So, I just got back from my first NAACS conference (March 14th-March 18th 2012, Chicago) and it was both an amazing and heavy weekend with many outcomes. My group presented on our Joteria activism and how we have successfully organized in Las Vegas around intersectional struggles. Joanna Nunez and I have been designated as the LBMT co-chairs, Nolo and I have finally finished our mini documentary and I was able to travel around Chicago with all of my amazing loves!!

We did an awesome job on our workshop!! About 5 people came but our workshop was at 8am and 11 other workshops were also going on at that time. So if you think of the people who slept in and then the people who had to pick from 11 other workshops, 5 is a huge number! It was an amazing feeling to share all the work we have done. Especially to a group that will appreciate it and see your work as valuable.

As for the "heavyness" I wanted to discuss, it came from the microagressions that were constanly being thrown at us throughout the time we stayed in the hotel. Even when we did succeed in creating a space that felt "safe" inside of the presentations, our group was expereicing these microagressions on the way to our room, during breaks and even during the banquet. They were constant rememinders that we did not belong at that hotel and that we could not fit in. I just remembering feeling the negativity from this environment and I am happy to have gone with the group that I did because I know that we were able to understand the complexity of the situation and find ways throughout the event to send love to eachother and to claim a space.  

*Hopefully we will be able to post the mini documentary on here soon!