Oral History with Monserrat Ramirez

Monse:

... recording.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Okay. So thank you for sharing your time and the gifts of your stories. And we can take a break or end the interview at any point. My name is Kathia Fuentes and I'm working with Blue Ridge Pride and Amanda Wray to record oral history from outdoors and members of the LGBTQ community.

Kathia, Interviewer:

With your permission, all stories will be archived with special collections at UNC Asheville and available as audio, video, and typed transcript files. And you'll also be contacted to review your typed transcription in advance of the publication. In any case want to submit changes, corrections or name restrictions you can at any time. And then do you have any questions about that?

Monse:

No, I don't think so.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Okay. So today's date is Saturday, November 20th, 2021. I Kathia Fuentes I'm 00:01:00talking with, and then you can say your full name.

Monse:

Monse Ramirez.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Who was born on, and then you're going to say your date of birth if you're comfortable sharing.

Monse:

I was born March 5th.

Kathia, Interviewer:

IN and then your city, state and country of birth.

Monse:

And I currently live in Asheville, North Carolina, but originally from Mexico.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And now I'm going to go ahead and start the questions. And again, if anything you don't want to answer or it's personal just let me know and we can skip that question. So the first one is how would you describe yourself, gender, race, ability, socioeconomics, ethnicity, et cetera.

Monse:

So I would describe myself, I'm Mexican and I identify as a Cis woman and I feel like I'm working class and have been organizing. I would consider myself an organizer as well, but yeah.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And how long have you lived in Western North Carolina? What brought you here and what has kept you here?

Monse:

I pretty much grown up in Western North Carolina, came here whenever I was in elementary school and have lived here with my parents and have mostly lived in Hendersonville and then Asheville through most of my time. So yeah, I really enjoy North Carolina, especially here in the mountains. I feel like it's just a 00:03:00beautiful place that has so much things to explore, so many amazing people. And I feel like what's kept me here is just finding community and being part of building a lot of amazing things. I work as an interpreter and have an interpreter cooperative. And then there's a lot of amazing projects and organizing efforts that are happening within my community that just make it feel very like home and like we're doing something together.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Yeah. That's beautiful. And do you have any anecdote or anything that you want to share that's important about . . .

Monse:

Can you repeat the second part?

Kathia, Interviewer:

Yeah. If you have anything that you would like to share about your interpreting 00:04:00work, maybe an anecdote or just something that you think that is important for people to know about.

Monse:

Yeah. So I've been part of the interpreter cooperative. I'm a founding member of Cenzontle language justice cooperative. We started about four, maybe five years ago, lose track of time but we are a group of social justice and language justice interpreters that kind of came together and well, we've been doing this as freelance and just supporting our communities like how do we get together and just create economic stability and also grow and being able to bring more folks into the work.

Monse:

And I would say one thing that's important about being able to make space for other folks to come into the work is I came into interpreting just as a young 00:05:00bilingual person that grew up here and had to learn English and was mostly an interpreter for my parents growing up. Since I was young, whenever I was brought here, I picked up the language pretty quickly and was just doing that informally.

Monse:

And when I was around 18, I got connected with folks who were doing the interpreter trainings and was just so excited that I could use some of those skills and my lived experience to actually build a career and now a business. And being able to also kind of pass it along too and train other bilingual youth has been really amazing and rewarding. And we've been able to like throughout my work in language justice and interpreting, I've helped run an interpreter club 00:06:00at a local high school and now through [inaudible 00:06:08] we're about to start a mentorship program for bilingual folks here in Western, North Carolina, too. And specific in Buncombe County area to be able to get that hands on practice and kind of use some of their skills and lived experiences to become interpreters. Because a lot of the folks who are interested are bilingual youth or young people who kind of have been doing it informally as well and kind of want to get more skills and be able to get jobs too and be paid a good wage for their work and their skills.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And you talked about growing up and being an interpreter for your parents. Have you seen that that's kind of like a trend in the youth that you are working with?

Monse:

Yeah, I would say very much so. And just a lot of the times there's a lack of accessibility with either doctors or any other place where a lot of the times in order to be able to navigate that you do need someone. Again if you don't speak English or you don't know how to get access to interpreters, even because sometimes there might be interpreters where maybe you just don't know how to get connected with folks. But I would say that a lot of the times parents and family members do rely on their family that does speak English and can be that kind of point of connection and bridge between language. So I would say, yes, that's what I've been seeing for the most part, folks just ringing in they're interested because they've done it and how do they get more trained up on it?

Kathia, Interviewer:

And what is something else that we would like people to know about your life? And we're going to kind of begin with your life history from here.

Monse:

Okay. Yeah. I don't know. Maybe we can move into the questions and then some of that can come out in there.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Yeah. So the first one I have is can you describe where you grew up? You can say like how long you lived there, what was the place like for you?

Monse:

Yeah, like I said, I mostly grew up in Western North Carolina, but I was brought to the US whenever I was about five or six years old by my parents when they immigrated here from Mexico. So kind of spend a little time in Mexico but mostly 00:09:00grew up here in Western North Carolina and I have for the most part of my life been here and have done some traveling through work, but have lived here my whole life and really enjoy it and have made a lot of community members and family here.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And what is a significant memory you have related to your childhood or your journey to adulthood?

Monse:

Yeah, I've just enjoyed being able to like connect and kind of just grow and being able to put roots down here in North Carolina. But I don't know if I have 00:10:00like a particular memory. Maybe you can come back to that question.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Is there maybe a teacher or a mentor that stands out from your childhood or your school days and who and why?

Monse:

I feel like school. I mostly had like a regular experience. I don't know if there's like one person that stands out. I mostly grew up in areas where it was mostly white teachers and older teachers. So I wouldn't say that I was able to connect in a particular way with them just because a lot of the folks that were teaching didn't really have similar backgrounds or lived experiences. I was 00:11:00going through, and mostly found most a lot of my mentors later on in life as a teenager. And as I got connected to like movement work and social justice, I would say like a lot of my mentors come later on in life rather than when I was younger.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And now we're going to move into your coming out story. So again, if at any point you don't feel comfortable sharing, just let me know and we'll skip that question or take a moment and take as much time as you need to think about the answer. So can you tell me about your coming out journey? So what influenced your coming out? How were others formative in that process in supporting you or maybe not supporting you and are there places or people where you are not out as LGBTQ+? And I can put those in the chat as well because I know that was a long question.

Monse:

It sounds good. Yeah. And I feel like I'm still in my journey, but feel for the most part out and yeah I really didn't realize or had thought about it that I was queer. I feel like I didn't identify as queer until maybe I was like in high school. And now looking back I'm like, "Makes sense." But in high school it was when that I first like started to question and then from there it was a journey and it has continued to be a journey, but I grew up pretty religious as well.

Monse:

My family comes from evangelical Christian background. And so growing up was 00:13:00kind of hard to come even realize that for myself. And I feel like it took a while for me to accept it and realize, "Okay, this is who I am." I kind of come into that moment for myself because like I said, I was very religious and was really involved in the church and like was in the worship group, I played the violin and was in the choir.

Monse:

So definitely like seeing as a leader within my church and that made it a little bit complicated for me because I was like, "Oh." And my church was not at all accepting of like LGBTQ people or was actually like, it was looked down upon. So even like realizing that for myself was intense to say the least. Then as I was 00:14:00getting older and was like, okay, maybe this is who I am. And I wanted to be able to embrace that a little bit more and then moving on later on a few years later, I ended up leaving the church just because it just wasn't aligned with what I was coming into and my own ideals and my own values and what I wanted or thought. So I ended up leaving the church and then got really connected with movements and social justice groups.

Monse:

And around that time was when I got connected with more queer people and was able to see queer people in their fullness and without... Yeah, just how folks 00:15:00were so real and they didn't care what people thought about them. And before then, I really hadn't been in a space where people could be their full selves and feel affirmed. So then I was like, "Okay, there is some space for me," and I kind of just started connecting with folks and really hearing stories and just being able to allow myself to be in my full queer glory or what have you.

Monse:

And then I got connected with an organization called Southerners on New Ground. And so really there was whenever I was like, "Okay, this is a space where there 00:16:00are other trans people who are organizers who are wanting to live their lives in a way that is affirming. And so I was maybe like around... I don't know. Like during this whole process, I was like from like 16 to like 21, 22 was whenever this was occurring.

Monse:

And so SONG, Southerners On New Ground has this event or used to have before COVID an event that was called Gaycation where they get... It's like a membership organization but they get gay members and also like folks who are interested in learning more about the org. In the summertime, they would like rent out like summer camps and just like do convenings where it would just be a 00:17:00weekend in the woods with a whole bunch of queer and trans people just having a Gaycation. And then we would also talk about organizing.

Monse:

And that was like really the first affirming space that I was like, "Okay, wow. This is possible for me to be happy and be surrounded with other people who like are having similar experiences." So then after that I was like, yeah. I feel like I came out to myself and then just started just being me and didn't really care what other people thought about and just kind of started that journey for myself. And yeah. Let me see the questions again.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Yeah. That definitely answered them and more. You actually touched on another question, so thank you. I'm so sorry if my dog is being distracting, he's very clingy. But so was this something that you were expecting to feel coming into these spaces or were you kind of coming with no expectations or there's definitely a little bit of nerves that can be related to it, but what were your expectations overall I guess?

Monse:

I'm trying to remember. I don't think I had many expectations. Yeah. I feel like I was like, "Oh, this is going to be a space where it is very affirming." So I kind of came in into that space, thinking that and just feeling it out. And it was even just the vibe and it was a lot different from other places I'd been.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And how did you, or do you find people to date? Do you have any favorite stories that come with that?

Monse:

That's a good question. I feel like it's hard here in Asheville. I would say it's a small town and then the circle is even smaller. I feel like everyone has dated everyone and, or it's like similar friend circle. So I feel like that gets a little complicated, just like in a smaller city. And even just like growing up in a small town it's like hard to find where the queer people are at. But usually now as an adult, like dating apps, I feel is a good place to find folks or just friend circles is what I would say. I don't know if I have any cool 00:20:00stories, but I've met a lot of cool people through dating apps and just like connections with friends. Not any particular one that stands out.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And I know you touched on this a little bit already, but so how have you built a chosen family or support network here in Western North Carolina? And which groups or events have you worked with, benefited from or considered an asset to the community?

Monse:

Yeah, like I've named earlier I've been able to connect through just organizing and fighting... Oh, hold on. My cat. She's also really clingy and it's like scratching my leg. I know that's insane but yeah, through organizing, I feel 00:21:00like I connect a lot with folks who have similar values and are wanting to have similar conversations and yeah, definitely like I named earlier being able to build like even a business or a cooperative and like alternative economies has been really amazing. And I feel like there's a lot of trust that's built within there and wanting to create better things for your community members and your neighborhoods has been a way to really know that those people have your back, that you have their back. And yeah I feel like circles are pretty small here and like BIPOC queer circles are even smaller, especially in the city in Asheville that is like really, really white.

Monse:

And there's not a lot of spaces for queer and trans, black and brown people. I feel like we kind of just find each other, at least my friends circle, we're like, "Oh yeah. We're the only Latinx queer people here." And how do we get together and have spaces where we can be ourselves. I feel like that's another big thing being able to make space in a city that doesn't make space for you has also been like a point of I think also resistance of a name. How do we take up space? How do we create things that are for us when that's not the norm or the culture here in Asheville. But I have been able to connect a lot and build trust 00:23:00through organizing also through shared experiences.

Monse:

And then for the projects I would say or groups, there's a big cooperative network here in Asheville that just is like work that's been building for decades or a decade now. And yeah, it's just coming to fruition, there is housing cooperatives that are trying to build sustainable and affordable housing. I'm about to be part of a mobile home cooperative, so going to be moving into a mobile home cooperative and where it's like intergenerational and it's like queer people.

Monse:

My mom's also going to be living there or is living there already. And I'll get to be like with my friends and my community members and literally build 00:24:00communities and neighborhoods for ourselves. And just like groups SONG that I've mentioned that are like LGBTQ organizations that are also thinking about like racial justice, economic justice, things and issues that really affect me as a person, not just only like a queer person and just like finding organizations that are LGBTQ, but also have this analysis of like race, class and gender, where a lot of LGBTQ groups kind of miss the mark.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Thank you. And trigger warning for the next question, but I'm going to get into it. So addiction and suicide are serious issues in the LGBTQ+ communities. And how do you think we can better promote grounded and healthy harm reducing 00:25:00behaviors? How have these realities shaped your journey?

Monse:

Yeah. I don't know if I have any concrete ideas but yeah, I feel like I've been pretty lucky to have... It's been a journey, but for the most part I feel like my family is still kind of dealing with it and kind of like now as I get older and because I'm 25 now and have not lived with them and kind of am my true self and unapologetic about that, they're like, "Okay, fine. I guess this is who you are."

Monse:

But for the most part, my family has been pretty, I would say good. I haven't 00:26:00really had any issues of, "Oh no. You're going to be disowned." Or not talking to me. I feel like they've had a journey with it and it's been difficult, but for the most part they're like, "Okay, I love you and you're my daughter," but yeah, I couldn't imagine not being able to have access to my family or like support in that way.

Monse:

And yeah, I've seen how maybe other people do have to be homeless or looking for where to get support because their families don't support them. And I feel also like not being accepted leads to a lot of these things and has also just kept 00:27:00folks in the closet too, because they're afraid of what could happen or the repercussions or consequences. So I think maybe more education like with even parents or more parent groups I've seen that that's been so helpful in other communities just so parents can have some support too with this process. That's what I would say.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Well, thank you. The next question is, can you describe any experiences with poverty or discrimination?

Monse:

Personally that I've had?

Kathia, Interviewer:

Yeah. It's a very broad question. And if you'd rather share something that you've seen, you don't have to give names or anything, you can also share that.

Monse:

Yeah. I've named a lot of the not being accepted or not having a support system can lead to a lot of those things. But like personally I haven't had that happen to me. Like I said, my family has been, it's taken them a moment, but for the most part has been there for me when I needed. But yeah, there's folks who are struggling with homelessness or not being able to get housing because of their legal name or because of folks who do sex work. Sex work, being criminalized.

Monse:

And I think like just like broader and like capitalism, it taking it open a 00:29:00little bit like capitalism and just a fucked up system that we're living in, like how it does criminalize a lot of the way that people live their lives and even exist. Even gender and folks who maybe non-binary or folks who are transitioning and want to live in their full power with different names all the barriers that folks have to deal with are hard. Or folks who maybe have been criminalized and have been in the system and can't get housing because they have a record or can't get jobs because they use substances or have a record as well. It's all these barriers that kind of put us there. And yeah, I feel like there's 00:30:00a lot of people struggling with that.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And you touched on this with talking about your church and education before, but have you been treated with... Sorry, let me start over. How have you been treated and interacting with local public institutions? So this can be police, medical institutions or legal institutions, or if you want to touch more on what you've already talked about, you can also do that.

Monse:

Yeah. Like I said, I haven't had much issues personally, but I do have like community members or friends who do come across barriers either to get medical access or language access. And I feel like there are those barriers. I have DACA 00:31:00which is like deferred action for childhood arrivals. So even like that I couldn't imagine like having to be queer and trans and wanting to change your name and having to go through all those additional things that you have to deal with, like with documents and governments.

Monse:

But yeah, personally, I haven't come across any like major ones other than like, not finding doctors of color or like doctors who are like queer for me. Even gynos trying to find someone that can connect with my own experiences. I feel like that's definitely annoying. And like I named earlier like just even spaces around the city that are not like centered with like BIPOC people or people of 00:32:00immigrant experience. And just like having to you kind of create those and build those yourself almost.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Yeah. And I'm going to move into questions about kind of influences and mentors. So are there any particular individuals who impacted you as you came into the LGBTQ+ community?

Monse:

Yeah. I feel definitely like other and trans people that have been just themselves. I don't think it's anything that they did or said but just being themselves unapologetically gave me, I guess, permission and just reference to 00:33:00like, "Okay, this is possible. This person is doing this and they're Korean trans or like this person is amazing and living their best lives." So I think just being in space with people, I remember one of like the first interpreter trainings that I went to, there was like a queer person who was like an interpreter and like pretty skilled. And I was like, "Wow, they're so cool." And then have had other mentors who are badass and gay as fuck but yeah, I think just like people being themselves and giving me unspoken permission to also be myself.

Kathia, Interviewer:

That's beautiful. Thank you. And can you describe what social activism means to you? I know you also talked a lot about the work that you've been doing and the 00:34:00work you've done over the years. So if you want to highlight anything else, go for it.

Monse:

Yeah. To me, I feel like I have different definition of activism and organizing. I feel like what I do more is organizing. I feel like activism is like, yes, you get behind that... At least for me, you get behind the issue. You're like, yes, I support it. And I feel like organizing is really like doing something about it. I feel like activism is more like, "Yes, I'm going to share this on my page or yes I'm going to go to this rally." Yes. I'm going to call this representative.

Monse:

And I think like organizing is more like relationship based. You're talking to folks, you're like organizing people into action. And I feel like that's most of the work that I've been doing is like I actually... I don't know if I mentioned 00:35:00this, but I work as an organizer with Southerners on New Ground now.

Monse:

It was cool to kind of be a baby gay and be in that space and now like work there. But yeah, I think that being able to connect with other LGBTQ people who are fighting for issues that affect their lives is really beautiful and rewarding. And I think that being able to strategize and building campaigns and winning some of those policy changes or changing the material conditions of people's lives is the work that I love to do and that I do because of my people and myself, and just being able to live without fear of being ourselves.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And do you think that sometimes the activism work and organizing work intersect, and maybe you see yourself kind of wearing different hats at times if that makes sense?

Monse:

Definitely. I feel like there's always a tactic to use in different spaces. So yeah, I feel like we do have to wear different hats. I've been in the direct actions and with the signs, even in the uprisings that happened last year, like I was there getting teargassed by the police and doing direct actions. And I've also been in the city council meetings and like court watching and fighting for 00:37:00people's cases. So there's like different roles that are required within organizing and movement that you just kind of find your lane.

Monse:

And think about the goal. What is it that you're trying to accomplish and what is it that you're trying to get? Are you trying to mobilize people to like stand up for themselves and fight or are you trying to like get this law passed or this bill passed, whatever, there's different lanes, different times for different things.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And can you think of any other members of the community that we should invite for an interview?

Monse:

Yeah, I think there's Spanish speaking folks who are doing amazing things and organizing their community. There's folks who organize with youth. So I work with some folks who are pretty badass too who might be good and I can share 00:38:00their info or ask them if I can.

Kathia, Interviewer:

That would be great. Thank you. Do you have or know of experiences with segregation within the LGBTQ community based on race, gender, class and or other qualities?

Monse:

Yeah, I feel like Asheville in general is just a very segregated city. Just like the way that it's organized. I don't know. Like where live and where people have been pushed out of even like through gentrification and just like folks maybe moving out to the county a little bit more and richer folks moving in to the city. And like I said, there's a lot of... I feel like Asheville is pretty queer affirming, but it's very, very, very white and there's not a lot of spaces for 00:39:00queer and trans, black and brown people to... At least for me I don't feel comfortable being in a space where it's all white people because our lives are a lot different with the things that we deal with.

Monse:

And a lot of times, not just because you're queer and trans means that you are not a racist or not transphobic or not whatever. So I feel like the LGBTQ community is very diverse and intersectional and our lives are impacted by different things. And yes, there are things that we have in common, but I feel like race, class and gender is very much across the board, like so different. And I forgot what my point was but yeah.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And do you think that it's necessary to be intersectional in activism and organizing work? And if so, can you just dive deep been to that?

Monse:

Yeah, I think that it is so important and that's what I like about SONG. SONG is like 29 year old organization and they work across the Southeast and I love the story of the founding of SONG because SONG was a way to kind of infiltrate the LGBTQ movement in a way where it wasn't just white people talking about like marriage equality but really bring this analysis of race, class and gender into 00:41:00like what is NAFTA or what does immigration have to do with gay people?

Monse:

And yeah, I feel like SONG has been really intersectional and really inclusive and representative like what LGBTQ people deal with in their lives. That's not only what white people deal with in their lives. So I think that is important. Like I said the LGBTQ community is so expansive, a gay trans person could be so many different things and like have so many different experiences, but really being able to like connect with queer and trans black and brown people's 00:42:00experiences that are so, we hold so many things. I don't know how to explain it.

Kathia, Interviewer:

No, I think that was a great explanation. So one second, what for you has provided the biggest satisfaction in life. Very broad question but.

Monse:

Yeah, that is a broad question. Yeah. I just find the work that I do very rewarding. And I think being able to connect with people like on a real authentic level and like seeing how the work that we've been building and doing 00:43:00community has a real impact on people's lives and even my life is like the most iconic thing ever.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And do you see yourself kind of continuing this work throughout like the rest of your life since from what I'm gathering, it gives you a lot of joy and it's something that you're really passionate about.

Monse:

Yeah. I feel like this is lives work. So yeah, I definitely do see myself continuing to learn because I feel like I'm definitely still learning as well. And also be able to share this and continue this work.

Kathia, Interviewer:

What are some goals that you have that can be in the near future or way in the 00:44:00future, but what are some goals that you have for yourself and your community or the work that you're doing?

Monse:

Yes, yes. I like to plan and have goals. So yeah, like I said, I'm moving into a mobile home cooperative, so hopefully we'll be moved in... Right now we're doing renovations and like getting it ready. So yeah, I think like building in my neighborhood, like we want to have a community garden and we want to be able to grow food and just create beautiful neighborhood. So I feel like that's one of the things that I want to build upon and have space where people can come and do gardening.

Monse:

I'm really into herbal medicine. So in the next five years or sooner, I want to 00:45:00continue pursuing that and like go to herbalism school and be able to learn some of the practices of my ancestors and even the things in my own family and be able to teach classes about herbalism in Spanish, because there's like I said, a lot of white people here, but there's a lot of white herbalist that don't really have like a cultural connection.

Monse:

And some do for sure and a lot of their products or the classes that they teach are in English when there's like people who grew up drinking this kind of tea for this, or like using this plant for this who are not able to have access to that because of language and also cultural identity. So I want to do that and 00:46:00have been doing some classes at summer camp for kids in Spanish that there's a summer camp that a group does here too. And I've been doing some classes with kids and some plant walks with people.

Monse:

So I want to be able to eventually have my own apothecary and have classes and do that in the community garden, the neighborhood. So that's one goal that I have and then just continue to grow the interpreter cooperative as well and train up more bilingual youth and bilingual people who want to be able to offer those skills and use those skills. So just that. Not just that, but some of them.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Yeah. And can you tell me a little bit more about what herbalism is and the benefits and maybe the cultural roots as well?

Monse:

Yeah. I feel like there's a lot of indigenous practices and memory with herbalism and it's just a way to use what the earth gives us as a way to take care of ourselves and heal ourselves that is healthy for us and the planet too. I feel like a lot of folks because of racism and because of access to healthcare don't trust or can't access the healthcare system and they are like medicine that we can extract or use from plants that do support either our immune system or there's like tinctures and teas and [inaudible 00:48:05] that can be used to 00:48:00help us and heal ourselves that isn't like chemicals or created in a factory or a lab.

Monse:

And to a certain extent I feel like those are ways that we can help support people who may not have that kind of access or that kind of trust with the medical system. And people know what they're used for like this tea is for a stomach ache, and this tea you take whenever you can't sleep. So there are already ways that people use these things culturally that maybe they're like, "Oh yeah, my grandma used this tea." But actually this tea and this plant is used for this because of this, this and this. There's many different things and 00:49:00ways that they can be used.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And you touched on white people not having kind of like the culture or roots to herbalism. Do you think that this is something that's important when people do engage in that kind of work and practice?

Monse:

Yeah, I think it is very important because at least for me, it's about having a relationship with the land and growing the plant. To me it is very sacred to make medicine from plants that I grow and being able to put that energy into even and growing of the plant and the way that it's harvested. Like how do you ethically harvest things that either you grow, where does the seed come from? 00:50:00Where does the soil come from? How do you talk to your plants and how do you harvest them?

Monse:

And if you do harvest them in the wild how do you ethically harvest them so that it doesn't die away or you don't take too much? Or it doesn't disrupt the environment. I think that there's so many different things that culturally people who like do carry that knowledge or those traditions use and are more attentive to than folks who maybe find it trendy or just want to make money off of it. Whereas if you have a traditional background in it and it's sacred and 00:51:00it's for healing, it's like a different kind of tone and purpose.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Thank you. And I know that organizing and activism work can be very tiring especially for marginalized folks. So what are some things that you do to take care of yourself and to find joy and radical healing and how important do you think that is for communities of color or LGBTQ communities?

Monse:

It's so important because people, especially these past two years with the pandemic, people have been burnt out and I'm actually about to leave my job with Southerners on New Ground. I've been working there for five years and just as a way to like have space to kind of do the things that I've been wanting to grow in my community and here in Asheville. So I feel just being able to say like, 00:52:00yes, I'm ready to leave and grow in these different ways.

Monse:

So definitely having time off and connecting with chosen family and doing the things that give me joy and that I'm passionate about is helpful to not get burnt out. But yeah, I feel like a lot of folks do hold so many roles in their communities and wear so many hats that it is super hard to find that balance. But I think doing what's needed and what's necessary and taking care of yourself, going to therapy, eating right, those are some examples.

Kathia, Interviewer:

Thank you. And have you seen kind of different spaces in the Western North 00:53:00Carolina community where radical healing is something that is prioritized and the rest also?

Monse:

Yeah. I feel like a lot of the spaces that I've been in are like that. And I'm thankful for that, because I don't know. I probably would've already burnt out if it weren't so, but just like being in community and deeply caring for each other in a way that kind of takes us a little bit at capitalism and like always having to produce something and always being fast paced where it's like, okay, like let's cut this so we can have space for us. And yeah, I think just being able to have that trust within each other makes space for taking care of ourselves.

Kathia, Interviewer:

And what's some advice that you would give some people that are coming into organizing, especially people that identify as queer or Latinx or just BIPOC in general?

Monse:

I would say, find your people and find your lane is the most general advice I would give because if you do this work and your heart's not really in it or the tactic or the way is not hitting for you, then it's going to burn you out. And I think finding places where you can connect with people and build trust and community is super, super important.

Kathia, Interviewer:

I completely agree with that. And then just lastly, is there anything else that you maybe want to share about your journey or just want listeners to know about you, I'm going to open the floor to you?

Monse:

I don't think there's anything else. Yeah, I think so.

Kathia, Interviewer:

All right. Well thank you so much for meeting with me and we can stop the recording now.