Re:Write
STORIES FROM THE FIELD, PROMOTORA RECIPES, AND CO-OP DEVELOPMENT LESSONS (PLUS SOME POLITICS AND HUMOR, TOO)
BUEN PROVECHO Chef Spotlight: Adriana Rondón, El Camino de la Arepa
Adriana Rondón
By Emily Ureste
The process of making arepas is like magic, from the second you put your hands in the dough to the finished product. As Adriana Rondón speaks of this process, her hands move with her voice, mimicking the motions of preparing the food that has come to mean everything to her.
For Adriana, El Camino de la Arepa is more than just the name of her popular cooking class: it is the journey of the Venezuelan people from their homeland to places beyond. Adriana herself moved from Caracas, Venezuela to Denver seven years ago. Upon her move, she cites arepas as a source of healing and lessening feelings of sadness and nostalgia due to leaving her country.
“I think eating arepas is the first memory for every Venezuelan,” Adriana confides with laughter in voice. “We eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!” She goes on to describe the importance of joining with community and family around the table, both to make arepas and to eat them. Her own first memory of enjoying this food was at her grandmother's house in the Caribbean region, where the arepas are giant and taste like heaven.
Since moving to Colorado, Adriana has realized her passion for sharing her culture with Denverites. Through teaching others the process that is integral to her life, she celebrates her roots and raises money for organizations that are currently working in Venezuela. When she shares her culture and her memories, she creates a community centered around the love of good food.
Adriana believes that arepas are for everybody. They are deliciously warm, gluten free, and can be modified for both vegetarians and meat lovers. She has never met a person who didn’t like arepas, and believes that as Venezuelans continue to migrate, their food will be brought to wider audiences as well.
From Adriana’s perspective, buen provecho means that food is like medicine. It heals you, brings you back to lovely memories, and makes you happy. Her famous arepas will be featured during cocktail hour, presented by All Angles Covered Roofing, at Buen Provecho on October 13th!
BUEN PROVECHO Chef Spotlight: Damaris Ronkanen, owner of Cultura Craft Chocolate
By Emily Ureste
When Damaris Ronkanen makes a steaming cup of hot chocolate- or chocolate, as it is simply known in Spanish- it takes her back to her childhood, when she would spend time visiting her grandmother in Puebla, Mexico.
Damaris has always loved chocolate. Her favorite memory of visiting her family in Mexico was in the mornings, when her grandmother would make hot chocolate for breakfast. She takes pride in the fact that Mexico was the first place where chocolate was introduced into Western Culture, and the way it is woven into the region’s history. At the heart of her business, Cultura Craft Chocolate, is the preservation of chocolate “like abuelita’s” mixed with sustainable and ethical practice in every step of the process.
Over the past few years, Damaris has had the opportunity to visit many of the cacao farms that supply to her. To be able to observe the process, from trying to pulp inside of raw cacao to knowing who is roasting the beans, is eye-opening and important in her business practice. Notably, she recently visited farms in Haiti, where many of the farmers are women smallholders who are empowered through the industry.
In the same way, Damaris supports Re:Vision because of the way food and urban farming are used to empower the local community and preserve the historic Latino culture of Westwood. She admires the way the Westwood Food Co-op encourages the community to come together, and the fact that people are able to grow their own food in the neighborhood.
Damaris is passionate about the diversity and importance of Mexican food. Mole is especially fascinating, because each town and region has their own spin on it. She loves it when people are surprised by the taste and variation of the dish, and loves to think of new ways of sharing it with her friends, such as putting it on pizza. For Damaris, hosting her friends to try new foods is a community builder and a form of creative expression of her culture and personality.
At BUEN PROVECHO, Damaris will be preparing her renowned hot chocolate along with churros, because in her wise words, “who doesn’t like fried dough with cinnamon on it?!” Don’t miss her on October 13th!
To purchase tickets to BUEN PROVECHO, click here.
BUEN PROVECHO Chef Spotlight: Meet Dana Rodriguez
Chef Dana Rodriguez, Co-Owner of Works & Class and Super Mega Bien
By: Emily Ureste
For Chef Dana Rodriguez, food has the power to transport a person: to a place, a friend, a song, a dance, a distinct memory. The kitchen is a powerful tool to encourage remembrance and community.
When Dana speaks about the art of cooking, you can feel the innovation and energy radiating off of her. Her journey starts on a farm in Chihuahua, Mexico, where she grew up preparing meals with her family. She now promotes and celebrates her roots by putting new spins on old classics, like her specialty mole. “Mole is almost like a love letter,” Dana states, and she continues to explain the process of combining a variety of ingredients to create something good and special. Dana prides herself on using fresh ingredients, and she speaks often about the importance of finding good sources for her dishes. Her mole includes plantains from Peru, and chocolate and Oaxaca peppers from Mexico.
Overcoming obstacles has been a large part of Dana’s story: she cites being Latina in the culinary world as a challenge. When she arrived in Denver twenty years ago, she first had to overcome language barriers. She started off as a dishwasher at Panzano, where she learned to respect all levels of the industry. As she moved up, she earned the nickname “Loca” for her spirited refusal to take any sh** from men in the industry. She uses her food to pay homage to the journey that has brought her to this day, celebrating her culture and every step of the way.
These days, you can find Dana running two trendy restaurants in RiNo: Work & Class and SuperMegaBien (recently voted as one of Denver’s best restaurants by 5280 Magazine). However, she never forgets to praise the farmers that she works with in Mexico, Peru, Cuba, and the United States. For her, it is essential to have sources of food where the employees are treated well, the land is cared for, and the integrity of the product and culture is maintained.
Dana believes that when chefs shares their dishes, they do it with purpose. When customers try Dana’s food, she hopes that they will be reminded of Mexico or transported to their own fond memories. She also believes that as a restaurant owner, she has a duty to support and represent communities of people with stories similar to her own. For this reason, she is passionate about the work that Re:Vision is doing in the Westwood community and wants to see more people empowered to grow their own food and start their own businesses.
For Dana, BUEN PROVECHO is about enjoying a meal, participating in community, and knowing your food has a good source. Look for her mole with duck confit at Buen Provecho on October 13th!
To purchase tickets to BUEN PROVECHO, click here.
Yo-Yo Ma Visits Re:Vision and Westwood
On Thursday, August 2, after his sold-out performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Yo-Yo Ma visited Re:Vision and our Urban Farm for an intimate farm-to-table lunch with members of the community.
It began the night before, where thanks to the generous support of Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, 30 Westwood community members boarded a bus from La Casita and got to experience Yo-Yo Ma's Red Rocks sold-out debut. The concert kicks of a two-year, 36-city tour. But what makes this tour particularly special is that Mr. Ma's journey is not only motivated by his six-decade relationship with the music, but also by Bach’s ability to speak to our shared humanity at a time when our civic conversation is so often focused on division.
The following day community members gathered at 9am to start harvesting and preparing a special farm-to-table lunch to celebrate Yo-Yo's visit to Westwood. He arrived to a whirlwind of guests but was quickly put to work on the farm where he harvested vegetables with our Promotoras and Farm Managers. The meal was kicked off by blessing and song from third-generation Westwood resident and artist, Santiago Jaramillo. Once everyone was seated, Mr. Ma treated attendees to a Sarabande.
"My job," said Yo-Yo Ma as he address attendees, "is to learn what people are doing, and when possible, have people talk to each other and share that knowledge."
It was an afternoon where we in fact shared knowledge, stories, a lovely meal and even some tears. We are so grateful to have hosted the event, and it is something that will live in the heart of Westwood for years to come.
Villaging 2050
Have you heard of a Villaging Economy?
It might have many names, there's the One Small Town concept, Ubuntu, but the concept is this; being able to free yourself from economic dependence. Think about your monthly bills; how many of them are making large corporations and conglomerates money?
One day, filmmakers Laurie Simons and Terry Sterrenberg (The Healthcare Movie) woke up and realized, all of their money was going towards making large companies and conglomerates rich. Everything from their rent, car payments, health insurance, and more. So they sold all of their furniture, got rid of their apartment, and hit the road. They set out to find communities who are attempting to create their own, "Villaging Economy." In essence, communities that have taken steps to leverage their collective knowledge and build their own economy, hopefully decreasing their economic dependence on the large system and keeping the wealth in the community.
Sound familiar? Yes, that is very much in line with our mission for Re:Own. We believe the Westwood community is full of talented, budding entrepreneurs, that with the right training, will launch successful businesses (particularly related to food and art) and begin to build a thriving Westwood. And Laurie and Terry agreed. When they Googled "Community Wealth" Re:Vision came up and they were intrigued.
Monday, July 9 - Wednesday, July 11, Laurie and Terry visited with our community members, Promotoras, and staff (including staff from Westwood Unidos and Community Wealth Building Network) to get footage of our community and the budding local economy. They were curious about how an organization that started with building gardens in people's backyards could evolve into an organization concerned with building up the capacity of its residents and creating a local economy.
But, we aren't here to give you any spoilers. You are going to have to check out the documentary when it comes out (no official date, but continue to check-in with us). In the meantime, check out some of the photos from the film shoot below.
Meet Yuri Bahena - Re:Own Program Manager
Photo byJess Elysse Kornacki, Art of Her
Originally from Guerrero, Mexico, Yuri is one of the best cooks you will ever meet, and, if you ordered Tamales during last Holiday's Tamale-Thon, you'll know that first hand. And perhaps it's that undeniable leadership in the kitchen that makes Yuri a passionate advocate for her community. While Yuri didn't grow up with agricultural experience, her love for cooking gave her an immediate appreciation and connection with growing her own food when she started with Re:Farm in 2010.
In 2012 Yuri became a Promotora and in 2016, Yuri became the full time manager of the Re:Own program. The program exists to create a self-sufficient economy, owned by the community. It helped incubate the Westwood Food Co-Op, where Yuri sits on the Board of Directors. But, in early 2018, Yuri had an experience that changed her perspective entirely on why it was so important to have a strong, locally-owned economy...
Photo byJess Elysse Kornacki, Art of Her
In January, Yuri was forced to leave the home she had lived in for 7 years...
Her landlord decided to renovate and get it ready to put on the market. And then it hit her...
"I had worked so hard to pay my rent over these 7 years, along with all of my other bills. And I realized, I was making someone else rich."
For years, Yuri knew she believed in the work she was doing, but suddenly it took on a new urgency. So many of the previous years' participants had to move to places like Aurora, and even Greeley, to find affordable housing.
Yuri has spent 5 years learning and responding to the concerns of Westwood's residents. And their gardens were often times small ways to make life just a bit easier. Often times, families are able to preserve their harvest and eat healthy year-round, freeing up those dollars to spend on other expenses. But, in this world, that isn't enough.
Photos by Jess Elysse Kornacki, Art of Her. Jewelry featured created by Mujeres Emprendedoras and can be found at the Westwood Food Co-Op.
"It's hard to find stability in this current world; rents are expensive and we are politically divided. We helped so many families establish their gardens and provide them with at least a small amount of stability, and now they are gone. I knew I had to find another way to help families not just find stability, but find a way to prosper. We've fought so hard to improve this neighborhood, and now that it's happening, we deserve to be here. We should be the land and business owners determining the direction of our neighborhood."
Your support will help Re:Own begin to develop the capacity of local entrepreneurs in Westwood to start finding ways to not only start building their own personal wealth, but keeping it in the community, therefore determining the trajectory of their neighborhood for generations to come.
Meet Matilde Garcia - Re:Unite Program Manager
Matilde is from Durango, Mexico and has been in Colorado for 15 years. She started as a Re:Farm program participant in 2010. Her sister, Antonia (Toña) Garcia, who is also a Promotora, used to have a small garden in their home and was always encouraging Matilde to join her in the garden. But it wasn't until Matilde attended a cooking class with Sisters of Colorado at nearby Munroe Elementary school, that she began to realize the impact a garden could have, not only on her health, but her family's health as well. After her first year participating in the Re:Farm program, Matilde became a Promotora. Her first year was a rocky one, as one of the largest hailstorms to hit Metro-Denver wiped out the majority of family gardens in the program. The Denver Post reported on the devastation that hit 38 Re:Farm families.
Photo Credit: Jess Elysse Kornacki, Art of Her
Six years later, Matilde is the Re:Unite Program Manager
Matilde seeks out training opportunities for the Promotoras as a way to build their capacity and confidence as local leaders. To help strengthen our Re:Unite program, please consider supporting our Summer Campaign.
"When I started the garden, I knew it was because deep down I was seeking a bigger change in my life. Sure, we started eating more fruits and vegetables, but I was seeking something more holistic. The garden kick started the process for me and I can say that every single day has been a learning opportunity."
"Access to education is the key to improving ourselves"
On average, Promotoras receive 70 hours of professional development training per year. This includes English, GED, & computer classes along with Patient Navigator and Maternal Health Trainings with Denver Health
"Our trainings help us gain self-confidence, and through that we are able to make bigger changes in the community."
In 2017, Promotoras spent 3,366 hours visiting community members
In those visits, Promotoras put their training into practice, helping families find solutions to their problems and connecting them with resources in the community.
"Access to education is the key to improving ourselves"
Mujeres Emprendedoras
Matilde was particularly moved by her training around entrepreneurship and economic growth, so she started Mujeres Emprendedoras Cooperative. Mujeres is a group of 10 women, who cook, cater events, and make jewelry You can find their items in the Westwood Food Co-op!
"I started Mujeres Emprendedoras because I know what doors training opportunities have opened for me, and I want to pay it forward to the community. When I started here, I didn't speak English and I had never touched a computer. Now I know how to use to use those tools and it makes me a better professional. That knowledge is power. Those trainings gave me power to run after my dreams. I want women to be able to dream and have the tools they need to make those dreams come to fruition. Can you imagine what our community will look like when that happens?
Yes, we can.... Si, se puede. Help us to continue developing local leaders by supporting women like Matilde through our Re:Unite program by supporting our Summer Campaign.
Meet Mayra Olivas, Re:Farm Program Manager
Photo Credit: Jess Elysse Kornacki, Art of Her
Promotoras start off as participants in our Re:Farm backyard garden program. As they get to know their Promotora, many become motivated to become one as well. For example, one woman, Mayra, who started with the Re:Farm program because though she worked several part-time jobs, Mayra struggled to put healthy food on the table. Modest in size, her garden reminded her of the ranch she grew up on in Mexico where she tended the garden as a young girl. Mayra loved having a garden, and looked forward to the visit from her Promotora each week.
When Mayra’s Promotora asked her what she dreamt about becoming when she was a little girl, Mayra was at a loss. She said she was never encouraged to dream about her future, so she gave up on her dream of becoming a psychologist long ago. Despite giving up on that dream, Mayra still had a passion for helping people, that shined when she was in her garden and Re:Vision knew that as a Promotora, that passion would carry through to the families she worked with. So, Mayra was hired as a Promotora in 2011. Mayra flourished and in several years, was promoted to Program Coordinator. In this position, she learned to use a computer, a database, how to plan and coordinate a program, and to coach others. Mayra took English classes and gained confidence. As Mayra grew, she inspired others to see their own potential. Mayra is a leader within Re:Vision, and was promoted in 2017 to Program Manager in charge of the entire Re:Farm program. She is now full-time and earns a living wage salary with benefits, allowing her to dream about the future for her children.
This month, Mayra was nominated to Mayor Michael B. Hancock's Denver Sustainable Food Policy Council where she will help shape policies across Denver. We could not be more thrilled for Mayra, nor can we think of a better person to represent our community on these issues.
To help continue our work cultivating community food systems, and developing local leaders like Mayra, please consider support our Summer Campaign by clicking here.
Here are few questions with Mayra, about Re:Vision, Re:Farm, and her vision for the future:
What was your life like before you joined the Re:Farm Program?
"My world felt small. I only interacted with my husband and my family. I would clean offices downtown at night and would often times be the only person in the building. I felt isolated, but I didn't know it at the time. "
What is your favorite story about working with Re:Farm Families?
"There are a lot! When I first started, there were only a handful of families participating in the program. Now, you notice gardens on almost every corner in the neighborhood. I hear from a lot of families that their gardens have been therapeutic for them in one way or another. My favorite is hearing about how the gardens affect the children in the families."
How is that?
"Children's entire view of the food they eat changes when they are involved in gardening. When they can plant something from a seed, and watch it grow, it ignites a curiosity in them. It is an important lesson to learn where their food comes from. Not only do they want to eat the vegetables they've harvested, I hear a lot of families say that their kids will ask to try new vegetables that they see at the grocery store because they are curious about them. It's amazing to think that a simple activity like gardening can affect a child's eating habits and lifestyle."
How do you think Re:Farm helps families in Westwood?
"I've seen a lot of families who don't always know where their next meal is coming from. It's hard to put meals on the table, let alone healthy meals. I think its extraordinary that one small garden, can provide for a family and make it so they don't have to choose between fresh produce and other grocery items. So many families can / preserve or freeze their harvests - and sometimes we visit families to establish the gardens in the Spring, and they are still eating from the last season's harvest. Between the cost savings on groceries (an average of $500 / year) and the health benefits of eating more vegetables (participants report eating 75% more vegetables after completing the program), I'm always amazed by how much change one garden can make."
And what change did your garden make for you?
"Outside of all of the changes talked about above, I remember a very distinct moment. My promotora asked me what I wanted to do with my life and I told him what I wanted to do (be a psychologist). But then I started thinking about how I hadn't thought of that in a long time, and my world started to expand. After that point, when I would work in my garden, I started to think about what I could do with the passion I felt and started to feel like I had something to bring to the table. I wanted to share my passion with others and my heart became so full knowing that I could help bring this feeling to other community members."
The Denver Food Sustainability Policy Council is a big deal. Do you see advocacy work in your future?
"Yes. In the future I hope I can use this knowledge that I've gained to make changes for my community and beyond. I can't see myself in a "normal" job anymore, where I leave my work in the office. We need advocates who know what the community and are willing to fight to make the necessary changes."
Re:Own - Local Entrepeneur Spotlight: Adriana Rondón Rivero
Photo credit: Brandon N. Sanchez
“¡Mi mente y mi corazón muy fuertes. Mi mente y mi corazón muy felices," is a mantra Adriana Rondón teaches kids at Munroe Elementary school through her YogArtandMovement program.
My mind and my heart are strong. My mind and my heart are happy.
It seems like a mantra we should all be practicing these days. Which is why Adriana has dedicated her life's work to telling stories with her body, and teaching healing through expression.
Adriana is a visual artist, journalist and yoga and movement instructor from Caracas, Venezuela. Her work is about the healing journey and it is related to the people. Locally, she partners with elementary schools (Munroe Elementary), classes at the Southwest Improvement Council, and Westwood Unidos, where she hosts a variety of classes at La Casita, such as "Amor Propio y Autoestima para Mujeres (Loving yourself and self esteem for women). Adriana notes that so many Latinas in the community work so hard, often times stressful, physically taxing work that causes stress, anxiety, and trouble sleeping. Combined with economic, social and political stressors, Adriana uses yoga as a form of cultural healing.
"We are all immigrants, and this is a space where we can find ourselves, express our worries, our sadness, our nostalgia."
Photo Credit: Goyo Mijares
In addition to her Yoga practice and community healing and empowerment work, Adriana also teaches the wildly popular El Camino De La Arepa class as a way to share the rich flavor and culture of Venezuela with the community. The project sets out to create community through
the love for Venezuelan food and traditions, while raising awareness and funds for Venezuela, a country that is in a deep economic and political crisis not well known here in the U.S.
Adriana's commitment to creating safe spaces for learning, healing, and reflection upon oneself and ones culture, makes her approach unique and it's something we admire tremendously. Which is why we are thrilled to announce that Adriana will be teaching both El Camino de la Arepa, and a special Mother / Child Yoga class at our First Annual Garden Bazaar! Adriana's arepas will also be for sale at the bazaar. Both classes will be free and open to the public.
Schedule:
El Camino de la Arepa at noon on Saturday, May 12 at La Cocina @RISE Westwood (3738 Morrison Rd.). To RSVP, email hello@revision.coop with El Camino de la Arepa in the subject line. In the body of the email include how many people you would like to RSVP.
Mother / Child Yoga Class at 11:00am on Sunday, May 13 at La Casita @RISE Westwood (3790 Morrison Rd.) . Please RSVP thru La Casita's scheduling system, here.
About:
“El Camino de la Arepa” is Adriana Rondón-Rivero's beloved excuse to share the rich flavor of the Venezuelan arepa in other lands outside of Venezuela. “El Camino de la Arepa” is a short class, a live cooking demonstration of how to make Venezuelan arepas and other traditional Venezuelan food. “El Camino de la Arepa” (the Arepa´s path) is what happens when millions of Venezuelans
settle across the world or return to the land of their grandparents. We bring arepas with us.
What is a Venezuelan Arepa? [uh-rey- puh; Spanish ah-re- pah]. Arepa is a type of corn based flat “bread”, that we make from scratch, it is formed into a patty that is grilled, baked, split open and stuffed with a variety of ingredients.
Special Mother's Day Yoga Class for Mother's & Children with Adriana Rondón VivirYoga Project
To celebrate Mother's Day all mothers and children are invited to a special mother / child yoga class that will be a joyful practice, focusing on poses that open the heart, bring calm and happiness and deepen the bond between mothers and children
Yoga is not a religion. It Is a practice that helps to heal the body and a mind by bringing joy and wellness.
Come to celebrate our roles as mothers and children and to have fun with 45 minute yoga class that will honor motherhood and the special bond between mothers and children, through a variety of poses and sequences, incorporating partner poses and other mother-children activities.
This is a Yoga class for every one! Not Yoga knowledge is needed. All fitness/flexibility levels are welcome. My overall intention will be one of celebration and enjoyment.
Clase especial del Día de la Madre Yoga para madres e hijos con Adriana Rondón VivirYoga Project
Para celebrar el Día de la Madre, todas las mamás y niñas y niños están invitados a una clase especial de Yoga, una práctica alegre, enfocada en poses que abren el corazón, traen calma y felicidad y profundizan el vínculo entre madres y sus hijos.
Yoga no es una religión. Es una práctica que ayuda a sanar el cuerpo y la mente al brindar alegría y bienestar.
Vengan celebrar nuestros roles como madres e hijos y diviértanse con una clase de Yoga de 45 minutos que honrará la maternidad y el vínculo especial entre mamá e hijos, a través de una variedad de poses y secuencias que incorporarán poses para realizar en pareja y otras actividades.
¡Esta es una clase de Yoga para todos! No es necesario ningún conocimiento en Yoga. Todos los niveles de flexibilidad son bienvenidos. Mi intención general será la celebración y el disfrute.
Looking for a Fabulous Volunteer Opportunity?
We have just the thing for you! May 12th and 13th from 10am-3pm, Re:Vision is hosting our 1st annual Mother's Day Garden Bazaar. This event will be filled with laughter, community, family, food, garden supplies, and mimosas! We would love if you could be a part of it.
We are looking volunteers who can help set up and take down the event, as well as help during the event. If you are interested, please fill out the survey link below to gauge your availability and interest areas within the event. Someone will follow up with you later this month to discuss further details. Thank you for your interest, Re:Vision wouldn't be possible without our wonderful community and volunteers!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfBY9UwMaBUMFrJXgGBbOapPJjPsSag8Nbs0BSc9eJt-WqmEw/viewform?usp=sf_link