Two down, five to go!

- everyone's back

- hit the ground running at the Mariposas' Lair

- slowly, but surely

- good work completed thus far

I didn't have a chance to post last week, but we started up our sessions for the year and I'm happy to report everyone is back: Giovanni, Olegario, Alex, Tony, and Roberto! I was able to get the majority of their phone numbers this time so I have been communicating directly about meeting. I did run into Alfonzo's mother, Narsedahlia, last week and was able to let her know we had started again and that the meetings were going to be held on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays. (She had mentioned the "WhatsApp" on her phone was no longer in use.)

This time, we have been given the green light to organize at the Mariposas' Lair, which is where the dance group originally rehearsed. I feel better about being in there instead of the church given my boys tend to get "antsy" at times and I don't have to worry about them getting into the sound equipment or the instruments. Not sure what's happening in there now that Margarita's granddaughter, Londa, is no longer living in the community. (I should ask about her the next time I see Margarita or Diane.)

We had a great brainstorming session the first time we met and I was encouraged we would land on a story easily enough. Unfortunately, I may have missed an opportunity to flesh out some of the stories that were shared by Alex, Olegario, and Tony, and we ended up heading in a different direction. Still, it was a direction, and we would have never known had we not attempted that particular story line.

Needless to say, we may not use it but we have documented it in case we need some fuel for the other fires we are trying start.

Next session, I will work to include exercises that will help flesh out the specific stories that were shared. I also want to see if we can include a couple of the other "oppressions" that were considered part of our "top 5" list.