Brainstorm Week 10 - Abby Hecko

In the article, CHICAS ROCKERAS: EMPOWERING GIRLS IN SOUTHEAST LOS ANGELES, Marin created a space where young girls can come together, be themselves, and learn. She is planting a seed for the future by building environments for young girls to express their identities. Marin once said, “‘If I had someone showing me or explaining to me what it is to be a person of color, what it is to be gender queer...I would’ve been more comfortable in my skin.’”  (CHICAS ROCKERAS 1). This quote illustrates the efforts women are putting towards forming spaces where differences are celebrated. Through projects like this one, in Southeast  LA, steps are being made to create affinities within differences and movement towards emancipation. These same values of a place where girls can come together, be themselves, and learn, is seen in the Chicana Rockeras SELA Mission Statement, “Chicas Rockeras promotes healing, growth, and confidence for girls and gender expansive youth through music education while building self-esteem and encouraging group collaboration.” The project Marin started has blossomed into a beautiful, productive, and empowering space for young women. 

Throughout this quarter we have studied many of the efforts women have put in to build communities where they can be heard. This began as hidden meetings in homes, then grew into print groups, and today has changed into camps like this one. Women are not only finding spaces to thrive, but they are creating them. These resilience practices, which date back so long, have been carried out until today so our future generations will experience the hard work women have done. The future generations will get many communities, groups, and camps that have been put into place for them. These spaces are special not just because they exist, but because of the inclusivity and growth in these spaces. Not only do these environments support the  young girls, who are the audience, the, “infectious energy of rock camp also has the power to change the lives of the adult volunteers, many of whom confess to learning a lot about themselves in the process.” (CHICAS ROCKERAS 1). Women are supporting women. By doing so, they are not only helping future generations, but they are empowering themselves. By creating spaces where women can find their identities, grow, and learn, women are being celebrated for their differences. Communities, like the Chicas  Rockeras Camp, are places that are setting the future up for success. By celebrating affinities within difference, resilience practices, like forming groups and camps, are helping the world move towards emancipation.