A couple of weeks ago, I started my transition from the Office Coordinator at the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center to becoming a Training Coordinator. This excited me, to know that I can give more if I put my self into motion.
I experimented with the “Training” issue for first time in my theater career. I formerly hosted theater trainings for youth and adults in Costa Rica. There I studied Scenic Arts and decided to continue that practice by holding theater trainings for the Centro Cultural Latino de Memphis (Memphis Latino Cultural Center).
Theater is not something that you can necessarily teach someone how to do. Obviously, there are several techniques for learning theater. For me, theater is experiencing different situations while being completely aware of yourself (mind and body). We learn from ourselves first and also from others that are in the same process. If one will notice, most of life’s learning is based on self experience.
I had not thought about how all trainings share the essence regardless of the content, until I went to Minneapolis for the training called ‘Talleristas por la Justicia’ (Trainers for Social Justice) or Training for Trainers, as it’s known in English. This training is one of several phenomenal trainings by the organization, Training for Change. I’d already completed a training-for-trainers experience before becoming involved in this training; yet I found it crucial for me, not only because this training was completely in Spanish, but was also completely in the Hispanic Culture. It is one thing to speak in Spanish only and another thing to personally be Hispanic with all the understanding – that puts it all into proper perspective.
I could experience the difference between the English Training and the Spanish Training even when the training format is the same because of the people involved with it. This could be very obvious, but for me was a great discovery.
Without generalizing, there are 36 countries throughout “America” of which most (20) are Spanish speaking countries with very different cultures represented among them. The United States, furthermore, is the country with the biggest population of Spanish speaking people as second language (as first language in many cases) and Hispanics living inside its borders, hosting a mix of diverse cultures, and yet sharing many similarities too.
While between Hispanic people there are some differences regarding their language (slangs) and culture, similarly the differences in diversity with the Memphis culture is even bigger. A training for Memphis culture therefore has to have some kind of Hispanic dynamic as well.
Specifically, this area of emphasis on Memphis culture will be my first goal to accomplish in this new position. In order to make a cultural interpretation for our Core Organizing Training that was initially designed for English speaking people, there will now be an updated Spanish version: GOT Power (Grassroots Organizing Training for Power).
This cultural interpretation is not only meant to interpret the words originally prepared in English, but is also interpreting the essence of its intended applications. What we really have to do is actually provide an Hispanic feeling with some Salsa and Rancheras!
I will admit, it has been challenging to do this cultural translation work simply because I’m not a professional interpreter and English is my (almost) second language. I have however, had the experience to be part of some trainings with amazing trainers. It is so rewarding to know my people, and I am deeply enjoying what I’m doing.
Continuing on in this amazing experience is allowing me to merge community theater with social justice. I will attend the Advance Training for Trainers in Philadelphia, next July (thanks to Mid-South Peace and Justice Center supporters). It will be a 5-day experience of learning perhaps a more effective way to help our Mid-South Peace and Justice Center team in making the greater Memphis culture better for all.
Talleristas por la Justicia – Minneapolis 2012
If you want to know more about The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center trainings, please contact us at 901-725-4990 or by email at:
Allison Glass, Training Director – allison@midsouthpeace.org or
Gio López, Training Coordinator – gio@midsouthpeace.org
*Nuestros entrenamientos también están disponibles en Español
Our trainings are also available in Spanish.