Hard to believe it’s been three weeks since The Exchange wrapped up. Like we continuously say, this is just the beginning…and it truly is! We’ve spent the last few weeks since The Exchange ended, reaching out to our own individual communities sharing our personal experience on the trip, talking about ELAM and other ways we can work together on the road to universal health care.

From Alicia:

The Salud Southwest Exchange solidified my belief in the importance of organizing, sharing and loving to make positive paradigm shifts. Throughout our adventure I was inspired by the actions and aspirations of the SSWE members and the people of the communities that we visited. How refreshing it was to be surrounded by people who are invested and active in improving people’s health, realizing that together we can make changes that we all need and deserve. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to be learning at ELAM and from this SSWE to continuously build upon a strong foundation in ciencia y conciencia (science and consciousness). I’ve been longing to unite with people who value the health of everyone so that together we can act and make a strong impact. I feel like I’ve met these people and many of us are already organizing for returning to communities we visited. I’m thrilled to start and continue in the struggle for the healing of humanity. We are going to do it together with love, justice and happiness!

Southwest Sun rays showered the SSWE

Wonderful words of wisdom:

“You’ll all have a real chance at fixing these health disparities.” Stay vocal.” – Noha Aboelata, MD at Native American Health Center, Inc.

“Never act alone.” “Everyone is a VIP (very important person) that’s how we want to be.” – Andru Ziwasimon, MD at South Valley Clinic, Casa de Salud

“Your tongue has power. You have the power to make your own story, you are what you read, watch and say.” “Know your plan, your purpose and base your education and life on your purpose and your natural talent.”- Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw, former Miss Navajo

“Love doesn’t quit.” – Reverend Lucius Walker, Founder and Executive Director of IFCO

Magical moments from The Exchange:

• The United American Indian Involvement was created from a big sticky note. The community started listing to what they wanted and needed and made it happen.
• UNM students were ecstatic about the opportunity to study at ELAM, we still are too!
• We were invited to the community meeting at Pajarito Mesa.
• Nizhoni passing out salt crystals and lavender to us, learning about the beautiful laughing ceremony.
• Community HUGS, rollero rollerskating, SUV/RV dancing, fire truck!, birthday tiaras, “can you feel it” dancing, Freestyle Fridays, climbing the huge Grand Canyon rock, shared meal time, zombie dolphins, catchphrase, camping, drinking from the stream, Gala dancing, Frisbee, relish, TIMMY!!! — the best pit bull, exploding rock, late night laugh fest at IHOP and all the time, sharing everything with everyone-we are a wonderful family!

-Alicia

From Medina:

If I had to describe the SSWE experience in one word it would be awesome. But honestly SSWE is so much more than that. From the moment that I landed in California, I felt nothing but positive energy. The reunion with the rest of the group affirmed my intuition that we were about to head out for a wonderful Exchange. From the start we meshed well together and all came prepared to begin on our journey as one unit. We even shared a heated debate on the famous New York classic pizza versus the Chicago deep dish during our kick-off dinner. Now as a New Yorker it was a hard decision, but Chicago gave New York a run for its money.

Before we embarked on our journey we shared a loving group hug in front of Pasha’s house. To some it might be considered corny, but to me it is important to start off our trip with love and positive energy. Some of our best moments were spent in the RV or SUV taking in the amazing scenery that the Southwest had to offer. The different landscapes that we visited from Canyon de Chelly to the Grand Canyon, from deserts to the Pacific Ocean, it was all breath taking. Then to fill these beautiful spaces with the beautiful individuals that we met during the Exchange makes it even more awesome. I think that the excitement and the love that the health care providers had for people as well as medicine was mind blowing. Seeing doctors choosing to help people for all the right reasons is an inspiration for me. The experience that we shared together showed me that our decision to be physicians with a moral cause is the best choice that we could have made. I am so blessed to get to know this group of amazing young people. Go SSWE.

-Medina

This week marks the one-week mark since The Exchange came to a close. But in our eyes, it really has just begun. Just because our travels ended, does not mean our mission has and we are still all working together in different spaces toward the same goal.

We all took the time to write in our words what The Exchange meant to us.

From Keasha:

I hope that blessed is a word ample enough to describe what it is I feel when reflecting on this trip. These last 17 days have afforded me the rare opportunity to work with some of the most awe-inspiring people this world has to offer. From day one, meeting with Susana Praver of La Clinica de La Raza, and D’shane of the Native American Health Center, and seeing first-hand how the impulse of positive minds yields success and growth. To day 16 at Granny Donna’s, sharing our individual stories and acquiring deeper understanding of each other, I can say that this trip has taught me so much. It has taught me the following:

• There are still people who have not faltered in their struggle of justice and equity, and that these same people are winning the fight
• In the realm of forward-thinking, positivity and loving service, color-lines cease to exist and all people can relate to and help one another
• The power of cohesiveness and positivity
• The power of spiritual circles and tap-dancing grandmothers
• That impossible is a word that has no meaning and should be taken out of the dictionary because all things are possible

The Salud Southwest Exchange is not over, it is in fact a beginning for me. It has opened the door to what I had thought was impossible, to what will become my reality. How to provide free or low-cost health care to those most in need was once a blurry vision in my mind. Now it has been manifested in stark clarity in so many centers we visited in the Southwest. This reality allows me to thinking that truly, a better world is possible and that we are collectively moving toward that vision. Ashe, to all the supporters, participants and followers of the Salud Southwest Exchange! It’s been FRIGGIN AWESOME!!!

-Keasha

From Kereese:

I’ve still got a bit of whiplash from the high-speed velocity of the trip.  I can undoubtedly say that it’s been one of the defining experiences of my life.  We met so many amazing organizers, physicians, administrators and community members.  We also, and I think more importantly, met each other and ourselves again. We saw each other and ourselves in different ways and taking on different roles, growing and learning in different ways,and even living and breathing slightly differently than before.  The next several weeks and months will be an intense period of self-inspection, discovery and redefinition for many of us.  Personally, I have witnessed some of the most heartbreaking disparity and yet, at the same time, seen so much hope.  One of the most important lessons learned during the trip was the importance of seeing the positive in your community…the assets that you can build upon to fix what is broken.  I’ve learned that we have at least 14 wonderful, beautiful, shining beacons of light that will be sunbeams of change, hope and goodness in our world.  It’s a stunning realization to make.  You think you know people because you go to school with them everyday, but I definitely didn’t know the extent of the emotion and determination that emanates through the souls of the people I work with daily.  We will be the change that we need.  Of that I am now certain.

-Kereese

From Jesus:

Forgotten

It’s surprising…

To be here where for many there holds no significance.

To see these red land which carry in them the blood

of the millions who tried to defend her,

that loved and respected her.

Her sands, so sensual to the touch of a hand,

like a caress given to a lover

which vanishes the moment it passes.

The ultimate gesture of love.

Here, where millions have called her Mother

where the rocking of her breath

whispers a melody of no equal.

Here, where her skin flourishes in the sun,

which doesn’t hide the passing of time across her face.

To that which the heavens cloak and venerate

showing the universe her beauty

and worshipping her with the stars.

She who kisses our paths in

our short journey,

recognizing us as her children.
She who cries for the things we do to her,

and for the things we fail to do as well.

She who cries for the things we do to ourselves

Yes, It is surprising.

It’s surprising that we have forgotten.

-Jesus

From Akua:

14 new family members,

16 days,

So many wonderful experiences,

Awe inspiring moments that will stay with me forever

California is great because of the wide spectrum of its scenery and its health services. New Mexico is a gem, with warm weather and open hearts.

But Arizona stood out to me in its amazing juxtapositions. From learning the basics of sheep herding along the south rim of the Grand Canyon, to meeting a team of special ops military officers whose mission was health care.

Sun bathing with Cassandra by the pool at the roadside Days Inn. Red tiled roof, blue skies, pine trees next to palm trees next to orange trees, forced into early autumn by the scorching summer sun. The bright blue of the chlorinated pool marred by dried leaves and other detritus. It was so surreal, we should have taken pictures.

The beauty reflected in the reality. Learning not to judge a book by its cover, but by its contents. Surprised at every step of the way by the love with which the work is done. Seeing the progress stand beside how far we have to go.

Loving service, open hearts, open minds and enjoying the scenery along the way.

-Akua

From Joanna:

You would be hard pressed to find medical students doing what we did on the Salud Southwest Exchange, 2009.  Not to say that we are exclusive, just the opposite, we encourage other medical students and students from any discipline to join our Exchange or begin their own exchange.

An “exchange” is a great opportunity to get to know your communities, work together with peers to address community concerns, and begin building the foundation of a powerful relationship with your communities at home. It is an opportunity to tap into what is being done and the potential of what can be done concerning health care.

This is something we as students of Cuba are expected to do upon graduation, but why wait?  Start now!  And for those graduating in the U.S. who are not exclusively asked to return to your community, why not? Seize this opportunity before leaving home and losing touch with your community; before graduating and losing touch with your professors and classmates.  Starting an exchange is all about tying your education into your reality at home.

On the Salud SW Exchange 2009, we did just that.  We had three objectives that we established before the exchange that we addressed throughout the exchange: (1) to present our own words our experience of what it is like to study at ELAM and promote the availability of full scholarships to study there; (2) to volunteer our services while learning about some of the more significant health care concerns; and (3) to build personal and professional relationships with health care practitioners.

These objectives helped us establish our focus when we visited various different underserved communities throughout the U.S Southwest.  We hope to continue this exchange by sending groups of students back to these communities to further elaborate on the three objectives and how their education and relationships can help address community concerns.

It was a great Salud SW Exchange 2009 had by all!  I congratulate all of the students for their participation and I encourage more students to get involved.  Now is the time, seize the moment!

-Joanna

From Pasha:

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to learn, grow, and experience as much as I have with all the amazing individuals who participated in this year’s Exchange.  Having the privilege of organizing this event from its inception has provided me with a unique insight into all that it took to make this year’s Exchange a great success.  The challenges we faced while planning this event were as seemingly insurmountable as the embargo that created them.  However the spirit that accompanied every mile of road driven, floated amongst the words spoken, and rested in between every warm handshake and loving embrace that was given was stronger.  It enabled us with an unassuming compassion and confidence in our mission that allowed us to crumble many of the roadblocks that rested between impossible and possible.  From Oakland, California to Albuquerque, New Mexico and back – students from the Latin American School of Medicine in Cuba shared their experiences with the very same type of communities we plan to serve once doctors.  These communities are no longer just places on a map, but real people, families, and friends who were also a part of SSWE and with who we look towards an inspiring future in health care.  Personally, the SSWE reaffirmed my commitment to and belief in the many communities of our country who receive less than acceptable health care service.  I know now even more that our country will need doctors like the SSWE members to bring back a level of care and consciousness to the profession that despite the best efforts of very capable doctors here in the US is being consumed by the greed of the overall system.  This Exchange has placed more force behind my purpose as a future doctor and advocate of human rights.  I say this all with the faith that the same spirit which insured the success of this Exchange will continue to show us the path to equality and health.  I give my sincerest thanks to all who made this event one of the most cherished experiences of my life.

-Pasha

From Damian:

hello friends. while i enjoy writing and even maintain a personal blog, often

i feel that my thoughts on paper come out coarse and partially incoherent. some may argue i can hold my own with a pen but at the same time i feel that when i carry a camera it is as much an extension of myself and my thoughts as my very words are. on top of that there’s that old mantra that “a picture is worth a thousand words”, so lets just say that here are 15,000 words in photographic form; just my personal favorites from the trip that didn’t make the dated blog entry cut.

-Damian

Home sweet Oakland! We arrived back to Oakland, Calif., the exact place where The Exchange began. It’s super surreal to think that over two weeks ago the Exchange started. We left Santa Barbara this morning with a warm, wonderful send off from Scott and Merin at American Indian Health & Services. Talk about hospitality at its finest! Thank you so much from our delicious lunch to our cozy home on Sunday night. We can’t wait to work with you guys more in the future! Keasha shares our final day on the road below:

The day started off in Santa Barbara getting to meet some of the physicians at the American Indian Health & Services. After being sent off by these physicians, Scott Black, the executive director and his wife Merin, we headed off to a local supermarket to buy the fixings for a picnic lunch. After getting all the supplies we needed, we made sandwiches, ate and relaxed on the grass as Pasha led a group briefing. Once our bellies were full we loaded into our vehicles and headed north on the final stretch of highway that would lead us into Oakland.

Enjoying a picnic lunch at a park in Paso Robles, Calif.

As mentioned, we’ve been really limited with communication these last few days. No worries though, we arrived in Los Angeles late last night. The group split up for the evening as some of us dispersed to stay with our families, while the majority of us stayed with our new honorary member — Grandma Wilkinson. (Greg’s sensational grandma). Grandma Wilkinson entertained us with her super hospitable personality and welcomed us into her home with great conversation and open arms. We couldn’t have asked for a better night in Los Angeles. Then this morning we departed for Santa Barbara for a visit with American Indian Health Services. We will be spending the rest of the day and our FINAL night here on the coast of Santa Barbara. It’s so hard to believe we are about to spend our final night together. Wow! So amazing and this blog really just gives a glimpse into what we’ve done these last two weeks. So many wonderful stories to share with all of our families and friends when we get home. Anyway, here’s a summary for the last few days that we’ve been on the road so you can get caught up!

The first one is from Kereese. She describes when we were staying at a reservation in Arizona. It was actually Shannon Fleg’s family’s land where we stayed. If you remember, Shannon Fleg is part of Native Health Initiative, the organization we spent August 2 with.

Thursday August 6

This morning we woke up with the most amazing view in our backyard.  The group had various experiences during the night.  Some chose to sleep in the RV, others camped in tents, while others slept under the desert stars.  As the sun broke the sandy horizon, some of us awoke with Suzy (Shannon Fleg’s mom) to help her graze the sheep and goats.  We set out across the sandy brush scattered dunes with Suzy and Yellow Dog (the family’s sheep-herding dog that grew up with the very cattle with which it was now charged.)

The morning started off cool, but quickly the sun began to make her presence known.  Suzy pointed out the various medicinal plants that were and are still used to treat an assortment of ailments.  We chewed the leaves of one plant to create a paste that could be used to treat bug bites.  Tasha’s stuffy nose was cured with a plant whose scent is comparable to Vicks Vapor Rub.  We also saw the plants used to weave the beautiful baskets we had seen in many native crafts markets.  Akua even tried her hand at making one such basket.  The sheep were then herded back to their corals and fed with some hay to supplement their diets of delectable desert brush.

Then it was off to breakfast which was absolutely delicious!  Shannon’s relatives treated us to a large breakfast of pancakes, eggs and fresh fruit.  We even had the opportunity to try the government issued juice that Shannon and her siblings survived off of as young people.  Our bellies and hearts were filled and we continued our day with a little shopping.  We were able to purchase the jewelry artfully crafted by Shannon’s grandparents.  We spent several minutes perusing the jewelry made of tiger eye stone, topaz and  etc. and many of us came away with little bags of jewelry and gifts.

It was then off to the petroglyphs!  All 14 of us along with several of Shannon’s relatives piled into two  pickup trucks and a minivan.  We drove along bumpy, twisting red dirt rodes until we arrived at the petroglyphs.  They were beyond impressive and utterly breathtaking.  We were walking amongst the artwork of a people that lived hundreds of years before us.  Many of us moved silently in awe among the stones that depicted the number of rains seen, the number of falling stars, snakes and other animals.  Then we piled back into the vehicles and headed toward the natural springs which Shannon’s family had used as their main water source for years until the local government ran pipes to their reservation bringing water but also charges for their water.  Now only the plants on their farm use the natural spring water.  We drank from the springs, the clear cool water quenching the thirst produced by our treck up the side of the mountain.  There was not much time to stop however, so after a few moments at the springs we headed back to Suzy’s house to say our final goodbyes and head toward the Grand Canyon.

Before heading arriving at the Grand Canyon we stopped at the Dinosaur tracks; a flat area of rock and sand that holds the imprints of dinosaur tracks, millions of years old.  We had a little fun jumping off of the some rocks into a sand dune below then got into the RV to drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  The canyon was majestic and some of us climbed between the cracks of an isolated rock formation.  After spending about two hours at the canyon, hiking, climbing and taking pictures, we headed toward Flagstaff, Arizona were we met for a tasty meal at a local Thai restaurant.  The food was good, the conversation better and after a fun filled day we returned to the hotel to climb into bed.

We want to thank Shannon and her family for an amazing time.  We learned so much about the beauty of the simple life on the reservation and we felt the love of that wonderful community.  We had lots of first time experiences  amongst the group, from most of our first time to the Grand Canyon to Jesus’ first Thai food encounter.  I can definitely say that this was a day of growth for most.     

-Kereese

After our time stop in Flagstaff, it was a early wake up (4:30 a.m.) for us to be in Phoenix by 8 a.m. It’s safe to say we got used to the early wake ups! We arrived in Phoenix to have a meeting with the Phoenix Indian Health Services. Medina shares her recap of the day.

They say that there is a first time for everything, well today marked my first time water tubing down a river. The SSWE crew headed out for some recreational time on the Salt River to float and relax down the river, right outside of Phoenix. Along the way we made some stops to pick up hats and sunscreen. Looking at the landscape and the surrounding mountains it was difficult to imagine the existence of a river.  From the moment we arrived in the parking lot we were charged up and full of energy. On the shuttle bus to the starting point, we shared our high energy antics with the other passengers staying true to the SSWE way — sharing who we are and learning about others. (Go Beavers!!! )

As we entered the river we realized it was definitely far from lazy. Its beauty was beyond description. So we splashed, loaded and took off for our adventure. We didn’t have to wait for long for the fun to begin as less than two minutes into it I drifted into some trees off to the side. It was a little scary, but low and behold Joanna came to my rescue. From that point on it was smooth sailing. We enjoyed laughs, togetherness and strong currents. Hats were broken, some were lost and a new one was found on the riverbank. We got some scrapes, some suffered hypothermia and after three hours and slight desperation it was one of the best experiences of our lives. When we got back to our vehicle it was time for the feast of muffins, leftover birthday cake and peanut butter and jelly.

-Medina

After our recreational day on the river, we spent the night in Phoenix and caught up on some much needed sleep. Because we had to be in Santa Barbara, Calif. for a Sunday meeting with the American Indian Health and Services. Our goal for Saturday was to make it to Los Angeles and stay the night with our family. Here’s Greg’s recap of Saturday, August 8.

Our morning began re-upping our energy at the Cracker Barrel in Phoenix.  After a concise briefing and channeling of positive energies, we mounted up and set out west toward our next destination — Santa Barbara, California.  Crossing the Arizona-California state line we passed over the south-bound Colorado river for a quick rest stop in Blythe, Calif.  Crossing through Southern California we made a stop for gas in Desert Hot Springs, home to another ELAM classmate Tana Parker.  Tana is spending this summer studying for Step 1 of her licensing exam. Good luck Tana!

Further down the road, my brother Josh (who coincidentally was already in Santa Barbara with his wife) let us know beforehand that all the campsites were booked so we opted to stay at my granny (if you call her grandma she’ll kick your butt) Donna’s house for the night in Los Angeles.  This unplanned event turned out to be a blessing in disguise.   Not only did Granny Donna open up her house to a group of strangers at night, and at a moments notice, but she greeted us with such a warm energy which permeated through to everyone around.   As we all sat in a circle in her living room, she asked us each questions about ourselves to give personal accounts of our dreams and hopes for the trip, and also future plans that have been made possible because of ELAM, BES and SSWE.  We talked about everything from politics, to love, women and tap dancing.

Later Alicia received a long awaited reunion with her family who drove out to Granny Donna’s house to visit her.  Pasha was able to visit his grandmother as well, since by another strange set of “coincidences” they lived literally just around the corner from each other.  After Alicia and Pasha went to see their family, Granny Donna kept us up with stimulating questions to share in our energy circle, and it felt just like a continuation of everything we had been  doing as we visited clinics and reservations along the way.  What was different about these circles is that Granny Donna was instrumental in bringing the members of SSWE closer to each other.

Granny Donna and her boy Greg

We learned new things about each other in theses “sharing circles”  We spoke about our greatest hopes and deepest fears.  Reflecting on this experience, many members of SSWE were amazed that we had come full circle and fulfilled all of the three objectives of The Exchange.  We had promoted the program, learned about health concerns and formed community amongst each other.  Mission accomplished, Thanks Granny!

-Greg

Granny Donna and Alicia’s family sent us off with more than full bellies, but a fresh, rested mind set to get us ready for our Sunday with American Indian Health Services. Joanna recaps our Sunday, August 9:

We awoke to a fresh pot of brewing coffee, Mazer (Ian) found the blueberry oatmeal cookies and Donna was chatting up a storm on health care issues.  Her “All for One or None” t-shirt spoke the true meaning of our adventures.  If it were not for our camaraderie we never would have made it this far.

In a frenzy we hurried to sign sweet everlasting “Happy Birthday” messages for our two lovely captains — Pasha and Tasha… yes they are a couple, yes they have rhyming names and yes they have the same birthday, but believe it or not, we still love them both.

Off to Santa Barbara!!!  All up Route 101 we pass alfalfa fields and wheat grass, wondering what to expect along the ‘Golden Coast’ of California.  Are there really health disparities?  Are there actually issues for us to tackle?  Is there a place for us in such an upscale community?  What are the challenges that the Santa Barbara American Indian Health Services (AIHS) has to face? Scott Black, the director, and his wife, Merin, were happy to give us their Sunday to answer some of these questions and more.  They are dedicated to what they do and to the community they serve, having worked 420 out of the last 430 work days, fielding all of the administrative work of a clinic that has passed hands twice in the last five years and almost gone belly-up because of poor administration.

It turns out that there are several Native tribes in the area of Santa Barbara, including the Chumash. However, they see people from American Indian Nations all throughout California.  In addition to the natives, they see many people from low income families.  Over 80 percent of their pediatrics patients are of Latino decent.  Everyone on their staff speaks Spanish, an important work asset in this area.

So why in a place like Santa Barbara are there such health disparities?  Why is there a need for the AIHS outside of the American Native communities?  As Scott would explain it, “… you have the extremely wealthy, and someone has to work for them.”  Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like the wealthy ever got the memo… “Share the wealth!”

Scott and Merin administer an outpatient clinic with eight physicians serving about 1,000 visits a week, offering a variety of in-house services from podiatry to mental health, not to mention drumming/talking circles and a mobile clinic that visits schools offering services to anyone in need no questions asked.

They recognize that Santa Barbara, the surrounding tribal lands and low-income communities need good physicians willing to provide quality care at low cost.  It is all too rare to find doctors who consider their work a service not a status.  Though, we were pleased to hear that when Scott took on the responsibilities of the AIHS it was already staffed with several stunning physicians committed to serving the community.

We were surprised to discover that the major obstacle to running a community clinic in Santa Barbara wasn’t the rising cost of living, stagnant economics or growing health care disparities, but outlandish lawsuits!  Apparently, people feed off the charity of others, and AIHS has had to battle several scam-artists who set up lawsuits just to nab money.  With time and money spent on court battles, they find it difficult to concentrate their efforts where they are most needed.

After our wonderful visit with Scott and Merin, we made off to the beaches of Goleta to meet Greg’s brother, wife and children.  We had a nice BBQ with the family, a healthy game of Frisbee and took a dip in the frigid waters.Then to top it off, Scott and Merin invited us back!  What good folk we have met along the way, and what a great way to stage our grand homecoming!

-Joanna

I hope this posting serves as a good summary of our last few days. Yes, it’s hard to sum up our experience in words, so we hope that encourages our family and friends to talk to us more of what it’s been like to be on The Exchange. Tomorrow, we’ll make our way back to Oakland for our homecoming. Expect a final recap from everyone in the next few days and a link to all of our pictures. Also, please check our section “SSWE In The News” as I’ll continue to update links.

We can’t even begin to thank the people who have touched us these last few days. The list of folks is everlasting, but it’s important for to note that this trip would not have been the success it is, if it wasn’t for every single person we encountered.

-Tasha

I know many people have been asking what happened to our blog? My most sincere apologies, but for the last few days we have been staying in places where there is very limited phone service and no Internet connection. Have no fear…we’ll have a full recap of the last few days up by tomorrow.

We’ve left Albuquerque, spent some time in Arizona and now spending the night in Los Angeles. Thank you for your patience and come back by tomorrow for a full recap and tons of pictures!

-Tasha

Today took us to two different areas of Albuquerque. It also marked the first time that we delegated tasks, and split up into groups working in different areas of the community. In the morning some of us went to the University of New Mexico to meet with students of the university sharing our experience at ELAM while a few of us went to the local radio station, KUNM-FM, had a few interviews talking about The Exchange and ELAM. In the afternoon, we all came together collectively and headed out with Dr. Julie Sierra and Dr. Art Kaufman to the Pajarito Mesa Mobile Clinic about 40 minutes from downtown Albuquerque. The experience was profound. Here’s Akua’s recap of the day:

Today’s events started with a much needed phenomena, a fresh faced start after a good night’s sleep. With an average of nine hours of sleep (amazing!) we split forces to double team Albuquerque, getting the word out about who we are and what we do.

Team 1 went down to KUNM-FM studios for a half hour interview about The Exchange, the ELAM project and life in Cuba. The team consisted of Greg, Ian, Keasha and Kereese. They wowed the interviewer with their eloquence and their excitement about studying medicine and their commitment to community health. It was a nice way for us to kick up some dust again after the cloud we leave behind the RV has settled when we leave.

Team 2 met with pre-med students, their advisor and a couple of parents in UNM’s Student Union Building. This presentation marked the directorial debut by the team of Jackson/Suarez/Cusack-Curbello and, in addition to the Salud! Clip, we presented a student’s eye view of both the ELAM campus and Salvador Allende. The clip was friggin’ awesome! It presented a beautiful “day in the life as a student” view of our program and I look forward to using it during future events…

The relaxed question and answer session was super productive. Everyone’s voice in the room was heard and all concerns were addressed in our usual positive, energetic style. One student expressed that we helped rekindle his desire to study medicine and I am sure we corralled another two to three prospective students for the ELAM class of 2016. While we were wrapping up the question and answer session at UNM

Team 1a (ie; Keasha and Joanna) took part in another interview that is set to run on NPR in the near future and as always, they rocked it! We’ll be sure to keep you posted on the date and time of that interview, since it was a 7 minute spot it would be otherwise easy to miss…

After lunch we all headed out to the Pajarito Mesa Colonia to meet the amazing people who live there and to assist with the monthly mobile clinic/ food bank that takes place atop la colita, which sits in the middle of la colonia. For those of you who do not know, Pajarito Mesa is a small community of people, whose homes and trailers are spread out upon a vast landscape on the outskirts of town. The people of this community have come together to fight for basic human rights that many, living less than five miles away, take for granted. They are fighting for rights to water, electricity, mail delivery and police protection. They have come together as a united front to assure that their tax dollars provide them with the same services that other residents enjoy.  It was awe inspiring to see people who are living “off the grid” not only surviving, but thriving in this community that embraces water conservation, alternative energy sources and networking with others as a means to deal with a difficult (and that’s putting it lightly) situation…

Today’s event was part of a partnership between the people of Pajarito Mesa, UNM School of Medicine and East Central Ministries to provide both a health clinic and a food bank to the people of la colonia. It was wonderful to take part in the fruits of a cooperative effort to support the community that was facilitated by a gatekeeper within the community and designed by self imposed community asset mapping (shout out to NHI.) We were then invited  to participate in a meeting of the Pajarito Mesa Community Association where we could see the nuts and bolts of the decision making process used to address community needs. We were welcomed into a local home and allowed to present any comments, questions or suggestions that we may have had. We were grateful to be included in that process.

-Akua

Afterward we wrapped up the day at Kellys Bar and Grill, taking the time to unwind, talk about our day and plan for tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to be another fun filled day that will begin after a good nights sleep. I can’t wait to get started…

Akua really ended her recap how all of us feel. It does not feel long like days because we are so inspired and taken aback by the beauty of these communities we visit. Tomorrow we’ll spend the morning at Casa de Salud Medical Clinic and then wrap up the evening with a community meeting in Albuquerque.

Thank you to the University of New Mexico for allowing us to come in and talk about ELAM and our experiences. To the community of Pajarito Mesa. You not only invited us into your homes and community, but you shared your life with us. Thank you for inspiring us and inviting us not only into your homes, but our hearts. We are forever grateful and humbled by you.

-Tasha

That’s right! Medina marks birthday number two out of four we’ll be celebrating on The Exchange! Medina is such a bright light on the Exchange. She has such an infectious laugh and always makes people smile. Her passion and dedication to serve is so evident in how she works and this trip would not be the same without her!

We had an amazing day today, as the Native Health Initiative (NHI) invited us to spend the majority of our day with them. Dr. Anthony and Shannon Fleg welcomed us into their house this morning for a delicious, home cooked New Mexico style breakfast. It was the perfect way to start as we exchanged in a profound discussion led by a blessing to mark the start of the day’s events.

Our first stop was at Edgewood fire station and EMS where the group helped NHI present a workshop titled “Identifying and Amplifying the Strengths and Assets of Our Communities to Improve Health.” It’s important we recognize all sectors that work toward improving health care and our communities. We addressed the need to work first in our communities and one of my favorite things Anthony said was, “How can we improve health care, when we haven’t even begun to find the real solution?” Talking with firefighters brought a common ground when Anthony asked us, “How many hours do you volunteer?” No matter what profession we’re in, we are still working together toward for communities in serving. We were so humbled to be welcomed into Edgewood and exchange in an amazing dialogue with them.

From Edgewood we headed to Jimez Feast where we were blown away by the beauty of an astounding culture and crowd. We were invited into a home to eat and eventually made our way back to Albuquerque in the evening to close out the day with a delicious group dinner a well-known Albuquerque landmark…The Frontier. Yum!

Tomorrow marks a very busy day as we will visit with students from the University of New Mexico and volunteer are time later in the afternoon.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to NHI and The Flegs. What an incredible day we had with you. Thank you doesn’t express half of what we felt today, but we believe this is the beginning in working with each other and we look forward to meeting up with you again. Thank you to Edgewood EMS for your hospitality and welcoming us into your second home away from home. So much fun was had!

-Tasha

Today marked our first full day in Albuquerque, New Mexico! To give a sense of what the mood is like here, we are all so eager to continue to meet the wonderful community we’ve been introduced to. We had a great introduction today when we volunteered our time at the East Central Ministries Health Fair. All of us had different tasks, so we definitely spread the word of our cause to a wonderful variety of people and had such a positive response of interest and support about ELAM. We love being here! We also joined SWOP for its afternoon event “Rock out!” It was held at Washington Middle School Park. Such an awesome space to meet more members of the Albuquerque community and witness their amazing talents. I can’t stress enough how many amazing people we’ve met on this journey! We wound day the day with a delicious, scrumptious BBQ hosted by ELAM graduate Carmen Landau’s house. Here’s Alicia’s recap of the day:

HEALTH FAIR

The morning flew by while we volunteered at the East Central Ministries Health Fair. What an exciting event that encourages and supports communities to be healthier. Events like these are exactly what we need more of. There was great food, activities, information and goodies for everyone. Some of the highlights were: Activity to paint on recycled pieces of wood, an Aztec dance performance, free garden seeds, free clothing and books, free food and free health care assessments and educational materials. We learned that this health fair happens every Saturday. INCREDIBLE! Many thanks and praise goes out to East Central Ministries and every volunteer and organization that helps to make the weekly Health Fair happen. We really enjoyed extending ourselves to assist in any way that we could. Some of us took blood pressures, blood glucose, temperature and medical histories of people from the community.

SWOP ROCK OUT

The Southwest Organizing Project put on an outstanding event focusing on community organizing. It was a gorgeous day in the park for all to enjoy.

“Don’t take lives save lives”

“Be a doctor for free”

Our two main messages/slogans shared while tabling at the event. We spread the word about this opportunity to many people, which of course, fills us with glee as a main objective of ours is to share this educational opportunity we have at ELAM and make sure people are aware of it. We were also able to share the park space with other great organizations fighting for social justice and health equality. Entertainment was fantastic with bands, slam poets, announcements made by us and other organizations, a step performance by Medina and Keasha and a Capoeira performance by Pasha and Joanna.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Ian Fabian’s Father and Uncle traveled from afar to come support us at the SWOP event. They greeted us with tremendous positive energy and it was great to know that they are strongly behind what we are doing. It was a true delight to be in their presence and we greatly appreciate their visit and the love and support that they gave to us.

BBQ MMMMMMM

Grilled meats, veggies, corn on the cob, polenta, mushrooms and many more delectable treats satisfied our hankerings thanks to Carmen’s grilling skills. Many thanks to Carmen and Frank for inviting us into their home and letting us eat such a satisfying meal. Along with great discussions the BBQ was a wonderful way to tie up the day as a group.

BIRTHDAY GIRL!

Midnight…Medina is 28!!!!! Many people from our group explored Downtown “Alburcrazy” to find a spot to dance and celebrate the birth of our beautiful, talented, intelligent and so much more… Medina! Happy Birthday Medina we are very happy we could all share this special day with you.

-Alicia

As Alicia mentioned Medina is celebrating her birthday with us tomorrow! Can you believe we are celebrating four birthdays on this Exchange? Such a great place to do it!

Thank you to Julie Sierra and everyone at East Central Ministries for inviting us to participate in this morning’s health fair. Thank you to SWOP for giving us such a positive platform at “Rock Out” to speak on and share our stories. Your work toward social justice is so profound and we are honored to be a part of it. Thank you to Papa and Uncle Mazer for coming out to visit Ian and the rest of us. You brought such a great energy to our crew and we loved getting to know you! Thank you to Carmen, Frank and Louie for having us over for dinner tonight. Carmen, you have set such an amazing standard for ELAM graduates and we are blessed to have you as a role model. Congratulations on everything you do. There’s no doubt you’ve earned it!

Tomorrow we are spending the day with the Native Health Initiative. But for now, goodnight from Albuquerque!

-Tasha

Wow, wow, wow! We made it to Albuquerque! It’s so exciting to be here and meet so many wonderful, amazing people all working together toward a cause we all so strongly believe in. There’s no community without unity…right? And what a fantastic community we have built. We left Arizona yesterday afternoon for a short, four hour drive (that’s right four hours is short to us now) and were welcomed by a network of people from the New Mexico community that we have been communicating with these last few months organizing and setting up events for our next four days here. Pasha shares his take below:

 

 

Jesus unlocks the storage from inside the RV

Our group was relieved to set our alarm clocks to the comfortable wake up time of 8 A.M.  Well rested, the group exited the Holiday Inn’s doors and was greeted by the captivating Chinle, AZ landscape: a sea of Douglass Firs surrounding the towering cliff peaks of amazing red rock, all retired under the easy pace of picturesque cotton-puff clouds – simply gorgeous.  After a scrumptious breakfast served on an open storage compartment door of the RV we made our way to the much anticipated Canyon de Chelly.  Thanks to the perfect weather our drive up to the canyon was amazing.  Once we made our way into the canyon’s park, the silence it provided was a much needed detox from the hustle and bustle of the Exchange.  The consuming depth of the canyon inspired a deepening of thought for the group members, allowing us to lose ourselves for a moment, taking a profound look inside. 

 

 

 

 Dr. Kaufman and family can sure set a table. Not only was the potluck’s spread tantalizing, but also the events table was set with an amazing invite list of significant figures in New Mexico’s medical, educational, political and social scenes.  Our group members enjoyed the all-you-can-eat food and stimulating conversation the Kaufman house provided.  We had an opportunity to meet with all the organizers who have prepared events for our four day stay here in New Mexico.  The evening was closed with the bashing of a very unsuspecting butterfly piñata.  Contacts were exchanged and farewells were wished as the party broke up.  Our group members were broken up and paired with the University of New Mexico student hosts who have bravely volunteered to accommodate our crazy group for the entire New Mexico visit.  

-Pasha

So as Pasha said, we are in New Mexico until Tuesday and so excited to be spending our time with the community here. Thank you to Dr. Kaufman, his family, Julie Sierra, SWOP and the rest of the New Mexico organizing group who have worked tirelessly these last few months scheduling destinations, events and places for us to be while we are here. Thank you to all the University of New Mexico students who’ve opened their doors to us for the next four days and letting us feel so at home in their houses. Your hospitality is beyond appreciated and we are looking forward to sharing story after story with you.

Today we’re at the East Central Ministries Health Fair for the first half of the day and then at the “Rock Out” event for the afternoon and early evening. So many great things are happening and we look forward to sharing so much more!

-Tasha

Our posting is up a little late, but that’s just because words can’t even begin to describe how the trip has been nothing short of AMAZING. Cassandra shares what happened yesterday, July 30:

So, last night we didn’t actually stop in Flagstaff. Having arrived at nearly midnight for a 2 a.m. departure, it was more of a pause really. Pasha, Jo, and Ian totally took one for the team and drove the four hours to Tsaile while the rest of us slept.  Our eyes opened to the exciting sights of painted canyons and impossible cliffs along with Jo going “Welcome to Navajo Nation!” Soon we met up with Belisario Bejarano – a Mexican-American wonderkid who graduating shortly from ELAM and will soon begin his surgery rotation (felicidades, Beli!) – and Louis Head, a jack-of-all-trades social justice superman who works with the South West Organizing Project (SWOP [link: http://www.swopblogger.org/]) and has a 30 year history of changing the world from the grassroots on up. The fellas then lead us to the Diné (the Navajo’s own word for their people) College campus where we naively arrived not realizing that when we’d leave, it would be as changed people.

First stop: Tsail Health Center

The Diné College [http://www.dinecollege.edu] granted land to the western/allopathic hospital where MD’s supplement care given by medicine men.

Here we met Dr. Paul Manning whose time spent with the Navajo people was evident in his warm welcome and an introduction that extended beyond the professional to include his personal story as well as mention of his family.  After the introductions and a mutual acknowledgment of medicine as a means of service, Dr. Manning took us on a tour of the hospital and further informed us on how public health in the U.S. works for native peoples in rural areas.

Turns Out, Whitney Houston was Right

Our host for the day, Walter Jensen, took us over to the college campus where we were invited to speak to a group of junior high school students. We found the students already seated in the auditorium, eyes locked on a speaker on stage. Turns out her name is Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw and she’s a former Miss Navajo [http://www.missnavajocouncil.org/main.htm]. Jocelyn is an AMAZING public speaker with a killer sense of humor. Her talk focused on the importance of preserving culture in a world obsessed with texting and the latest news in the Mariah Carey vs. Eminem feud. The place and importance of an individual is not lost in this family and community-based focus, rather the importance of one’s choices and one’s personal story were also emphasized since they help us resist the current of pop-culture which can so easily wash away the things that are truly important. Jocelyn also encouraged the role of their generation for the Navajo Nation since they are, after all, its future.

Yeah, so we had to follow that! But we did OK. The kids now know that if they ever want to become M.D.s for their community, Cuba’s ELAM can make that happen for them. Some kids even asked us questions which is nearly unheard of for junior high students and the questions were really good. Later we had the chance to chat one-on-one which was really, REALLY good.

Next stop: Hogans and Heroes
After an incredible meal in the school cafeteria (which made some of us wish we’d have come here for undergrad instead) Walter took us to the Ned Hatathli Museum. We were given a tour by artist and museum director, Alex Mitchell, who showed us an amazing collection of photos, paintings and pottery and some incredible murals done by students of the school. Then we went to the hogan. A hogan is an octagonal structure where ceremonies are conducted. While some Navajos still live in hogans in rural areas, all those who practice traditional religion all have a hogan on their property, even if they live in another house. We learned that the entrance to all hogans faces east and that one enters and moves clockwise, like how the sun moves in the sky. Clockwise movement within the hogan also represents other cycles like human life with the east representing birth, the south – young adulthood, the west – middle age, the north – old age, and finally death, or entering the spirit world, is represented by exiting the hogan. It can also represent one’s educational journey from entering school and learning to read to earning a degree and exiting to the professional world. In the hogan, the Elements are also represented and respected: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire. The whole Diné campus mirrors the hogan structure and Alex showed us how on the terrace outside the museum, one can see that the entrance to the college lines up with the movement of the sun in the sky during winter and summer solstice.

Once we learned about the significance of the hogan in Navajo culture, our skills were put to the test when we met with Anthony Lee, president of the Medicine Man’s Association. Mr. Lee had been a director at the college and is now retired, dedicating himself to Navajo medicine full time. We went into a hogan outside and Mr. Lee shared his wisdom and blessings with us.

Later we were able to see how our journey on the campus also mirrored this same cycle: first meeting with someone like us in the same profession with the same goals, then meeting with young people and telling them about these goals while learning from them the importance of sharing our stories and listening to theirs. Next we learned the story of their people and about an important and meaningful part of their culture, and finally, being a part of that cultural ceremony before saying goodbye… til next time.

We can’t say enough about how impacting and informative our day was at the Diné College campus and we humbly thank the Navajo people for teaching us so much and welcoming us so warmly.

-Cassandra

Big, big thanks to everyone at Dine College. Our experience left us with you left us warm and inspired. Thank you so much. To Louis Head and the rest of SWOP thank you for everything and what you do.

Today started with a Recreational morning at Canyon de Chelly National Monument and then it’s off to Albuquerque where we’ll be for the next five days!

-Tasha