Empowerment
Guest post by Yuliana Levi
Today’s post in our guest post series is written by Yuliana Levi, who’s a paralegal, TYT Army volunteer, and founder of Cosechando Rosas, which focuses on outreach to the Latinoamerican progressive community, including a Spanish-language YouTube channel with co-host Swizzy (aka Joseph).
Yuliana also had the pleasure of introducing progressive icon Nina Turner at an Our Revolution event she hosted for The Young Turks! (A video of it and Nina’s speech is in this post.)
Thank you very much, Yuliana, for agreeing to write a guest post. Without further ado, here it is!
Months back when Eclectic asked me to write a blog for his website, I was in the middle of finally launching my passion project, Cosechando Rosas, and boy, did I have so many ideas on what to write about, in fact, I had so many ideas, I could never settle on one.
While I instantly wanted to start this sentence with the word “unfortunately”, I realized, no, what I have experienced in the past few months was not unfortunate, although maybe it felt so at that very moment. These past months have cemented my belief that things happen for a reason, and you can either continue a cycle of being victimized by something that happened to you, or, you can use it to learn and move forward. It sounds cheesy, I know, but it may be difficult, we need to be grateful for the experiences that push us. At the end of the day, it is up to you, and only you, to make the choice of how that experience will define you.
Now that I’ve given you a little blurb of where I am today, as I write this, let’s do it!
My journey, like I imagine some of yours did, started around the Obama years. I am originally from Costa Rica, and vividly remember proudly standing in the cold Georgia winter rain waiting to cast my first vote as a newly minted American citizen, to reelect Barack Hussein Obama, in November 2012. (I have lived in upstate New York and Nebraska, and nothing could have prepared me for the biting coldness of the winter Georgia rain. Yes, this tropical paradise born girl will happily take snow over this wretched winter Georgia rain any day.)
Anyway, in my mind I thought; that’s it, I did my civic duty and now everything will change and better for all of us. I patted myself on the back and went home ignorantly thinking I helped save the country. Fast forward to the election of 2016, you all remember that right? It was great for TV ratings! Of course, immediately I jumped on the I’m With Her bandwagon, that is, until this unknown cranky old man who sounded like he constantly screams at kids to get off his lawman, came along. That’s right baby, Bernie Fucking Sanders.
“Of course, immediately I jumped on the I’m With Her bandwagon, that is, until this unknown cranky old man who sounded like he constantly screams at kids to get off his lawman, came along. That’s right baby, Bernie Fucking Sanders.”
For you to understand a bit of why Bernie’s vision spoke to my heart I should probably tell you that I was born with a cleft lip and palate, but I was blessed to be born in a country where they had a decent grip on socialized medicine. When I was going up, a child had healthcare covered until they turned 18 years old (I don’t even know where things stand now in Costa Rica when it comes to this). Thanks to this, I underwent all my reconstruction surgeries and dental work for “free” (Hospital Nacional de Niños).
(Get you a politician that looks at their fellow human beings the same way Bernie Sanders looks at this beautiful bird)
When we arrived in the US, I remember my parents searched desperately to find a hospital where I could continue to be treated. Unfortunately, without health insurance, the hospitals decided that I was “good enough” (with the treatment I had undergone in Costa Rica) and did not qualify for financial assistance; therefore, my parents would have to pay out of pocket for any additional treatment. Let me tell you that “good enough” is not what a 14 year old girl who was bullied because her nose, lips, and teeth are ugly, is not what she wants to hear. In hindsight, as I grew older, I came to understand that I honestly had it pretty good compared to children with much worse problems.
“When we arrived in the US, I remember my parents searched desperately to find a hospital where I could continue to be treated. Unfortunately, without health insurance, the hospitals decided that I was “good enough” and did not qualify for financial assistance; therefore, my parents would have to pay out of pocket for any additional treatment. ”
But that’s enough about that, and let’s circle back to the topic. As I sat there watching the debates among those cookie-cutter politicians, here comes this man, who speaks about providing a better future for ourselves. Talks about healthcare for everyone, ensuring people have the dignity to live comfortably, standing up for the weak and taking care of one another. Maybe it was the gullibility in me, or the fact that imagining a future where we are all given equal opportunities regardless of your skin color, gender, religious beliefs, or any other trait that divides us, sounded so good.
When I was in high school, I had to take English as a Second Language classes, and I was surrounded by teens from China, Pakistan, India, Ukraine, Poland, of different creeds and cultures, and guess what? That exposure really helped me understand that we are all human beings, crazy right? Growing up in a very strict Catholic environment, I was taught that anyone who does not believe in God is going to hell - despite how nice they were. (But that is a topic for another day.)
Unfortunately, we all know the 2016 election ended, but, while we are still living with the repercussions of allowing ourselves as a country to be divided by a two party system where it seems like your political association is part of who you are, we have learned a lot (I hope). We cannot let ourselves be consumed by our anger and be convinced that someone else is responsible for our struggles, because yes, someone or something may have kicked me in the shin, but it is up to me to decide how I will move on from that.
For example, yes, sure, if I stub my toe on the table initially I will most likely scream a barrage of profane epithets (like I imagine most people will do, unless you’re into that kind of stuff, and if you are, I salute you), but afterwards what do I do? Do I go ahead and violently retaliate against the table? Do I realize that maybe I should have been wearing shoes? Or will I just be more mindful when I walk about the table next time?
“[We] should learn more from a negative experience than a good experience. Why? Because a negative or unpleasant experience is not something we will want to go through again. We should see them as teaching moments and opportunities to learn, become stronger, and help others to grow.”
Anyway, my point is that we learn or should learn more from a negative experience than a good experience. Why? Because a negative or unpleasant experience is not something we will want to go through again. We should see them as teaching moments and opportunities to learn, become stronger, and help others to grow.
I know you are all probably wondering where this unprecedented rambling and madness is going, right? We all know what happened in 2020, some of us still get triggered just by thinking about it (me too bud). So let us just skip the political PTSD and finally, yes finally, get to what I alluded to at the beginning.
In the wake of seeing the incredible support for Progressive policies the Latino community showed, something became clear to me. No one is really tapping into this sleeping giant. Yes, politicians cater to us, just like African-American voters, whenever they need the votes, but what do we get in return?
In hindsight, as I grew older, I came to understand that I honestly had it pretty good compared to children with much worse problems.
While Obama may have championed the DREAM Act and enacted DACA, in the background he is famously known as the Deporter in Chief. And while this is just my observation, it seems like a lot of Bernie Sanders supporters are young Latinos, many who are DREAMERs or first generation Americans themselves. This is probably and most likely because they grew up with the struggles of fearing deportation, seeing the struggles their parents underwent to provide for families, all the while they are probably being looked down upon as “lesser human beings”.
“In the wake of seeing the incredible support for Progressive policies the Latino community showed, something became clear to me. No one is really tapping into this sleeping giant. Yes, politicians cater to us, just like African-American voters, whenever they need the votes, but what do we get in return?”
Please correct me if I am wrong, but is it me? Or do any mainstream Spanish speaking news channels ever speak or discuss progressive policies? I know mainstream media love to use the boogie man of Venezuela as a deterrent to scare people but they never really go into details. Have they ever had a documentary about how international oil companies were taking advantage of Venezuelan oil? Or how the Coup in Ecuador was an effort to prevent the country from ensuring their citizens benefit from the national resources, not just international companies? Or how the US government knowingly helped topple the Guatemalan government to help the Chiquita banana empire? It is about time we as Latinoamericans learn about how the US involvement on behalf of private entities has, and will continue to interfere and meddle in the politics of our countries but being the main cause of the massive influx of immigration into the United States.
We have companies in the United States knowingly hiring undocumented workers paying them well bellow the minimum wage, overworking them, and whenever these exploited workers begin to speak up, they are threatened, fired, or somehow ICE shows up at their place of work. The company gets a slap on the wrist and fined and they get back to doing the same thing. In fact, companies engage in modern-day slavery, as we recently found out in two Georgia Farms. This is an endless cycle of exploitation. Exploitation of human beings who had to flee their homes and loved ones, in many cases due to US meddling in countries on behalf of special interests.
“It is about time we as Latinoamericans learn about how the US involvement on behalf of private entities has, and will continue to interfere and meddle in the politics of our countries but being the main cause of the massive influx of immigration into the United States. ”
During the 2020 election cycle, I came to the realization that I want to help and empower Latinoamerican communities to learn and be informed about how progressive policies, in my humble opinion, are the best way to move forward to ensure our future; and so that future generations continue to integrate a mentality of progress and how it is our duty to ensure each generation improves the lives of the next generation to come. I am a firm believer of treating others how you want to be treated or as Bernie put it, “fight for someone I don’t know“. (As he said in this great video).
I first realized that I wanted to do something else and contribute more after I was offered the opportunity to “host” the Young Turks’ TYT Army Rally in Atlanta in November 2019, before the Democratic Presidential Candidate Debate. I was terrified because I have never done anything like this, especially since it was going to air right after the main show. I was a total mess, but you know what, being in front of an audience who was supportive as they probably heard my fear as I spoke, was amazing. But it lit up a spark, and I did not know it at the time, but I knew I wanted to do more. As the Latino grassroots movements took off and their engagement with the community flourished it became obvious to me that we just need to bring the information to the community.
Introducing Nina Turner at the rally for TYT Army & The Young Turks
I was a total mess, but you know what, being in front of an audience who was supportive as they probably heard my fear as I spoke, was amazing.
After that, the wheels in my head started to slowly turn. I put my focus into continuing to grow inside the TYT Army, meeting more wonderful people, including the elusive Eclectic Miscellanea, who has now stepped up to a new leadership position, after I had to step down for personal reasons. Eventually and despite trying to talk myself out of it, because the internet is a terrifying place, I finally decided that I wanted to create a small podcast or informative videos in Spanish to discuss progressive topics.
I reached out to a couple of people I met on Twitter and I thought it would be fun to work with, and the idea slowly came into fruition but only one was crazy enough to say “yes”. My partner in crime, Joseph, has been so much fun to work with and he keeps me on my toes. I feel like we have a brother and sister relationship in the way we carry ourselves, mostly off camera while we produce our material. Honestly, without Joseph, I probably would not have taken the leap, so Joseph, thank you.
As I mentioned before, life does get in the way, and we had planned to make 12 videos, one each month, and by the third video, my life decided to shake things up. My husband was going on his third month of unemployment, after being laid-off from his job after 10 years. My wonderful employer decided a pandemic was a good time to finally retire, thankfully knowing my husband’s employment situation, my employer allowed me to stay on until I found a new job.
“During the 2020 election cycle, I came to the realization that I want to help and empower Latinoamerican communities to learn and be informed about how progressive policies, in my humble opinion, are the best way to move forward[…] I am a firm believer of treating others how you want to be treated or as Bernie put it, “fight for someone I don’t know.”
My life became chaotic as my husband and I went from one unsuccessful interview to another. My amazing mother in law, who came to stay with us so she could be at home while our daughter started online kindergarten, (it should be noted that my mother in law is an angel) had to go home, right around the time my husband and I found new jobs. What started out as just one month of a 3-4 hour commute for my husband, became nearly a 5 month, 3-4 hour commute, making me the sole caretaker of my daughter, home, and pets, on top of also working a full time job. Let me tell you that my admiration and respect for single parents will never be the same. Single parents are not human, and it is my firm belief now, more than ever, that single parent homes deserve to be given additional government assistance.
Out of the chaos of my new lifestyle (I knew I have a privileged lifestyle, but man, was I humbled with the new “inconveniences” thrown at me), I fell into a deep depression and developed anxiety; of course, we did not have health insurance because we had just both been hired at our jobs, to the point where when we finally got insurance, the doctors suggested I should be hospitalized for my safety and my well-being. Thankfully I am lucky enough now to have health insurance and am now under someone’s care for my mental health healing. (If you, or someone you know, struggle with mental health here are some resources.)
I decided to move forward and learn from a place of self-destruction and pity. I felt guilty about putting up my passion project, Cosechando Rosas, but honestly, I think it was the perfect time. For those of you who are lucky enough not to be on Twitter, the left discourse became very ugly and divisive around the same time. Logging on to Twitter just to follow up and check on people drained me. It was, and still is, so ugly, and not healthy. I think so many of us were so angry at how the 2020 Democratic Presidential race ended, and when we are angry we always lash out; it is human nature after all, and we all cope differently. Therefore, for my well-being, I decided to take a step back from politics, completely unplugged for several months, while checking in once in a while, and you know what? Removing that negativity caused by the battle between left circles from my life really helps shift things into perspective.
I was also privileged enough to be the first TYT Army member to be interviewed by TYT Community Director and former Senate candidate Alison Hartson.
Prior to the chaos in my life exploded, for some reason, I was also privileged enough to be the first TYT Army member to be interviewed by Alison Hartson. While we touched briefly on the warring factions of the left at the time, I told Alison that all I want is to create bridges. We need to create bridges and extend our hands to one another, come together, respectfully, listen, and come up with a path as to how to move forward. And that is the way I want to move forward from this chaos on the political left. It is very clear that some factions of the left focus on electoral politics, others focus on highlighting the corruption and dangers of an authoritarian government, and others simply want to dismantle and re-create. And you know what, I may not agree with some things, but I appreciate these distractions, because it tells us that it is not one thing that needs to be fixed. There are multiple areas to work on - it is your strategy that will determine the reception and outcome.
“We need to create bridges and extend our hands to one another, come together, respectfully, listen, and come up with a path as to how to move forward. And that is the way I want to move forward from this chaos on the political left.”
Humans tend to gravitate to each other based on the energy they project. So, what type of people do you want to attract?
I myself want to attract people who want to build something and work with others who understand that just because we may disagree on something, we can always work together on something we do agree on.
I will leave you with this, if you are also struggling to find yourself and wish to get out of a vicious cycle, read The Power of TED by David Emerald Womeldorff. If you are like me, and do not have much time to sit down or read, you can catch nearly the entire audio version on YouTube. It is a very short book, but it is powerful.
So as I bring to a close these ramblings of mine, I will come back to what I started with. Cosechando Rosas may not have been exactly what Joseph and I planned all along and it came to a screeching halt as it debuted, but things happen for a reason. Through the chaos, taking time to myself, and laying the foundation for taking a new perspective in life, I think Cosechando Rosas will benefit greatly in the future once the time comes to dust off the mic, turn the eyeball-burning ring light, and we hit record again.
I now have a different perspective in life and priorities. I have observed and learned what type of energy I want to put out in this world, and that is “empowerment”.
Logo for Cosechando Rosas, which focuses on outreach to the Latinoamerican progressive community, including a Spanish-language YouTube channel with co-host Swizzy (aka Joseph).
🚨 Make sure to check out our previous guest posts by Chris “Emo Dragon” (Housing for All!) and Treesong (Telling Stories for Climate Justice). If you’re interested in doing your own guest post , check out how here!
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