the film festival circuitafter the debut of her most recent movie, Hidden Flora, this Borderlandfilm-maker and actor talks about (finally) finding her place. “A lot ofwhat we do at Femme Frontera [is] helping women and gender expansive, people ofcolor, from our region who don’t have even the idea that they can do the thingsthat they can do.”        

A self-described tough bird – or did she say broad? – Jan coinedthe term “theatrician” to describe her test of Jacqueline-of-all-tradesapproach to the theater. “For me it was walking into another world – theability to leave behind that which I was dealing with and walk into a wholeother world. I needed that validation – that audience validation – I needed thereinforcement of the community that was being built.”

Turning up the star power wattage, Courtney Santana lights upevery stage she ascends. Her evoluton as a singer / songwriter springs from alove for expressing herself through song. “I don’t trust anybody that says theydon’t like music. That’s weird.” And her activism for survivors of intimatepartner violence comes from her lived experience. “Every day that you get outof the hands of your abusive situation is another day to grow – another day tomake a change for yourself for the better.”

Patrick Gabaldon was born and raised in the Sun City of El Paso, Texas. His passion in art began after returning home to the vibrant color and vast expanse of the desert sky. His time away gave him a new perspective on the often forgotten west Texas desert.

Fearless Puertoriqueno and actor, Christian’s path from theCarribean to the Mesilla Valley helps inform his growth as a community theateractor.  “[Acting] is like role play and exposure therapy all in one. Andthis is coming from somebody, who as you know…I was appearing in my underwearon stage in front of people.”

Bodybuilder and survivor and resilience expert, Davina Licon