Welcome to the Season 2 Finale Episode!

In this episode, we sit down with Miranda Encina, a Two-Spirit/Queer Xicanx advocate, healer, and artist with Indigenous roots in Apache and Navajo ancestry. Miranda shares their journey of community-centered healing, exploring the intersections of trauma, resilience, and the transformative power of art. From their work in survivor advocacy and Indigenous healing circles to founding Yolia Creations, Miranda offers rich insights on building connections, fostering resilience, and creating spaces for empowerment within marginalized communities. Tune in to hear their inspiring perspectives on honoring lived experiences and cultivating community strength through creativity and advocacy.

Miranda Encina (They/them/theirs, She/her/hers) is a Two-Spirit/Queer Xicanx, born and raisedin Boulder Colorado with Indigenous roots from Apache and Navajo ancestry.Miranda graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Colorado Boulder double majoring in Ethnic Studies and Sociology. Their research focused on intergenerational resistance and complex trauma within Xicana/Indigenous communities. Miranda’s passion is to center lived experiences of those with intersecting identities through connections and knowledge sharing on individual, collective and systemic levels. Miranda’s lived and professional experience include Trauma Informed, survivor defined advocacy, volunteer and intern management, Shelter program Director, Chair of a Queer Trans People of Color leadership Cohort, facilitation of Indigenous Healing circles, Child Protective Services, training and technical assistance on intersections of oppression and domestic violence and has experience as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Miranda collaborates with community and system based organizations on all levels to identify, create and implement shifts that validate, humanize, and minimize (re)traumatization within our communities. Miranda’s experience with healing personally and in community prompted the start of Yolia Creations. Yolia Creations is rooted in providing unique handcrafted leather earrings, sterling silver necklaces, inspirational stamped bracelets/rings and art that centers healing, existence and connection. Yolia Creation signifies a connection that we are stronger as a community when we support each other and create connections to empower, resist and exist.

Social Media

Yolia Creations Website

Yolia Creations Instagram

Yolia Creations Facebook

E-mail (yolia.creations@gmail.com)

Other Announcements:

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We are excited for you to listen to what we have in store for you for season 3, which will be our last and final season!

The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the ⁠⁠Feedspot.com⁠⁠ team for ranking us as #3/10 ⁠⁠Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web⁠⁠. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

In this episode, we met with Juan-Lorenzo Cruz, a Chief Engineer and Go-Go Dancer based in San Francisco. Juan-Lorenzo opens up about his life’s journey, discussing the rewards and challenges, and how he balances his professional responsibilities with vibrant personal passions. Tune in to hear his unique experiences and insights on body positivity, colorism, and queerness.

Juan-Lorenzo Cruz is the Chief Engineer at Hotel Caza, situated in Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco. While originally attending Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) he studied psychology and art. His move further south to Sonoma County is where he found his first substantial long term homosexual relationship, as well as the opportunity in which his current career is built. While his primary job takes up most of his time, he go-go dances weekends at various SF gay clubs, including The Eagle and Powerhouse. He enjoys snowboarding, dancing and finding new music, as well as spending time with friends catching up on films and eating good food.

Social Media

Instagram

Other Announcements:

The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the ⁠Feedspot.com⁠ team for ranking us as #3/10 ⁠Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web⁠. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

In this episode, we met with Camilo Villa (he, they), a Colombian interdisciplinary artist and Spanish language educator based in the Bay Area (San Francisco). Camilo explores the intersection of art, education, and social justice, with a focus on the liberation of Queer Latinx communities and the evolution of gender-inclusive Spanish language curriculum. Tune in as he shares how his work challenges traditional language norms and promotes inclusivity in linguistic representation.

CAMILO VILLA holds an M.A. in Education for Equity & Social Justice from San Francisco State University and a B.F.A. in Individualized Studies with a minor in Social Action & Public Forms from the California College of the Arts.

Their art practice and educational research addresses the liberation of Queer Latinx communities, the violent erasure of social leaders in his home country Colombia, and the journey of Latin American migrants crossing the US-Mexico Border.

Camilo’s work has been exhibited at Senator Scott Wiener’s Office as part of the We Belong-Pertenecemos exhibit and at the SFMOMA Artists Gallery as part of the Hispanic Heritage exhibit. Their work has been featured in magazines, such as Bay Area Reporter, Voyage LA , NEWAGE, and Latin:SF.

Camilo builds intersectional spaces for learning by incorporating culturally and queerly responsive pedagogical models in his teaching practice.

Most recently, he published his master’s thesis titled Teaching Gender Inclusive Spanish: Advancing Pedagogy Towards Gender Equity on ProQuest. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a gender-inclusive Spanish language curriculum developed for 3rd-5th grade Spanish classes that employs the letter "e" to desexualize the masculine generic form. Fundamental to this approach is how pre-colonial indigenous gender systems advance the now contested need to eradicate sexist expressions in the Spanish language that has increasingly gained momentum in Latin America for the past decade.

Social Media

Linked IN

Instagram

Facebook

Camilo's Website

Upcoming Art Show at the Intersection for the Arts

September 21st and 22nd

Intersection for The Arts, Instagram

Other Announcements:

The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the Feedspot.com team for ranking us as #3/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.