Social Media Workshops, Stories, and Mango Trees
Hello Wonderful Readers,
Steve reporting here: My week was full of integrating and learning. It included meeting IMDEC folks, going to Juanacátlan to facilitate social media workshops, and eating bacon. Juanacátlan is my focus. I’ve met wonderful people there, including lifelong residents who told me of the glorious history of this laid-back, lovely pueblito.
Its now been over nine days since I joined Adapting to Scarcity in Guadalajara. It has been gloriously challenging, and I am honored to be in this learning process.
I met most of the IMDEC folks this week and they are fantastic. They have welcomed me as a friend. “Que bien, ahora somos más!” -How wonderful, now there are more of us- said one of the IMDEC staff.
I’ve also been working closely with Sarah and Arthur to learn more about the vision of A2S. On Thursday, Sarah and I went out again for our series of social media/film editing workshops. So far our friends there have had their flip cameras for a little over a week. The following are photos from this week’s workshop.
It was great to see the footage that they captured. There were interviews replicating tv reporters, powerful words from community members, an improv song about the river pollution and footage of cows standing in the Rio Santiago with foam swirling around them.
We discussed the power of social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube) and I realized again, the incredible effect that we could all have on the world. Sarah reiterated to the group that we are “community journalists”. She shared a story about China and how we learned about the recent major earthquake through Twitter, even before the government had heard of it.
Life at the apartment is wonderful! My consumption of bacon has increased dramatically. Arthur recently underestimated how much a kilo of bacon amounted to. I thanked him repeatedly and lobbied for more of the same. We compromised and he brought home a half kilo this week.
A Glimpse Into the life of a Family From Juanacátlan
I went out to Juanacátlan again on Saturday to tour the town a bit and meet with Pablo, a charming IMDEC staff member. He took me on a bike tour through the community and into the country-side.
That same afternoon I walked about and chatted with the locals. They told me of life before the contamination of the Rio Santiago. They spoke of harvesting nine pound carp and that every weekend lovers would stroll along the banks of the river to the “miniature Niagara”. Then one day nearly thirty years ago the river changed color. The next day dead fish floated down the river in droves, plant life began to die, the mango trees gave up and so did the strawberries.
This story was told from a beautiful vista overlooking Juanacátlan by a women wearing a lovely purple sweater matching her quaint purple house with its rose and catcus gardens. Her daughter and her grandchildren came out to join us. There were three generations sitting in the afternoon sun and the elder two regaled me with stories of the old days. The eight year old grandchild was busy making glitter heart cards and coloring the borders green. Someday she will inevitably speak of what it was like “back then”, just as her grandmother was explaining to me.
We spoke of the power of the internet, and social media.We discussed what we can do as individuals and as a community. I asked them if they plan to live in the town for many years to come, “Yes,” replied the older lady, “where else would we go?”
It was a compelling day in Juanacátlan. The people are extraordinary and I look forward to meeting more of them in the coming weeks.
Thanks for reading, and let me know if you would like to hear about certain aspects of the project. I’ll do my best to address them in my next blog.
Adios!
Steve
P.s. Stream KPOV.org (106.7 Bend, OR) on Friday Jan. 22 at 5:00 PST to hear an update from Guadalajara along with an interview that Lee Goode did with me.
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By Lynne, 19 January 2010 @ 17:59
Hey Steve,
Take good care. Warm regards.
Thanks again for keeping this blog. Your writing is engaging, the subject very interesting, and your reporting just the right length. Glad to hear you are eating well–hopefully there are fruits and veggies with your bacon.
By Emily Lewis, 19 January 2010 @ 19:43
Thanks for your update Steve. Keep up the bacon eating or else you’ll blow away! Definitely enjoy hearing the details on the project and how it is unfolding.
By Allison Rayburn, 21 January 2010 @ 0:46
mmm, so good to hear about what you are doing. I am inspired by you and your desire to change the world my friend. You are right that we have the ability to do so. much love to you and you are missed!
By Allison Rayburn, 21 January 2010 @ 0:46
oh yeah, and it could be really cool to post some of the footage you are getting!
By Lilli, 23 January 2010 @ 6:30
Steve,
Sounds like you are doing such a amazing work! Kudos to you for being the wonderful person you are and inspiring others along the way:) (including me!)
love and miss,
Lilli