¿Dónde puedo ir? Searching for Home
Stories are what connect us and help build empathy between the members of a community.
We want to tap into the resiliency, resources and existing knowledge that exist in our Latine communities between neighbors, workers and families.
¿Dónde puedo ir? Searching for Home is a collaborative musical project created around recorded oral histories that capture the immediacy of displacement facing local Latinx residents in Bushwick due to housing insecurity, political turmoil, and socio-economic instability that's been further exacerbated by the ensuing public health crisis.
This project culminated in a live performance of original music and storytelling that incorporates the experiences of Latine residents in this hyperlocal yet universal documentary project that showcases Bushwick’s strengths: its diversity and its soul. We want to amplify stories of how we find our sources of strength to not only survive but thrive.
Oral histories/Storytelling by Cynthia Tobar
Music created and performed by Luis D'Elias
Videography by Melissa Garay and Alberto Barreto
Presented in partnership with Oye Group
Many thanks to our narrators who gave generously of their time and our community partner MayDaySpace for providing a safe space to conduct these interviews.
¿Donde Puedo Ir? Searching for Home is sponsored, in part, by the Artivism Award Grant by Sing for Hope, and the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council.
Nuestros narradores Our narrators
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Stephen Maldonado
Steven Maldonado is a 21-year-old Bushwick Native of Dominican and Honduran descent. Through participation in local collectives such as Comida Pal Pueblo and independent efforts of self-education and educating those around him, Steven has dedicated his time to working towards radical change and progression for his local community as well as his broader communities of Black and indigenous people.
Steven Maldonado es un nativo de Bushwick de 21 años de ascendencia dominicana y hondureña. A través de la participación en colectivos locales como Comida Pal Pueblo y esfuerzos independientes de autoeducación y educación de quienes lo rodean, Steven ha dedicado su tiempo a trabajar hacia un cambio radical y progreso para su comunidad local, así como para sus comunidades más amplias de negros e indígenas.
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Sandy Nurse
Sandy Nurse is a Panamanian-American community organizer, founder of BK Rot, co-founder of MayDay Space and serves as the New York City Council member for the 37th district which covers Bushwick and other neighborhoods in northern Brooklyn.
Sandy Nurse es una organizadora comunitaria panameña-estadounidense, fundadora de BK Rot, cofundadora de MayDay Space y miembro del Consejo de la Ciudad de Nueva York para el distrito 37 que cubre Bushwick y otros vecindarios en el norte de Brooklyn.
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María Herron
María Herron is the Cuban-American founder and co-owner of Mil Mundos, a bilingual bookstore and community space for the local Latinx and Black community. The store is a larger-scale anti-gentrification project reclaiming space to discuss heritage and culture & promoting access to literature in both English and Spanish.
María Herron es la fundadora cubanoamericana y copropietaria de Mil Mundos, una librería bilingüe y un espacio comunitario para la comunidad latinx y negra local. La tienda es un proyecto anti-gentrificación a gran escala que recupera espacio para discutir el patrimonio y la cultura y promover el acceso a la literatura tanto en inglés como en español.
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Ingrid Romero
Ingrid Romero is an educator, organizer, and artist, born and raised in NYC/Lenapehoking with deep roots in the Andes of Colombia. Ingrid came up through local community organizing and deeply believes in the power of arts and culture towards our collective liberation. They can be found working with young people through media-making, facilitating community spaces, and working on creative projects with everyday people.
Ingrid Romero es educadora, organizadora y artista, nacida y criada en NYC/Lenapehoking con profundas raíces en los Andes de Colombia. Ingrid surgió a través de la organización de la comunidad local y cree profundamente en el poder de las artes y la cultura hacia nuestra liberación colectiva. Se les puede encontrar trabajando con jóvenes a través de la creación de medios, facilitando espacios comunitarios y trabajando en proyectos creativos con la gente común.
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Sonia Perez
Sonia Perez is a Mexican food street vendor who is actively involved with fighting for labor rights as a leader with Street Vendors Project, a membership-drive organization championing the rights of street vendors as small businesses to earn a living & contribute to the city’s vital culture & daily life, and immigrant tenant rights organizer with Make the Road NY, which builds the power of immigrant, Black, and brown communities to achieve dignity & justice.
Sonia Pérez es una vendedora ambulante de comida mexicana que participa activamente en la lucha por los derechos laborales como líder de Street Vendors Project, una organización impulsada por miembros que defiende los derechos de los vendedores ambulantes como pequeñas empresas para ganarse la vida y contribuir a la cultura vital de la ciudad. & vida diaria, y organizadora de los derechos de los inquilinos inmigrantes con Make the Road NY, que construye el poder de las comunidades inmigrantes, negras y marrones para lograr la dignidad y la justicia.
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Manuel Almache
Manuel Almache, an Ecuadorian entrepreneur who helped revitalize Wyckoff Ave for the past 25 years, is the founder of the Wyckoff Merchants Association, which promotes and advocates for economic development and higher quality of life on Wyckoff Ave through civic and community engagement.
Manuel Almache, un empresario ecuatoriano que ayudó a revitalizar Wyckoff Ave durante los últimos 25 años, es el fundador de la Asociación de Comerciantes de Wyckoff, que promueve y aboga por el desarrollo económico y una mejor calidad de vida en Wyckoff Ave a través del compromiso cívico y comunitario.
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Joaquin Esquilin and Sarah Serrano-Esquilin
Joaquin Esquilin is a Brooklyn-native Nuyorican Latin Dance Instructor with a variety of experiences in multiple employment fields.
Sarah Serrano-Esquilin is a Nuyorican Art Therapist, typewriter poet, and voice-over artist. You can connect with her on IG @CantFightTheFro
Joaquín Esquilin es un instructor de baile latino nuyorican nativo de Brooklyn con una variedad de experiencias en múltiples campos laborales.
Sarah Serrano-Esquilin es una terapeuta de arte de Nuyorican, poeta de máquina de escribir y locutora. Puedes conectarte con ella por IG @CantFightTheFro
Music Musica
Luis D’Elias
So honored to work with Luis D’Elias on this project! Luis is a Venezuelan composer, guitarist & founder of New Caracas, a multi-cultural ensemble dedicated to exploring the fusion heritage of South American rhythms w contemporary styles. Follow him on IG @newcaracasmusic
Muy honrada de trabajar con Luis D'Elias en Donde Puedo Ir. Luis es un compositor, guitarrista y fundador venezolano de New Caracas, un conjunto multicultural dedicado a explorar la herencia de fusión de ritmos sudamericanos con estilos contemporáneos. Síguelo por IG @newcaracasmusic