Today I would first like to draw your attention to a film Undeterred that documents the community resistance in the small border town of Arivaca, Arizona. I’ll then get to new beginnings at Street Roots, presented in today’s photographs.

From the press release for a new documentary about what’s happening at our southern border:

Since NAFTA, 9/11 and the Obama and Trump administrations border residents have been on the front-lines of the humanitarian crisis caused by increased border enforcement build up. UNDETERRED is an intimate and unique portrait of how residents in a small rural community, caught in the cross-hairs of global geo-political forces, have mobilized to demand our rights and to provide aid to injured, oft times dying people funneled across a wilderness desert. The film was made by Eva Lewis, a resident of Arivaca and long-time member of People Helping People in the Border Zone (PHP). UNDETERRED was created in close collaboration with the Arivaca community and members of PHP.”

Here is a link to the trailer.

And here is what can be done (beyond donations) to support those fighting on the front lines of humanitarian crises during increased border enforcement: show up for the screenings! One of the founders of People helping People in the border zone in 2012 will be on site for the discussion. Sophie Smith is a native Portlander and instrumental in the all-volunteer community organization that works together for the protection of human life, regardless of immigration status. They organize to stop Border Patrol abuse and the militarization of the borderlands.

When: Thursday, July 11th, 7-9 pm. Doors open at 6:45; program starts at 7 pm. Where: Ainsworth United Church of Christ, 2941 NE Ainsworth St, Portland, OR. Suggested donation: $5-25 at the door; no one turned away for inability to pay.

What: The screening of the film will be followed by a Q and A with Sophie Smith and Juan Rogel. Sophie Smith is a long-time humanitarian, community organizer and writer living in the militarized zone of the US borderlands, and the co-founder of People Helping People in the Border Zone. Juan Rogel has played multi-faceted roles serving communities of color in Oregon. Juan is the founder of Milenio.org grassroot group which intends to empower political participation from the Latinx community.

The event is hosted by KBOO Community Radio and Ainsworth United Church of Christ (AUCC), one of the early Portland congregations to provide sanctuary for migrants seeking refuge in the United States. The event is moderated by Jan Haaken, professor emeritus of psychology at Portland State University, a documentary filmmaker, and KBOO programmer

I will unfortunately not be able to attend since I will be on the road, starting Monday, back mid July. Reports will come intermittently but I’ll try and document the marvels of the world….

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Here is another, local organization that remains undeterred. Last week during my volunteer hours I had a chance to photograph the renovations to the Street Roots offices. Timothy Kennedy and Mark Lakeman – a key organizer at City Repair, Village Building Convergence and Communitecture –  and Street Roots staff have worked a miracle with a difficult, cramped, at times chaotic, space that resembled a long open train car.

The new structures were made from recycled and repurposed materials, from windows found a boat docks, to doors from the re-building center. Fallen Alder logs from someone’s land hold up the structures, as do piles of Street Roots newspapers as cornerstones.

Clay painted walls and fabrics clamp down on loudness,

with those cob walls made from earth removed in cemeteries when graves are prepared for new takers. To quote Kaia Sand, Executive Director of the organization: “We are never far from the dead at Street Roots – too many people die on the streets, and we insist on honoring them in our work.”

Well, these offices are luckily about the living, a crew I admire for all they do in one of the most important humanitarian and political efforts this city faces to date: empowering the homeless beyond helping them to survive.

Music today is music by and for strong women from another generation in honor of Sophie and Kaia who are the future. Forward!