November 2, 2021 • 53 mins
When the US/Mexico border closed during the pandemic, migrants were forced to wait indefinitely as their asylum cases were put on hold. For LGBTQ+ migrants, finding safe, non-discriminatory housing while waiting at the border is a challenge. In 2018, Casa Arcoiris was founded in Tijuana to be a temporary, safe housing space for LGBTQ+ migrants. At Casa Arcoiris, Director Cristina Franco Abundis takes care of her community members, providing medical care, legal aid, mental healthcare, and joy through the arts. During the pandemic, Cristina and her team found creative ways to continue bringing joy to their residents, and kept their residents healthy while the house was on lockdown. Part one of a two-part mini series: "Una Casa De Arcoiris."
Learn more about Casa Arco Iris: https://casaarcoiris.org/en/, https://www.instagram.com/alberguecasaarcoiris/?hl=en
Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VSEUall1C2pPYDQ-o30wBTnSS1bFyTDuXOOOq2vSIxs/edit?usp=sharing
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey everyone in Wilma Bolt Drama and I'm m R. Raquel.
Welcome back to Essential Voices. This week, we're diving right
in and shifting our focus back to the US Mexico
border and specifically on l g B t Q plus
migrants who are seeking asylum in the United States. And
we're no strangers. Are Shannon a light on the work
being done at the US Mexican border since we spoke
(00:22):
about it back in our first episode with Nate much
from World Central Kitchen and Elsa Collins who started this
is about humanity, but we were specifically focused on the
l g B t Q plus advocacy, So I'm really
excited about this week's show. I'm also so excited about
this episode because wow, was there a ton of extremely
(00:43):
critical information shared with us or what? And I remember
that first episode well, if I recall you've worked with
Elsa at the US Mexico border before, right, Wilmer. Yes,
and I was lucky enough to have been invited to
share that experience with her. You know, I've been at
the US Mexican border with her learn more about how
to better advocate for migrant Santa silent seekers. It's become
(01:06):
so much harder doing COVID, especially since they have shut
down the border for non essential travel, which includes assailing seekers. Yes,
that's so true and will be a big component of
this longer conversation. We're excited to shake things up over
the next two episodes. This week, we're beginning a two
part mini series is about advocacy for lgbt Q plus
(01:28):
migrants and asylum seekers at the US Mexico border. For
part one this week, we'll hear an extended version of
an interview with essential worker Christina Franco Abundi's the director
of Casa argoity s an Tijuana. The next week, for
part two, we'll have a roundtable conversation to explore christina
story and the work being done to advocate for LGBTQ
(01:49):
plus migrants with two incredible lawyers, Lyndsey Taslawski from the
Immigrant Defenders Law Center and m M. Duple Morris from
the Transgender Law Center. I'm so excited for that too,
But right now, let's turn to Christina and Casa Argos.
Cass is a safe haven for l g b t
Q plus folks from all over the world where they
(02:11):
can live in community and receive the services they need
while seeking asylum into the United States. Not only is
it a safe place for folks to sleep and eat,
but also Gass emphasizes the importance of bringing joy to
their residents as well as mental health resources. They're doing
such incredible work and I can't wait for our listeners
to learn from Christina this week, me too, and I
(02:32):
know to listeners. We spoke with Christina in Spanish. For
English speakers out there after christina story in Spanish, you
can find an English version at twenty seven minutes and
twenty two seconds. Christina's story and Spanish starts now. Christina
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(06:50):
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There's also dress misses. It is a moment is the
most familiar with We'll be right back after this break.
Welcome back to essential voices. Wow esc and cat are
(16:00):
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(19:01):
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(22:21):
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(23:10):
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(23:35):
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(24:05):
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(25:22):
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(25:45):
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(26:16):
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(26:40):
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strava carp persona uncle intercectionalist part interceitionalida is last form
asbancambiendo because we wanted to. We wanted to, pero grandola
(27:06):
cobo is. We'll be right back after this break. Welcome
back to essential Voices. Christina story in English starts now.
Christina I want to thank you so much for being
here with me today to talk about your work and
(27:27):
share more about who you are with me. Um. So
we know that you're the director at casarcity is An Tijuana,
which is a temporary housing safe space for LGBTQ migrants
as they way to be granted asylum in the United States.
So I'm wondering how was Casa Arcoity started and why
was it started. To explain how casarco it Is was started,
(27:48):
I first wanted to give a little historical context about
what was happening in Tijuana during the time that we
were founded. If you recall in October and November twenty eighteen,
there were tons of caravans of migrants that arrived in Tijuana,
which included thousands of folks from Central America. We also
(28:09):
most remember that at that time, as per trans immigration policy,
he ordered that people who were seeking asylum in the
United States had to be doing so on borderland. Therefore,
Tijuana was the city that was most easily accessible to
folks seeking asylum within this border territory order from Trans administration.
(28:33):
So when these thousands of people arrived, and I'm not
going to say too much about this because it's a
very well known historical moment, but I want to give
this context to move our story closer to how all
this relates to the LGBTQ community. So, when all the
caravans survived, especially with many many folks from Haiti, there
(28:58):
were many improvid spaces that emerged to house these thousands
of migrants. Many of the spaces that were created because
of this emergency situation were Catholic, Baptist, Christian churches of
all kinds that opened their doors, opened their spaces and
(29:18):
converted them into shelters for migrants. However, because these spaces
were religious in nature, and this space is open with
wood intention you know, with wood will but I'll say
it like this, given the ideological religious beliefs of these spaces,
LGBTQ folks did not have access to these improvised shelters,
(29:44):
and the arguments keeping LGBTQ folks out of these shelters
where many. So what happened was that lgbt Q collectives
here in Tijuana and also collectives from California organized together
to find a solution for l g b t Q
folks who came in the caravans. The discrimination that l
(30:07):
g b t Q migrants were facing in the makeshift
church shelters. Was already very intense and more intense tour
lesbian women, trans women, and also against gay men as well.
So at that time, all these collectives organized and opened
(30:28):
their own spaces with the utmost urgency. And well, that's
historical context of how casar coit Is was created and
why Tijuana was in such dire need for this space
for l g b t Q migrants. Wow, I'm just
I'm so in all the dedication that it must have
(30:50):
taken to create Casarcities in such an intense moment in history.
It sounds like there was a real dire need and
LGBTQ community for safe housing. And how incredible to be
a part of being in solidarity with other collectives to
create and be a solution, even though you know the
solutions were created due to this alarming lack of safe
housing options that you're talking about for LGBT migrants. So
(31:13):
what are some of the programs and services that you
offer LGBT humigrants at Casarcities. Well, at the beginning, like
any project that is founded during an emergency situation, you
always have to be experimenting. You have to constantly see
what's needed and try things out. One of the programs
(31:34):
that currently exists is the mental health program that is
run by a psychologist. This program aims to help residents
if they are having a mental health crisis, but also
provides individual and group therapy. In Tijuana, therapy is a
very expensive practice, very expensive the state that the government
(31:56):
do not have programs for free psychological care, for medical
or legal matters. For us, we do not have doctors
or lawyers and staff at Casaco. It is because we
do not have the financial resources to do this. But
this mental health program is responsible for connecting our residents
(32:17):
with other alliances, groups, civil organizations, institutions to ensure they
received the care they need. Additionally, we help our residents
look for employment and housing if they decide to stay
here in Mexico. Another program we have through the support
of other collectives is for fun and entertainment, especially within
(32:42):
the arts. We make sure our residents have spaces for painting, dance, growing,
film theater, and help find spaces or activities to bring
our residents to the things in the city. Right now,
with the pandemic, there haven't been many opportunities for activities
outside the house, but when possible, we take our residence
(33:06):
throughout the cultural spaces that the Juana has to offer.
And then there's also support for residents who want to
pursue education or attend the lecture or workshop, who want
to be trained in some area of work. We help
with all that and the world. Those are some of
(33:27):
the more well established programs that we have. That's amazing.
You offer so many different kinds of programs, and the
mental health resources that you're mentioning are just so important, UM.
And apart from these critical services that you offer, hearing
that you also find ways to bring joy to your
residence is really inspiring because this joy goes hand in
hand with with mental health. You know, UM, folks that
(33:51):
are coming to you have led their homes due to
persecution and discrimination of so many different kinds and then
still have to wait to be granted asylum. So I'm
sure that while they stay with you, UM, you make
sure the residents are having fun. That's really special to
hear and shows how much you all care about taking
a holistic approach to supporting your residents. So from all
of us even time in so far, it really seems
(34:13):
like this work is a passion for you, But what
drew you to working at casarco it Is. I think
that what drew me to work at casarco it Is
was getting to work with migrants because I am a
member of the LGBTQ community. That is a requirement here
if you are own staff at casarco it Is. And
(34:34):
also because of my experience as a social worker. But well,
my passion, I've always believed in social justice and working
with marginalized communities. I've always worked within some aspect of
social justice at some point. I was also, for example,
(34:55):
in Sapatista's communities, and I got involved in that movement
during the at time. That's why I studied this type
of career that does not depend on a career per se.
It depends more on matters of the heart, on passion
and dedication. And well, I've also been doing a lot
(35:15):
of self discovery, rediscovering many things by being so involved
with the LGBTQ community. And since I'm also lgbt Q,
feminism has always been my reference, my life, my guide.
So for me, I could say my passion is merging
(35:38):
feminism with my working lgbt Q migrant spaces. We'll be
right back after this break, Welcome back to Essential Voices.
That's awesome that you get to mess your feminist and
social justice background with the current work that you're doing. Rather,
you know that it's all interconnected, you know. And then
a pandemic happens for an already marginalized community of folks
(36:02):
who are in an arduous process, and not to mention,
all of a sudden, your staff now has to take
additional precautions to keep your residence safe. So what change
for you at work when the pandemic happened. Yes, it
was a very difficult situation. It was a very difficult
situation for the migrant community because at that moment all
(36:22):
asylum processes stopped. At that time, many people were just
weeks or even days away from being able to have
their asylum process continue while they waited in detention. But
suddenly the entire border completely closed and there was no
longer a way to enter the United States. And just
(36:44):
so you know, even those of us who have visas
cannot go into the United States still to this day.
So for us, what was going on, Well, at that time,
there were approximately thirty residents staying with us. So for
us at that time, not only that our residents were
(37:06):
in a moment of inertia with their asylum processes stuff.
We were also thinking how we're going to handle the
COVID protocols. How are we going to handle the protection
protocols in a space where thirty people live, in a
place where we cannot shut down, where we did not
have the luxury like other workspaces did where you can
(37:29):
work from home. I mean, that was impossible for us.
The protocol we established was to decide to close the
shelter and we could not welcome any new residents. And
the most difficult thing was that folks couldn't leave the
shelter either. I mean, yes, they could go out of
(37:50):
the house, but while they decided to stay with us,
there are things had to be very limited and unfrequent.
I mean they house was quite literally locked with a key,
and only those who had to go to the doctor
or the bank could live for a brief outing. And
(38:10):
that was really difficult because our residents always range between
nineteen and thirty years old, so these are very young
folks from the LGBTQ community. And I mean, you know
how it is, the young foals want to go out
and have fun, So the situation intensified as we were
(38:32):
wondering what do we do with thirty young people here
who cannot go out and who cannot have fun. So
what we did is that the castle co it is stuffed,
organize ourselves to use our own skills and talents to
create fund for our residents how well. For instance, if
(38:54):
I know how to make a breath, I teach a
baking worshop. If I practice yoga, then we do a
yoga workshop. If I know how to draw, then we'll
do a drawing workshop. And so while we're we doing
it this way well, because we could not invite external
teachers to do these workshops the way that we were
(39:14):
used to doing them. And truly the most difficult part
of this lockdown was having to keep the residents inside
basically locked up, because it really increased the anguish of
our residents. It wasn't just that everyone was on lockdown,
but on top of that, there are asylum processes were
(39:36):
haunted with no starting up again inside. I mean, it
was a really intense moment for our residents mental health.
There came a time when we were left with nineteen
people who we fondly called our v I piece because
They were the only ones who had stayed with us
(39:56):
throughout the whole pandemic. They endured every thing with us,
and we with them. There were even people who stayed
that you're without leaving us because of the pandemic, and
we're designed to have folks stay with us for two
or three moments at most, so it's very difficult for
someone to manage to stay so long with us. We
(40:19):
became a very close knit family because we spend so
much time together. Wow. Yeah, I mean, it sounds like
a lot of things shifted for you at Casaricoities, and
you had to really be open to finding creative solutions
for things very quickly as they came up. But what
remained the priority was keeping the residents safe and healthy,
and and you were able to successfully do this, which
(40:41):
is amazing. And hearing about your pandemic family is is
just so awesome, and it leads me to wonder, what's
something that you feel proud of from the last year
or two of your work. You know, something that we
are proud of, And I don't just speak for myself here,
but for all all this stuff, is that we spent
(41:02):
a whole year's sharing space with the v I p residents,
and now they are all in the United States. They
for made it. They for made it. Our pandemic kids,
as we sort of call them, they've made it. They've
made it to the United States to fulfill their dreams.
And also that during that one year that they were
(41:25):
waiting to get into the United States because of the pandemic,
they were safe and protective here with us, they were welcomed,
they were with us like a family. It's so incredible
that your pandemic family has since all made it to
the United States. I mean, that's just wow. That's like,
(41:46):
I'm getting all emotional thinking about that. And you know,
we've talked about kind of how things that work change
and how things were residents were during the pandemic, But
I also like to know, how do the pandemic personally
affect you during this time. Well, I think the pandemic
showed us all our shirt humanity and that mental health
(42:07):
was extremely hard for everyone. What I tried to do
was go to work and come home, following all the
protocols and protections, and I would come home and take
a shower. I became a cinefied, but still it was
hard on my mental health. But also I was still
exposed to COVID nineteen. I didn't have it all of twenty,
(42:31):
but coming into one I got it and I got it.
But I mean, it was a dire situation. I was
on the verge of death. They told me I had
four days to live, and I was ittilated for a
month and a half. I was on oxygen for a
month and a half and on bed rest, and Casarcois
(42:53):
was still warning. And what I remember is that, well,
at some point my partner, she's the institutional the loopment coordinator,
who I mentioned earlier, she was the one who went
to a casarco it Is to take care of things there,
and she also took care of me. But then she
also got COVID. So there were moments where we were worried,
(43:15):
like what are we going to do with casarco it Is,
But the staff to action. The staff responded in that
moment of prices. And when I finally did recover, it
was March. I had left in January, and when I
returned it was very very hard, extremely difficult, because I
(43:35):
still had to be working all my own mental health
while recovering from being on the verge of death. Christina Wow,
thank you so much for sharing what happened to you
with me. I'm just I'm so sorry to hear that
you have to experience, you know, as you say, being
on a version of death. It just sounds like so
(43:58):
scary and and I'm just so grateful that you were
able to recover and that you have the support of
your partner. But just wow, wow, what a really horrible
thing that you had to go through. And the residents
of gas Argus are so lucky to have you now,
and and we're so lucky that you were able to
pull through. It sounds like there were just a lot
of challenges, not just an ensuring folks were safe throughout
(44:20):
the pandemic, but also with your own physical and mental
health that you had to endure. But also, if you know,
folks had to be stuck somewhere during the pandemic, gas
Arguit sounds like a really wonderful place to be stuck,
with all the love you put into making it a
community space. And so how is it that l g
B t Q migrants find you at Gasarguits? They find
(44:45):
out about us through social media and through word of mouth,
mostly from folks who have stayed with us in the
past who recommend us two people they know if someone
is able to get to the United States, and then
they find out that someone needs a place to go,
they'll say, you can go to Casarco. It is you'll
(45:05):
be saved there. We have had folks from Venezuela, Nicaragua.
We even have folks from Russia. We had a Turkish
person stay recently. She was a trans woman. And we've
had Cuban folks, Iranians, lots of Cuban folks, and Colombian folks,
even one game man from China. So there are a
(45:29):
variety of folks who come stay with us, all because
they are LGBTQ. And so why are they coming. Well,
one reason maybe due to stay homophobia, as is the
case of Russia, Jamaica, Cuba, like I just mentioned. Some
other factors are cultural persecution, even from their own families,
(45:51):
as is often the case in Central America or by
organized whoops organs such as the Mara Salva Trucia, and
also to human trafficking. Others come because they'd been asked
to leave their homes. We also have displaced Mexican folks,
which is another concept displacement. These folks have been asked
(46:13):
to pay high costs for things like renting a space
that non LGBTQ folks don't have to pay, basically paining
to exist. For instance, let's say a transperson has a
beauties alone and then some kind of organized crime group
comes and says you have to pay them a fee
(46:35):
for your salone to operate. But wait, the feere just
got higher because you're trans and they say, who's going
to curta tomorrow? A trans woman shows up death in
the street. Mm hmm. That's a heavy image. I just
have to stay with it for a moment. M hmm. Yeah.
(46:56):
Thanks for sharing this with me and for giving some
more context. There are many reasons LGBTQ migrants with their
home countries, but I feel really grateful to know that
folks have a safe place to land when they arrive
in t Juana with you at Casarquities. So what are
the ways that the community can support the work that
you do at Casarquity so that you can continue providing
(47:17):
these services for LGBTQ migrants. There are many ways to
support our work. You can donate your time with us
to help organize our workshop or an activity that is
always helpful or financial support as well, but we don't
always need money. Donations come in all forms. Food donations
(47:38):
are especially helpful. Also helpful is connecting us with foundations, institutions, groups,
or other collectives who can partner with us and help
us find more founding. That is something we are always
actively looking for so we can continue to pay our stuff,
good salaries, and also pay for medicine for our residents
(48:01):
as well as medical consultations, food, clothes, household services, rent
and that's really when money becomes necessary to provide all
those services. Something we often do when people want to
support us, but not directly with donating money, is some
groups will organize food drives because then we have food donations,
(48:25):
which in terms on that administrative side, saves us money.
So then that money goes to medical services, and goes
to therapy for a resident, and goes to staff salaries,
et cetera. And if you can't donate money or food
or anything like that, you can always come to casarcities
and volunteer by sharing what you know how to do.
(48:47):
There are so many ways to support us, so many ways.
Those are all such great suggestions. Thank you so much,
and it just goes to show that it doesn't matter
who you are, there's always something you can do to
help out. Christina, we're winding down here in our conversation,
but it's been amazing talking with you today. And I
just have one last question, but it isn't your part um,
(49:11):
So what would you want to tell your younger self,
maybe at like fifteen or twenty years old? And what
message would you like to leave for future organizers and
activists like yourself. I think thinking about how you said it,
like what would I want to tell myself at fifteen
or twenty years old? And something that I think about
(49:32):
a lot that I mentioned to you earlier is to
always try and see yourself in the other person who
you're working with. Yeah, it's very important to be able
to see yourself in the other person. And also seeing
that all human beings have what we call intersectionality, and
(49:53):
that life takes you along different paths and puts you
in various spaces, but that if you believe in your
work and in social justice, then you can lean into
your intersectionality and find ways to work within it and
within your own vulnerabilities to be empowered. The paths and
(50:15):
the ways in which you access these intersectionalities will keep changing,
and that's a beautiful thing. It's beautiful to recognize that.
But even though things keep changing and life takes you
on different paths, never stop believing in what you always believed.
(50:39):
You know, I can't believe all the services that casar
Coities offers it. It's truly amazing. I specifically loved hearing
about how Christina and her team bring entertainment to the
folks staying that the casar Coities and how they got
creative to do this during the pandemic when the doors
were closed because seeking asyling can take a long time
(51:00):
in a baby draining process. It reminds me so much
of why I love bringing Joey and Laughter as an
entertainer to the Enforces as a global USO ambassador. Wow,
beautiful connection there, Wilmer, and Yeah, speaking with Christina was
a dream. It was awesome hearing that she's been involved
in local activism for decades and that even though her
path has changed, she's maintained her fierce advocacy through a
(51:22):
variety of channels. I mean, she was a sa batista,
but that's a whole other story for another time. Oh yeah,
I know, of course you will want to know more
about that, AMR. Of course, of course you know me.
So that's part one of this two part series. Nasa
the Argus and what an amazing part one it was.
To our listeners, please support Christina's work at Gasagods by
(51:45):
following them on social media at Albergue. Casa argues that's
a l B E R g U E C A
S A A R C O. I are I s
on Instagram or donating if you can. Any support goes
a long way and their doors are always open. What's
(52:07):
up on Part two? Wilmer Well next week on part
two of our miniseries, will have a roundtable discussion with
Lindsey Taslowski from the Immigrant Defender Law Center and Emmind W.
Marris from the Transgender Law Center. Lindsay advocates for migrants
every day in Los Angeles and Emin helps to run
the Border Butterflies Project Anti Juana, which provides support to
(52:31):
the lgbt Q plus a silent seekers. Stay tuned when
Quity Is Part two continues next week. Essential Voices with
Wilmer val Drama is produced by me m R Raquel,
Alison Shano and Kevin Rotkowski with production support from Associate
producer Lillian Holman. Executive producers Wilmer val Drama, Adam Reynolds,
(52:52):
Leo Clem and Aaron Hilliard. This episode was edited by M. R.
Raquel and Sean Tracy and features original music by Will Risotti.
Special thanks to this week's essential voice, Christina Franco Abundis
from Casa Argoiris in Tijuana. Additional thanks to Norma Yolanda
Lopez for providing the English accompaniment to Christina story. Additional
(53:14):
thanks to Yolanda, Selene Walter Mead, Larry Martinez, Rocio, Chris Chambers,
Anna Barry, Lorena Bordevie, Rene Garcia, and Nila Goshall. This
is a Clamor and w V Entertainment production in partnership
with I Heart Radio's Michael Dura podcast Network. For more
podcasts from I Heart, visit the I Heart Radio app,
(53:35):
Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Hey everyone in Wilma Bolt Drama and I'm m R. Raquel.
Welcome back to Essential Voices. This week, we're diving right
in and shifting our focus back to the US Mexico
border and specifically on l g B t Q plus
migrants who are seeking asylum in the United States. And
we're no strangers. Are Shannon a light on the work
being done at the US Mexican border since we spoke
(00:22):
about it back in our first episode with Nate much
from World Central Kitchen and Elsa Collins who started this
is about humanity, but we were specifically focused on the
l g B t Q plus advocacy, So I'm really
excited about this week's show. I'm also so excited about
this episode because wow, was there a ton of extremely
(00:43):
critical information shared with us or what? And I remember
that first episode well, if I recall you've worked with
Elsa at the US Mexico border before, right, Wilmer. Yes,
and I was lucky enough to have been invited to
share that experience with her. You know, I've been at
the US Mexican border with her learn more about how
to better advocate for migrant Santa silent seekers. It's become
(01:06):
so much harder doing COVID, especially since they have shut
down the border for non essential travel, which includes assailing seekers. Yes,
that's so true and will be a big component of
this longer conversation. We're excited to shake things up over
the next two episodes. This week, we're beginning a two
part mini series is about advocacy for lgbt Q plus
(01:28):
migrants and asylum seekers at the US Mexico border. For
part one this week, we'll hear an extended version of
an interview with essential worker Christina Franco Abundi's the director
of Casa argoity s an Tijuana. The next week, for
part two, we'll have a roundtable conversation to explore christina
story and the work being done to advocate for LGBTQ
(01:49):
plus migrants with two incredible lawyers, Lyndsey Taslawski from the
Immigrant Defenders Law Center and m M. Duple Morris from
the Transgender Law Center. I'm so excited for that too,
But right now, let's turn to Christina and Casa Argos.
Cass is a safe haven for l g b t
Q plus folks from all over the world where they
(02:11):
can live in community and receive the services they need
while seeking asylum into the United States. Not only is
it a safe place for folks to sleep and eat,
but also Gass emphasizes the importance of bringing joy to
their residents as well as mental health resources. They're doing
such incredible work and I can't wait for our listeners
to learn from Christina this week, me too, and I
(02:32):
know to listeners. We spoke with Christina in Spanish. For
English speakers out there after christina story in Spanish, you
can find an English version at twenty seven minutes and
twenty two seconds. Christina's story and Spanish starts now. Christina
um with um sarcoiris and I Juana Cassonal berge parlel
(03:03):
of mirante me andras esperan pos pues comeo fue for
more casarcies e porquesta formo como context to historico. The
como fundo is the important projector and jobs messes mills
(03:35):
da persona Central americanas rivera momento politico. The tron is
with diamos mandava or the navall persons from the restaurant.
(03:56):
It was last few dars scientificult possibly nico Tijuana understand
the personas say no Essa vida conto the last person
at condogeron ad mucius espass us, improvisados parac person migrantes.
(04:28):
But much as the yes ran elysies the called reliosa
catolicas bautistas Christiana's sustained plus every own su suspassious elo
commuter and al virgus part of person emigrantes ce nambargo,
porserats passios, every number of suitraction, logic religious last personast
(04:58):
no esta personas mucos, cinder margo, organ is around collectives
ejuana e collectives California, persona caravanaste is crimin moment migrantes
(05:26):
Parisian blow mast coltrans m don't says I wants them
collectives organ every roun espasios perosi coma context historical cases
(05:50):
wow u to cascoes and momento and intensi storia della
miratorio in perevi agrand the alohamiento seuros king cree con
collectiosa solution solution the video na faltamento parentons qualies on
(06:22):
no programmers in service fres casarcoiries. When not a principal
fundacy pases, there is the experimentando I guess that is
the Bando Lost Programs Existence program Almuda. Yes, the program
(06:50):
is to contention ramaticasties, passios, raticos, groups, individualist tejuana, latria,
(07:11):
carro coolestago not in the programstrica ras. The lallaia in
question is meericas no esquamos, medico's or avocados ViRGE no
(07:32):
nons is a capacident m de Racuso's economical peroa and carcas,
alliances cons collectives, conatris, organiza cvilles, contest the aser Carlo
services casis or the canalist or the residents vigadom residents
(07:59):
porquees couma naca sidon as carlos services buscar went to
the player bus continuenda in Mexico, et cetera. A lotro
programma is la cordation activities, the collectivos, they laprice as
(08:24):
you see getting espasios, the pinta, the dancer, the grascion
is the the arte manual seen. Yes, I inclusive convenues
(08:45):
just possibily does perroo. Caserco is la persona kit and
being no solo is less catoyer is canaria e went.
(09:11):
It's also fertes aso seeing your frescoes programas lora coursosalumental
commention on moon importantes yea esto service of critical scale
press and escuin and form aversion residentes sing spirador porque
(09:35):
divert alumental no ellen focversion mostra quanto ceprocupa porn perpective,
a holistica pentes in toonts pre pero como arcoes locate
a passion brook participant in project too famous commition even
(10:05):
your personallyvity port me profession. Associate pero with passion, with
simple crocket and conscience. Here associate a los groups simple
(10:27):
and a moment to tell me in is to be
parish employing communi that is sapatistas he maya mos may
b in estonio momento pendesaion landre it pois toastado the
(10:53):
scoobery and discovery and do muches courses at the start
yet and indavity familim me vida media possess perami feminism
and they I think like peas comminard to experience a
(11:18):
feminista social conneltraiendo or masi tost interconnected no ilueo pus
pandemia Ya Martina hinte estaa and processo ardo seeing mention arques,
we keep on alberge pro resident salude and Ton says
(11:44):
curio or cambiopera pandemia siefen if migrant Processosilo, Inton says
personal gestavan adience as a mannas there yea kiss processor
(12:09):
continuana and the regards the retention, Yeah yeah, yeah, we
suprocessor either repent front either repented is saying GIANOI possibly
that then maneras when let's see own India intences say
(12:39):
they guess you said they were not in a moment
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(13:00):
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(13:23):
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(13:44):
tringtaniosn mooven, Inton says intensificola, contraintestvenes a key, canno, potential leader,
(14:05):
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proprius effort lessons is no stress prop ramientes parass passios
(14:30):
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Bernardia Joe I wanted is the see practical yoga with
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(14:58):
filment and the loss alentles CERAs and residentism angustia or
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(15:19):
persona's conclues so simple v I p see most is
they do the most comparson you nostral Bergsta person system.
(15:40):
There's also dress misses. It is a moment is the
most familiar with We'll be right back after this break.
Welcome back to essential voices. Wow esc and cat are
(16:00):
queries cala pandemia, real mente flexile and contra creamente ela
era manteneas I looeresto, local men familiar pandemica e yes
(16:21):
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anio or sanjo. He had the local como staff, but
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(16:55):
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(17:25):
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(17:46):
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(18:08):
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(18:29):
and am covidia medio and between noo e se forna
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mentor merion. Australian medio is the crounbo you look reds
(19:01):
whenst the moment institution even covid even Momento respond staff
staff respond Momento Equando is the even c Okay personnel
(19:44):
and the bard the Christina Wow Lamento por algo tanatador
pero esto movie, the Pertella poiote pero Wow. It's also
(20:12):
not an intenso resident caste directora no solo para guarantees
arcident and PANDEMIAI parapropia sal physical mental supporter, peros residents
(20:33):
to pandemia casarquiris cerelos conte la more que ce coma
e coogrant cool and quend run a casarquiries polar red
(20:53):
reds ement inclusive grando als is recommended. All the personato
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(21:26):
most person as Russia see a persona as a Poco
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(21:57):
varied that the personas this this this origion ports relativity
pa port style Russia ports per persecusition a gold to
that includes pro familias come up in Central America, for
(22:21):
groupos is the organizzados marasaval trocha. The come up persons
includes a poor speeding Parisian plot and the most ambien
personal Mexicans. The plasadas guest concept of the plasamento porconclusio,
the speeding loojam coast to the piece see alguna persona
(22:46):
trans esthetic. We stay accessively into organiza restrant sexual I
can ne went porter mm hmm. When I'm the COMPARTI
(23:10):
then por momento CROs como context sorella and pojana contio
(23:35):
and casaros, and Ton says the formers pea connect hockey
casarcoiries is considered okay. The conna jona ramienta conna that
(24:05):
in organization conjectivity. That is, but the the monetario porqueno
san francis the donatibos in the species or to massen
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(24:32):
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(24:59):
persona yapno continero carman collected the Commeda also trust the
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(25:22):
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see from the mill formats on the Mucha's forums. Excellent
Christina even West track no importas simple you are Christina
(25:45):
aid and contio ulti castandos partes umiasims manita comments, Hello Steria.
The harp organiza commost Joe croquetanios a local Aristasquez muchoven
(26:16):
e platical and mementos esk croquees timprez vers la persona
personage the most locally intercectionalida e commento istinctus caminos pulltis
(26:40):
tinctos espasios. Okay, look at too, Chris to consciencia the
strava carp persona uncle intercectionalist part interceitionalida is last form
asbancambiendo because we wanted to. We wanted to, pero grandola
(27:06):
cobo is. We'll be right back after this break. Welcome
back to essential Voices. Christina story in English starts now.
Christina I want to thank you so much for being
here with me today to talk about your work and
(27:27):
share more about who you are with me. Um. So
we know that you're the director at casarcity is An Tijuana,
which is a temporary housing safe space for LGBTQ migrants
as they way to be granted asylum in the United States.
So I'm wondering how was Casa Arcoity started and why
was it started. To explain how casarco it Is was started,
(27:48):
I first wanted to give a little historical context about
what was happening in Tijuana during the time that we
were founded. If you recall in October and November twenty eighteen,
there were tons of caravans of migrants that arrived in Tijuana,
which included thousands of folks from Central America. We also
(28:09):
most remember that at that time, as per trans immigration policy,
he ordered that people who were seeking asylum in the
United States had to be doing so on borderland. Therefore,
Tijuana was the city that was most easily accessible to
folks seeking asylum within this border territory order from Trans administration.
(28:33):
So when these thousands of people arrived, and I'm not
going to say too much about this because it's a
very well known historical moment, but I want to give
this context to move our story closer to how all
this relates to the LGBTQ community. So, when all the
caravans survived, especially with many many folks from Haiti, there
(28:58):
were many improvid spaces that emerged to house these thousands
of migrants. Many of the spaces that were created because
of this emergency situation were Catholic, Baptist, Christian churches of
all kinds that opened their doors, opened their spaces and
(29:18):
converted them into shelters for migrants. However, because these spaces
were religious in nature, and this space is open with
wood intention you know, with wood will but I'll say
it like this, given the ideological religious beliefs of these spaces,
LGBTQ folks did not have access to these improvised shelters,
(29:44):
and the arguments keeping LGBTQ folks out of these shelters
where many. So what happened was that lgbt Q collectives
here in Tijuana and also collectives from California organized together
to find a solution for l g b t Q
folks who came in the caravans. The discrimination that l
(30:07):
g b t Q migrants were facing in the makeshift
church shelters. Was already very intense and more intense tour
lesbian women, trans women, and also against gay men as well.
So at that time, all these collectives organized and opened
(30:28):
their own spaces with the utmost urgency. And well, that's
historical context of how casar coit Is was created and
why Tijuana was in such dire need for this space
for l g b t Q migrants. Wow, I'm just
I'm so in all the dedication that it must have
(30:50):
taken to create Casarcities in such an intense moment in history.
It sounds like there was a real dire need and
LGBTQ community for safe housing. And how incredible to be
a part of being in solidarity with other collectives to
create and be a solution, even though you know the
solutions were created due to this alarming lack of safe
housing options that you're talking about for LGBT migrants. So
(31:13):
what are some of the programs and services that you
offer LGBT humigrants at Casarcities. Well, at the beginning, like
any project that is founded during an emergency situation, you
always have to be experimenting. You have to constantly see
what's needed and try things out. One of the programs
(31:34):
that currently exists is the mental health program that is
run by a psychologist. This program aims to help residents
if they are having a mental health crisis, but also
provides individual and group therapy. In Tijuana, therapy is a
very expensive practice, very expensive the state that the government
(31:56):
do not have programs for free psychological care, for medical
or legal matters. For us, we do not have doctors
or lawyers and staff at Casaco. It is because we
do not have the financial resources to do this. But
this mental health program is responsible for connecting our residents
(32:17):
with other alliances, groups, civil organizations, institutions to ensure they
received the care they need. Additionally, we help our residents
look for employment and housing if they decide to stay
here in Mexico. Another program we have through the support
of other collectives is for fun and entertainment, especially within
(32:42):
the arts. We make sure our residents have spaces for painting, dance, growing,
film theater, and help find spaces or activities to bring
our residents to the things in the city. Right now,
with the pandemic, there haven't been many opportunities for activities
outside the house, but when possible, we take our residence
(33:06):
throughout the cultural spaces that the Juana has to offer.
And then there's also support for residents who want to
pursue education or attend the lecture or workshop, who want
to be trained in some area of work. We help
with all that and the world. Those are some of
(33:27):
the more well established programs that we have. That's amazing.
You offer so many different kinds of programs, and the
mental health resources that you're mentioning are just so important, UM.
And apart from these critical services that you offer, hearing
that you also find ways to bring joy to your
residence is really inspiring because this joy goes hand in
hand with with mental health. You know, UM, folks that
(33:51):
are coming to you have led their homes due to
persecution and discrimination of so many different kinds and then
still have to wait to be granted asylum. So I'm
sure that while they stay with you, UM, you make
sure the residents are having fun. That's really special to
hear and shows how much you all care about taking
a holistic approach to supporting your residents. So from all
of us even time in so far, it really seems
(34:13):
like this work is a passion for you, But what
drew you to working at casarco it Is. I think
that what drew me to work at casarco it Is
was getting to work with migrants because I am a
member of the LGBTQ community. That is a requirement here
if you are own staff at casarco it Is. And
(34:34):
also because of my experience as a social worker. But well,
my passion, I've always believed in social justice and working
with marginalized communities. I've always worked within some aspect of
social justice at some point. I was also, for example,
(34:55):
in Sapatista's communities, and I got involved in that movement
during the at time. That's why I studied this type
of career that does not depend on a career per se.
It depends more on matters of the heart, on passion
and dedication. And well, I've also been doing a lot
(35:15):
of self discovery, rediscovering many things by being so involved
with the LGBTQ community. And since I'm also lgbt Q,
feminism has always been my reference, my life, my guide.
So for me, I could say my passion is merging
(35:38):
feminism with my working lgbt Q migrant spaces. We'll be
right back after this break, Welcome back to Essential Voices.
That's awesome that you get to mess your feminist and
social justice background with the current work that you're doing. Rather,
you know that it's all interconnected, you know. And then
a pandemic happens for an already marginalized community of folks
(36:02):
who are in an arduous process, and not to mention,
all of a sudden, your staff now has to take
additional precautions to keep your residence safe. So what change
for you at work when the pandemic happened. Yes, it
was a very difficult situation. It was a very difficult
situation for the migrant community because at that moment all
(36:22):
asylum processes stopped. At that time, many people were just
weeks or even days away from being able to have
their asylum process continue while they waited in detention. But
suddenly the entire border completely closed and there was no
longer a way to enter the United States. And just
(36:44):
so you know, even those of us who have visas
cannot go into the United States still to this day.
So for us, what was going on, Well, at that time,
there were approximately thirty residents staying with us. So for
us at that time, not only that our residents were
(37:06):
in a moment of inertia with their asylum processes stuff.
We were also thinking how we're going to handle the
COVID protocols. How are we going to handle the protection
protocols in a space where thirty people live, in a
place where we cannot shut down, where we did not
have the luxury like other workspaces did where you can
(37:29):
work from home. I mean, that was impossible for us.
The protocol we established was to decide to close the
shelter and we could not welcome any new residents. And
the most difficult thing was that folks couldn't leave the
shelter either. I mean, yes, they could go out of
(37:50):
the house, but while they decided to stay with us,
there are things had to be very limited and unfrequent.
I mean they house was quite literally locked with a key,
and only those who had to go to the doctor
or the bank could live for a brief outing. And
(38:10):
that was really difficult because our residents always range between
nineteen and thirty years old, so these are very young
folks from the LGBTQ community. And I mean, you know
how it is, the young foals want to go out
and have fun, So the situation intensified as we were
(38:32):
wondering what do we do with thirty young people here
who cannot go out and who cannot have fun. So
what we did is that the castle co it is stuffed,
organize ourselves to use our own skills and talents to
create fund for our residents how well. For instance, if
(38:54):
I know how to make a breath, I teach a
baking worshop. If I practice yoga, then we do a
yoga workshop. If I know how to draw, then we'll
do a drawing workshop. And so while we're we doing
it this way well, because we could not invite external
teachers to do these workshops the way that we were
(39:14):
used to doing them. And truly the most difficult part
of this lockdown was having to keep the residents inside
basically locked up, because it really increased the anguish of
our residents. It wasn't just that everyone was on lockdown,
but on top of that, there are asylum processes were
(39:36):
haunted with no starting up again inside. I mean, it
was a really intense moment for our residents mental health.
There came a time when we were left with nineteen
people who we fondly called our v I piece because
They were the only ones who had stayed with us
(39:56):
throughout the whole pandemic. They endured every thing with us,
and we with them. There were even people who stayed
that you're without leaving us because of the pandemic, and
we're designed to have folks stay with us for two
or three moments at most, so it's very difficult for
someone to manage to stay so long with us. We
(40:19):
became a very close knit family because we spend so
much time together. Wow. Yeah, I mean, it sounds like
a lot of things shifted for you at Casaricoities, and
you had to really be open to finding creative solutions
for things very quickly as they came up. But what
remained the priority was keeping the residents safe and healthy,
and and you were able to successfully do this, which
(40:41):
is amazing. And hearing about your pandemic family is is
just so awesome, and it leads me to wonder, what's
something that you feel proud of from the last year
or two of your work. You know, something that we
are proud of, And I don't just speak for myself here,
but for all all this stuff, is that we spent
(41:02):
a whole year's sharing space with the v I p residents,
and now they are all in the United States. They
for made it. They for made it. Our pandemic kids,
as we sort of call them, they've made it. They've
made it to the United States to fulfill their dreams.
And also that during that one year that they were
(41:25):
waiting to get into the United States because of the pandemic,
they were safe and protective here with us, they were welcomed,
they were with us like a family. It's so incredible
that your pandemic family has since all made it to
the United States. I mean, that's just wow. That's like,
(41:46):
I'm getting all emotional thinking about that. And you know,
we've talked about kind of how things that work change
and how things were residents were during the pandemic, But
I also like to know, how do the pandemic personally
affect you during this time. Well, I think the pandemic
showed us all our shirt humanity and that mental health
(42:07):
was extremely hard for everyone. What I tried to do
was go to work and come home, following all the
protocols and protections, and I would come home and take
a shower. I became a cinefied, but still it was
hard on my mental health. But also I was still
exposed to COVID nineteen. I didn't have it all of twenty,
(42:31):
but coming into one I got it and I got it.
But I mean, it was a dire situation. I was
on the verge of death. They told me I had
four days to live, and I was ittilated for a
month and a half. I was on oxygen for a
month and a half and on bed rest, and Casarcois
(42:53):
was still warning. And what I remember is that, well,
at some point my partner, she's the institutional the loopment coordinator,
who I mentioned earlier, she was the one who went
to a casarco it Is to take care of things there,
and she also took care of me. But then she
also got COVID. So there were moments where we were worried,
(43:15):
like what are we going to do with casarco it Is,
But the staff to action. The staff responded in that
moment of prices. And when I finally did recover, it
was March. I had left in January, and when I
returned it was very very hard, extremely difficult, because I
(43:35):
still had to be working all my own mental health
while recovering from being on the verge of death. Christina Wow,
thank you so much for sharing what happened to you
with me. I'm just I'm so sorry to hear that
you have to experience, you know, as you say, being
on a version of death. It just sounds like so
(43:58):
scary and and I'm just so grateful that you were
able to recover and that you have the support of
your partner. But just wow, wow, what a really horrible
thing that you had to go through. And the residents
of gas Argus are so lucky to have you now,
and and we're so lucky that you were able to
pull through. It sounds like there were just a lot
of challenges, not just an ensuring folks were safe throughout
(44:20):
the pandemic, but also with your own physical and mental
health that you had to endure. But also, if you know,
folks had to be stuck somewhere during the pandemic, gas
Arguit sounds like a really wonderful place to be stuck,
with all the love you put into making it a
community space. And so how is it that l g
B t Q migrants find you at Gasarguits? They find
(44:45):
out about us through social media and through word of mouth,
mostly from folks who have stayed with us in the
past who recommend us two people they know if someone
is able to get to the United States, and then
they find out that someone needs a place to go,
they'll say, you can go to Casarco. It is you'll
(45:05):
be saved there. We have had folks from Venezuela, Nicaragua.
We even have folks from Russia. We had a Turkish
person stay recently. She was a trans woman. And we've
had Cuban folks, Iranians, lots of Cuban folks, and Colombian folks,
even one game man from China. So there are a
(45:29):
variety of folks who come stay with us, all because
they are LGBTQ. And so why are they coming. Well,
one reason maybe due to stay homophobia, as is the
case of Russia, Jamaica, Cuba, like I just mentioned. Some
other factors are cultural persecution, even from their own families,
(45:51):
as is often the case in Central America or by
organized whoops organs such as the Mara Salva Trucia, and
also to human trafficking. Others come because they'd been asked
to leave their homes. We also have displaced Mexican folks,
which is another concept displacement. These folks have been asked
(46:13):
to pay high costs for things like renting a space
that non LGBTQ folks don't have to pay, basically paining
to exist. For instance, let's say a transperson has a
beauties alone and then some kind of organized crime group
comes and says you have to pay them a fee
(46:35):
for your salone to operate. But wait, the feere just
got higher because you're trans and they say, who's going
to curta tomorrow? A trans woman shows up death in
the street. Mm hmm. That's a heavy image. I just
have to stay with it for a moment. M hmm. Yeah.
(46:56):
Thanks for sharing this with me and for giving some
more context. There are many reasons LGBTQ migrants with their
home countries, but I feel really grateful to know that
folks have a safe place to land when they arrive
in t Juana with you at Casarquities. So what are
the ways that the community can support the work that
you do at Casarquity so that you can continue providing
(47:17):
these services for LGBTQ migrants. There are many ways to
support our work. You can donate your time with us
to help organize our workshop or an activity that is
always helpful or financial support as well, but we don't
always need money. Donations come in all forms. Food donations
(47:38):
are especially helpful. Also helpful is connecting us with foundations, institutions, groups,
or other collectives who can partner with us and help
us find more founding. That is something we are always
actively looking for so we can continue to pay our stuff,
good salaries, and also pay for medicine for our residents
(48:01):
as well as medical consultations, food, clothes, household services, rent
and that's really when money becomes necessary to provide all
those services. Something we often do when people want to
support us, but not directly with donating money, is some
groups will organize food drives because then we have food donations,
(48:25):
which in terms on that administrative side, saves us money.
So then that money goes to medical services, and goes
to therapy for a resident, and goes to staff salaries,
et cetera. And if you can't donate money or food
or anything like that, you can always come to casarcities
and volunteer by sharing what you know how to do.
(48:47):
There are so many ways to support us, so many ways.
Those are all such great suggestions. Thank you so much,
and it just goes to show that it doesn't matter
who you are, there's always something you can do to
help out. Christina, we're winding down here in our conversation,
but it's been amazing talking with you today. And I
just have one last question, but it isn't your part um,
(49:11):
So what would you want to tell your younger self,
maybe at like fifteen or twenty years old? And what
message would you like to leave for future organizers and
activists like yourself. I think thinking about how you said it,
like what would I want to tell myself at fifteen
or twenty years old? And something that I think about
(49:32):
a lot that I mentioned to you earlier is to
always try and see yourself in the other person who
you're working with. Yeah, it's very important to be able
to see yourself in the other person. And also seeing
that all human beings have what we call intersectionality, and
(49:53):
that life takes you along different paths and puts you
in various spaces, but that if you believe in your
work and in social justice, then you can lean into
your intersectionality and find ways to work within it and
within your own vulnerabilities to be empowered. The paths and
(50:15):
the ways in which you access these intersectionalities will keep changing,
and that's a beautiful thing. It's beautiful to recognize that.
But even though things keep changing and life takes you
on different paths, never stop believing in what you always believed.
(50:39):
You know, I can't believe all the services that casar
Coities offers it. It's truly amazing. I specifically loved hearing
about how Christina and her team bring entertainment to the
folks staying that the casar Coities and how they got
creative to do this during the pandemic when the doors
were closed because seeking asyling can take a long time
(51:00):
in a baby draining process. It reminds me so much
of why I love bringing Joey and Laughter as an
entertainer to the Enforces as a global USO ambassador. Wow,
beautiful connection there, Wilmer, and Yeah, speaking with Christina was
a dream. It was awesome hearing that she's been involved
in local activism for decades and that even though her
path has changed, she's maintained her fierce advocacy through a
(51:22):
variety of channels. I mean, she was a sa batista,
but that's a whole other story for another time. Oh yeah,
I know, of course you will want to know more
about that, AMR. Of course, of course you know me.
So that's part one of this two part series. Nasa
the Argus and what an amazing part one it was.
To our listeners, please support Christina's work at Gasagods by
(51:45):
following them on social media at Albergue. Casa argues that's
a l B E R g U E C A
S A A R C O. I are I s
on Instagram or donating if you can. Any support goes
a long way and their doors are always open. What's
(52:07):
up on Part two? Wilmer Well next week on part
two of our miniseries, will have a roundtable discussion with
Lindsey Taslowski from the Immigrant Defender Law Center and Emmind W.
Marris from the Transgender Law Center. Lindsay advocates for migrants
every day in Los Angeles and Emin helps to run
the Border Butterflies Project Anti Juana, which provides support to
(52:31):
the lgbt Q plus a silent seekers. Stay tuned when
Quity Is Part two continues next week. Essential Voices with
Wilmer val Drama is produced by me m R Raquel,
Alison Shano and Kevin Rotkowski with production support from Associate
producer Lillian Holman. Executive producers Wilmer val Drama, Adam Reynolds,
(52:52):
Leo Clem and Aaron Hilliard. This episode was edited by M. R.
Raquel and Sean Tracy and features original music by Will Risotti.
Special thanks to this week's essential voice, Christina Franco Abundis
from Casa Argoiris in Tijuana. Additional thanks to Norma Yolanda
Lopez for providing the English accompaniment to Christina story. Additional
(53:14):
thanks to Yolanda, Selene Walter Mead, Larry Martinez, Rocio, Chris Chambers,
Anna Barry, Lorena Bordevie, Rene Garcia, and Nila Goshall. This
is a Clamor and w V Entertainment production in partnership
with I Heart Radio's Michael Dura podcast Network. For more
podcasts from I Heart, visit the I Heart Radio app,
(53:35):
Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
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