Co-Director of School OPS Rubi Pelayo from Homies Empowerment traveled from Oakland to Vista, CA to meet some of the Co-Founders of Homie Universidad Popular (UP). While there, we visited their Headquarters where the community attends weekly meetings to learn about Ethnic Studies and Mental Health while also learning and embracing their Latin@/Xican@/Indigenous roots and history. The elders from the community are also attending weekly sessions where they learn to speak English, learn the use of technology and practice their social justice skills to increase consciousness and embrace the power of their voice in their communities.
Homie UP is now becoming more active in civic engagement to increase political knowledge, people’s power and even ballot nominations. They just held a meet and greet with presidential candidate Bernie Sanders earlier in the week.
We also visited their office space at CSU San Marcos where students are in a 4-week program to learn Xican@ studies, sex education and so much more.
It was also so empowering and inspirational to hear about their extended and direct work with incarcerated youth where the learning of all the above is also happening.
So much admiration to learn from four powerful Mujeres about their journey through the phases of Homie UP. So many struggles but the successes surpass it all.
Homie UP has become the HOME and/or second HOME of so many.
Homies Empowerment HECHOS 