During 2020, our country was forever changed by a seismic shift that shined a light on the cracks of our democracy, our justice system, and our lack of equity in health care. The inter-relationships of how we view and create public art as a society was transformed as we witnessed the dismantling of symbols of the Confederacy and white supremacy throughout the BLM protests. Now it’s our responsibility to re-envision what public art looks like in our communities, what stories we choose to tell, whose voices we uplift and what we celebrate as part of American history. As our country sees the rise of hate crimes against minorities, it’s more important than ever to create public art and digital archives that are community-centered and that are inclusive of underrepresented voices via storytelling engagement processes that can inspire personal and social change.
Las Poderosas, empowers the stories of Las Promotoras de Latino Health Access, a group of community health advocates who took on the urgent work of reducing the spread of COVID-19 by advocating for the health of their ostracized community in one of California's most rapidly gentrifying cities — one with crippling, historical health and wealth inequities. Las Promotoras, provides greater visibility and accessibility to the amazing efforts of everyday women who, although not not trained as medical professionals, nevertheless fought for the survival of their communities with incredible heart and determination.
We celebrate these first responders as PODEROSAS (powerful women) asserting them as heroes in American history.
Created by Alicia Rojas, this public art project is funded through a fellowship awarded by 18th Street Arts Center-Creative Corps, a pilot initiative of the California Arts Council, and an awarded grant by the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC). This project is also supported by Grand Central Art Center (GCAC), Latino Health Access (LHA), the Office of Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, Second District and the City of Santa Ana.
The broader “Poderosas” project includes, 63 oral histories, a digital archive, a brass sculpture and monument located at Latino Health Access headquarters in Downtown, Santa Ana, CA. and a publication with photo portraits, that composes the collection of PODEROSAS, highlighting their individuality and simultaneously showcasing their unbeatable strength when they all come together to care and advocate for their community as a collective body. Just like how worker bees serve as an example of purpose through collective work, the Promotoras' contributions promote the health and empowerment of their colony through collaborative work and education.
The oral histories will be housed as a digital collection at The Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History at CSUF. The publication includes a forward by renowned writer and award winning LA Times Columnist Gustavo Arellano, introduction by curator Erika Hirugami, and text by Alicia Rojas. The publication will be presented to the Library of Congress collection under American Heroes of the Pandemic.