Housing Video - Private LLCs buying up homes

 

In cities across the US there are organizations dedicated to housing rights and housing justice for this reason. People's homes are bought up, flipped in masse across the US and this should be fought by everyday working people. This is one of the real reasons we see homelessness on the rise and working people cannot afford to buy their own home. 

Article from Pro Publica- When private equity becomes your landlord

Podcasts about this

Alejandria Fights Back- Cover process

 

What up? This is a bit of process behind the cover for "Alejandria Fights Back/ La Lucha de Alejandria". 

First let's start with the sketches. I usually do a bunch of sketches in my sketchbook or on paper. I think I did that too. But these are the first I presented to what was a huge team effort. Normally when you make a kids book you have 1-2 people to answer to. Thats either the author/creator or the art director. In this case I was working with a team of filmmakers and organizers called the "Rise home Stories Project" who initiated this project, writer Leticia Hernandez-Linares, and the team at Feminist Press (Lauren Rosemary Hook, Jisu Kim, and designer Drew Stevens. The book was translated by Dr Carla España.

The next round was refining these sketches a bit.

They picked the one at the podium and thats the one I really nailed down. 

After nailing it down I went straight into painting the cover because the team was pretty loose with the art direction even though it was BIG. Here's some of the painting process for the front cover. It was painted with watercolor. I start with an over all warm tone and focus where Ale (main character) was the focal point. Then I started to add color to the characters.

Here's the final front cover painting w/ text on another layer drawn with ink.

Here's a bit of the back cover sketches

They chose the one with a few things scattered around which was directly inspired by Dawud Anyabwile's "Brotherman Revelations" back cover. Here it is painted.

And add the back matter (synopsis, logo, isbn scan) and the front cover design w/ type.

Love this book like so many of my others. If you're not familiar with the storyline check out this video

You can get a copy of the book from your local bookstore, library, bookshop.org, or Feminist Press.

Did you like this? Check out my most recent book "Somos Yoga/ We are Yoga" written and published by Jill Guerra an author, teacher, and mindfulness/yoga instructor for kids.

Earn Your Leisure - History moment

 

This little snippet about red-lining is a jewel. If you haven't heard of the term google "The Case for Reparations" by Tanehisi Coates, 1619 Project is relative, and "Family Properties" by Berryl Satter. In fact, check out this piece I did about the Chicago "Contract Buyers League".

Video: Book trailer - Alejandria Fights back!

 

If you missed it this is the book trailer for Alejandria Fights Back/ La Lucha de Alejandria which came out last summer. This is a book published by Feminist Press in NYC and written by Leticia Hernandez-Linares and the Rise Home Stories Project; and illustrated by me. 

Please watch the trailer and check out the other projects from this team such as a video game, animated short, podcast, and more HERE

If you're an educator and you'd like to get a copy of the book there are limited free copies here.

Art for CEJA report

Yo, I made the illustrations for this last year and its being released now. Shout out to my sister Tiffany Eng (California Environmental Justice Alliance) who brought me on for this, but more importantly works on issues of environmental racism, city planning, zoning, and more. The work she does revolving around studies and policy helps to change laws which then positively effects people. 

Especially working class folks and people of color. Environmentalism is often seen as a mountain, river, or forest issue. It's often seen as something white people work on. But, the effects of things like pollution and climate change effect all of us, especially those who live closest to factories and freeways.

If you want to read the summary of this report done by CEJA and see all of the illustrations, I invite you to download it and read it HERE.  There you will find more information and the full report as well. 

Check out the last illustration I did for the Sunshine Movement who also work on climate issues.

Rethinking Schools feature for Alejandria

 

Yo, this just in, my new book "Alejandria Fights Back" got a mention in the new "Rethinking Schools" magazine. If you're not hip, this magazine has been around since the mid 80s in Milwaukee by educators. They saw that the history books they had at the time were wack (still are, but getting better) and they decided to compile lessons for the babies involving ethnic studies, what would today be excluded as critical race theory, and social justice. As a trusted source by educators all over the US, and internationally. So, suffice to say this nod in the form of a feature is BIG and I have so much respect. If you want to get a physical or digital copy go here.

I was fortunate enough to do some artwork for the magazine many moons ago, peep that here. And shout out to AD Nancy Zucker! If you missed the post about Social Justice books, peep that here.

Video! - Alejandria Fights Back & Highlights Fundation!

 

Had a chance to talk to Feminist Press, part of my team on the Alejandria Fights Back/La Lucha de Alejandria book, and members of the Highlights Foundation (remember the magazine?). You can preorder the book here. If you're a book blogger and want a review copy, hit me up. 

If you missed my previous post announcing the book, please check that out here.

NEW Book! - Alejandria Fights Back!

Peace fam, so for the past 2 years almost I've been working on a new bilingual picture book for older elementary school kids and their families and I want to begin sharing some more about it with you so you're familiar with it. And I'm excited because I just got the actual book in my hand and it looks amazing! I really hope you all dig it.

Here's the synopsis of the story: For nine-year-old Alejandria, home isn't just the apartment she shares with Mami and her abuela, Tita, but rather the whole neighborhood. Home is the bakery where Ms. Beatrice makes yummy picos; the sidewalk where Ms. Alicia sells flowers with her little dog, Duende; and the corner store with friendly Mr. Amir.

But lately the city has been changing, and rent prices are going up. Many people in el barrio are leaving because they can no longer afford their homes, and "For Sale" signs are popping up everywhere. Then the worst thing happens: Mami receives a letter saying they'll have to move out too.

Alejandria knows it isn’t fair, but she's not about to give up and leave. Join Alejandria as she brings her community together to fight and save their neighborhood!

The book is bilingual in English and Spanish, its about an Afro Latina and her family, and true to the title its about standing up for your rights!! It is published by Feminist Press in NYC and will be officially out early August, but you can preorder the book now here via Marcus Books' Bookshop LINK

The book was written by author and poet Leticia Hernández-Linares and a team of creatives and organizers called The Rise Home Stories Project. It was translated by Dr Carla España. In the coming months you'll hear more about the book and the suite of projects coming from RHSP. In the mean time follow us on social media and go to the books website for more info coming up....

alejandriafightsback.com

Yo, if you're a blogger, book reviewer, journalist, etc and you want to review it-get at me. If you missed the interview the creators of the book did with the Ed Collaborative, check that out here.

Video: Together In the Struggle w/ "Alejandria Fights Back"

 

Earlier this month I got a chance to talk with Dr Carla España and Dr Luz Yadira along with my co-conspirators in making Alejandria Fights Back" a new picture book I completed with writer Leticia Hernandez-Linares, the Rise Home Stories Project, and Feminist Press. The book will officially be out in August but we're already starting to talk about it. In fact, listen to this talk with the Doctora's and "The Ed Collab Gathering" where me, Mike Leyba (Rise Home Stories Project) , and Leticia chop it up.

For more info about the book go to https://www.alejandriafightsback.com/ or follow Rise Home Stories Project on Instagram.

Podcasts/Articles - Housing crisis/ discrimination

I keep getting angrier every time someone shares or posts another piece of this puzzle. Please read this Dope article by Pendarvis Harshaw about Oakland's "Moms 4 Housing", MLK, and housing. Then

Great show that hits home for me since I was born in Oakland and grew up in Berkeley and Oakland. Heres a link to East Bay Yesterday's site w/ more info and photos from this episode.

 
Another great show which Detroits city tactics which robbed Black families of their homes and wealth. Heres a link to Reveal's website.

I love this one because Maria keeps it real! WTF!!!!

This is super timely in SF, Oakland, and the whole bay! Reveal episode

Some historical background and humor about the history of housing discrimination in the US by the good folks at Codeswitch. Here's a link to their website.

How Ghettos are made-NPR

This is one small fraction , one small movement of a much larger beast known as White Supremacy and Capitalism here in the US. This story picks up right where writer Tanehisi Coates left off when writing about some of the national and federal policies which reinforced, permitted, and encouraged racist ideas and practices towards African Americans (and other people of color) through out the US. In this story on Fresh air author Richard Rothstein talks about federal regulations for housing, bank loans, etc and how federal policies created black ghettos. Which, are ironically being sought after and "discovered" invaded rapidly by young whites from suburb or affluent areas. Connect this to Baltimore, Ferguson, Brooklyn, Oakland, etc.

LISTEN

Note: I disagree with his viewpoints on "misbehavior" because it puts absolutely no responsibility on the part of the cops, the police departments, the district attorneys, the mayors, the governors, and even the president to put a stop to out right racist policies-a virtual green light to punish, beat, or murder any black person without accountability. The viewpoint of "misbehavior" makes it seem as though Blacks who simply behave, follow the law, or come out on top despite the tremendous inequality in every sector of life will not be targeted by Cops-and this is not true.