Celebrating 12 months of 730DC en español
Even the least organized experiments benefit from occasional reflection. When we finally remember to do it, we stop, look back at our methods, find our hypothesis in a stained corner of an old notebook and try to figure out what it all means, preferably over coffee or beer. Anniversaries make that all easier.
We started this project with no (or just low?) expectations and only a vague idea of what we might learn. After almost exactly one year of 730DC en español, we can’t claim unequivocal success — reaching new audiences continues to be a tricky challenge — but we have learned a hell of a lot, and uncovered stories that survive the retelling. So in the spirit of reflection, here’s our take on the first year of 730DC en español — the inspirational, the unjust and the plain ol’ weird.
January
The search for an original catchphrase leads us to dark, unknown corners of the Real Academia Española, and also to challenge ourselves to link to Ana Tijoux’s song Despabílate (which translates to “wake up”) with an absurd frequency.
Immigration policy is at the center of much of what we write; we cover the creation of a $500,000 legal defense fund to support immigrants in DC, and the ongoing demands by local activists that Mayor Bowser do more to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the 25,000 undocumented immigrants in DC.
February
The results of a short survey we send to readers clue us into the fact that we’re an informal bunch — we use tú, not usted, and we come from all over the US and Latin America. The survey also gives us the nerve to keep using the somewhat controversial ‘X’ to make our writing gender neutral.
This is the month we also highlight the first episode in the dark saga of Sanford Capital, the infamous slumlord that has been buying up apartment buildings in low-income areas and letting them fall apart, forcing residents to move or live in horrendous conditions, all while Sanford continues to benefit from government rent subsidies.
March
The Anacostia Community Museum’s Portales:Gateways exhibit about DC’s latinx community leaves us feeling inspired, not to attempt to create something entirely new with 730DC en español, but to honor and lift up the impressive cultural and political work happening in and around the latinx community. We even manage to squeeze out a blog articulating our vision in between frantic Wednesday night newsletter writing sessions.
April
The impact of the Administration’s new immigration policy become tragically concrete — 82 people in the DMV are picked up by ICE within 5 days. Layli Miller-Muro of the Tahirih Justice Center explains ICE’s brutal (and often illegal) detention tactics to Nicholas Kristof.
On a more personal note, the Washington City Paper and the Washingtonian name 730DC as the best newsletter in the city. And the 730DC en español gets a shoutout!
May
Residents of Mount Rainier, which is now about 30% latinx, vote salvadoran-american Celina Benítez onto the City Council. But the wave of community and political support for the immigrant community at the local level doesn’t stop ICE from detaining (and then deporting) Liliana Cruz Méndez, a Salvadorian women in Falls Church with two children who are American citizens.
When the weather warms up, we emerge from our apartments and interview the local artist Frida Larios in conjunction with an art event put on by Knowledge Commons DC and Hola Cultura.
June
In June we unearth a series of interviews that young people working with the Latin American Youth Center did with latinx residents of Mount Pleasant in the early 1980s, which have been digitialized by DCPL. We listen to Viterbo Martinez, the owner of the Martinez Barbershop, and Luis Gonzalez, who carefully narrates the total absence of latinxs in Mount Pleasant before 1972. And on the topic of community figures, El Tiempo Latino’s first annual Powermeter 100 reminds us of the wealth of local leadership; there are more obvious nominees like Jackie Reyes of the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs, as well as some surprises, like Rosibel Arbaiza, the owner of Golden Scissors in Mount Pleasant.
July
We hardly ever write about sports (although that might change with the World Cup this summer!), but we make an exception for the conflict between longtime Columbia Heights residents who play pick-up at a field on 11th St., and a private rec league that claims the field all of the unreserved evenings. In a win for the right to free public space, the league withdraws its permit after a public outcry.
And at the end of the month we celebrate 730 Day, which we somewhat comically organize for 7/29.
August
The school year begins with an article about a curious phenomenon: the demand for bilingual schools in DC has far surpassed supply. Programs that were established to serve latinx immigrants are now filling up with native English speakers, whose parents see the benefit of growing up multilingual in our globalized society. In the context of a chronic lack of bilingual teachers, there is now a debate about how best to promote bilingual education without leaving behind the Spanish-speaking students who benefit from this style of education.
September
Jeff Sessions announces the elimination of DACA at the beginning of September and the lives of 800,000 Dreamers (including 13,000 in DC) turn upside down, as do the lives of millions of Puerto Ricans who are left without electricity or running water after Hurricane Maria. So it is with a mix of emotions that we gather to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month (check out these striking photos of Fiesta DC). The Eat Spain Up! festival inspires our greatest subject line “¿Paella? ¡No, pa’ nosotrxs!”.
October
The World Cup qualifiers are an emotional rollercoaster: the US is eliminated in an act of geopolitical karma, Panama qualifies for the first time and Honduras almost makes the cut too. Keep an eye out for our recommendations of the best Panamanian, Colombian, Mexican and Peruvian spots to catch a game this summer!
We also enjoy the conversation Kojo Nnamdi organizes with reps from LAYC, Carecen and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce about the changing latinx community in DC. They remind us of the basics — this isn’t a homogenous community, not all latinx people are immigrants, and latinxs feel just as rooted in this city as any other group.
November
November is a month of new faces: we interview Jackie Reyes, Director of the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs, about her personal and professional trajectory, and the $1.5 million in grants to organizations that support the latinx community. We also welcome three new people to the 730DC en español team: Francis Torres, Sophie Krensky y Alex Sadler!
December
In December we can’t help but think about both physical and symbolic steps being taken — there are almost daily protests for a clean Dream Act, and Bowser names Dec. 6 “Dreamers Day”. The role of the arts community is increasingly visible too. Our favorite? Horchata Zine, which has created a compelling platform for the art of Central American artists. Their first edition includes work by six artists, including several based in the DMV.
Pa’lante
Here we are one year later: slightly better writers, slightly more sleep-deprived and even more committed to keeping this crazy thing going. Many thanks to all of you for your virtual support and your occasional click. See you this Thursday at 7:30am.
