I absolutely support local arts organizations. My family, friends, and community co-laborers are artistic. Our goals include advancing the movement.
Transparency as a professional and community activist: As publishers, making decisions about supporting organizations in our local community can be challenging. Ultimately, we prioritize what is best for our publication, readers, and family, ensuring our choices align with our core values and mission.
Transparency: The Question – Why are you choosing not to associate your name and brand with the new black arts organization? | As a parent, I ensure my children’s well-being and comfort, regardless of age. In addition, protecting your name and brand is crucial during these times. Specific individuals associated with a local supposed cultural arts organization have demonstrated behavior that is detrimental to a positive and supportive artistic environment. These actions have caused significant concern and discomfort for people, including my family. We have chosen not to associate ourselves with the organization. We want nothing but the best for any initiative meant to advance the culture as long as harmful tactics aren’t used to do so.
This choice is rooted in our commitment to maintaining a safe, ethical, and nurturing space for artistic expression. We believe that creative endeavors should be pursued in an atmosphere free from anxiety, toxicity, or any form of negative influence.
Our non-participation is not a reflection on the importance of Black arts in our community but rather a stance against specific behaviors and attitudes incompatible with our values and the well-being of artists.
We remain committed to supporting and promoting Black arts through other avenues that align with our principles of respect, integrity, and positive community building.
Our activation of a positive local Black Arts initiative is not hindered by the pause in our efforts due to intellectual property issues; it will continue as it has since prior to meeting the current leadership of the aforementioned.
Transparency: Official Statement | The organization’s inception is marred by intellectual theft and a betrayal of trust, as the concept and name were originally my daughter’s idea. The individual who appropriated this idea has shown a troubling lack of integrity, not only by using my daughter’s concept but also by admitting to using psychological manipulation for personal gain against others as stated by the individual themselves.
My decision is not a hasty one, but a result of a steadfast commitment to authenticity, safety, and moral principles. By placing my family’s well-being at the forefront and aligning with those who uphold honesty, respect, and civility, I am consciously distancing myself from potentially toxic and harmful influences.
I firmly believe that true artistic and cultural movements should be founded on genuine creativity, mutual respect, and positive community impact, not on manipulation and false narratives.
I choose to adhere to a path of integrity, even if it means standing apart from a different cultural movement that some have unfortunately embraced.
This approach reflects my belief that the quality of one’s associations and the ethical foundation of artistic endeavors are more important than mere popularity or scale.
My rejection of this association is not a rejection of Black arts or cultural expression but rather a principled stand against these essential concepts’ misappropriation and potential misuse.
It is a powerful reminder that the integrity of a movement’s leadership and founding principles is crucial to its true value and impact.
If you have an organization (arts or otherwise) that we can truly work with void of toxicity, let us know. Our goal is to work smarter, not harder because we are better together; however, please be genuine and have a loving care and concern for the community respecting the ethical and moral positive beliefs of others.
If your goal is to deceive and manipulate people, I can’t recommend nor participate.
It’s time for real change.
Timeline
2021: My daughter and I discussed her interest in starting a local organization for Black citizens involved in various artistic disciplines.
2022: We began to develop the concept, incorporating ideas from previous initiatives that I and her godfather had envisioned for Black El Paso Voice in the late 90’s. As my daughter was busy with school, I took the lead in identifying local artists and briefly shared the information with a newcomer to El Paso.
August 2023: I revisited the idea with this new individual, who found the concept unique and brilliant and agreed to participate.
Early September 2023: The individual revealed toxic and harmful behavior. To protect Black men focused on community building and myself, we severed ties after the person admitted to using their psychology background to manipulate someone.
The Following Week: The person began circulating the name “El Paso Black Arts Association,” which was the name my daughter had intended for her organization that I shared with this individual as the hope was to plan for Black History Month 2024 due to the theme of: African Americans and the Arts. This was a regrettable outcome of sharing our plans with the person.
Since Then: The situation has been challenging, with continued falsehoods and cyberstalking despite my requests for no further communication. In addition, several well-respected people in our community informed me that I should inform the community that I have no ties with the person due to her behavior with them as well. I chose to remain silent but in doing so, the situation worsened. I was told that I should protect my name and business as this person was mentioning both in meetings and public spaces.
Moving Forward: My daughter remains undeterred and will continue to pursue her dream of creating an arts organization for the Black community that encourages engagement with other cultures. She has not allowed the theft of her intellectual property to stop her.
I cannot support toxic activity from those who are supposed leaders. Our values do not align, as I am committed to positive community building and not negative manipulation. Not that it matters, but because my faith was questioned, I not only love God, but follow the principles of love, grace, faith, and forgiveness, and will continue to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, unapologetically.
I do not dismiss anyone whose spiritual beliefs are akin to mine; however, I do not condone certain practices that may cause harm to others, including mentally, physically, or socially.
My prayers will forever include those whose behaviors are harmful to others, asking God to deliver them from evil.
Monica is the founder and publisher of Black El Paso Voice. She is an advocate fighting against racism and embracing positive community involvement. She is a lover of God, Puerto Rican cuisine, and the greatest defender of her family. She also enjoy House Music and swears it’s the best music on the planet!