Behind every pair of eyes is a life full of stories
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By sharing my thoughts, (inter)actions, experiences, and insight here in Washington D.C., I’ll give you an insiders view word-by-word into this world that is within the Beltway.
Who am I?
I am a 28-year-old Chicana with a proud, long history from Northern New Mexico. I am the daughter of my father who was a co-founder of the Black Berets in New Mexico, and of my mother, who spent most of her young adult life traveling the world — a true citizen of the globe. As they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. These roots run deep in me. The commitment to global socio-political and economic justice has been my upbringing and I have grown into my own skin as a community educator, organizer, and advocate.
I grew up in the progressive environment of the San Francisco Bay Area. As a small child my parents often had my brother and I stuff envelopes in campaign headquarters. At age 17, I followed my own lead and got involved in a campaign against California’s anti-youth initiative, Proposition 21. Through the years, my passion and commitment to progressive praxis in human rights, social justice, economic development, and civil liberties has guided my work and life choices.
To this end, I have worked as an advocate on behalf of homeless families’ basic needs, immigrant justice, equal education and safe work conditions. I joined the campaign trail with progressive Democratic presidential candidate, Dennis Kucinich, in 2004. I interned in Congresswoman’s Barbara Lee’s Congressional district office in 2005, and in 2006 with Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, I helped register, educate, and mobilize Latino voters and other historically marginalized and disenfranchised peoples. As an undergraduate student at the University of California at Berkeley, I researched Indigenous/ Chicano land grant rights, and U.S. immigration policy; and while living in Dakar, Senegal, I investigated the impact of immigration, remittances, and micro financing on sustainable community development projects. Like my mother, I am a citizen of the globe. I have traveled throughout Africa (over 15 countries), Latin America, and Asia in my quest for knowledge, understanding and social justice.
Why am I in Washington D.C.?
I often ask myself this very question. Like many Washington transplants, I came here because I was offered a career opportunity. This opportunity was to work solely and directly on changing U.S. policy toward Cuba, an issue close to my heart. On a grassroots organizing level, I have devoted myself to Cuba since my first trip there in 1996. This work became even more directed after studying at the University of La Habana and spending what felt like endless summers in Cuba, starting in 2001. The hearts and needs of the Cuban people motivate my work, and my presence here in Washington.
Beginning in 2008 until recently, I worked at Washington Office on Latin America, as the Cuba Policy Outreach Coordinator. There is a significant role participatory activism plays in Washington’s progress on changing U.S. policy and discourse on Cuba, as well as in educating and organizing the U.S. public. I had to rapidly learn about the legislative process, the 111th Congress, how it works and doesn’t work, who represents what — the good, bad, and the ugly. Washington is its own beast and I am here to learn what this beast is thinking and how I can translate that back to our communities to be more equipped and effective organizers here and back home.
On this issue (as in any other progressive issue), the changes we seek will not be actualized without our continued quest for knowledge and advocacy here in Washington. We must hold Washington accountable to “we the people” and we the people have the responsibility to know what is happening in Washington.
Consider me your ears and eyes on the ground here in DC. I plan to use this space to re-circulate related news articles, scoop out the facts from the “D.C.Chisme”, break down the Congressional/legislative background, and, most importantly, provide some advocacy “know how.”
I am honored to have the opportunity to advocate and report on behalf of all of you. Please do stay in touch with me personally. Share your ideas, thoughts, views, issues, concerns, and questions by emailing me at angelica@progresoweekly.com. I look forward to staying connected.
Stay tuned and active! Pa’lante mi gente!
Angélica D. Salazar
