THE ESPERANZA PROJECT
|
Follow us on Instagram @the_esperanza_project Get helpful hints, feel-good stories and more! Join us every Sunday on IG Live from 7-8 pm for Self-Care Sundays! |
For the 2020/21 Season (Sept. - June), we’re launching a new residency and programming series with Oxnard filmmaker Arcelia Martinez focusing on teen Latina mental health.
This activity is funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency. Para la temporada 2020/21 (octubre - mayo), estamos lanzando una nueva serie Artistas-en-Residencia y programación con Arcelia abordando la salud mental de adolescentes latinas.
Esta actividad es financiada en parte por el California Arts Council, una agencia estatal. |
|
Did you know that teen Latinas have some of the highest rates of suicide compared to their peers?
This motivated local filmmaker, Arcelia Martinez, to tackle this issue head-on in our own community. While Latinos make up 74% of Oxnard’s population, they are still sorely underrepresented among mental health professionals and continue to face a crisis in knowledge of, access to, and the use of mental healthcare. The documentary and series are being created/curated by Oxnard filmmaker Arcelia Martinez, and we welcome your participation and support of this project. OPAC received a grant from the California Arts Council to support “The Esperanza Project,” a year-long programming series that addresses young Latina mental health through: ¿Sabías que las latinas adolescentes tienen algunas de las tasas más altas de suicidio en comparación con sus compañeros?
Esto motivó a la cineasta de Oxnard, Arcelia Martinez, a abordar este tema de frente en nuestra comunidad. Los latinos todavía están muy subrepresentados entre los profesionales de la salud mental y continúan enfrentando una crisis en el conocimiento, el acceso y el uso de la atención médica mental. OPAC recibió una beca de $18,000 del California Arts Council para apoyar "The Esperanza Project", una serie de programación de un año de duración que aborda la salud mental de las jóvenes latinas a través de: |
"As a Latina, confronting mental health issues in my own family was rife with challenging taboos. I know first-hand how important it is for my community and all of its members to have access to information/resources and feel comfortable reaching out.” - Arcelia Martinez
"Como latina, enfrentar problemas de salud mental en mi propia familia estaba lleno de tabúes. Sé que tan importante es para mi comunidad de tener acceso a información o recursos y sentirse cómodos para comunicarse.” - Arcelia Martinez, cineasta.
|
A Short Documentary.
|
Salons.
|
"Sin Verguenza" Charlas Craft & Chats.
"Sin Verguenza" Charlas are monthly meetings that bring together young Latinas to share, inspire and encourage each other through craft and conversation.
Las reuniones mensuales "Sin Verguenza" reúnen a jóvenes latinas para compartir, inspirar y animarse mutuamente a través de talleres de conversación y arte.
May 26, 2021 ECHALE GANAS, PODEROSA |
|
Love what we're doing?
Help bring Esperanza to Oxnard! Please make a gift - of any size - today. ¿Te encanta lo que estamos haciendo?
Ayuda a traer Esperanza a Oxnard! Por favor, haga un regalo - de cualquier tamaño - hoy. |
|
CALL FOR ARTISTS
In each of The Esperanza Project segments (documentary, salons, + charlas), we are looking to include and feature artists (of any age, background or gender) and their work as it relates to mental health. In the case of the Sin Verguenza series, we're also looking for artists to lead fun art workshops.
Interested in sharing your work? Enter our call for artist by clicking the link below.
Interested in sharing your work? Enter our call for artist by clicking the link below.
En cada uno de los segmentos del proyecto Esperanza (documental, salones, charlas), buscamos incluir y presentar artistas (de cualquier edad, origen o género) y su trabajo en lo que se refiere a la salud mental. En el caso de la serie, Sin Verguenza, también estamos buscando artistas para dirigir talleres de arte.
Interesado en compartir su trabajo? Ingrese nuestra llamada para artista haciendo clic en el enlace de abajo.
Interesado en compartir su trabajo? Ingrese nuestra llamada para artista haciendo clic en el enlace de abajo.
PROGRAM SPONSORS
GRACIAS A NUESTROS PATROCINADORES
|
|
|
|
FRIENDS + SUPPORTERS | AMIGOS + APOYO
|
|
|
|
|
ARCELIA MARTINEZ
OPAC Artist-in-Residence
Artist Statement
This residency is a community opportunity for us to have an honest dialogue about Mental Health. Having struggled with Mental health myself in my teens and well into my twenties it is important for me to shed a light on this topic. I wish to bring assistance to the next generation of Latinas so that they can overcome their own obstacles with this health topic that often gets overlooked by their parents, a generation that tends to shy away from it.
Open dialogue is a very powerful form of storytelling that often gets over-looked. We will provide monthly discussions so teens may openly discuss how they are feeling and not feel shame about it. At a time in life when college applications begin and adult expectations are set, teens - who are muddled by their immigrant parents' antiquated expectations of them within the framework of this new country - need clarity. Now factor in: 1) the added family responsibilities of having to step in for their parents due to language barriers, and 2) other life-threatening issues such as Domestic Violence, Bullying, and Relationship Problems. These can make it impossible to be of sound mind.
Latina teens, first-generation in particular, carry a full load, but don’t have permission to talk about the difficulties that come with that. Art has always been a tried and true coping mechanism. The sooner we allow these young women to be educated about mental health and find their own art practice, the quicker we can have more role models in the media and other industries. I wish to give these teens what I did not have, in hopes that it will help any of them move forward with confidence in life. This residency will provide youth with access to panels of experts and information for them and their family at all public events.
Open dialogue is a very powerful form of storytelling that often gets over-looked. We will provide monthly discussions so teens may openly discuss how they are feeling and not feel shame about it. At a time in life when college applications begin and adult expectations are set, teens - who are muddled by their immigrant parents' antiquated expectations of them within the framework of this new country - need clarity. Now factor in: 1) the added family responsibilities of having to step in for their parents due to language barriers, and 2) other life-threatening issues such as Domestic Violence, Bullying, and Relationship Problems. These can make it impossible to be of sound mind.
Latina teens, first-generation in particular, carry a full load, but don’t have permission to talk about the difficulties that come with that. Art has always been a tried and true coping mechanism. The sooner we allow these young women to be educated about mental health and find their own art practice, the quicker we can have more role models in the media and other industries. I wish to give these teens what I did not have, in hopes that it will help any of them move forward with confidence in life. This residency will provide youth with access to panels of experts and information for them and their family at all public events.
Artist Bio
Arcelia Martinez is a writer and director who brings fictional stories that helps demystify and humanize the Mexican-American experience. These stories are crucial for the next generation of Latinx artists to guide them through the cultural obstacles they face. She infuses her storytelling with first-hand and shared experiences on topics such as mental health, domestic abuse, bullying, self-esteem obstacles, and more.
Ms. Martinez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema, Television and Arts from California State University of Northridge and Associate degrees in Film and Television Production (Oxnard College) and Social and Behavioral Health (Ventura College). She was awarded recognition in the Student Digi Film Fest in the 'How To/Informative' category of the College Division for her Cooking Show ‘Meals 4 Everyone’ and is a two-time recipient of the City of Oxnard's Cultural Arts Grant. Currently, she hosts the bilingual (English-Spanish) show, Punto de Interes, on CAPS Media, the local public access channel of Ventura County, where she highlights local people, artists, and organizations and the work they do to provide more positive images of the Latin community.
She has extensive experience as an educator in film and media (I.am College Track, Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, CAPS Media, Oxnard After School Program); as a writer, director and producer (Cinematic Repertory Company, self-produced films); as an administrator (Pantheon Entertainment, Scout Monster); and as an assistant director, script supervisor, editor, and production assistant. Her volunteer work includes the Sight + Sound Film Festival (Organizer), Oxnard Student Digital Film Festival (P.R. & Outreach), and Ventura Film Society (Managing Director & Volunteer Coordinator).
Ms. Martinez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema, Television and Arts from California State University of Northridge and Associate degrees in Film and Television Production (Oxnard College) and Social and Behavioral Health (Ventura College). She was awarded recognition in the Student Digi Film Fest in the 'How To/Informative' category of the College Division for her Cooking Show ‘Meals 4 Everyone’ and is a two-time recipient of the City of Oxnard's Cultural Arts Grant. Currently, she hosts the bilingual (English-Spanish) show, Punto de Interes, on CAPS Media, the local public access channel of Ventura County, where she highlights local people, artists, and organizations and the work they do to provide more positive images of the Latin community.
She has extensive experience as an educator in film and media (I.am College Track, Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, CAPS Media, Oxnard After School Program); as a writer, director and producer (Cinematic Repertory Company, self-produced films); as an administrator (Pantheon Entertainment, Scout Monster); and as an assistant director, script supervisor, editor, and production assistant. Her volunteer work includes the Sight + Sound Film Festival (Organizer), Oxnard Student Digital Film Festival (P.R. & Outreach), and Ventura Film Society (Managing Director & Volunteer Coordinator).