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The Weekly Dispatch
Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area.
Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerstein, senior immigration, labor, and economics reporter.
On a balmy evening in late July, I found myself inside a tall, sunlit building in Half Moon Bay.
I was there to report on the progress of a weekly accordion class for farmworkers in the small coastal city. While I expected to listen to a few warm-up notes and songs in the room—after all, it was a music class—I was unprepared for the quality of what I heard. The students had made remarkable progress since I last heard them practice ten months ago. They had mastered intricate new songs and scales. Their hands moved across their instruments with confidence and ease. And at the end of class, they gave a spontaneous recital just for me. Five newly minted musicians pressed away on the keys of their shiny red accordions, while one belted out the lyrics to La Reina del Sur, a classic by the legendary norteño band, Los Tigres del Norte.
During the class, I kept my attention on one student in particular: Pedro Romero Perez. A farmworker from Mexico, he is the sole survivor of the mass shooting that took place on two mushroom farms in Half Moon Bay in January 2023. Seven farmworkers were killed in the attack, including Pedro’s older brother, Jose. Pedro himself was shot five times. But somehow—miraculously—he survived.
I first met Pedro more than a year ago while reporting on a groundbreaking lawsuit he filed against his former employer, the mushroom farm California Terra Garden, in the aftermath of the shooting. Pedro spoke to me about his grief after losing his older brother and protector (and his only family member living in the U.S.), as well as the long, painful process of physical recovery that followed. But during the course of my reporting, Pedro also shared something delightful and unexpected: a place where he was finding joy and healing. It was an accordion class developed by Ayudando Latinos A Soñar (ALAS), a nonprofit that serves the Half Moon Bay Latino farmworker community. The class’s teacher, Hernán Hernández, is none other than the son of musical royalty. His father is Hernán Hernández Sr., the iconic bassist for Los Tigres del Norte.
Those closest to Pedro say the music has transformed him. “This has been his medicine,” ALAS’s executive director, Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, told me. Over the past few months, I’ve been reporting on this unconventional music program, which first began on a shed in a farm and has since become a lifeline for those processing the trauma of the shooting. It’s a story about loss, recovery, and pain. But it’s also about the quiet slivers of home that persist in our lives, even when we are thousands of miles from the places that raised us.
I’m thrilled to share the final product of this reporting: a 28-minute radio story co-published and produced in partnership with Latino USA. The segment aired on NPR member stations (including KQED) across the U.S. last weekend. You can listen to the full episode in your favorite podcast app or at this link.
This piece is just one example of how people are taking solace in creative and cultural practices during difficult times. In the months ahead, we’ll continue to report on the places, traditions, and outlets where members of the Bay Area’s immigrant community are finding safety and joy, even amid tremendous stress and uncertainty.
If you have ideas, feedback, or a story to share, please reach me at ehellerstein@eltimpano.org.
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading, we will see you next week.
— Erica Hellerstein
Opportunity of the week
Even during tumultuous times, Bay Area immigrants are finding ways to cultivate community and joy through the healing power of art. We’re excited to offer Poemas Móviles, a new opportunity for Spanish and Mam-speakers interested in exploring poetry under the guidance of an experienced local poet.
Over the next three months, the project will pair students with Oakland-based poet Arnoldo García, who will lead them through the process of writing poetry with inspiration, prompts and tips, all through the convenience of their phones.Each month, we’ll also select poems to publish and share back with our community.
📲 Guidance for Poemas Móviles will be in Spanish and Mam. To receive Arnoldo’s messages and short videos, text the word “POETA” to El Tímpano at (510) 800-8305.
Ear to the Ground
El Tímpano’s text messaging (SMS) service reaches more than 6,000 Spanish-speaking immigrants across the Bay Area. For Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked our subscribers about what they love most about their cultural heritage, and how they celebrate their culture. Here are a few of their responses:
What I like the most about my Latino culture is the marimba. When I listen to it I am reminded of the traditions of my country, [Guatemala], where during lunch we would always listen to the beautiful marimba.
A mi lo que más me gusta de mi cultura latina es mucho la marimba escucharla me hace sentir las tradiciones de mi país [Guatemala] que en todos los almuerzos se oía la marimba muy bonita.
—San Pablo resident
What I love most about my cultural heritage are the days that commemorate the heroes of Mexico such as Hidalgo, Morelos, Benito Juárez, especially the Independence of Mexico. I always celebrate my culture! Cooking green, red, and white pozole and tamales in banana leaves and corn leaves!
Lo que más amo de mi patrimonio cultural son los días en que se conmemoran a los héroes de México como Hidalgo, Morelos, Benito Juárez, sobre todo la Independencia de México. ¡Mi cultura la celebro siempre! Cocinando pozole verde, rojo y blanco y los tamales en hoja de plátano y en hoja de maíz!
—Oakland resident
[In] my Inca culture of Peru, we celebrate by thanking God with a lot of food, chicha morada and chicha de jora.
En] mi cultura inca del Perú, celebramos agradeciendo a Dios con mucha comida, chicha morada y chicha de jora.
—Oakland resident
I love my roots, my music, my food. But what I love most about my [culture] are the colors of the dresses. I remember when I was 7 years old I was part of the Folkloric Dance of my country, and I will never forget the dresses and the music. I represent my country with pride and love.
Amo mis raíces, mi música, mi comida. Pero lo que más amo de mi [cultura] son los colores en los vestidos. Recuerdo que cuando tenía 7 años formé parte de la Danza Folklórica de mi país, y jamás podré olvidar el vestido y la música. Represento a mi país con orgullo, y amor.
—Concord resident
From the El Tímpano Newsroom
The Latino USA collaboration is an adaptation of a series I published last year on the aftermath of the Half Moon Bay shooting and Pedro’s long road to recovery. In case you missed it, you can find both stories in English and Spanish here:
Life after Half Moon Bay’s tragedy: A mass shooting survivor sues his former employer
The events of Jan 23, 2023 thrust farmworkers into the spotlight. Now, survivor Pedro Romero Perez wants to see lasting change.
La vida después de la tragedia de Half Moon Bay: Un sobreviviente de un tiroteo masivo demanda a su ex empleador
Los sucesos del 23 de enero de 2023 pusieron a los trabajadores agrícolas en el centro de atención. Ahora, el sobreviviente Pedro Romero Pérez quiere ver un cambio permanente.
Cultural healing in the fields of Half Moon Bay
In Half Moon Bay, an innovative music class led by the son of music royalty helps farmworkers cope with trauma.
Curación cultural en los campos de Half Moon Bay
En Half Moon Bay, una innovadora clase de música dirigida por el hijo de un miembro de la realeza musical ayuda a los trabajadores agrícolas a afrontar el trauma.
Stories we’re Following
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Questions and feedback? Tips for newsroom stories? Reach out ehellerstein@eltimpano.org.
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