The Truth Board
A Blog by the Editors of
The Truth About the Fact: An International Journal of Literary Nonfiction
About Me
- Name: Editorial Staff
- Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
The Truth About the Fact: A Journal of Literary Nonfiction is an international journal committed to the idea that excellence in the art of letters can play a vital role in transforming the planet we share.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Alex Rousset recently joined an all women service
organization on campus known as Belles. While the mainly known focus of this
organization from students is their work with domestic violence awareness,
these women also work with various other service placements and are able to
volunteer in other service opportunities.
On a Thursday night in the middle of March, Alex, who has
long brown hair and is incredibly tall, looking laid back in comfy clothes, was
excited to open up about one of her favorite places to service. Bread and Roses
is one of the optional places to do service. Located in Venice, California,
this café is open Monday through Thursday, 8 am to noon, and provides meals for
the homeless.
Having done multiple service placements in high school
including visiting a convalescent home and gathering food for Thanksgiving
meals for the homeless, Alex has always enjoyed giving back to the community.
Although taking in everything she was experiencing, going into college, Alex
was looking for a more hands-on type of service that would allow creating
deeper connections with others.
While Alex works mainly on Tuesdays at Bread and Roses, she
is able to serve meals to those in need. One woman that Alex always sees is
described to be in her late 20s. Also described as beautiful and even
vegetarian, this woman not only looks after herself but also her adorable
3-year-old son. Now Alex’s work does not go unnoticed as simply handing out
meals can once be overlooked. The woman that Alex always sees actually took the
time to thank her for all of her hard work at the café. Alex mentions that it
really touched her because she never realized that someone would actually thank
her for doing something that she genuinely enjoyed. She mentioned that it was
nice to be recognized but she also never saw her service as work and really did
just enjoy coming to work every Tuesday to make new interactions with people.
Alex’s simple act of kindness was an inspiration to this
woman, providing her with a potential new drive to succeed and move forward
with her life. The act of handing out food or passing out drinks shows that
small acts can really mean so much when faced with adversity. The hands-on
experience that Alex had was able to impact and influence someone around her.
As Bread and Roses’ mentality of “hearts starve as well as bodies,” the café
strives to make sure that people that come in for meals not only leave with a
full stomach but also with a full heart. Alex says she’s lucky because she not
only gets to see the progress of people she meets every time she stops in to do
service but she also gets to leave with a positive outlook as well.
To find out more information on Bread and Roses and how to
volunteer click here: http://www.stjosephctr.org/bread_roses.html
Watch a news segment that highlights the great things that
Bread and Roses does for the community here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aUu7Dgae6g&feature=player_embedded
Learn more about the lovely ladies of the Belles Service
Organization and all that they do to give back to the community here: http://studentaffairs.lmu.edu/activitiesservice/centerforserviceaction/serviceopportunities/joinaservicegroup/serviceorganizations/belles/
The Frozen Obsession
So you may have heard of this animated movie that came at
the end of last year, you know, this movie called ‘Frozen?’ Yeah well I’m not
here to write about how great this movie is or how great the soundtrack is
because I haven’t even seen it yet. (Don’t kill me.) I’m really curious to as
to why this movie is so good. I have heard so much praise for the movie that I
feel like I practically know the entire plot summary and soundtrack without
ever watching a second of this film. I feel like it’s this monumental thing
that has to be seen and I have even had friends question our own friendship
because I haven’t seen the movie yet…seriously? Is it that serious thing? Is it
that great? Well I decided to ask why this movie is so great. I thought I would
ask a few people to get to the bottom of why ‘Frozen’ is so good. Here’s what
they told me:
“There’s singing and magic and a cute little snowman. What
more could you ask for?”
“The songs are so catchy.”
“You have a sister right? Well your sisterly bond will grow
and flourish from watching this movie.”
Well, this is great to know, really. I even got a mini
lecture on how my relationship with my own sister will change and become
stronger from this movie. I’m not surprised Disney has a life lesson in their
movie. I appreciate the fact that this movie not only has catchy songs and
magic but there’s also a cute little snowman?! I mean I love me some animated
movies, trust me I do, Lilo and Stitch? One of the greats and I’m sure this
movie is too but if I have to hear ‘Let It Go’ one more time today, I might
punch a wall. I’m sure one day I’ll give in and watch this movie that also won
an Oscar for Original Song but for now I’m content with hearing about how great
it is every 3 seconds of the day. You should know that I’m not exaggerating, I
hear about it multiple times a day. Frozen, I’m sure I already love you, but
for now just accept me for who I am. I’ll watch it eventually, I swear.
Watch Frozen’s trailer here, maybe you’ll get hooked too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbQm5doF_Uc
Find out why this movie is as successful as it is here: http://www.vulture.com/2014/01/why-is-frozen-such-a-big-hit.html
Most beloved animated film in 20 years? Do you trust
Buzzfeed’s opinion? http://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/how-frozen-became-the-most-beloved-animated-movie-in-20-year
Two Peas in a Pod
My dad and I are simply put, two
peas in a pod. I’ve always been told growing up that I look just like my mom
and act exactly like my dad which is absolutely true. I remember being taught
in a psychology class once that there’s a theory that sometimes a child’s life
is predetermined in a sense, meaning that characteristics or interests of one
parent are naturally ingrained into their child’s thought process per say.
Although I was a little put off by this idea, thinking that not every child is
just like their parent, as I got older I began to realize I do share the same
characteristics and interests as my dad.
Growing up with one older sister,
my dad never got the chance to have a son which I don’t ever think bothered
him. However, I remember that he put us into sports the moment we reached the
minimum age requirement. My sister and I played a variety of sports including
softball, which my sister loved, basketball, and volleyball, which is what I
fell in love with. My dad loved that we played competitively and was always our
biggest supporter. Once my sister had graduated from high school and three
years later when it was my turn, I didn’t really have an idea of what I wanted
to pursue in college. I knew how much I enjoyed reading and writing but it
wasn’t until my dad had brought up the idea of considering majoring in English,
had I thought it would be a good fit.
It was a weird concept for me to
realize that I was somewhat following in my dad’s own footsteps. We loved
sports as kids and grew up extremely die hard football fans, are both obsessed
with anything to do with music, and are both English majors. We also have very
similar personality traits. We’re stubborn and incredibly passive and always
have to be mediators in arguments. I am literally his carbon copy. It’s also nice
that as I get older I find more things that relate to my dad. I love coming
home on random weekends and hearing stories from his college life or getting
asked questions about what I’m currently reading or learning in my English
courses. He gives me insight to his younger days and always tells me whether or
not he actually enjoyed British Literature or Don Quixote while he was in
school.
My dad is easily my favorite person
on the planet and one of my best friends. A lot of the time there is a lot
going on in my life and since we’re so similar, he understands and is there to
help me out when I need it. I know how proud he is of me and it’s always nice
to have a helping hand when I just really don’t understand what is going in one
of Chaucer’s works or need some new music to listen to while I’m writing a
paper or studying for an exam. As my college life is coming to an end within a
year’s time, I’m sure I’ll get more stories out of him and we’ll only become
more alike.
Need to know 29 reasons why there
is no bond quite like a Father and Daughter’s? Sure you do. Click here: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/02/18/law-aiding-whistle-blowers-puts-un-on-notice/
How does a Father/Daughter
relationship or lack of one affect a woman: http://firstthings.org/father-daughter-relationships
Watch an iconic Father/Daughter
relationship in this little moment from the Parent Trap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqEZUkW9TCo
Shannon Iriarte
Thursday, May 1, 2014
My Eternal WCW (Woman Crush Wednesday)
A woman with great
dignity, class, artistic ability and achievement, Julie Andrews tops the list of
the select few actresses that I deeply revere. Throughout her 70-year career that is still thriving, Dane
Andrews has become a multi-faceted icon and role model for aspiring actresses
and singers.
Starting off as a
young girl in the UK singing with her parents in the evenings, Andrews was a
long way off from American silver screen fame. She appeared on stage for most
of her young life at the London Hippodrome, the London Palladium,
and the West End Theatre as well appearing on the BBC. She made her debut on Broadway when she
was 19 in The Boy Friend, a show that
she recently revived and directed in 2003. “By the end of 1967,
Andrews was the world's most successful film star. She had appeared in the
most-watched television special Cinderella;
the biggest Broadway musical of its time, My Fair Lady;
the largest-selling long-playing album, the original cast recording of My Fair Lady;
the biggest hit in Disney's history, Mary Poppins;
the highest grossing movie of 1966, Hawaii;
the biggest and second biggest hits in Universal's history, Thoroughly Modern
Millie and Torn Curtain;
and the biggest in 20th Century Fox's history, The Sound of Music.”
Along with such prestige and fame, Dame Andrews has won numerous awards for her
acting and singing. Just a few of her numerous honors are the Oscar and Golden
Globe for Best Actress in Mary Poppins,
her Golden Globe for Best Actress in The
Sound of Music, and her Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Screen Actors
Guild, the UCLA George and Ira Gershwin Award, and the Grammys.
Although her immense success as a youth has
waned in recent years, Ms. Andrews’ work will always remain iconic and awe
inspiring. She is currently focused on her philanthropic work and is constantly
working with the United Nations International Fund for Women, Operation USA –
an international relief agency, Save the Children, and the Foundation for
Hereditary Disease. To the youth of this century, she is most recognized as
Queen Clarisse in The Princess Diaries
movies, the voice of the queen in the Shrek
series, and Lily in The Tooth Fairy.
I
admire Dame Andrews primarily because of her versatility and immense talent. It
amazes me than in the span of her life she has been both a theatre and film actress,
a singer with perfect pitch and a four-octave range, a comedian, a voice-over
actress, a director, a philanthropist, a Dame Commander of the British Empire
and a best selling author of children’s books. To me, she is a fitting example of
a real and tangible woman who, despite her human faults, has made history out
of her successes. No negative connotation follows a name like hers because she
has always made wise choices in her career that allow her to have fun and try
new things while maintaining a wholesome and positive persona. I feel as though
Julie Andrews is a lot like me. My biggest love is singing, I enjoy theatre and
comedy immensely, and writing is one of my strongest attributes. I just hope
that wherever my life takes me, and if I do decide to pursue a career in the
entertainment industry, that I can have a flourishing and iconic career like
that of Julie Andrews.
You can learn more about this amazing lady here and make your next movie night a Julie marathon!
Why I Cringe at the Sight of the Good Ol’ Captain
During college, the most popular extracurricular activity is
heavy drinking. You can pretty much never drink too much, and coming close to
frat guy averages is nearly impossible. The more you drink, the more respected
you are. The more often you drink, the more popular exposure you gain. It seems
like a win-win situation for a lot of young people to engage in binge drinking
at parties for the “cool factor” that comes with attending a wild rager. With
stories to tell and cell phone photos to flaunt, anyone can appear more bold
and interesting than they really are.
Like a large majority of high school students, I drank at
parties to excess. I’ve puked in bushes, sinks, occasionally hitting the mark
of a toilet, and have gone so far as to “puke and rally”, not wanting to quit
after the first round of nausea. I’ve made a fool of myself, made “party
friends”, fucked up relationships, lied to my loved ones and said “yes”, when
the sober me would have politely declined.
I did it all to feel like I was someone else. I had good
friends, but socially, I was not at the status I longed for. Drinking made me
part of a group of people I found interesting and funny, but I could never see
the cracks in their façade as we all stumbled through an alcoholic daze.
Coming to this realization and gripping on to the last
strings of reality helped me escape a world I could have easily fell victim
to. Freshman year of college, I
saw a few of my good friends destroy themselves at the hands of drugs and alcohol.
What they were running from, I could never understand, but I knew that was not
the life I had planned for myself. I reasoned that I never enjoyed the taste of
alcohol nor the feeling of a hangover, so I wouldn’t be missing much if I
simply stopped drinking and took responsibility for my health and future.
Easier said than done, I continued to drink, only on a much
smaller scale, for the next two years. Leaving the University of San Francisco
sparked a great relapse as I realized how much alcohol affected the social
atmosphere here at Loyola Marymount University. Drunk and uncoordinated, I met
the love of my life the first weekend of school, my boyfriend of a year and a
half. Although this is one of the most positive things that have ever happened
to me, I deeply regret the way in which we met. It is a story I will always
feel ashamed to tell, certainly if we are married and have children.
Within our relationship I found great incentive to stay
sober for the sake of mutual safety and respect for my partner. After a few
incidents of neglectful behavior and drunken bickering, I called it quits.
There is nothing more important to me than my personal relationships, and now I
have more than enough motivation to give up the fantasy of my drunk alter ego
and simply be myself.
Surely it has taken me quite a bit of time to come to this
conclusion, but it truly the best for me at this time in my life. I go to
school full time, work full time and hold a leadership position in a sorority.
I don’t have the time or the energy to get wasted every weekend and deal with
the hangovers that will inevitably come.
If self-awareness does not stir a response to my story, think
about the physical facts:
Alcohol is a toxin
that our bodies tolerate and toil to process and eject.
Long-term alcohol abuse can produce devastating neurological damage.
The negative effects
of alcohol reach far beyond our own back door.
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
For more info on cutting out alcohol from your weekly or
daily routine, check out this UK site:
http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/Pages/relax-without-alcohol.aspx
Birds on the Wire
If you can believe it, this man actually made a song based on birds sitting on a wire. He mirrored the notes from a photo snapped of the birds and this AMAZING piece of music came out of it. Now I don't know about you, but I believe that this kind of creativity and beauty melding nature, art and technology is something inherently special about the world we live in. We are capable of so much good, that at times, it's hard to accept that there is and most likely will always be evil amongst us.
For a few brief minutes, fall into the peaceful frame of mind this video inspires. There's nothing to complain about or contemplate. Just experience the natural music of life.
by: McKenna Warde
So I Just Did a Juice Cleanse
Yes, you heard right. I gave in to the fad last week after
feeling particularly lethargic and unmotivated to do anything with my day. It
certainly didn’t help that social media at my fingertips shoved encouragement
in my face via photos and articles of all things “healthy”. Why couldn’t I just kick myself back
into gear for the end of the semester and go on a cleanse? That sounded
perfectly sensible to me, and with extra money in the bank from my new job, I
took Nike’s advice and just did it.
I chose a three-day personalized cleansed from Pressed
Juicery in Manhattan Beach and read up on all the facts and how-to articles to
actually reap some benefit from this insane decision. Three days before the
cleanse I switched to eating only small portions of raw fruits and veggies,
transitioning on the last day to soups and liquids only. 100% by the book, and
that my friends, was probably the hardest part of the whole process. I honestly
had to turn down a cheese stick from a co-worker the day before I started, and
just holding it in my hand was a Herculean effort. When you think about all of
things in your diet that are made of meat, dairy, grains, sugar, caffeine and
alcohol, then being told you can’t touch them for the entirety of a
pre-cleanse, the cleanse itself and the post-cleanse, your outlook gets a
little bleak. Being dedicated to a fresh start was my sole motivation, and it
was a shaky road for a while, but I managed to succeed. For the most part…
Pre-cleanse complete, I dove into day one of the cleanse.
Everyone warns you that the beginning is rough, but I have to say, the only
rough thing for me was getting down so much damn liquid. 16 oz. of juice every
2 hours in combination with 2 liters of water throughout the day is a struggle.
There’s no other way to explain it. I never felt a single hunger pain, but my
stomach and bladder were screaming for me to let up on so much volume. Silly me
also opted for two addition “cleansing waters” to accompany my cleanse that I
simply couldn’t finish in addition to the 160 oz. already ravaging my system.
As far as taste goes, I made a huge mistake by picking my
own juices and not just doing the pre-made cleanse. Reading over the list of
ingredients in the juices, I excitedly chose some pretty nasty combos, ending
up with only two really yummy concoctions to look forward to each day.
1.
10 AM- greens 1.5: I don’t know why I decided to
choose a greens drink with zero fruit….this is basically grass in a bottle.
2.
12 AM- citrus 4: ok celery was a bad idea
3.
2 PM- roots 3: literally devil’s blood…. beets
and ginger= nope
4.
4 PM: citrus 2: thee most delicious fruity/tangy
concoction ever! I baby sipped it for the entire two hours
5.
6 PM- vanilla almond: HALLELUJIA this drink was
so good. Think creamy almond milk taste with vanilla and a hint of sea salt
6.
1 hour before bed- aloe vera water: looks like
water, smells like water, NOT WATER
7.
Throughout the day- chlorophyll water: a grass/water
hybrid of disgusting
As you can see, the road was rough, and trying to function
around people who are eating solid food isn’t great. Luckily, I had enough
energy to get through my days at work and school without any major issues. Most
likely because I was within 100 feet of a bathroom most of the time. I’ll spare
you the details.
The experience was interesting, but I wouldn’t say it’s
something I’ll do again soon. You need a lot more time to relax and breathe as
you do a cleanse, and I certainly don’t have that luxury right now.
Three days post-cleanse and I’m doing just fine. I did
indulge in a few treats a little too soon after breaking the cleanse, but who
could blame me? When frat guys throw candy at you, you tend to eat it. I feel
pretty good, but the biggest benefit I’m enjoying right now is a lessened
appetite. I feel full and comfortable with small portions of fruits and
veggies, and I don’t crave sweets or fried foods at all. Being content feels
good, and if anything, I hope the habit of refraining from “unclean” foods
sticks with me.
If you want to try a cleanse to detox your body or have a
fresh start, I’d say go for it! It was hard for me, but everyone has a
different experience. I think I’ll count myself one of the lucky ones for not
having too much digestive upset. I would highly recommend getting familiar with
a juice company you think is reputable, and sticking to the full cleanse
regiment when you do commit. Also, focus on the internal benefits you are
reaping rather than the external. Unless you’re Superman and you decide to
juice for weeks or months, don’t expect to see too many changes in your weight
or skin. There will be improvements, but think more along the lines of a clean
and healthy colon and digestive track.
You can take a look at the company I used here: http://www.pressedjuicery.com
by: McKenna Warde
Queen of Convergence
As a child of the 90s, I have never considered myself in the same boat as the newest generation of "tech-immersed" children, learning and engaging primarily through digital multi-media. When I was a child, the personal computer was still clunky and took some getting used to in order to even use the most basic functions. I used text books throughout my elementary and high school education with the occasional movie or demo thrown in, and I never felt like school was too boring or I wasn't getting the best education possible. There are many outdated forms of research and learning that I have mastered, and I take pride in my ability to live at a convergence of old and new media where I feel comfortable in both worlds.
In his article, Marc Prensky addresses an issue that I think is more prevalent in the youth of the present generation of "digital natives." Teachers have lost touch of what students immersed in the technological age need: condensed, engaging, readily available information. This is an extremely tall order to fill for adults who are essentially "digital immigrants" compared to their younger counterparts, but there seems to be few other choices than to simply adapt.
Just as my parents and I have adapted to our new smart phones and drawn heavily from the benefits that come with convenient connection, so too would there be benefits to freshening up teaching models and engaging students in new and interesting ways. Take the website Prezi for example, which is essentially an interactive form of PowerPoint. Not only does the site offer a new learning experience for teachers in building their presentations, but it gives students something visually appealing to look at with an interface that mimics much of the new technology they use in their daily lives.
At the same time, it is hard to neatly pin down the divide between digital natives and immigrants, just as it is to conquer the drastically different cultures/learning practices. Author Henry Jenkins references this opposing theory to Prensky in his article focusing on the importance of collaborative learning. Rather than taking on an attitude that the young are superior to the old and those who are behind in the tech world need to simply "get with the times", there needs to be some give and take. Teachers can learn just as much from their students as their students can from them. Think back to any effective teacher you had growing up, and chances are they were flexible and ready to adapt to the needs of their class.
To this day, I'm one of those people who gawk at 2 year olds using IPads and sneer whenever "good old fashioned _________" doesn't seem to be enough. However, I am a supporter of innovation in an age when education remains a subject filled with yawns and groans. Check out Center Theatre Group online or like their "Emerging Artists" Facebook page here to see what this company is investing in to engage and invite young people to participate in LA theatre. Some of their projects include "Tweet Seats" that allow patrons to live-tweet during performances and "Student Scene Nights" that immerse teens in the history and atmosphere of current shows with a free ticket included!
by: McKenna Warde
Outside Lands Music Festival-- The Best Fest In The West
Mark Twain once said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in
San Francisco.” With that in mind, Outside Lands is the perfect place to let
the inner wild child free without having to worry about dehydration, heat
stroke or melting. Unlike Coachella or Burning Man, Outside Lands is arguably the
best festival on the West Coast if triple digits aren’t your thing. Putting the
weather aside, Outside Lands strays from the typical, trendy music festival,
giving veteran festival-goers something to be excited about.
If you dig the lights and drug culture of raves—or Coachella, even—then
Outside Lands might not be for you. The festival is much less of a spectacle
and less E.D.M (electronic dance music) oriented—keeping the light shows and
thumping bass to a minimum (thankfully!). The lack of spectacle makes Outside
Lands a music festival that’s actually centralized around the music. As odd as
it may sound, the majority of music festivals aren’t about the music anymore,
giving Outside Lands an edge over most multi-day music events. It’s an event
for the genuine music lover because it’s an authentic music experience.
What separates the San Francisco music festival from other massive music
festivals is the line up. The number of incredible, world-renowned musicians
who perform every year at Outside Lands is more than impressive. Between 2010
and 2013 alone, Al Green, Foo Fighters, Willie Nelson, Metallica, Neil Young,
Jack White, Paul McCartney, LCD Soundsystem and Stevie Wonder have rocked the
Golden Gate stages.
Year after year Outside Lands continuously books quality performers,
while most other music festivals do not. Most festivals have conformed and
morphed into mainstream conclaves, and let’s be real: Mainstream music is
terrible. Outside Lands, thankfully, has kept to its unique, eclectic roots.
The San Francisco music fest is also notorious for it’s performers doing
wildly unheard of things. In 2012 former lead singer of the White Stripes, Jack
White, performed an impromptu set in the middle of the Golden Gate woods.
Completely unannounced, a massive crowd gathered around him as he performed
songs off of his solo album, Blunderbuss.
Paul McCartney |
An equally mind blowing affair occurred this past year during the middle
of Paul McCartney’s set. The former Beatle invited two fans from the crowd on
stage and gave them a once in a lifetime experience. The girls chosen to join
McCartney stood motionless, speechless and teary-eyed, as he chatted with them
in front of the massive Golden Gate crowd. The overwhelmed fans wept as Sir
Paul hugged and dedicated the song “Hey Jude” to them.
The spontaneous and spirited nature of the performers gives the massive
festival an intimacy other music fests don’t have. I mean, what other concert
allows attendees the opportunity to personally engage with A-list musicians?
None. It’s unheard of for rock stars to play surprise sets in the middle of a
forest. But, it’s even more unheard of for a Beatle to invite people on stage
and dedicate an iconic song to them.
Instances like these don’t happen anywhere else, making Outside Lands
electric. For the people who witnessed White’s unannounced set, and the fans
who were brought on stage by Sir Paul McCartney, Outside Lands is the place
where dreams come true.
Additionally, the festival is located in one of the hippie epicenters of
the universe – Golden Gate Park—giving the festival an old school vibe. Between
the psychedelic art structures and festival attendees dressed in their best
hippie attire, it’s hard not to feel the peace and love.
YUM |
Along with the festival’s innate hippie culture, the options for food
and alcohol are stellar. Between fried pickles, cruelty-free meat, ice cream
trucks and vegetable vendors Outside Lands has something for everyone to eat. The
options for adult beverages are also limitless. With wine from Napa Valley,
beers from some of the best breweries in the nation and bartenders who pour
stiff cocktails, it’s easy to get into the festival spirit. In regards to all
things tasty, Outside Lands has its bases covered.
For more reasons than I can count on my hands and feet, Outside Lands is
arguably the best music fest in the West.
By Mary Carreon
By Mary Carreon
Soberchella
[Writers note: The links in this piece are worth checking out!]
In the first week of April last year, LA
Weekly asked me to help them provide media coverage for Southern California’s biggest music
festival: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Considering the fact I’ve
been labeled a music nerd/junkie/snob/nut job for all of my life, the
invitation to cover one of the most renowned music festivals in the world was
more than a dream come true. My downfall, however, was due to lack of
experience. It wasn't festival experience that I lacked, but rather the experience of writing, reporting and working in a festival environment for 15 hours straight. I didn't realize how difficult and tiring it was, and therefore, didn't plan for it. I figured that when I got to the festival, brilliant ideas would
pop into my head and I would have tons to write about. That obviously didn’t
happen. Although I completed the amount of content I was responsible for, it
was tough because I didn’t prepare--at all-- prior to the event.
So, when LA Weekly asked me to help them cover Coachella
again this year, I made sure to prepare a laundry list of ideas. I
scoured the Internet months prior to the event for things I could base my
coverage around. At the height of my research, I discovered what felt like a glowing hidden treasure chest: Soberchella. Soberchella is a support group for people in recovery who want to
experience Coachella to the fullest, while maintaining their sobriety. Over the
three-day event, the group holds 12-step meetings on the festival grounds in
order to provide safety, relief and strength for its members.
Originating in 2009, Soberchella
has grown substantially, attracting people from all over the globe, let alone
the country. Although most members are from the U.S., the group provides a
sense of familiarity to foreigners attending Coachella by welcoming them into a
group of like-minded people who share a couple of things in common: sobriety
and a love for music.
As those who’ve been to the festival know, Coachella is a shit show. It’s become a place where people go to party their brains out for
three days straight. Thus, the combination of the wild atmosphere, drunks and
druggies, Coachella isn’t exactly an ideal place for a person who struggles
with addiction.
This is what makes Soberchella inspiring: The group provides
a safe haven for people in recovery amidst a chaotic warzone. Especially to
those new to recovery, it’s commonly thought that events like Coachella are out
of the question. Soberchella proves otherwise, however, as it provides those
who struggle with addiction the opportunity to take on a new perspective about
their condition. Being an alcoholic or addict doesn’t mean you can’t have fun,
and that’s what Soberchella aims to confirm.
As Coachella has evolved, the
focus has become more about partying and less about the music. The members of
Soberchella, however, experience the festival the way it’s meant to be enjoyed:
For the music. Going to a music festival for the sake of the music is a concept
that seems long forgotten, sadly, which is another aspect that makes
Soberchella unique.
Although sobriety isn’t an issue for me, Coachella is,
without a doubt, one of the craziest and most unpredictable places I’ve been to
because of the 100,000 inebriated festival attendees. With that said, if
sobriety was a challenge of mine, I’d imagine Coachella to be an anxiety ridden
experience. Needless to say, the members of Soberchella are impressively brave
and commendable. You are who you surround yourself with, thus, you are as
strong as those you surround yourself with. Soberchella, then, is an example of
how powerful a group of strong individuals who share a common goal are.
Interviewing the leaders of Soberchella as a part of my festival coverage opened my eyes to an interesting subculture within the
intoxicated festival culture. The group gives those who are challenged by
addiction the chance to experience Coachella and feel safe about it. This
inspiring group of people is a reminder of how incredible and positive humanity
can be. Nothing is more beautiful than seeing people reach out and do good for
the sake and well being of others around them.
By: Mary Carreon
By: Mary Carreon