SENSORY JOURNAL 015: Interconnectedness

Having a small business within this past decade has taught me so much about interconnectedness. I have been through enough to know that anything major happening locally, regionally, often nationally, even internationally, will have a direct impact and effect on my business. This reality has presented countless challenges over the years in terms of managing a stable and successful business, but it has also led to so much acceptance, awe, and gratitude for the way we are intertwined with our communities and the world. 

A global pandemic opened my eyes to how essential so many workers are to our survival and existence. The Hollywood strikes opened my eyes to just how many people in greater LA were employed through Hollywood, and how much those people contributed to the local economy. Political unrest opened my eyes to even more exploitations and discriminations taking place within Capitalism and corporate/media monopolies, and how institutions and systems are failing to serve us. The wildfires in Los Angeles last year opened my eyes to the importance and necessity of mutual aid, community led organizing, and local non-profits and local businesses for immediate information and support in times of crisis. The implementation of tariffs opened my eyes to how intricately global supply chains have become, and how most business and production cannot exist entirely domestic any more. ICE occupations in our communities opened my eyes to how crucial immigrants are to our local workforces and communities, and how important it is to know, look out for, and care for our neighbors. 

Some of these things seem like they would be completely unrelated to a small boutique in Long Beach. But in one way or another I have felt them all, I have been impacted by them all, and I have tried my best to support my community while simultaneously trying to protect and maintain my business with moral standards. My conclusion is that we simply do not exist without one another, and that every decision I make can ripple out in ways I may not be able to imagine. When ICE occupied the city of Minneapolis and beyond this year, my heart ached with the people and the local businesses there. I couldn't know what they were going through, yet I knew what they were going through. I knew of the long standing impact this would have on the local economy, and the long standing trauma for the community this would cause, the feeling of re-traumatization of a City after the events of 2020. Being in a highly populated city like Los Angeles, with so many industries based closely together here, you see it and feel it ALL very quickly.

Original Artwork "Flower Bound Hands" by a favorite artist of mine, Laura Berger.

Every impactful event that has taken place since I opened a store in 2018, has disrupted life and business as usual. If I had the chance to do it over in a simpler timeline, would I? I don't think I would. Has it been difficult and inconvenient? Absolutely. But each time something greater and out of my control has taken place, I've learned just how interconnected we all are. We exist because of us, we survive because of us, we thrive because of us. And while life has often been scary, that reality is quite comforting in itself. What has kept me pushing and persevering are people. The sheer amount of human kindness, support, and solidarity that we are capable of is in fact the thing that has always made The United States of America great. 

So when an old colleague and friend of mine reached out wanting to find ways to do more to support our immigrant neighbors and community right now, the response was resoundingly YES! I tapped into the network I've built through these years of entrepreneurship, and the local community I've been blessed to get to know, work with, and collaborate with, and a special event came to fruition! SPRING INTO ACTION: A Community Benefit Event and Art Show, planned in collaboration with Ingrid Aguilar and Angelica De Jesus, will take place here at Burke on Saturday, March 21st from 2-6pm. We'll be raising money for Órale, an amazing local organization that is building and sustaining a thriving immigrant-led movement to end the criminalization of immigrants and secure bold protections and opportunities that allow immigrant communities to thrive. The funds raised will go specifically to their Solidarity Fund, which provides $499 Gift Cards for local families directly impacted by ICE. 

We hope you can join us and the more than 30 local businesses, artists, and community members who've contributed to make this event happen! There will be some amazing exclusive, limited edition art prints for sale, as well as some really incredible prizes available in our Raffle from Long Beach businesses! You can find out more HERE. 

ATTEND:

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And on the topic of interconnectedness, here are some related recommendations from my mental archive! 

READ: 

This is the first book I've sat down and read in years (embarrassing to admit, but honest)! I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo last year right after I had decided I'd have to close my previous shop location, and was unsure of what was to come after. And it felt like perfect timing to read this book. I'm sure many of you have read it, and most of you have heard of it, but it feels like a book I could come back to time and time again for a reminder that we have what we need within us, all things are connected, and introspection and lessons come with life's challenges and risks taken. This book has a way of meeting you where you are and offering hope, so if you've always meant to read it but haven't just yet, I highly recommend! Also, as someone who has a hard time sitting down to read because 20+ things and to do lists are always on my mind, I was able to read this in one sitting enjoyably. So if you find yourself like me, this may be the book for you! :) P.S. if you're going to buy this, please skip Amazon and support your local bookstore first (most will order it for you if they don't have it in stock), or bookshop.org!

WATCH: 

One of my favorite films, Babel, is a beautiful example of stories of strangers from around the world that are all interconnected. When I was trying to think of film examples around interconnectedness, this was the first that came to mind, and now I'm planning to rewatch it soon as it's been years since I've seen it! It features interwoven character stories taking place in Morocco, Japan, Mexico, and the United States, and was an international co-production among companies based in Mexico, the United States and France. The movie has a stellar cast, and I remember being really touched by the storyline and how it all played out.