March 2, 2025 • 27 mins
A current exploration of housing rights and activism led by Elias Naranjo highlights urgent issues in community organizing. We discuss the complexities of gentrification, the struggles within the LGBTQIA community, and the importance of prioritizing self-care amidst activism.
• Introduction to Radio Q GLLU and Elias Naranjo
• Discussing the challenges of affordable housing in LA
• The impact of gentrification on marginalized communities
• Coalition-building in the fight for housing rights
• The importance of self-care for activists
• Closing thoughts on collective responsibility and future actions
Are housing injustices widening the gap between communities? In this gripping episode, we sit down with Elias Naranjo, a dedicated community organizer making waves in the fight against housing inequity in Los Angeles. He shares his personal story as a first-generation Latine, illuminating the challenges that many face in today's housing climate. From navigating gentrification in neighborhoods like Boyle Heights to advocating for vulnerable populations, Elias discusses how intersecting identities shape the struggle for stable housing.
As conversations about gentrification heat up, Elias helps us unpack critical issues, highlighting the urgency for rent control and tenant protections. You'll hear how collective actions via coalitions are making a difference, along with the grassroots movements challenging systemic barriers in the housing landscape. These topics resonate far beyond LA, echoing the realities in urban centers nationwide.
We also explore self-care and community resilience, emphasizing the joy found in activism and the necessity for mental well-being when fighting for others’ rights. Elias’s insights as a passionate advocate shine through, inspiring listeners to reflect on their roles in their communities and encouraging proactive participation in the pursuit of justice.
Join us for this enlightening discourse that not only seeks to raise awareness but also ignites meaningful conversations about the future of housing as a human right.
***Share your thoughts on how we can galvanize change in our communities. Engage with us on social media and leave a review!***
Welcome to the RADIO QGLLU podcast, the show that TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT THE QUEER, GAY, AND LESBIAN LATINE COMMUNITY IS TALKING ABOUT.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rita Gonzales (00:04):
Welcome to the Out Agenda.
Coming to you on archivekpfkorg, I'm Rita Gonzalez.
Well, we have another monthlysegment of Radio Q Glue.
Welcome to Radio Q Glue Podcast, the show that takes a deep
(00:28):
dive into what the queer, gayand lesbian Latin community is
talking about.
I'm Rita Gonzalez.
Mario J. Novoa (00:34):
I'm Mario Novoa.
Rita Gonzales (00:36):
I'm Lydia Otero
Eduardo Archuleta.
Mario J. Novoa (00:42):
In today's episode we're talking with Elias
Naranjo.
Elias Naranjo, he him el is atransgender first-generation
Latinx, born and raised inSouthern California.
He is a community organizer andhousing activist in Los Angeles
.
Elias is passionate aboutnature, cooking, photography and
working out Welcome.
Can you share with ourlisteners a bit about your
(01:05):
personal background and whatinitially inspired you to become
a community organizer and ahousing activist?
Elias Naranjo (01:14):
Yeah, thank you Mario.
Thank you so much y'all forhaving me on here.
It's amazing and lovely to seeyou know, or see y'all you know,
virtually at least.
Yeah, so I guess, like mybackground, you know, I'm I'm
first generation Peruvian,mexican.
Like I don't have muchconnection or ancestry to this
(01:36):
land.
Most of my family, you know, isfrom Mexico or from Peru.
So I feel like I'm always atthis constant like different
thoughts of what it is to be,like a part of this being
American and not havinggenerational wealth and how that
kind of also ties into likeowning property, owning land and
(01:59):
what that looks like.
So for me I feel like it's beenI don't know.
I think I think growing up, myfamily and I we've always like
rented and we've always like my,my grandma like owns a house
now in Orange County, but it'sit's, it's not paid off or
anything, because that is like Idon't know.
I think it's been like a verybig, like privileged thing to be
(02:21):
able to do that stuff andconsidering, like my grandma, my
grandma's only been in the USfor 30 years.
It's not easy to do that andyou know, a lot of folks are
working class and I think thisis like a subject that touches
like a lot of differentpopulations, whether it's like
first generation Latinos, queerand trans people, like owning
property, people like owningproperty, owning housing, is
(02:43):
like so, so important.
And I really got involved andlike, over the last like two
years, I was working for anothernonprofit where we did anti
gentrification work anddisplacement work in Los Angeles
with young people.
So I've been working with youthfor a while and that job was
(03:04):
specifically like kind of likean intro to what that is Like.
I'm not like a professor of anymeans, like I was just an
instructor doing research buttrying to teach these youth what
is gentrification, what is likedisplacement and how we're
seeing it in real time,especially in the neighborhoods
they live in.
(03:24):
Because I was teaching in BoyleHeights area, which is a place
that's becoming gentrified, hasbeen gentrified now for the last
several years.
So it was really important togive these youth the knowledge
and the power to reallyunderstand what's happening in
their community and take back.
And now I'm working at a newnonprofit.
(03:45):
They're connected Like a lot ofthe coalitions like work
together, because it's a reallybig, it's just a really big
landscape and we can't do it byourselves, like.
We have tons of orgs that wework with, but I work for an
organization now called EastsideLeads and they specifically
focus in East LA, boyle Heights,lincoln Heights area regarding
(04:08):
housing disparity, anything thathas to do with housing policies
or affordable housing, socialhousing.
That's essentially what we do,and I've been with them now for
a few months, but I've reallybeen working with them for over
a year lately, so it's just,it's just been.
It's been this whole process oftrying to learn this landscape
(04:30):
and how Los Angeles does theirhousing policies and how really
unfair it is, because in a lotof other metropolitan cities
they, they actually really careabout their, their, the people
that live there, and don't giveso much money and power to
landlords.
Lydia Otero (04:49):
Hi, Elias, it's good to see you.
This is Lydia.
Okay, so the fires happened andthe fires just everything that
was already what you described,I bet intensified in terms of
the housing crisis in LosAngeles.
So what are the biggestchallenges now that that you're
(05:09):
facing in Los Angeles because ofthe fires?
Elias Naranjo (05:14):
Yeah, that's a good, that's a good question and
it's something that, like ourteam we're a small team but,
like I said, we have connectionsto other coalitions, like we're
part of a greater coalitioncalled stay housed la and keep
la housed, which are citystarted um campaigns that uh
mobilize tenants and createworkshops and try to get legal
(05:37):
and help for anything defenselike it is at like capacity,
completely at capacity, likeit's really hard to recommend
people that but it is an option.
But that coalition came together, like immediately right after
the fires happened, to try topass a rent control, like a rent
freeze, after everythinghappened happen and
(06:04):
unfortunately it didn't pass,which was really really
unfortunate because we reallywanted to protect folks that
were possibly going to be facingeither evictions because of
everything that's happened or atleast, like not have tenants
worry about the rent going upwhile this tragedies happen.
And LA didn't pass it and wetried really hard to get it
(06:26):
passed and it was reallyunfortunate because this would
have not only been great for allthe folks affected but it would
have gone all LA County, whichwould have been really
incredible for everybody because, as of February of this year,
folks can begin to raise therent, you know, and that's
something that we've been tryingto fight against, because I, we
(06:47):
feel like it just keeps goingup every single year and when do
we get to like a cap of okay,you need to stop raising the
rent as much.
So I think that's somethingthat's really relevant right now
to us and the work that my, myjob, has been doing and it's and
it's been hard.
I think um, the stay house lateam has been really great on
(07:08):
mobilizing and I, I know in theonce I um it's.
It's not set in stone at themoment, but we're going to be
having some sort of um kind oflike a resource fair regarding
housing um in altadena in a fewweeks, hopefully in march.
Um, it's still being mobilizedat the moment, but it is
something that where we want tohost some tenant workshops,
having some legal aid there,being able to offer support for
(07:33):
folks that don't know where toturn or where to go to.
Lydia Otero (07:37):
Wow, thank you.
Eduardo Archuleta (07:39):
Hi Elias.
This is Eduardo and I want toask has there been a particular
experience that you've had thatimpacts your organizing work?
Elias Naranjo (08:06):
Yeah, it's a good question.
I feel like I mentioned, fromlike housing to housing, just
you know, not having a reallyset place, like I grew up in
Orange County and like differentcities and then just kind of I
don't know realizing thatfeeling like having housing or
stable housing feels sounattainable at times in
California.
And it is something that Ithink about like in my
experience just living in LA,like I've like moved three times
already and so it's like astrange feeling to just feel
(08:28):
like you don't like have a homein a sense, because you're
constantly like moving places.
And I think that always, um, Ifeel like that always like
sticks with me because like Iwant, like I love California,
like I'm born and raised inCalifornia and I want to stay
here as much as I can.
But then there's also things inthe back of my head where I'm
(08:49):
like, oh, it's so not affordable.
Like am I ever going to find,am I ever going to be like a
homeowner here?
Like is that even a smart idea,given you know the landscape
and everything.
And I think that's somethingthat always moves my work,
because I really want everybodyelse to be able to feel stable
and I also for myself.
I think a lot of organizerslike come from organizing
(09:11):
because of their own experiencesand they want to help other
people.
So, for me, I feel like I wouldlove that as a reality of
myself, like I would love not topay as much as I do in rent, of
course, and I also would loveto see, you know, the market or
at least like Los Angeles andhopefully California takes suit
in being able to really likelimit the power that landlords
(09:35):
have and the people that arelike grabbing land, that we see
that it's become a market andhousing is, you know, like it is
a human right and it should notbe on the market like so
capitalistic, like that.
And I think that's somethingthat continues to inspire and
move me because I want it to bea reality one day.
Rita Gonzales (09:56):
This is Rita.
You talked about gentrificationand trying to fight that, which
is very difficult to do.
I love Los Angeles, butunfortunately I had to leave Los
Angeles because of that.
I could not afford it.
So, I moved to a place that Ithought would help, and now
gentrification is happeningwhere I'm at.
It just seems unavoidable.
(10:17):
Now you talk about some of theolder.
Well, you talked aboutcoalitions working together.
Are there new coalitionshappening, or are they any of
them geared to the LGBTQIAcommunity?
Elias Naranjo (10:32):
Right, yeah, no, that's a great question.
I think there I don't knowspecifically of like ones that
are LGBT, like centered, but Ido know there are there is a lot
of intersexuality within theseorganizations because, as we
know, trans and queer people areactually a really vulnerable
(10:52):
population in not having stablehousing and actually right now
too, we're seeing folks that arereally vulnerable as well, are
ages 50 and up and up, havebecome displaced, have become
homeless because of that, andalso right now I've heard many
stories of folks that are likeundocumented and they're
(11:13):
actually like losing housingbecause of landlords threatening
to like expose their status,and that's also a very
vulnerable population andthere's an intersexuality
between that, because there's alot of undocumented folks that
are queer, are trans.
So I don't know of a specificorg I'd have to get back to you
on that but I know LA tenantunions.
(11:34):
There area lot of queeractivists in that area.
They're more of a reallygrassroots organization.
They do incredible work.
They are in different parts ofLA, like it's kind of like city
based, like there's a Koreatownone and then there's like a
whole, a big, a bigger one, theLA tenant unions.
But I've seen and I personallyhave met like a lot of queer and
(11:56):
trans activists that are reallybig in that LA tenant unions,
because I feel like they're morethey're not really guided by a
nonprofit.
Because I feel like they'remore they're not really guided
by a non-profit, so I feel likethey're more radical in that
sense.
And some of the loudest folkslike I've seen on in those orgs
are, uh, younger, like trans andqueer folks, just really trying
(12:16):
to advocate and take up spacefor for literally everybody.
And it's always reallyincredible to me seeing trans
and queer people at theforefront of all these movements
all the time, even when it'snot just like for queer and
trans people, but for everybody.
And and I think that's reallyincredible, so I I would shout
them out because I think they'rereally visible when it comes to
(12:37):
that.
Mario J. Novoa (12:38):
Elias, this is Mario again.
I can hear your passion aboutcommunity building and being
involved in these organizationsand I know it's specifically
with Stay Housed LA.
You talked a little bit aboutit.
Stay Housed LA is a partnershipwith LA County and the city of
Los Angeles and it provideslegal services, legal assistance
(13:01):
, educational workshops andpeople can find other support
services.
I know you kind of shared withus your way into this activism
and organizing.
How do you, what type of advicewould you give to others who
would like to following yourfirst footsteps?
Elias Naranjo (13:23):
yeah, I think you know I really think it's
important like and speaking tolike the gentrification,
displacement, like if you happento move to a community, I think
the best way is to get involvedin any way you can, especially
in housing related stuff.
Like you know, I'm not from LosAngeles and I and I take like
(13:44):
and I'm very like aware of that,you know, and I always talk
about that.
So, in ways like, I also feellike, oh, am I like a displacer,
like, am I this?
But I feel like I have beenreally involved in like the the
community here in Boyle Heightsand I would recommend that for
anybody where, wherever you endup moving, if you go to K-Town,
if you're in other areas, likejust really get involved in any
(14:07):
grassroots organization, becausethere are like tons of like
tenant unions in every singlecity and you can easily access
them and find them and getinvolved and ask around, start
going to workshops, volunteeringyour time for that, and also it
is like a really big, like sucha big landscape at times like
(14:28):
there's so much information outthere.
But just even starting likelike for us personally, like if
people are in the east side, solike East LA, boyle Heights,
like I'm in City Terrace areathere's like already like
there's already like tenantunions already set up for folks
and Eastside Leads like we'rewe're one of.
We're kind of one of them too,because we offer workshops.
(14:51):
Sometimes we do like one-on-onekind of like tenant, tenant,
client type of help when we havelike capacity to do so.
But we also just try to buildthese members and other other
activists and other organizers.
Like our whole goal is to likeorganize other people so they
can organize for themselves andthen get other people involved.
(15:13):
So we're not doing everythingfor them but we're giving them
those tools and powers to beable to fight, you know, a legal
, an illegal eviction or fightlike their landlord that's
harassing them.
So I think getting involved likethat it's kind of it's kind of
how I got thrown into it as welland, unfortunately, like a lot
(15:33):
of people get involved whenthey're facing an eviction or
when they're facing like someharassment, and it's unfortunate
that it has to happen that way.
But it does radicalize them andit does want them to be, want
them to be in the space more.
But if you can get into thesespaces before you're facing
something like that, it would beway more beneficial for
(15:56):
yourself and for the other folksaround you, because you have so
much more knowledge.
Because a lot of folks come tothese tenant unions when they
don't know what to do andthey're scared and they're
worried they're going to losetheir housing.
So getting there before that isreally really helpful and
incredible Like for me, like Ifeel really prepared if
something happens, if somethingwere to happen to me, like I
(16:18):
feel like OK, like I know how todefend myself and I think I
think getting involved with anysmall local tenant union would
be really helpful.
Lydia Otero (16:30):
Elias, allow me to turn the spotlight back on you.
I can see from your bio you'reemphasizing self-care for
yourself, like working outphotography, cooking your own
food.
Tell us a little bit more aboutthose aspects of your life food
.
Elias Naranjo (16:45):
Tell us a little bit more about those aspects of
your life.
Yeah, I feel like you know I,you know, as you guys are, you
know, longtime organizers likehow, how important it is to take
care of yourself when you'refighting these like really big,
big battles, and they seem tokind of take over a lot of
aspects of your life, like forme, I I feel like I need those
(17:06):
like times of like being in mybody, especially someone that's
trans like.
I really need to feel likeconnected in some way and I feel
like, for me, working out hasbeen like such a way for me to
like really feel at home in mybody and, I guess, really
masculine, like when I work outand lift weights I'm like, oh,
(17:26):
muscles, you know.
So I feel like that's that'sreally helpful.
But I, I feel like organizingnow for a while.
I I think it's it's soimportant to have those like
your own like sort of identitiesand goals, like, and I'm I I do
a lot of this housing stuff andI still do a lot of different
um either, um, organizing workin some like trans orgs as well.
(17:49):
So I feel like it's kind of hardto like take yourself out of it
because you know, I am transand I'm queer, so I'm constantly
like in it.
But I I still like to have a lotof joy and fun, like I'll go to
like queer events and dance andhave a good time and have those
moments of joy where it's notconstant, like like I know right
now, given the administrationit's, there's a lot of sadness
(18:12):
and a lot of fear, and I feellike it's it's what they like
thrive off of and for us likequeer and trans people to be
like around.
For me, like being around othertrans folks and queer folks like
that just brings me so muchmore joy and I think they're
like people are afraid transfolks and queer folks like that
just brings me so much more joyand I think they're like people
are afraid of that and so I'mlike I just need to be in those
spaces more and I feel like that.
(18:33):
That's like a self-care aspectfor me, like being around, like
my trans community dancing.
I'm sure you guys did a lot ofdancing too, so that's a good
way to do a lot of self-caredancing and, yeah, I think those
moments are really reallyimportant, especially given,
like, the state that the worldis in right now.
Eduardo Archuleta (18:53):
It's Eduardo again, and I too believe in
self-care and want to know whatyou think.
Or do you think that mostLatinx queer folk are
prioritizing taking care ofthemselves and self-care?
Ooh, that's a good question.
Elias Naranjo (19:12):
I feel like Latino folk know how to have a
good time for sure.
My friend through last night.
It was really sweet to see itwas a very kind of personal
thing Through a little housegathering at someone's house in
Boyle Heights.
It was just queer and transfolks.
It was kind of related toValentine's Day but the amistad
(19:37):
and whatnot.
It was really sweet to seeeverybody take a load off and
enjoy company, even though wedon't all know each other, but
like they all bring us togetherand it's really incredible.
But I feel like I think I couldsee like folks doing that more
because we're such a I don'tknow that a lot of people like
that I see here, like thecommunity I work with, like they
(19:57):
are.
I feel like sometimes they don'thave the privilege to to take a
day off to take care ofthemselves and they're just in a
survival mode.
A lot of folks are in survivalmode where they're like I need
to work, I need to do this, Ineed to take care of my kid and
unfortunately maybe don't havethat privilege too.
And I think something we do withour members that we work with
(20:19):
here in Boyle Heights, like wetry to like give them those
moments of just relax, whetherit's like bringing them a really
good meal or like trying to dosomething different outside of
just like a workshop.
I think that's something reallyimportant.
I've seen a lot oforganizations I worked with like
take like a spa day or dosomething like that, to like
(20:40):
really like have these peoplerelax, because we know,
unfortunately, it can be seen asa privilege to to do those
things, and I really think it is, and I would really want more
Latino folks to I don't know dodo some more self care for
themselves.
I think we can be so lost inlike taking care of others all
the time, like we don't know howto like take care of ourselves,
(21:01):
and I think that's that's superimportant for our own mental
health.
Rita Gonzales (21:11):
This is Rita again.
I just want to say that,listening to you talk a lot of
times older people, we did partya lot when we were younger, but
some of us didn't prepare forthe future because some people
felt, some of us felt we didn'thave a future.
But here we are, and so you hadsome great advice about how to
in case there is a crisis, howto.
You should go to theseworkshops, and it's great that
(21:32):
the younger generation now ishere and putting the two
together.
Maybe we can learn from eachother, which is very, very
important.
So what advice would you giveus older folks here, as career
folks, on how we can communicatewith the younger generation?
Elias Naranjo (21:49):
Yeah, I think that's something that I've
thought about too, especially inlike being in community spaces,
because it's either like a lotof young folk in the space or a
lot of like older folk, and it'ssometimes it doesn't like mesh
as much as I'd like it to, andsometimes it doesn't like mesh
as much as I'd like it to.
I honestly feel like in a lotof these spaces I've seen more
(22:09):
like older generation be inthose spaces and I kind of like
like I think the oldergeneration like they're really
like I've seen some reallypassionate people that are like
there, they're at City Hall,they're giving public comment,
and I kind of want to see likemore younger folk actually go
(22:30):
into those spaces where a lot oflike the older generation are
have been there like really liketaking up the space, talking,
and I and I think I, I don'tknow.
I think that's a good question,because I we try to wonder that
ourselves like how do we getmore like kind of a
intergenerational thing going onhere and I don't think it's all
(22:51):
on like the older folks Like Ifeel like a lot of the younger
folk are too, maybe like busy.
Uh, you know, in your 20syou're very like all about me,
like all figuring out my life.
So I feel like some of them likeare kind of there where they
haven't some of them haven'tstepped into like an or like an
organizing space, and I wouldencourage them to go to these
spaces because there are like alot of old, like a lot of the
(23:13):
folks I work with, a lot of myum uh, what's it called like
compañeros and stuff.
Like they're all like older thanme and some of them are like in
their like 50s or 60s likedoing this work, and I really
respect them because they'vebeen doing it for a long time,
so, and I think they're veryopen to like teaching people and
(23:34):
having community.
So I don't know, I think it'snice to be around folks,
especially that are older thanme and have like the years and
organizing, like be really openand and just so communicative
regarding like anything likeI've never had like an issue.
I feel like I've learned somuch from, from like older
(23:55):
organizers and they always makeme feel so welcome, so I feel
like they're doing great.
Honestly, I think the youngpeople need to step up a little
bit more actually, in my opinion, especially being in these
spaces a lot, but, um, yeah,y'all are great.
Lydia Otero (24:10):
I think the way we organized back then was way
different than you are alreadydoing it.
So you have social media, butstill at the core it is about
showing up right, and I thinkthat's really important.
I'm taking the opportunity tospeak up and make yourself heard
.
That's still the key.
But the logistical stuff abouthow you organize people, that's
(24:34):
way different, I think.
Because, we had to be morestealth about it.
You all have to be more publicabout it.
You all have to be more publicabout it.
Elias Naranjo (24:42):
Absolutely yeah, and I think social media has
changed, organizing a lot, but Ifeel like it shouldn't just
stop there.
Like I really think people likelose the connection when they
don't do the in-person stuffLike as much as like some folks
might not like door knocking,might not like canvassing, it's
really how to get to the folksthat aren't on social media.
(25:02):
And there's a whole bunch ofpeople, especially like maybe
like some Latino folk or likeworking class folk, older
generation, like they're not asmuch on social media.
So like you really have to dothat groundwork of like door
knocking, going into theseneighborhoods, posting up, doing
like tabling events, and I feellike that's where you find like
that real genuine connection.
(25:23):
And I've seen it on socialmedia.
I think it helps mobilize a lotof people.
But then you know there's adifference in mobilizing and in
like keeping them engaged forlike a longer campaign, a longer
win, and I think that's theharder part, that I feel like
social media can kind of likedip off on that.
But I agree, I'm sure I'm sureit's really different, given
everything now.
Lydia Otero (25:44):
Thank you, Elias, for being with us today.
I mean it's so great to totouch base with you because
you've been on a previous RadioQ glue episode with touch base
with you and see you blossom inthis way.
It's really heartfelt from usto see you grow and be so active
(26:07):
in our community.
So thank you, Thank you forbeing here with us today.
Elias Naranjo (26:12):
Thank you so much , everybody.
It's always great to be aroundy'all and I'm like we got to
hang out you know like this.
That'd be amazing, but Iappreciate your words and I'm
like we got to hang out.
You know, like, like this.
That'd be amazing, but Iappreciate your words and thank
you for giving me theopportunity to speak on speak on
this.
I guess it's it's reallyimportant and I hope folks can
learn something from it too.
Lydia Otero (26:32):
We've been speaking to Elias Naranjo.
Thank you for listening toRadio QGLLU.
This is Lydia Otero.
Eduardo Archuleta (26:40):
I'm Eduardo Archuleta.
I'm Mario Novoa.
Rita Gonzales (26:44):
And we want to hear from you.
Tell us what you think of theOut Agenda and Radio Q Glue.
Like us on our Facebook page oremail us at theoutagenda at
gmailcom.
I'm Rita Gonzalez.
Thanks for listening, and havea wonderful week, and remember
that being out is the first stepto being equal.
(27:05):
Now stay tuned for this Way Out.
Welcome to the Out Agenda.
Coming to you on archivekpfkorg, I'm Rita Gonzalez.
Well, we have another monthlysegment of Radio Q Glue.
Welcome to Radio Q Glue Podcast, the show that takes a deep
(00:28):
dive into what the queer, gayand lesbian Latin community is
talking about.
I'm Rita Gonzalez.
Mario J. Novoa (00:34):
I'm Mario Novoa.
Rita Gonzales (00:36):
I'm Lydia Otero
Eduardo Archuleta.
Mario J. Novoa (00:42):
In today's episode we're talking with Elias
Naranjo.
Elias Naranjo, he him el is atransgender first-generation
Latinx, born and raised inSouthern California.
He is a community organizer andhousing activist in Los Angeles
.
Elias is passionate aboutnature, cooking, photography and
working out Welcome.
Can you share with ourlisteners a bit about your
(01:05):
personal background and whatinitially inspired you to become
a community organizer and ahousing activist?
Elias Naranjo (01:14):
Yeah, thank you Mario.
Thank you so much y'all forhaving me on here.
It's amazing and lovely to seeyou know, or see y'all you know,
virtually at least.
Yeah, so I guess, like mybackground, you know, I'm I'm
first generation Peruvian,mexican.
Like I don't have muchconnection or ancestry to this
(01:36):
land.
Most of my family, you know, isfrom Mexico or from Peru.
So I feel like I'm always atthis constant like different
thoughts of what it is to be,like a part of this being
American and not havinggenerational wealth and how that
kind of also ties into likeowning property, owning land and
(01:59):
what that looks like.
So for me I feel like it's beenI don't know.
I think I think growing up, myfamily and I we've always like
rented and we've always like my,my grandma like owns a house
now in Orange County, but it'sit's, it's not paid off or
anything, because that is like Idon't know.
I think it's been like a verybig, like privileged thing to be
(02:21):
able to do that stuff andconsidering, like my grandma, my
grandma's only been in the USfor 30 years.
It's not easy to do that andyou know, a lot of folks are
working class and I think thisis like a subject that touches
like a lot of differentpopulations, whether it's like
first generation Latinos, queerand trans people, like owning
property, people like owningproperty, owning housing, is
(02:43):
like so, so important.
And I really got involved andlike, over the last like two
years, I was working for anothernonprofit where we did anti
gentrification work anddisplacement work in Los Angeles
with young people.
So I've been working with youthfor a while and that job was
(03:04):
specifically like kind of likean intro to what that is Like.
I'm not like a professor of anymeans, like I was just an
instructor doing research buttrying to teach these youth what
is gentrification, what is likedisplacement and how we're
seeing it in real time,especially in the neighborhoods
they live in.
(03:24):
Because I was teaching in BoyleHeights area, which is a place
that's becoming gentrified, hasbeen gentrified now for the last
several years.
So it was really important togive these youth the knowledge
and the power to reallyunderstand what's happening in
their community and take back.
And now I'm working at a newnonprofit.
(03:45):
They're connected Like a lot ofthe coalitions like work
together, because it's a reallybig, it's just a really big
landscape and we can't do it byourselves, like.
We have tons of orgs that wework with, but I work for an
organization now called EastsideLeads and they specifically
focus in East LA, boyle Heights,lincoln Heights area regarding
(04:08):
housing disparity, anything thathas to do with housing policies
or affordable housing, socialhousing.
That's essentially what we do,and I've been with them now for
a few months, but I've reallybeen working with them for over
a year lately, so it's just,it's just been.
It's been this whole process oftrying to learn this landscape
(04:30):
and how Los Angeles does theirhousing policies and how really
unfair it is, because in a lotof other metropolitan cities
they, they actually really careabout their, their, the people
that live there, and don't giveso much money and power to
landlords.
Lydia Otero (04:49):
Hi, Elias, it's good to see you.
This is Lydia.
Okay, so the fires happened andthe fires just everything that
was already what you described,I bet intensified in terms of
the housing crisis in LosAngeles.
So what are the biggestchallenges now that that you're
(05:09):
facing in Los Angeles because ofthe fires?
Elias Naranjo (05:14):
Yeah, that's a good, that's a good question and
it's something that, like ourteam we're a small team but,
like I said, we have connectionsto other coalitions, like we're
part of a greater coalitioncalled stay housed la and keep
la housed, which are citystarted um campaigns that uh
mobilize tenants and createworkshops and try to get legal
(05:37):
and help for anything defenselike it is at like capacity,
completely at capacity, likeit's really hard to recommend
people that but it is an option.
But that coalition came together, like immediately right after
the fires happened, to try topass a rent control, like a rent
freeze, after everythinghappened happen and
(06:04):
unfortunately it didn't pass,which was really really
unfortunate because we reallywanted to protect folks that
were possibly going to be facingeither evictions because of
everything that's happened or atleast, like not have tenants
worry about the rent going upwhile this tragedies happen.
And LA didn't pass it and wetried really hard to get it
(06:26):
passed and it was reallyunfortunate because this would
have not only been great for allthe folks affected but it would
have gone all LA County, whichwould have been really
incredible for everybody because, as of February of this year,
folks can begin to raise therent, you know, and that's
something that we've been tryingto fight against, because I, we
(06:47):
feel like it just keeps goingup every single year and when do
we get to like a cap of okay,you need to stop raising the
rent as much.
So I think that's somethingthat's really relevant right now
to us and the work that my, myjob, has been doing and it's and
it's been hard.
I think um, the stay house lateam has been really great on
(07:08):
mobilizing and I, I know in theonce I um it's.
It's not set in stone at themoment, but we're going to be
having some sort of um kind oflike a resource fair regarding
housing um in altadena in a fewweeks, hopefully in march.
Um, it's still being mobilizedat the moment, but it is
something that where we want tohost some tenant workshops,
having some legal aid there,being able to offer support for
(07:33):
folks that don't know where toturn or where to go to.
Lydia Otero (07:37):
Wow, thank you.
Eduardo Archuleta (07:39):
Hi Elias.
This is Eduardo and I want toask has there been a particular
experience that you've had thatimpacts your organizing work?
Elias Naranjo (08:06):
Yeah, it's a good question.
I feel like I mentioned, fromlike housing to housing, just
you know, not having a reallyset place, like I grew up in
Orange County and like differentcities and then just kind of I
don't know realizing thatfeeling like having housing or
stable housing feels sounattainable at times in
California.
And it is something that Ithink about like in my
experience just living in LA,like I've like moved three times
already and so it's like astrange feeling to just feel
(08:28):
like you don't like have a homein a sense, because you're
constantly like moving places.
And I think that always, um, Ifeel like that always like
sticks with me because like Iwant, like I love California,
like I'm born and raised inCalifornia and I want to stay
here as much as I can.
But then there's also things inthe back of my head where I'm
(08:49):
like, oh, it's so not affordable.
Like am I ever going to find,am I ever going to be like a
homeowner here?
Like is that even a smart idea,given you know the landscape
and everything.
And I think that's somethingthat always moves my work,
because I really want everybodyelse to be able to feel stable
and I also for myself.
I think a lot of organizerslike come from organizing
(09:11):
because of their own experiencesand they want to help other
people.
So, for me, I feel like I wouldlove that as a reality of
myself, like I would love not topay as much as I do in rent, of
course, and I also would loveto see, you know, the market or
at least like Los Angeles andhopefully California takes suit
in being able to really likelimit the power that landlords
(09:35):
have and the people that arelike grabbing land, that we see
that it's become a market andhousing is, you know, like it is
a human right and it should notbe on the market like so
capitalistic, like that.
And I think that's somethingthat continues to inspire and
move me because I want it to bea reality one day.
Rita Gonzales (09:56):
This is Rita.
You talked about gentrificationand trying to fight that, which
is very difficult to do.
I love Los Angeles, butunfortunately I had to leave Los
Angeles because of that.
I could not afford it.
So, I moved to a place that Ithought would help, and now
gentrification is happeningwhere I'm at.
It just seems unavoidable.
(10:17):
Now you talk about some of theolder.
Well, you talked aboutcoalitions working together.
Are there new coalitionshappening, or are they any of
them geared to the LGBTQIAcommunity?
Elias Naranjo (10:32):
Right, yeah, no, that's a great question.
I think there I don't knowspecifically of like ones that
are LGBT, like centered, but Ido know there are there is a lot
of intersexuality within theseorganizations because, as we
know, trans and queer people areactually a really vulnerable
(10:52):
population in not having stablehousing and actually right now
too, we're seeing folks that arereally vulnerable as well, are
ages 50 and up and up, havebecome displaced, have become
homeless because of that, andalso right now I've heard many
stories of folks that are likeundocumented and they're
(11:13):
actually like losing housingbecause of landlords threatening
to like expose their status,and that's also a very
vulnerable population andthere's an intersexuality
between that, because there's alot of undocumented folks that
are queer, are trans.
So I don't know of a specificorg I'd have to get back to you
on that but I know LA tenantunions.
(11:34):
There area lot of queeractivists in that area.
They're more of a reallygrassroots organization.
They do incredible work.
They are in different parts ofLA, like it's kind of like city
based, like there's a Koreatownone and then there's like a
whole, a big, a bigger one, theLA tenant unions.
But I've seen and I personallyhave met like a lot of queer and
(11:56):
trans activists that are reallybig in that LA tenant unions,
because I feel like they're morethey're not really guided by a
nonprofit.
Because I feel like they'remore they're not really guided
by a non-profit, so I feel likethey're more radical in that
sense.
And some of the loudest folkslike I've seen on in those orgs
are, uh, younger, like trans andqueer folks, just really trying
(12:16):
to advocate and take up spacefor for literally everybody.
And it's always reallyincredible to me seeing trans
and queer people at theforefront of all these movements
all the time, even when it'snot just like for queer and
trans people, but for everybody.
And and I think that's reallyincredible, so I I would shout
them out because I think they'rereally visible when it comes to
(12:37):
that.
Mario J. Novoa (12:38):
Elias, this is Mario again.
I can hear your passion aboutcommunity building and being
involved in these organizationsand I know it's specifically
with Stay Housed LA.
You talked a little bit aboutit.
Stay Housed LA is a partnershipwith LA County and the city of
Los Angeles and it provideslegal services, legal assistance
(13:01):
, educational workshops andpeople can find other support
services.
I know you kind of shared withus your way into this activism
and organizing.
How do you, what type of advicewould you give to others who
would like to following yourfirst footsteps?
Elias Naranjo (13:23):
yeah, I think you know I really think it's
important like and speaking tolike the gentrification,
displacement, like if you happento move to a community, I think
the best way is to get involvedin any way you can, especially
in housing related stuff.
Like you know, I'm not from LosAngeles and I and I take like
(13:44):
and I'm very like aware of that,you know, and I always talk
about that.
So, in ways like, I also feellike, oh, am I like a displacer,
like, am I this?
But I feel like I have beenreally involved in like the the
community here in Boyle Heightsand I would recommend that for
anybody where, wherever you endup moving, if you go to K-Town,
if you're in other areas, likejust really get involved in any
(14:07):
grassroots organization, becausethere are like tons of like
tenant unions in every singlecity and you can easily access
them and find them and getinvolved and ask around, start
going to workshops, volunteeringyour time for that, and also it
is like a really big, like sucha big landscape at times like
(14:28):
there's so much information outthere.
But just even starting likelike for us personally, like if
people are in the east side, solike East LA, boyle Heights,
like I'm in City Terrace areathere's like already like
there's already like tenantunions already set up for folks
and Eastside Leads like we'rewe're one of.
We're kind of one of them too,because we offer workshops.
(14:51):
Sometimes we do like one-on-onekind of like tenant, tenant,
client type of help when we havelike capacity to do so.
But we also just try to buildthese members and other other
activists and other organizers.
Like our whole goal is to likeorganize other people so they
can organize for themselves andthen get other people involved.
(15:13):
So we're not doing everythingfor them but we're giving them
those tools and powers to beable to fight, you know, a legal
, an illegal eviction or fightlike their landlord that's
harassing them.
So I think getting involved likethat it's kind of it's kind of
how I got thrown into it as welland, unfortunately, like a lot
(15:33):
of people get involved whenthey're facing an eviction or
when they're facing like someharassment, and it's unfortunate
that it has to happen that way.
But it does radicalize them andit does want them to be, want
them to be in the space more.
But if you can get into thesespaces before you're facing
something like that, it would beway more beneficial for
(15:56):
yourself and for the other folksaround you, because you have so
much more knowledge.
Because a lot of folks come tothese tenant unions when they
don't know what to do andthey're scared and they're
worried they're going to losetheir housing.
So getting there before that isreally really helpful and
incredible Like for me, like Ifeel really prepared if
something happens, if somethingwere to happen to me, like I
(16:18):
feel like OK, like I know how todefend myself and I think I
think getting involved with anysmall local tenant union would
be really helpful.
Lydia Otero (16:30):
Elias, allow me to turn the spotlight back on you.
I can see from your bio you'reemphasizing self-care for
yourself, like working outphotography, cooking your own
food.
Tell us a little bit more aboutthose aspects of your life food
.
Elias Naranjo (16:45):
Tell us a little bit more about those aspects of
your life.
Yeah, I feel like you know I,you know, as you guys are, you
know, longtime organizers likehow, how important it is to take
care of yourself when you'refighting these like really big,
big battles, and they seem tokind of take over a lot of
aspects of your life, like forme, I I feel like I need those
(17:06):
like times of like being in mybody, especially someone that's
trans like.
I really need to feel likeconnected in some way and I feel
like, for me, working out hasbeen like such a way for me to
like really feel at home in mybody and, I guess, really
masculine, like when I work outand lift weights I'm like, oh,
(17:26):
muscles, you know.
So I feel like that's that'sreally helpful.
But I, I feel like organizingnow for a while.
I I think it's it's soimportant to have those like
your own like sort of identitiesand goals, like, and I'm I I do
a lot of this housing stuff andI still do a lot of different
um either, um, organizing workin some like trans orgs as well.
(17:49):
So I feel like it's kind of hardto like take yourself out of it
because you know, I am transand I'm queer, so I'm constantly
like in it.
But I I still like to have a lotof joy and fun, like I'll go to
like queer events and dance andhave a good time and have those
moments of joy where it's notconstant, like like I know right
now, given the administrationit's, there's a lot of sadness
(18:12):
and a lot of fear, and I feellike it's it's what they like
thrive off of and for us likequeer and trans people to be
like around.
For me, like being around othertrans folks and queer folks like
that just brings me so muchmore joy and I think they're
like people are afraid transfolks and queer folks like that
just brings me so much more joyand I think they're like people
are afraid of that and so I'mlike I just need to be in those
spaces more and I feel like that.
(18:33):
That's like a self-care aspectfor me, like being around, like
my trans community dancing.
I'm sure you guys did a lot ofdancing too, so that's a good
way to do a lot of self-caredancing and, yeah, I think those
moments are really reallyimportant, especially given,
like, the state that the worldis in right now.
Eduardo Archuleta (18:53):
It's Eduardo again, and I too believe in
self-care and want to know whatyou think.
Or do you think that mostLatinx queer folk are
prioritizing taking care ofthemselves and self-care?
Ooh, that's a good question.
Elias Naranjo (19:12):
I feel like Latino folk know how to have a
good time for sure.
My friend through last night.
It was really sweet to see itwas a very kind of personal
thing Through a little housegathering at someone's house in
Boyle Heights.
It was just queer and transfolks.
It was kind of related toValentine's Day but the amistad
(19:37):
and whatnot.
It was really sweet to seeeverybody take a load off and
enjoy company, even though wedon't all know each other, but
like they all bring us togetherand it's really incredible.
But I feel like I think I couldsee like folks doing that more
because we're such a I don'tknow that a lot of people like
that I see here, like thecommunity I work with, like they
(19:57):
are.
I feel like sometimes they don'thave the privilege to to take a
day off to take care ofthemselves and they're just in a
survival mode.
A lot of folks are in survivalmode where they're like I need
to work, I need to do this, Ineed to take care of my kid and
unfortunately maybe don't havethat privilege too.
And I think something we do withour members that we work with
(20:19):
here in Boyle Heights, like wetry to like give them those
moments of just relax, whetherit's like bringing them a really
good meal or like trying to dosomething different outside of
just like a workshop.
I think that's something reallyimportant.
I've seen a lot oforganizations I worked with like
take like a spa day or dosomething like that, to like
(20:40):
really like have these peoplerelax, because we know,
unfortunately, it can be seen asa privilege to to do those
things, and I really think it is, and I would really want more
Latino folks to I don't know dodo some more self care for
themselves.
I think we can be so lost inlike taking care of others all
the time, like we don't know howto like take care of ourselves,
(21:01):
and I think that's that's superimportant for our own mental
health.
Rita Gonzales (21:11):
This is Rita again.
I just want to say that,listening to you talk a lot of
times older people, we did partya lot when we were younger, but
some of us didn't prepare forthe future because some people
felt, some of us felt we didn'thave a future.
But here we are, and so you hadsome great advice about how to
in case there is a crisis, howto.
You should go to theseworkshops, and it's great that
(21:32):
the younger generation now ishere and putting the two
together.
Maybe we can learn from eachother, which is very, very
important.
So what advice would you giveus older folks here, as career
folks, on how we can communicatewith the younger generation?
Elias Naranjo (21:49):
Yeah, I think that's something that I've
thought about too, especially inlike being in community spaces,
because it's either like a lotof young folk in the space or a
lot of like older folk, and it'ssometimes it doesn't like mesh
as much as I'd like it to, andsometimes it doesn't like mesh
as much as I'd like it to.
I honestly feel like in a lotof these spaces I've seen more
(22:09):
like older generation be inthose spaces and I kind of like
like I think the oldergeneration like they're really
like I've seen some reallypassionate people that are like
there, they're at City Hall,they're giving public comment,
and I kind of want to see likemore younger folk actually go
(22:30):
into those spaces where a lot oflike the older generation are
have been there like really liketaking up the space, talking,
and I and I think I, I don'tknow.
I think that's a good question,because I we try to wonder that
ourselves like how do we getmore like kind of a
intergenerational thing going onhere and I don't think it's all
(22:51):
on like the older folks Like Ifeel like a lot of the younger
folk are too, maybe like busy.
Uh, you know, in your 20syou're very like all about me,
like all figuring out my life.
So I feel like some of them likeare kind of there where they
haven't some of them haven'tstepped into like an or like an
organizing space, and I wouldencourage them to go to these
spaces because there are like alot of old, like a lot of the
(23:13):
folks I work with, a lot of myum uh, what's it called like
compañeros and stuff.
Like they're all like older thanme and some of them are like in
their like 50s or 60s likedoing this work, and I really
respect them because they'vebeen doing it for a long time,
so, and I think they're veryopen to like teaching people and
(23:34):
having community.
So I don't know, I think it'snice to be around folks,
especially that are older thanme and have like the years and
organizing, like be really openand and just so communicative
regarding like anything likeI've never had like an issue.
I feel like I've learned somuch from, from like older
(23:55):
organizers and they always makeme feel so welcome, so I feel
like they're doing great.
Honestly, I think the youngpeople need to step up a little
bit more actually, in my opinion, especially being in these
spaces a lot, but, um, yeah,y'all are great.
Lydia Otero (24:10):
I think the way we organized back then was way
different than you are alreadydoing it.
So you have social media, butstill at the core it is about
showing up right, and I thinkthat's really important.
I'm taking the opportunity tospeak up and make yourself heard
.
That's still the key.
But the logistical stuff abouthow you organize people, that's
(24:34):
way different, I think.
Because, we had to be morestealth about it.
You all have to be more publicabout it.
You all have to be more publicabout it.
Elias Naranjo (24:42):
Absolutely yeah, and I think social media has
changed, organizing a lot, but Ifeel like it shouldn't just
stop there.
Like I really think people likelose the connection when they
don't do the in-person stuffLike as much as like some folks
might not like door knocking,might not like canvassing, it's
really how to get to the folksthat aren't on social media.
(25:02):
And there's a whole bunch ofpeople, especially like maybe
like some Latino folk or likeworking class folk, older
generation, like they're not asmuch on social media.
So like you really have to dothat groundwork of like door
knocking, going into theseneighborhoods, posting up, doing
like tabling events, and I feellike that's where you find like
that real genuine connection.
(25:23):
And I've seen it on socialmedia.
I think it helps mobilize a lotof people.
But then you know there's adifference in mobilizing and in
like keeping them engaged forlike a longer campaign, a longer
win, and I think that's theharder part, that I feel like
social media can kind of likedip off on that.
But I agree, I'm sure I'm sureit's really different, given
everything now.
Lydia Otero (25:44):
Thank you, Elias, for being with us today.
I mean it's so great to totouch base with you because
you've been on a previous RadioQ glue episode with touch base
with you and see you blossom inthis way.
It's really heartfelt from usto see you grow and be so active
(26:07):
in our community.
So thank you, Thank you forbeing here with us today.
Elias Naranjo (26:12):
Thank you so much , everybody.
It's always great to be aroundy'all and I'm like we got to
hang out you know like this.
That'd be amazing, but Iappreciate your words and I'm
like we got to hang out.
You know, like, like this.
That'd be amazing, but Iappreciate your words and thank
you for giving me theopportunity to speak on speak on
this.
I guess it's it's reallyimportant and I hope folks can
learn something from it too.
Lydia Otero (26:32):
We've been speaking to Elias Naranjo.
Thank you for listening toRadio QGLLU.
This is Lydia Otero.
Eduardo Archuleta (26:40):
I'm Eduardo Archuleta.
I'm Mario Novoa.
Rita Gonzales (26:44):
And we want to hear from you.
Tell us what you think of theOut Agenda and Radio Q Glue.
Like us on our Facebook page oremail us at theoutagenda at
gmailcom.
I'm Rita Gonzalez.
Thanks for listening, and havea wonderful week, and remember
that being out is the first stepto being equal.
(27:05):
Now stay tuned for this Way Out.
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