INDEX

A

Abdullah, Sharif, 39

abuse, 40, 70, 144–149

action plan, personal, 85–87

activism/activist(s) change-/service-oriented, 23

defined, 21–23

empowerment from, 10, 139–140, 233

familia as nurturing, 12–13, 20–21, 32

key practices for, 217–218, 222–223

praxis for, 23

quality of caring in, 21–23, 49

support of evolving, 57–58

See also preparation and grounding affirmations, 84–86

agape (love for God/humanity), 34, 35

alignment, 136–137

altars, personal, 77

ancestors, 14, 28, 204, 214–217

art, 67–69, 216–217

B

be the change, 9, 26, 32, 50–51

See also personal transformation “beloved community,” ix, 199, 239n2

birthday celebrations, 10, 11, 13–15, 104, 127, 185–186

body language, 136

Boggs, James and Grace Lee (Revolution and Evolution in theTwentieth Century ), 7, 240n1

C

caring, 21–23, 26, 28–31, 33, 49–51

Carothers, André, 227, 228

Castro Valley Latino Education

Association, 218–223, 229, 246n5

ceremonies/celebrations birthday celebrations, 10, 11, 13–15, 104, 127, 185–186

Cinco de Mayo, 220–221

Days of the Dead, 214–217, 220, 246nn 3

developing and guiding, 4

to evolve purpose, 83

Father’s Day dinner, 51

graduation party, 182–183

memorial services, 3–4, 193–195

Mother’s Day, 184–185

praxis for, 196, 229

presentation ceremony, 200–202

sweat lodge, 77, 83

talking stick for, 163, 165, 182

weddings, 102

See also unity circles change-oriented activists, 23

Chavez, Ron, 208

Chicano heritage, 1–2, 29, 43, 90, 109, 187

child molestation, 144–149

child raising balance in, 131–134

communication tips for, 123–128

the Familia Approach to, 29–31, 128–131

love in, 121–122, 131

modeling positive values, 110, 114, 116–117

praxis for, 134

as real leadership, 18–19

role of godparents, 129, 200–203

transformation in, 40–41

children community activism to support, 218–223

family advocacy to defend/ protect, 144–149

in family meetings/celebrations, 156, 160, 185–186

inspiring activism in, 139–144, 150

nurturing, 36, 53

in organized protest, 139, 140, 210, 223–226

unborn, 14, 28, 218

young adults, 57–58, 130–131, 200–207

church institution, 4, 78

Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) celebration, 220–221

civil rights activism, 34, 139, 241n3

collage making, 67–69

communication with children, 125–128

for clarification/knowledge development, 45–46

for co-powering, 52–53, 114–116, 125–126, 135–137, 140–141

as family activism, 10–12, 42

mindful, 135–137

one-to-one, 57, 70, 94, 161, 162

suppression of, 60, 70

teaching love through, 49, 50

See also conocimiento; heart words community activating transformation, 22, 56, 57 “beloved community,” ix, 199, 239n2

building from family out, 12–13, 51

community meetings, 71–72, 91–93, 217–218, 222, 223

creating family in, 199–202

forces that undermine, 22, 23, 108–109

including in child rearing, 30, 31

men’s council, 207–212

uniting young men in, 203–207

community activism/service

conocimiento to inspire, 103, 221, 222

courage/power in, 34–36

enlisting family help, 158

family activism to support, 11, 12, 37–38, 56, 213–214, 233

family improvement plan to address, 166

from friends to activist family, 218–223, 226–229

organized protest, 34, 139, 140, 210, 223–226

praxis for, 229

transforming an institution, 214–218

the Unity Principle in, 91–94

community learning process, 45–46, 242n1

community meetings, 71–72, 91–93, 217–218, 222, 223

compadres/comadres (dear friends), 200–203

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

(Perkins), 73, 242n1

conflict resolution, 47–48, 101, 161, 175–177, 193

connection. See facilitating connection conocimiento (getting acquainted)

applications of, 101–104

in community meetings/ gatherings, 217, 221, 222

doing, 94–96, 100–101

essence of, 89–91, 242n2

facilitating group connection, 97–100

in family councils, 61–62, 65, 66, 171–172, 179

in family meetings, 155, 161

in men’s council, 210, 211

one-to-one, 94, 161, 162

praxis for, 105

talking stick for, 65, 100

in the Unity Principle, 91–94

utilizing collage for, 68

conocimiento questions

birthday parties, 104

developing family vision, 66

informal, 90, 96, 97, 99

inspiring activism, 103, 141

making hard decisions, 137

new groups, 92

resolving conflict/strain, 101

youth retreat, 130

conscientious objector (CO), 224, 240n2

co-powering others

being a family advocate, 144–149

communication for, 52–53, 114–116, 125–126, 135–137, 140–141

creating learning conversations, 140–141

as Familia Approach commitment, 43–45, 51–53

patience/perseverance in, 116–119

praxis for, 120, 150

principles/practices for, 114–116, 119

for social change, 17–18

through activist storytelling, 141–144

transforming EL NO, 112-113

couples, 102, 118, 153–154

courage, 50–51, 244n1

Covey, Stephen R. (The 7 Habits of

Highly Effective Families), 7, 240n2

coworkers, 29, 53, 65, 91–94, 166

crisis, 37, 46–47, 64, 76

critical thinking, 11, 52

D

Days of the Dead tradition, 214–217, 220, 246nn2, 3

deceased loved ones, 14, 28, 204, 214–217

dialogue. See communication; conocimiento disempowerment. See EL NO drumming, 13–14, 187, 192

dysfunctional families, 40–41, 60, 72, 175–177

E

El Centro de Salud Mental (The

Center for Mental Health), 17, 109

EL NO as disempowering, 107–112

parents unwittingly fostering, 111, 121

praxis for, 120

transforming, 112–114

elders, 21, 22, 28, 46–48, 51

embodying change, 9–10, 26, 32, 38–42

empowerment. See co-powering others environmental concerns, 5, 23, 31, 36, 38, 39

essay-writing contest, 220–221

expectations, 64, 118, 153–154, 192, 200, 201

extended family, 27, 28, 30, 31

F

facilitating connection

clarifying expectations, 192, 200, 201

developing skills for, 152–153

as Familia Approach commitment, 44, 45, 54–55

flexibility in, 175, 178–180

praxis for, 180

serving as family facilitator, 159–162

at social/group gatherings, 102

with the Unity Principle, 91–94

See also conocimiento ; family council; family meetings; unity circles

familia (everyone you love)

caring for, 23, 26, 30–31, 33, 49–50

in child raising, 29, 122, 128–131

conocimiento as essential to, 90, 97–98

creating, 199–202, 206

deceased loved ones, 14, 28, 204, 214–217

extended family, 27, 28, 30, 31

family council to cultivate, 69–72

family vision, 38–42, 66–69, 168–169

as foundation of social change, 9, 26, 32, 38, 40–43

future generations as, 14, 28

importance of, 18–21, 23, 26

as key foundational principle, 16, 26–30

praxis for, 23, 212

respect/care for elders, 21, 22, 28, 46–48, 51

scope/meaning of, 26–28

support for activist lifestyle, 12–13, 20–21, 32

See also community; friends

Familia Approach

activating vision/transformation, 38–42, 55–58

be the change, 26, 32, 50–51

co-powering others, 36–38, 51–53

facilitating connection/giving support, 30–31, 54–55

living the, 46–49

overview on the, 4–5, 26, 43–46

praxis for the, 42, 58

recognizing familia, 26–30

teaching love, 33–35, 44, 49–50

family activism, defined, 10–13, 19

family activists’ goals, ix–x family advocacy, 144–149

family ceremonies. See ceremonies/ celebrations; unity circles

family council agendas for, 168–169, 171, 174, 178, 179

to become more familia, 69–72

best practices, 177–180

conocimiento in, 61–62, 65, 66, 171–172, 179

developing family vision, 66–68, 168–169

documentation during, 169, 170, 172, 179

family improvement plan, 166–170, 180

the family retreat, 64–65

handling difficulties around, 175–177

inspiration table for, 174, 177–179

organizing a, 60–64

positive outcomes of, 63, 64

praxis for, 72, 180

preparation for, 171–172

spirit in, 172–173

for times of struggle, 61–62, 70–71

to unite, 173–174

See also family meetings

Family First (McGraw), 26, 73, 242n2

family improvement plan, 166–170, 180

family meetings

agendas for, 155, 157, 168–169

benefits of, 153–154

conocimiento in, 155, 161

to coordinate household chores, 10

documenting agreements in, 156

guidelines for, 155–159

praxis for, 180

to resolve differences, 47–48, 54

serving as family facilitator, 159–162

talking stick for, 162–166

See also family council

family power

about, 36–38

creating, 33–35, 199–202

as key foundational principle, 26

to support larger vision, 213–214

unity circles for, 202–207

family retreat (reunion), 64–65

family vision, 66–69, 168–169

Father’s Day dinner, 51

financial stress, 11, 16–17, 33, 38, 76

financial support, 30, 50

first council. See family council five commitments. See Familia

Approach

focused attention, 136–137, 162, 163

friends

compadres/comadres, 200–203

men’s council, 207–212

transformed to activist family, 218–223, 226–229

uniting young men, 202–207

in youth retreat, 130–131

future generations, 14, 28, 218

G

Gandhi, Mahatma, 32, 241n3

García, Antonio, 204, 205

García, Eduardo, 103, 104, 223–224

García, Diego 185

García, Joel, 13

García, Judy, 13

García, Lorena, 200–202

García, Lorenzo, 113, 200–202

goal-setting, 52, 54, 55, 84–87, 169

God, 34, 76, 78, 188

godparents, 129, 200–203

Gonzales, Mary, 103, 241n9

graduation party, 182–183

Great Turning

essence of the, 5

requiring personal power, 107, 108

resources on the, 239n3

supporting the, 19, 42, 44, 52, 231

Great Turning, The: From Empire to

Earth Community (Korten), 197, 239n3, 245n1

grounding. See preparation and grounding group meetings community meetings, 71–72, 91–93, 217–218, 222, 223

conocimiento questions for, 92

men’s council, 207–212

See also family council; family meetings

group retreats, 64–65, 130–131, 171

Guerrero, Blas, 182–183, 244n1

Guevara, Che, 33

guided meditation, 83

H

Hartley, George, 102

Hatcher, Bret, 13–15

healing approach. See Familia

Approach

heart words

at birthday celebrations, 10, 11, 14

facilitating transformation, 204–205

in family gatherings, 61–62, 65, 180

giving thanks, 77, 84

in men’s council meetings, 211, 212

talking stick for speaking, 163, 165–166

unity circle, 129, 185–187, 189, 202

heaven on Earth, 39, 42, 48, 135, 214, 242n12

Hernandez, Francisco M., 109, 243n2

homosexuals, 62–63, 71, 94, 111

Horwitz, Claudia, 78

Huerta, Dolores, 139, 243n2

hugging, group, 14, 187, 191

I

illness, 22, 37, 171, 172

individual transformation. See personal transformation injustice, 17, 22, 32–35, 38, 50

inspiration table, 174, 177–179, 185

institutional power, 4, 78, 110, 125

internalized oppression. See EL NO

J

Jesus Christ, 4, 33, 39, 79

journeying, 83

justice, 17, 22, 32–35, 38, 50

K

key foundational principles. See

Familia Approach King, Martin Luther, Jr., ix, 30, 34

Korten, David C. (The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community), 197, 239n3, 245n1

L

Latino Advisory Committee, 215–218

Latino culture compadres/comadres in, 199–200

Days of the Dead tradition, 214–217, 220

disempowered by negativity, 108–111

family in, 27–29

healing principles in, 43, 44

men’s council tradition, 211–212

Latinos for Peace, 223–226

listening, 52, 96, 136–137, 162, 163

love

agape (for God/humanity), 34, 35

in child raising, 121–122, 131

fostering, 90

learning about, 137–139

to nurture self-confidence, 115

porvida (for life/justice), 33–35, 75, 76, 78–80, 121–122, 241n8

praxis on expressing, 134

teaching, 10, 14–16, 19, 43–45, 49–50

Loya, Patricia, 140–141, 243n4

M

Marabian, Albert, 136

marriage, 102, 118, 153–154, 174

McGraw, Phil (Dr. Phil), 26, 73, 242n2

meal preparation, 21, 22, 33

medicine wheel, 44, 45

meditation, guided, 83

meetings. See community meetings; family meetings; group meetings Mejía, Camilo, 224–225

memorial services, 3–4, 193–195

Mendoza, Rebeca, 46–51, 53, 54, 123, 142–143, 145

Mendoza, Valerie, 102

men’s council, 207–212, 245

mindful communication, 135–137

mission, 75, 76, 80–84, 116

Mother’s Day celebration, 184–185

movement prayer, 77

multicultural differences, 27–29, 220, 222

multiple influences for multiple effects, 11, 13–16, 213

N

Native Americans, 143, 144

nature, 17–19, 35

negativity. See EL NO neighborhood. See community North Brier Family Network, 226–229, 246n8

O

Oakland Men’s Council, 208–210, 245

Oakland Museum of California, 215–217, 229

Oakland (CA) peace demonstration, 223–226 “100

Families of Oakland” (exhibit), 216–217 1000

Flowers, 228

organized protest, 34, 139, 140, 210, 223–226

P

patience/perseverance, 116–119, 132–133, 175

peace demonstration, 223–226

peer pressure, 35

Perkins, John (Confessions of an

Economic Hit Man), 73, 242n1

personal affirmations, 84–86

personal altars, 77

personal success path, 84–87

personal transformation to advance social, 38–42

embodying change, 9, 26, 32, 50–51

expanding ideas of service, 22–23

as Familia Approach commitment, 44, 45, 50–51

fostering love for, 15–16

See also preparation and grounding physical abuse, 40, 70

political activism, 34, 127, 139, 140, 210, 223–228

porvida (for life/justice) love, 33–35, 75, 76, 78–80, 121–122, 241n8

positive professionalism, 53

power, 36, 76, 91–94

See also co-powering others; family power power walking, 84

praise. See heart words

praxis, xii, 45–46, 231

prayer

as activism, 48

during crisis, 37, 123

in family council meeting, 173, 179

style="margin-left:1em;"in men’s council, 211

movement prayer ritual, 52, 77

during a unity circle, 185, 187, 188, 191, 193

prejudice

cultural negativity as, 108–111, 128, 219

handling family member, 62–63, 157–158

love to combat, 34–35

personal activism against, 21–23

preparation and grounding

connecting to spirit, 75–78

discovering and evolving purpose, 80–84

know you are porvida, 78–80

praxis to assist, 87

your personal success path, 84–87

presentation ceremony, 200–202

principles of family activism. See

Familia Approach

problem resolution, 47–48, 101, 161, 175–177, 193

professional networks, 29, 53, 65, 91–94, 166

protest rallies, 34, 139, 140, 210, 223–226

purpose, 75, 76, 80–84, 116

R

razalogia (knowledge of/for people), 45–46, 242n1

resolving conflicts, 47–48, 101, 161, 175–177, 193

respect, 28, 32, 39, 50, 51

retreats, 64–65, 130–131, 207–209, 227–228

Revolution and Evolution in the Twentieth Century ( Boggs), 7, 240n1

Reyes, Lupe, 103

Rivera, Rosa María, 103, 104

Robbins, Anthony, 84

Rockwood Leadership Program, 226

S

sage-burning ceremony, 14, 129, 188, 201, 203–204

Salaz, Eduardo, 166

Sanchez, Pablo, 33, 241n4

self-confidence, 36, 52, 55, 57, 107–108

See also co-powering others self-doubt. See EL NO selfishness, 11, 40, 70, 79

self-transcendence, 79–80

7 Habits of Highly Effective Families,

The (Covey), 7, 240n2

service-oriented activists, 23

single-parent households, 30–31

social change

empowering others for, 17–19, 52

exposing culture of negativity, 107–108, 111–113

family activism as root of, 11–12, 19–21, 32, 43, 223–226

five principles to advance, 25–26

role of love in, 33–35

vision/transformation for, 38–42, 55–58

See also Great Turning

social consciousness, 52, 126–128

socialization, negative. See EL NO somos familia (we are family), 28

spirit, 34–35, 75–78, 172–173, 188

Spiritual Activist (Horwitz), 78

Sproat, Kapua, 140, 243n3

stereotyping, 110, 111, 219

storytellers, 141–144

Suárez del Sol, Fernando, 223, 224

success path, 20, 84–87

support, 11–12, 20, 29–31, 36–38, 51, 86

sweat lodge ceremony, 77, 83

T

talking stick

for ceremonies/celebrations, 163, 165, 182

custom around the, 63

for family meetings, 162–166

imparting courage, 244n1

principles for using the, 164

as tool for conocimiento, 65, 100

in unity circles, 163, 182, 185, 186

teachers, 110, 125, 128, 166

teaching love, 10, 14–16, 19, 43–45, 49–50

thanksgiving, 77, 84

transformation

by becoming more familia, 16, 214–217

as Familia Approach commitment, 44, 45, 55–58

for social transformation, 26, 38–42

our responsibility in family, 40–42

unity circle for, 204–206

241 Miles March for Peace, 223

U

unborn children, 14, 28, 218

United Farm Workers, 183, 244n2

unity circles

articulating expectations for, 200

at birthday celebrations, 13–15, 104, 185–186

at community events, 216, 222, 223

Days of the Dead, 216

dream inspiring, 4

drum to call, 13–14, 187, 192

facilitating, 184–186, 191–193, 203, 207

for graduation celebration, 182–183

group hugging, 14, 187, 191

invitation question, 189, 192

issues arising in, 193

for memorial services, 3–4, 193–195

miracles from, 202–207

overview of, 181–184

praxis for, 196

prayer during, 185, 187, 188, 191, 193

at presentation ceremony, 201–202

sage burning ritual, 14, 129, 188, 201, 203–204

speaking heart words, 129, 185–187, 189, 202

talking stick for, 163, 182, 185, 186

traditional design, 187–191

with young people, 129–130, 203–207

Unity Principle, 91–94

V

Vargas, Andrea, 62, 123–125, 132, 144–149

Vargas, Arturo “Art,” 53, 62, 147

Vargas, Cheli, 66, 67, 69, 95, 132–133

Vargas, Everett, xii, 244n3

Vargas, Jack, xii, 61–64, 94, 214, 245n1

Vargas, Marcos, 37, 56, 57, 62, 63, 138, 240n1

Vargas, María, 194–195, 245n3

Vargas, Tita, 46–50, 52–55, 58, 138–139

violence, 38, 40, 70, 143–149

vision

activating, 38–42, 55–58

conocimiento to inspire, 103–104

developing a family, 66–69, 168–169

family power to support larger, 213–214

living your, 59, 75

nature to renew/direct, 17–19

vision quest, 83

voter registration campaign, 227–228

W

war, 23, 38, 224, 240n2

wedding celebrations, 102

Williamson, Marianne, 107, 112, 243n1

women, 35, 122, 139, 227–228

Y

young adults, 57–58, 130–131, 200–207