Mixteca’s polyglot Santa

I began volunteering at Mixteca over 10 years ago in 2013. At the time, I was pursuing  a bachelor's degree in linguistics from  Lehman College and while I had already studied a few languages myself, I had never taught English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) to anyone before. A short while later, a friend of mine invited me to a DREAM Act meeting at Mixteca, and after the meeting was over the education coordinator mentioned to the group that there were volunteer opportunities available. Somehow my friend convinced me to volunteer as an ESOL teacher with her. At first, I was nervous.. Sure, I had been a former ESOL student, tutor, and was studying Linguistics and foreign languages, but I had never taught an entire class before.

The first day of class finally came, and I remember feeling anxious , and excited at the same time. However, any negative feelings I had about myself and my abilities quickly went away. The students were so welcoming, appreciative, and eager to learn. All of my students at Mixteca hold a special place in my heart, because when I look at them, I don’t just see them as my students, but as my extended family and community. Many of them remind me of my own parents and family members just starting out in a new country and trying to find their way. For this reason, I always strive to not only make my lessons engaging, communicative, and as fun as possible, but also to always share any tips, tricks, apps, knowledge or advice with my students about language learning in general. 

Having been an ESOL student myself, a child of immigrant parents, and an undocumented student, I always make sure to share with my students what I believe they should know about their children who might be in a similar situation. I share with them my life and academic experiences and how they can support their children through the process, especially sharing things I wish I had known earlier in life. 

Needless to say, what started out as a volunteer opportunity eventually became my career. After teaching for some time at Mixteca I enrolled in an applied Linguistics masters program to become an ESOL instructor and I have never looked back. I love teaching and I hope to continue doing it as long as possible. Whether it’s teaching an ESOL class, conducting teacher workshops, developing a basic English course for parents and domestic workers, or simply dressing up as Santa every year, Mixteca and its community members will always hold a special place in my heart and I will continue to volunteer and be a part of the community for as long as possible.

Solo Solito

by Marco Trigoso

Hello, I'm Marco, I'm 27 years old, born in Aucayacu, Peru. Five months ago I arrived in New York City, from Peru. The beginning of my journey and arrival to the United States was difficult and filled with fear. I didn’t know anyone nor the language which played a big factor in adapting to life in the U.S. The uncertainty of so many new things held me back at times. I spent many days in great anguish missing what I had, being far from my home and the people I love most. But I also felt hope. Hope of feeling safe, free in a country with many opportunities to achieve what I set my mind to.

And what I have set my mind to for many years especially during my journey is music. Music gives me life and excites me every day because through my music I can find happiness wherever I am. Through my music I tell stories about my life, which are easier for me to express. Since I was a child I loved to sing, but at home they didn't let me so much, because my parents are Christians and “music of the world” is considered a sin for them. And so I lived my entire childhood and part of my adolescence feeling guilty for my passion and singing in secret. Thanks to the help of an aunt, who always encouraged me to follow my dreams, I found a way to free myself through music. She was also very passionate about music and had an incredible voice, though she never dared to follow her calling, supporting me and seeing me on stage made her dreams come true.

Through the years there were many ups and downs especially through the pandemic where everything just felt more dark. After more than 10 years of writing music and feeling like I would never write anything again, I suddenly felt the need to write what I felt during this time. Things that scared me, and that caused me pain or joy at some point in my life. During this time. I wrote like never before and I began to think about how I could turn my writing into songs. I wrote songs that talk about love and ways to find oneself, finding myself, valuing myself as a human being in a oftentimes unjust society. I never studied music or composition and I had no idea how to start, but somehow I was able to meet people that helped me along the way, and was able to publish my first songs. 

A couple years later, I had the opportunity to migrate to the United States. It was a very difficult decision and I had little time to decide without having many alternatives to choose from. It was now or never and so I decided to take the risk, facing my fears, leaving everything behind to start a new life filled with hope. Today, months after I arrived, I can say that my journey to New York was worth it.  More than ever I am proud of every step taken and one step closer to achieving this great dream of being a musician. I have used my journey and recent experiences to inspire new music. I just released a new song, Solo Solito, that talks about going through a life in complete freedom, getting to know yourself and also letting go of certain things from the past. 

I am very grateful for everything that has happened to me on this path. Through my experience, I have learned that life is too short not to do what makes you happy. I encourage everyone to listen to your heart and always follow your dreams, despite your fears. Let them push you forward, and inspire a new you.  

In Search of Freedom: My Story as an Indigenous Trans Woman

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and other asylum seekers across Latin America often experience abusive and dangerous conditions causing them to flee across borders to seek asylum. Research shows that many LGBT people face persecution and violence, including domestic violence, rape, and murder, as well as discrimination in areas like education, employment, housing, and healthcare. Little information currently exists about the number and characteristics of LGBT asylum seekers in the United States¹.

One of our newly arrived community members, Nirvana, shares her story.

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My name is Nirvana Garcia, I am an Indigenous trans woman from the Mexican state of Veracruz. I was born surrounded by mountains, trees, and springs to a small and humble family living between two traditional and conservative towns which spoke the languages Totonaco and Spanish. At an early age I realized that I was "different." I desperately  wanted to be a “pretty girl”, but sadly I did not have the support of my family, friends, or anyone to help make my dreams a reality. There were times where I felt oppressed. 

For 18 years, I pretended to be a "man" as a means of  survival, creating a world of lies in order to be safe. When I became an adult, I migrated for the first time from my small town in Veracruz to Mexico City to begin a new life and to begin my transition, finally facing  my reality, crossing the line from youth to adulthood and all that it entails including: paying rent, utilities, makeup, clothes, etc., but also unfortunately experiencing the discrimination of being a trans, Indigenous, brown woman. Everyday is a struggle for me and for the LGTBQA+ community in general.

Because of the situation I faced in Mexico City,  full of fear, anguish, depression, loneliness, crisis, and fearing for my life daily just for being who I am, I had to make a decision to flee my  country. Journeying through the deserts of Mexico and parts of the United States I finally arrived in New York City. All I wanted was to return to normal, study, work, have breakfast, rest on the weekend, and share my life with someone. I quickly realized that I couldn't do it alone. I needed a community, people to talk to, letting out what was burning inside me: the passion for freedom, justice and for equality.

Community organizations like Mixteca, Make the road NYC, Queer Detainee Empowerment Project (QDEP) shared with me critical resources, information, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, leadership courses, support groups, mental health, education, transportation and much more. I finally felt welcomed to be who I am with open arms, huge smiles, and hugs. At Mixteca particularly, I have had the pleasure of interacting closely with staff and volunteers, witnessing first hand just how much they work to support our community and those in need.

Today I am a full time student studying the English language and volunteering with community organizations around New York City, participating in the collective struggle and action of people like me. I plan to continue my studies and return to university for an opportunity to give back and help our beautiful Latinx, Hispanic, LGBTQ, Black and Indigenous communities. I want to thank those who have made all this possible, for keeping the new generations alive. Organizations like Mixteca have made a once difficult life more bearable. Thank you for getting here, I wish you all much wisdom, health and well-being.

[1]  UCLA School of Law, Williams Institute, LGTB Asylum Claims in the United States

5 things to know: ‘Asylum Seeker Crisis’

In 2022, an unprecedented number of individuals, tens of thousands, have arrived in New York City, many of whom are seeking asylum status. At the beginning of 2023, New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, issued an emergency aid request to the state, while this past May, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency over the expected migrant influx, due to the lifting of Title 42.

These are 5 things to know about the current asylum seeker crisis in New York City:

1. As of this month, more than 72,000 asylum seekers have been bused to New York City from the southern border since last spring, according to the mayor's office. More than 46,000 asylum-seekers are currently in the city’s care¹.

In the past year, Mixteca has been at the forefront of supporting thousands of newly-arrived asylum-seekers from across Latin America arriving in New York City. We are currently assisting approximately 8,000 individuals receive essential services including: Food, toiletries, benefits access, translation services, immigration assistance, adult education, workforce development training and more!

2. Title 42, the Covid-era policy that allowed US authorities to quickly deport migrants was lifted last month. Since March 2020, Title 42 has been used to expel people from the U.S.-Mexico border over 2.8 million times. Of all migrants encountered at the border since March 2020, 50 percent were quickly expelled, usually into Mexico².

As a result of the conclusion of Title 42, the expected surge of asylum seekers into New York City and the surrounding areas will have major implications for migrants in need of support and critical  resources. New York City based non-profits, including Mixteca, are currently scrambling to provide everything from clothing and food to housing and mental health support to newly arrived asylum seekers.

3. New York is the only major city in the country that offers a legal “right to shelter” to anyone within its borders who requests it. The right to shelter has been in place for more than four decades in New York, after a court in 1981 required the city to provide temporary housing for every homeless person who asks for it. Other big U.S. cities don't have such a rule³.

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Mixteca is currently assisting thousands of families living in six shelters across Brooklyn and the surrounding areas.

4. The majority of asylum seekers arriving to the U.S. and transported to cities across the states, including New York City, from countries across Latin America include: Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, and Venezuela and remain at all-time highs.⁴

As the only Spanish speaking organization in Brooklyn providing key services to asylum seekers, most who have limited or no English proficiency, Mixteca staff and volunteers provide culturally-appropriate support in Spanish and 4 Indigenous languages to ensure that newly-arrived asylum-seekers from across Latin America are aware of their rights and can access available resources, making Mixteca an essential link to services for hard-to-reach Indigenous groups.

5. Asylum seekers experience high rates of mental illness, in particular PTSD and depression and tend to be at elevated risk of suicide. The current crisis is bringing attention to the effects migration and the immigration process, including the shelter system, have on mental health.⁵

Mixteca’s Mental Health and Resilience Program supports the rising number of Latinx and Indigenous asylum seekers struggling with immigration trauma and other mental health challenges in New York. The primary goal of our Mental Health and Resilience Program is to help Latinx and Indigenous residents of New York to mitigate specific challenges in accessing appropriate mental health supports and resources. The program currently provides intergenerational, culturally-guided and language-specific counseling and programs for asylum seekers with a focus on immigration trauma including youth, parents, women, and survivors of gender-based violence.

Help Mixteca respond to the asylum seeker crisis here!

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¹  NYC.gov, June 5, 2023

² Title 42, Youtube.com, June 8, 2023

³ APNews, May 23, 2023

⁴ Migration Policy, May 10, 2023

⁵ National Library of Medicine, Sept. 17, 2020

Dreamer - Carlos Ibarra

As a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), I recently had the opportunity to travel to Mexico City on advanced parole. This was an incredible opportunity to reconnect with my birthplace after more than 30 years and experience its culture and beauty firsthand. My trip underscored the significance of advanced parole for DACA recipients.

During my stay in Mexico City, I had the pleasure of exploring the city with other DACA recipients. We exchanged stories about our upbringing, successes, failures, and dreams. Being among like-minded individuals who truly understood my experience was an empowering feeling. 

Visiting the historic center of Mexico City was a highlight of my trip. I was able to see iconic landmarks such as El Palacio de Bellas Artes, El Zocalo, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed our excursions to the neighboring towns of Xochimilco and Tepoztan. Although I couldn't visit my hometown in Morelos, these towns gave me a glimpse into the lives of the broader Mexican population and their rich culture.

For DACA recipients, travel is a means to explore new cultures and expand our horizons. Through this experience, I gained a better understanding of the sacrifices my family made to provide me with better opportunities. While I am grateful for the opportunities advanced parole has provided me, I also recognize the need for a permanent solution for DACA recipients. A permanent solution would provide the stability and security we need to plan for the future and contribute fully to our communities.

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Carlos Ibarra was born in Morelos, Mexico. He obtained a BFA in Drama from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He is the Founder and CEO of FutureSelf Media and Collaborative Learning Lab.

NYC Dreamers: A Journey to Mexico & Back

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Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a policy announced in 2012, providing work authorization and protection from deportation to immigrants arriving in the U.S. at a young age. Last year, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals deemed the DACA policy illegal, and while individuals with valid DACA permits will maintain their protections for now, the policy is closed to new applicants, leaving over 400,000 individuals who were eligible, unable to enroll in DACA.  Currently, the future of DACA remains uncertain. Approximately 150,000 “Dreamers,” as DACA recipients are known to live throughout the five boroughs of New York City.

Last month, 21 Dreamers from the New York City area took an advanced parole trip to Mexico City. This visit was organized by Mixteca  and  La Colmena in collaboration with The Mexican Studies Institute at the City University of New York (CUNY) & received support from Congressman Goldman.

During this meaningful week Dreamers, many of whom have not set foot in Mexico since childhood, revisited their roots, language, and culture, exploring various cultural sites such as: Museo Nacional de Antropología, Palacio de Bellas Artes, los Pirámides de Teotihuacan, & Los Pinos, as well as educational institutions Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México  (UNAM) & more!

Join us over the next couple of weeks, as we share stories from Dreamers about their trip and experiences. Our first story is from Araceli, who shares her transformational experience, bringing visibility to Dreamers across the country.

The bipartisan Dream Act of 2023, would establish a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers across the U.S. As legal challenges threaten the future of this crucial policy for hundreds of thousands of Dreamers, this legislation is necessary to ensure that they can continue living in and contributing to the country they call home.

“Dreamers are Americans, and a pathway to citizenship is long overdue.” - fwd.us

Araceli Ortega

As a DACA recipient, I have had the opportunity to practice my teaching career at the New York Department of Education as a Spanish teacher. My students drive me to fight harder to be able to give them the best school education that they deserve.. When I left the immigration services office with my advance parole permit, I was the happiest person because I was going to have the opportunity to visit my country. The country to which one day I promised to return and connect with my roots and my culture again: México.

Stepping onto Mexican soil, it was like a totally different world for me. Everyone greets you ‘buenos días’, ‘buenas tardes’, even though they don't know you, the humility of hardworking people every day. I felt that I was part of the country after being absent for such  a long time.

We spent everyday learning about the cultural richness that Mexico has to offer. We visited the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where we were welcomed with open arms, UNAM University Museum of Contemporary Art, where I observed Ben Vauiter's works. We also visited the Center of Coyoacán, Las Bellas Artes, New Beginnings, Monument of the Revolution, and TV Azteca. We also had the opportunity to be interviewed and had a conference with Mr. Ricardo Salinas Pliego, La Condesa and finally, Chapultepec Castle is an emblematic place.

During my trip, I saw my mother for the first time in 14 years. My mother always says "la vida no la tenemos comprada” ( life is not promised). My biggest fear was never seeing my mother again. The day I saw my mother again, there were no words to explain the emotions I felt. I hugged her with all my strength and I didn't want to let her go. We cried with happiness. I enjoyed my mom every moment, and I didn't want to be separated from her. I wanted to recover every moment that I lost for 14 years, but it was impossible. I just lived in the present and told her how much I love her, and thanked her for all the education and values that she instilled in us, making me the person I am now. I also visited the graves of my two grandparents. I promised them that one day I would return, but unfortunately I did not arrive in time. I took flowers to their grave and talked without them, waiting for an answer. They were not able to give me a  blessing as they’ve always done.

Finally, it was time to return to the United States, to New York, not where I was born, but the country where I grew up, where many doors and opportunities were opened, where the most important thing in my life awaited me: my family. The plane landed and a chapter of my life ended and another chapter began. One with more strength to achieve my dreams and be a better person than before.

 “There is no doubt that this is my home, here I live, here it happens. This is my house frozen in a chapter of time” - Mario Benedetti

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Araceli Ortega Evangelista was born in Mexico. She obtained her Master's Degree as a Secondary Spanish Teacher, and is working on her second postgraduate degree in Leadership. She currently works at Esperanza Academy Preparatory School.