Brainstorm Week 10 6/1- Olivia Brunner-Gaydos

The organization O.V.A.S stands for Overthrowing Vendidxs, Authority & the State formerly known as Ovarian Psychos Crew or Brigade. The group is a mixture of indigenous women and women of color who are standing together to empower women as well as show their support for Mother Earth. The group combines this activism with cycling. They choose to ride bikes not only because it is often the only mode of transportation broke people have, but it is also environmentally friendly and empowers women to "take. back the streets with an understanding that sisters have our back." It fills me with hope knowing that groups like this exist. It is horrible what some of these women have had to go through, but the fact that they can come together and fight for change motivates me to do the same. These women have also been standing up during the current protests that are taking place. I only hope that I can stand in solidarity with these women, knowing I can never experience or feel the way they feel, but still standing with them and fighting for their rights. 

Allison Wolfe's article "Chicas Rockeras: Empowering Girls In Southeast Los Angeles" explains how the rock camps have not only helped spread confidence in girls but is also a form of Chicanafuturism; "People want and need to see positive images of themselves mirrored back in order to imagine and activate their own potential." This camp isn't just about teaching girls music, it is about promotive confidence in pride in who they are and empowering them to stand up for themselves. This camp promotes the fact that they are for girls as well as gender-expansive youth which isn't something I have ever seen before. Being a child who is gender-expansive can already be tough enough, but not having a set place at summer camps makes it even harder. Chicas Rockeras is inclusive and supportive of all races and nationalities along with youth who don't just identify as one of the binary genders. It is inspiring to see a camp like this and I can only hope more will follow along in both their inclusiveness and message of support.