Welcome everyone! Thanks for your interest in the West Fund and for your passion for reproductive justice in Texas!
My name is Sean Garcia, and I am a Masters student at the University of Texas at El Paso in the Rhetoric and Writing Studies Department (It’s like English but without Charles Dickens! :p). I am working with the West Fund through an internship that connects students from UTEP with their community and encourages them to get involved with issues they care about, that affect those they love. I was inspired by the work that the activists at the West Fund are doing, given the current political climate in Texas, and I realized that now, more than ever, is the time to get involved with this fight.
I have spent time organizing for the environmental and labor movements, which has given me perspective on just how important basic bodily autonomy is. It is at the intersection of so many systems of marginalization like sexism, classism, racism, and ableism. We can’t have a beautiful environment, if our communities themselves are not positive environments. We can’t push back against corporate interests if we can’t have the basic right to choose what our healthcare looks like. As a biracial (Mexican/White) male identified person, I want to encourage active dialog on this page. I, like everyone else, am working through systematic processes of oppression, and have a hell of a lot to learn, and the best way I feel we can all do this is through an active and accountable community. SPEAK UP! (either in the comments, or send an email to sean@westfund.org).
Anyway…
What does this mean for you readers of this blog?? Well, in a roundabout way, I’m just trying to let you know that I am going to be writing and posting here for a while, trying to keep everyone up to date with all of the happenings going on with the West fund and the larger issues that affect us in the struggle for equity and reproductive justice. And I'm inviting you to think about what skills or talents you can use to work with the West Fund – and reach out to info@westfund.org to get more involved.
Some fun stuff about me: I love my cat, Diego, even though he tries to scratch my nose sometimes. AND if you are looking for the best burgers or sushi in El Paso, get at me, cause I got all the hook ups!!
Thanks for taking the time to read this. I look forward to helping out here and keeping everyone up to date!
-Sean
