After a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon, we loaded up the vans and headed to Espanola, about half an hour south of Abiquiu. Espanola is the headquarters of Tewa Women United (TWU), our worksite hosts.
We toured the facility and had an introduction and orientation from Kathy Sanchez, co-founder of TWU. Kathy, whose Tewa name is Wan Povi, grew up on San Ildefonso Pueblo. She has worked on many women’s issues related to culture, the environment, and social change for most of her life.
Tewa Women United raises awareness about environmental issues, domestic violence prevention, and drug and alcohol abuse. It also promotes innovative support groups for women of all backgrounds, including a “grandmother’s circle” of a dozen pueblo women who travel together to the pueblos offerning support to anyone in need.
After our orientation, we were given a tour of the facility by Corrine Sanchez, Programs Manager:
She explained that earlier in the year, a water pipe had broken in one of the offices, flooding most of the building with three inches of water. While it has taken many months of repairs and rebuilding, the facility will soon be re-opened for clients and the community. Part of our work will be to help prepare the grounds and garden for this festive occasion on June 25th.
Some of us started to get to work at the center, while others climbed back into the van and drove twenty minutes to San Ildefonso Pueblo for additional work there...
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