This is me deadlifting 300 lbs—breaking my PR of 285 lbs that I set 10 years ago. I never thought I’d get stronger with age and here I am 45 years old—stronger than ever. I’ve always prided myself on my strength—lapping boys in pools, running longer distances, passing men on single track trails on my hardtail mountain bike and cursing those men that compliment me as I do. “Do you tell boys, ‘good job!’ that pass you?!’” “My strength has been one of my super powers and as I sit with the collective anger at all of the men of the world, I’m realizing that my pride in my strength is due to my literal physical ability to protect myself and my people. I’m not only as strong as many men—I’m stronger. My physical strength that intimidated boys and men and protected myself and my friends by those same men in bars—strength that pushed a man who forced himself inside of me out of my bed and out of my house. Strength that will fucking tear you apart if you threaten me or the people I love. And, as my rage grows at all of these fucking men that continue to rape and abuse and kill and control, my strength does too. I married a man who was turned on by my strength and attracted to my confidence. These are the ONLY men who deserve a woman by his side. And we need these men to be really, really, really fucking angry too. So here’s to all of the strong women and girls of the world. It’s our fucking time to turn this tide.
Our incredible Lead Youth Mentor Desiree Marrufo (@desireemarrufo1 ) is in Atlanta being filmed for an upcoming documentary #COUNTED, sharing her powerful story about pregnancy and incarceration. Her courage to speak on her experience and everything she’s overcome is inspiring change and giving voice to so many. 👏🏽
The documentary, directed by filmmaker Erica Tanamachi (@docuchick ), shares the journey of women’s justice advocate and founder of RestoreHER US.America, #PamelaWinn, who fought for the successful passage of Georgia’s CARE Act ending prison birth.🤰
Also featured in the documentary and pictured with Des is #HeatherCanuel (@canuel.heather ), the last woman to give birth handcuffed to a bed in the state of Illinois. She has helped change three laws on behalf of women in the Chicago area and works in the nation’s largest jail, using art as a healing tool. 🎨
We’re cheering you on, Des! Your story matters. ✨
#prisonreform #hoops4justice
Less than 1 week to go until we come to LA ahead of #nbaallstar game with a special screening alongside our executive producer Jeremy Lin!
🎟 Get tickets at bit.ly/HomeCourtLA
📆 Date: Thursday Feb 12 at JANM in Little Tokyo
🍙 Light snacks at 6pm
🎞 Screening at 7pm
Followed by panel discussion and Q&A with special guests @jlin7 , @lisalingstagram , @tadashinakamurafilms and the filmmakers @docuchick and @bewilderfilm .
Thank you to our presenting partners @taaforg and @jlin7 , and our venue sponsor @jamuseum
Get your tickets now as they're going fast!
#jeremylin #lisaling #homecourtdocumentary #movies
This week on the braid it is my honor to publish a guest post and meditation on death and friendship, a love letter to @jupadhye , one of my cousin @docuchick ’s (and sister-in-law, @akoomas ’) best friends. Janet died on April 20th and lives on in so many other ways… I love you, Erica. I love you, Alyssa. I love you Janet. I’m so glad you all found each other on this side of life… Thank you, Erica, for sharing your love story. ❤️
A visual meditation on transition…I often think about the challenge of transitions. Transitioning into this world, leaving this world and so many shifts and changes we go through personally as we grow. Collectively, too. Here, in Banff, I was immersed in a true Spring - a transition time from Winter to Summer. Frozen waterfalls with water beginning to pierce through and flow. I was struck by the immense beauty of it all. It’s made me think deeply about how transitions can be both so painful and beautiful at the same time.
Home Court is honored and so very excited to be featured in the New York Times as a part of the line up for the New York International Children’s Film Festival! See you closing night, New York 🍎🌉🗽
@nytimes@nyicff
I read this masterpiece in my early 20s and reading it a second time in my 40s feels especially poignant. Every woman should read this book—buy an extra copy for her daughter — and remind herself of the root of her power. It is critical. Our power is the only way through. “A good deal of literature on the subject of women’s power states that men are afraid of women’s power. I always want to exclaim, “mother of god! So many women themselves are afraid of women’s power.” For the old feminine attributes and forces are vast, and they are formidable….if men are going to ever learn to stand it, then without a doubt women have to learn to stand it…”- Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Perspective is everything. It’s what unites us and divides us. It makes peace and causes war. It is truth and a lie; fluid and defiant. Humanity has always been threatened because of it. Dark days are behind us and in front of us. So are good days.
This sand crab in Costa Rica will never know the extraordinary view we can see of the path she creates. She processes sand - day in and day out. Working. Living. Making art through surviving. Perspective is our human gift and demise. I wish to be the sand crab. I think she must be happy.
There isn’t a proper word for friends like these - friends that are family. Friends you fly across the country to show up for when they need you. Friends you cook for, wash dishes for, do their laundry, walk their dogs and hold their baby while they sleep. Friends you drive in snowstorms to get medicine for. Friends you face the conversation of death and dying without any real answers or knowing. Friends you cry with. Friends you laugh until you cry with. Friends that see the weight of the load you carry and inspire you to keep lifting and you do the same for them. Friends who know your truth and remind you who you are. Friends that you get to admire as they become mothers, as they did with you many years ago. Friends you sit with as they take a bath to help ease the pain. Friends that consistently repeat how lucky we are. Friends that understand the beauty of the full catastrophe of life. Friends that keep each other awake in deep conversation until you just can’t keep your eyes open anymore. Friends that carry your pain so you don’t have to hold it alone. Friends whose pain you carry for the same reason. Friends you are quiet with. Friends you happily lay in bed with while they sleep so they don’t feel lonely. Friends that hold your hand. Friends that know your mind without you saying a word. Friends that you cry with every time you say goodbye. Friends that are essential like water. Friends that make you whole. Friends where you can honestly say, there is no where in the world I’d rather be. Get you some friends like these and it will make all the difference. ❤️ @jupadhye@akoomas
The 2024 SDAFF Audience Award winner is Home Court, directed by Erica Tanamachi. The film was voted the audience favorite at the 25th San Diego Asian Film Festival, which took place November 7-16, 2024. The film screened on November 9 with a post-screening Q&A with the director.
The runner-ups for the Audience Award were Nobuko Miyamoto: a Song in Movement, Pooja, Sir, and Standing Above the Clouds.
Congrats to Erica, and the rest of the Home Court cast and crew! And thanks to our audiences for casting their votes during our ballin’ milestone anniversary 🏆🏀
