This shop was named in my mother’s honor. She was the first feminist I met. She always encouraged me to learn the skills that would help me be independent. Whether it was sewing or changing the oil in my car, she wanted to ensure I could take care of myself.
These values always stuck with me. I became the first one in my family to go to college. I became a teacher and taught English as a Second language, then eventually, World History, and Civics. Fortunately, I had supportive administration because in a subject where you are meant to stay neutral, in 2016, I was not! I started the first Girl Up group and the first Gay Straight Alliance in my middle school. These groups studied and educated staff and students about the strengths, accomplishments, discrimination, and disparities of these communities. We had PRIDE days where we sold rainbow pins to students and distributed PRIDE flags to classrooms. Members participated in sharing facts about these communities in the morning announcements to further educate and affirm those who identified in those communities and included the intersectionality of these groups and other marginalized communities.
In the classroom, I attempted to weave in current politics to the themes we were studying in World History. Power, imperialism, religion, and fear of other was all studied through the lens of our current system in the US as well. If we were studying the crusades, my students did projects about women and people of color and their contributions. When learning about Islam, students created projects about modern leaders in the Islamic community. During Black History Month, students created powerpoint projects about modern leaders of the movement. I held my breath and grinned ear to ear when students showed video clips of Childish Gambino signing This is America. I had student write an essay comparing this to MLK’s speech, “Two Americas”. I really embrace and live the values of John Lewis’ “Good Trouble”. I am confident those students now are able to better navigate the current political situation. I am now an Independent Clinical Social Worker with a focus on trauma. My clients reflect the communities I value.
My shop is a reflection of my strengths as a photographer and graphic designer. While I have divested from major corporations and I’m sewing, baking, planting more to be less reliant on commercial good, it didn’t feel enough. Taping back into my artistic side and creating a space for others to support small business is another way to fight back! Thank you for creating this venue!