Rematriation Dreams: Art, Community, Ocean Joy
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TL;DR
Friends, I made it home safely, but I really need a jumpstart. If you have been moved by my work in facilitating programs with love and safety, expressing myself through music and art, and building spaces where people can connect creatively, I ask for your support. Help me continue to create transformative experiences that honor our ancestral connections, uplift our communities, and nurture the next generation of leaders.
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Dear friends,
I write to you today with a heart filled with gratitude and a humble request for assistance. My journey has brought me back to my beloved homeland, the Dominican Republic, where I aspire to build a vibrant tapestry of song, dance, and art that celebrates our rich Afro-Indigenous heritage, embraces the healing power of nature, and fosters interdependent communities. However, I find myself facing numerous challenges that threaten my ability to fulfill these dreams.
The Garden of Dreams you’ll be watering
- My Songbird Dream: I dream of community gatherings where song, dance, art, and nature intertwine, weaving together the facilitation style and embodiment tools of Brown Girl Surf, the transformative power of storytelling, the wisdom of Dominican Afro-Indigenous history, and highlighting our ancestral connection to nature and the spiritual traditions that have been obscured by colonization. I believe I was born to share my gift of song and dance. I’ve been yearning to prioritize this for a long time. Yet, my journey has been marked by financial instability and undiagnosed ADHD, which have hindered my ability to prioritize my creative endeavors and fulfill my intentions.
- Supporting Liberation and Our Own Rising Leaders: My vision extends beyond personal expression; it encompasses the liberation of my people and the empowerment of our young leaders. I yearn to contribute to programs that advocate for interdependent communities, where belonging and environmental reverence are fundamental values. Through our collective efforts and investment in the potential of our youth, we can cultivate a future abundant with love, equity, and sustainable practices. The projects I will be supporting and co-creating will be spaces where individuals can authentically express themselves, explore their connection to nature, and share their unique gifts with the world.
- My Family's Dream: Embedded in my mother's soul is the deep connection she once shared with nature during her childhood in the countryside. It is her dream to return to the campo and nurture a piece of her native land. For decades, my parents have relentlessly pursued this dream. The prospect of witnessing my mother's happiness as she reconnects with her roots and experiences the wonders of her ancestral home is a dream I hold dear.
Barriers, Challenges, and Urgent Needs
As I write this, my partner and I are facing a myriad of challenges that demand immediate attention. Our financial situation is dire, and our resources are insufficient to address pressing needs such as transportation, healthcare, and even basic hygiene products. We are two months behind on rent and urgently need to find a safer and more stable living situation. Our beloved cats, Nuni and Mooncake, require veterinary care, vaccinations, and spaying. Our own health issues and mental well-being have been neglected due to financial constraints. We lack the necessary support for ADHD management, physical injuries, and mental health care. Furthermore, essential technology for my work has malfunctioned, hindering my ability to create and earn income.
How You Can Help
Your support, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in our lives. Here are ways you can contribute:
- Make a financial contribution: Even $1 can have a lifesaving impact. With $50 pesos (less than a dollar), I can purchase mosquito-repellent coils to protect against diseases such as dengue, zika, and chikungunya.
- Share this campaign with your community and spread the word about our aspirations and urgent needs.
- If you come across any remote work opportunities, please consider sending them my way.
- Share any favorite resources/ tools (books, workshops, music, support groups, etc.) that you believe might be constructive for me at this stage of becoming.
- Write a little testimonial about me and the impact my work has had in your life. Your testimonials would be invaluable in building credibility and expanding my reach. A chorus sings louder than a soloist!
- Reach out <3 I need to be reminded that I’m still connected to a whole ocean of friends.
Our financial situation in greater detail
Our families are supporting us, but they are stretched thin. Selling our childhood home is a possibility for my parents, and I can't let that happen.
Our expenses vastly exceed our income. I'm unemployed, and my partner recently found a minimum wage job after a six-month search, earning only $237 USD per month (that's around $10 a day). Transportation costs are a burden, costing $2 USD for round trips by public transport or $6 USD in gas if we use the car.
Loose list of monthly expenses:
- Rent: $400 USD
- Groceries: around $400 USD
- Transportation: approximately $250 USD (within a six-mile radius)
We're already two months behind on rent, owing $800 USD, and we'll owe three months' rent by the end of this month. Finding a new home is urgent. Our current living conditions are unbearable, with issues like house flooding, cracked ceilings, water leaks, electrical problems, and a mosquito infestation.
We have two beloved cats, Nuni and Mooncake, but we can't meet all their needs. Mooncake needs a vet visit, vaccinations, and spaying. Nuni is now pregnant, which adds to our challenges.
Both my partner and I have ongoing health issues and physical injuries. Delaying treatment puts us at risk of serious conditions. Though we have health insurance, we can't afford doctor visits.
We also need mental health and ADHD support. I have less than a month's medication left. Additionally, the devices I brought from the States for work are broken. My laptop needs a battery replacement and has non-functional keys. There's no storage space left, and my iCloud subscription payment is declined.
I had a tablet, but the screen broke after I paid $200 USD for a replacement. It worked briefly, but now it's inoperable with white stripes.
Organizer
Marlim Reynosa
Organizer
Oakland, CA