Raíces Verdes

Cassandra Tejada is a promoter of sustainable fashion and sustainable living. She sets out to take up space within the sustainable fashion community as a Muslim, Dominican, Peruvian, Colombian women. Cassandra shares her own modest and sustainable style and Islamic lifestyle on various online platforms, and she is also an aspiring entrepreneur who is working towards launching a sustainable, modest clothing line.

IG: @cassandra_laflor

TikTok: @cassandra_laflor

YouTube: Cassandra La Flor

Aleyda or Mari for her familia, is from a small town near Guadalajara, Mexico. She graduated from Fairhaven College with an Interdisciplinary major titled “Solidarity Across borders: Understanding Experiences and Imagining New Realities through Storytelling” and a minor in Education and Social Justice. Aleyda is the content curator for Raices Press, a platform to find book recommendations, book reviews, and writing events. Raices Press has a strong focus on social justice and highlighting writing by Black, Indigenous, People of Color to address the White-dominated publishing industry. In this episode we discussed her use of the word "raices" in her platform and how it it connects to her purpose for writing and sharing stories. Aleyda also gifted the podcast a reading of one of her poem's "La Niña del Maiz", which speaks to directly to the idea of raices verdes, and her family's connection to the environment. To read the poem visit the following page:

https://nuestrasraicesverdes.com/episodes-2/season-ii/raices-press-healing-through-storytelling/

Raices Press: https://www.instagram.com/raices_press/

From life transitions, COVID-19, ecofascism and all things healing, I wanted to share with you all some chisme. New episodes are coming, because I believe more than ever this is the time to archive and share our stories as Black, Indigenous, People of Color. We are here, we been here, and we will exist in the future.

For COVID-19 resources go to https://nuestrasraicesverdes.com/resources/covid-19/

In this episode, I interviewed Dario Castellon for the second time as part of the series featuring the artists of Raíces Verdes. Dario is the visual artist for the podcast, and a colleague from my time at Huxley College of the Environment, where we both received a B.A in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development. For this episode, Dario and I spoke about our experiences in the predominantly white and cis-male dominated field that is Urban Planning. As Black, Indigenous, People of Color, how can we take up space in a field that affects so many of our livelihoods?To learn more about Urban Planning and Spatial Justice, check-out the resources in Raíces Verdes website by clicking the link below:

https://nuestrasraicesverdes.com/resources/urban-planning-spatial-justice/

Sofian Mahmoud is a Palestinian-American creative, and musician born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, that goes by the name Paliboy Original. He is the artist behind the music you listen to during the introduction of the podcast, and recently won Western Washington University’s Freestyle Rap Battle competition hosted by AS Productions and Revival Events. In 2019 they led a workshop titled "Palestinian Indigeneity: Borders & Displacement" alongside their colleague and friend Saniah Naim at the National MEChA Conference in UCLA. Sofian’s musical inspiration comes from the many countries and communities he’s had the privilege of traveling to, and he dedicates this episode to his Siti that passed away last year before being able to return to her indigenous homeland. For resources on Palestine's liberation movement and how to support their fight visit https://nuestrasraicesverdes.com/episodes-2/season-ii/holy-olives-imperialism/

In the last episode of the series, "Beyond Chicanismo: Indigeneity & the Environment", I interviewed my mentor and close friend Simón Sedillo. Simón teaches geopolitics and political economy and he also coordinates a study abroad program in Oaxaca, Mexico for native students from the USA. To access Simón's work about the effects of and community based resistance to neoliberalism, militarism, and white supremacy visit https://elenemigocomun.net/. If you are interested in bringing Simón Sedillo to your campus for a workshop or panel, feel free to contact the podcast through Instagram or [email protected] for a full resume and Simon's contact information!

In the second episode of the new series, "Beyond Chicanismo: Indigeneity & the Environment", I had the pleasure of interviewing my former roommate and close friend Cindy Marquina-Negrete. Cindy is a fearless-ish indocumentada born in Mexico City with familial roots in Oaxaca, Guerrero & Morelos. She was raised in the Bay Area for 13 years before moving to Tukwila, WA. Currently she resides in Bellingham, WA where she'll be graduating in the Spring with a degree in Human Services. In this episode we discuss Aztlan, border abolition and the movement for giving land back to Indigenous people.

Ane Leon Guerrero, is a Xicana -Michoacana from Oregon, currently living in Seattle, with a Masters in Higher Education. She enjoys creating and supporting the arts, specifically arts by and for QTPOC. But most importantly she works on cultivating community with other women of color. In Episode #1 of Season II, Ane and I discuss Chicanismo, Indigeneity, and how these identities become more complex as we think about their construction under certain geographical spaces. For more resources on the history of the Chicanx movement, visit https://nuestrasraicesverdes.com/episodes-2/season-ii/intro-to-season-ii-new-series/

Welcome back to Season II of Raíces Verdes ! In this episode I give an update on what I have been up to since November of 2019, and where Season II is headed. The new season will premier on February 4th, 2020 with a new series. Beyond Chicanismo: Indigeneity & the Environment will be a series composed of 3 episodes featuring guest speakers. They all will speak on their own experience with the Chicanx identity, their indigenous ancestry and how all these identities connect to their raíces verdes. In this introduction episode I talk about my own connection to the Chicana and P'urhepecha identity, and why I decided to launch this series. For more resources on the history of the Chicano movement, refer to the links in our website: https://nuestrasraicesverdes.com/episodes-2/season-ii/intro-to-season-ii-new-series/

Bonus Episode! Although it's especially important to affirm Indigenous resilience on all "holidays" that promote White supremacy against Indigenous people, EVERY DAY IS STILL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY! This special almost 2hr long episode centers around Chris, his family, and their independent film titled "Uncolonized". Together we discuss the education system and it's effects on Native people, solidarity across Native peoples such as the displaced people of Palestine, relationships to land and water, and so much more. This episode has a lot of information & emotions to unpack so please take your time listening & reflecting. A break is created in the middle of the episode so you can take care of your needs. Below is a link to the official trailer of "Uncolonized". For more information on how to support the film by organizing a showing, getting in contact with Chris, or further resources on Indigenous resilience please email us at [email protected]

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q2UuwNhAvg

*Trailer available in Spanish & French