The Ortega Park summed up on Sunday afternoon, as dozens of artists, sellers and creatives, the central courtyard for the Ortega Park Summer Jam, a community beefiz event that was organized both as a summer party as well as a fundraising campaign for 805 and Ocufunds immigrant support services.
The Summer Jam was a joint effort between the steering committee of Ortega Park, Desmadre Media, Mary's Tattoo and Mind Garden Research, which brought together a long list of craftsmen from the central coast, vintage clothing sellers and pop-up providers as an expression of the city's entry-level community with the city's immigrant community.
Alex Ramirez, founder of Desmadre Media, said he wanted to fall back on the growing pool of creative talents in the region and included the help of Vanae Rivera by Mary's Tattoo and Jon Donaghy of Mind Garden Research to plan a popup show. Ramirez said the event really teamed up when Andi Garcia, who runs the Ortega Park-steering committee, who runs by volunteers, offered to use the park as the main room.
The providers included artists such as DJ Javier by Canto Vision, Nick Killian by Sweet Heart Brand, Dec Porter von Deadstxle; Crafts and special pieces by Loud Flower Art Co., a happy Mush and Alchemy dyes; And drinks and snacks from Café Ortega, Grill and Groove as well as del Pueblo Café. The participants could receive chain tapping on site, which is done by Isaac Moraza from Squeaks chainsticks or one of four exclusive new designs by Donaghy of Mind Garden Research.
“At the end of the day, the only goal was to make a large, free community event because we simply have no more things,” said Ramirez. “And with everything that is going on with immigration, we also wanted to appear with the immigration and support 805 UNDOFOND. We only asked all providers to donate everything they could and we had an amazing answer.”
Ramirez said that the providers and Deejays also donated their time to the event. “Nobody here is paid for anything,” he said. It is about bringing people out and inviting creative people who do not always have the spotlight. “
Since the raids on July 10 in Carpinteria, Ramirez has been inspired to use his own company to raise awareness of how immigration has affected the community. Since then, Ramirez has organized donation drives, provided families to families and offered to give 100 percent of the proceeds from Merch from Desmadre Media, who says in strong letters: “Nobody is illegal on stolen country.”
“There is afraid out there, but people still want to come out and be together and celebrate the community,” said Ramirez. “It is solidarity, and we have to celebrate, even if it is scary to be out here. There are some people out here who are currently afraid, but we have our backs. We cannot allow ourselves to get ourselves. We cannot let us keep ourselves down.”
During the entire event, Donaghy of Mind Garden Research was busy printing on-demand objects with designs that were created especially for summer mom. Rivera of Mary's Tattoo created two designs based on iconic symbols of Latino culture -the “Holy Heart” and “Virgen de Guadalupe” -while another design at Vintage Santa Barbara postcards and a motto “Where the mountains meet the sea”.
Donaghy said he was grateful that he was able to collect money for a good cause and create a room in which humans could appear in solidarity. “To be honest, there are many people here who are afraid,” he said. “But this is an opportunity to celebrate the conversation and bring joy. The community hurts, but we are there for each other and in every respect. We pay attention to each other. It is about that.”
Primestiva Hernandez, managing director of 805 UNDOCUFund, said the event was a chance of healing. She said the 805 migrant speed reaction -hotline found a little slower in indiscruited arrests in the first August weeks in August, but the extent of fear in the community is still more high than ever. “For us it feels like calm before the storm,” said Hernandez.
While less daily reports on non -marked ice vehicles and random arrests said Hernandez said that people were still taken from the street, in the court buildings and on planned immigration dilts on the central coast. Despite the fear in the community, Hernandez says that it is encouraging to see how people come together and celebrate with pride.
“It is definitely inspiring to see that. It's healing,” said Hernandez. “You see the support not only from the providers, but also from the community that comes out. It is a good feeling, and we have to be a community. This is part of the resistance – and not allow fear that we lead our lives.”
