Jovita Molina and Ariel Benson

00:02 7 years old today's date is Friday, August 21st. First twenty 20. We are in Watsonville, California.

00:13 And I know are y'all as a friend and we met through our jobs.

00:21 My name is Ariel Benson. I just 10:55. Today is Friday August 21st of 2020. I am in Watsonville, California with my friend, Javier Molina.

00:37 Oh, oh because I have some questions for you. First of all, what is your day job my day job is at a school in the library. So I work with children all day long and my students range from age kindergarten to eighth grade and there's about 600 and 650 700 of them and I miss them very much. I miss seeing them. It's been

01:10 I am over 6 months. I think it is already right that is pandemic started, and I haven't had much contact with them. There is one special student, and he is on the Spectrum with autism. He's so intelligent, but he loved the library, so he's in there any chance he gets and he escapes from school is class and you go straight to the library. So if anybody looking for him, they already know where to call the library and I miss him a lot, but he recently found out how to contact me through my Facebook. He found his dad's account and he's been contacted me through Facebook and then he found me on Instagram and then he figured out how to email me at work.

02:02 So I still hear from him pretty much daily now for the past probably months and he'll be in 8th grade and it's unfortunate that we have to start the school year this way because this is his last year there and I know it. You know, he he just really love being at school and love learning and love the library. I know it's got to be hard on him. So I think about him a lot.

02:32 So I think what you just said, speak to this question, which is you have a huge fan club of current and former students. Why do you think they love you so much. You know, that's a good question. I have no idea but they make me feel very special. I can't walk that because it's the main buildings up in price and then there's a hallway and some classes and the very end of that hallway is the kindergarten classes and they make me feel like I'm a movie star high library and if they don't know my name, you know,

03:24 I mean they make me feel like I'm very very special and loved and I often you know, I'm shocked cuz I think I'm still look pretty but I'm shocked when I see a young student with the name of you knows a lot in that I recognize it.

03:43 Oh my gosh, are you related to this person? Oh, yeah. That's my mom know. They're like it. They're like way older and so I have their children coming in now. So I've been there about a little over 25 years in the library.

04:07 As I get to see now their children with me other first basket that I got to help in the library. They're coming back with their children now and so that's that's always a pleasure to see that a shock in a way.

04:27 You & I we we hang out a lot together and I've noticed that people are just very naturally attracted to you and wanted to talk to you the around you and I've actually tell people I know tell me that they find themselves to be very comfortable around you what do you attribute that to

04:53 I've Been Told.

04:56 I'm a people pleaser that I know what people want before they even know what they want and it's kind of true. I don't know if it's the way I was raised, but or maybe the sign that I was born under.

05:10 But yeah, I don't understand why people say it's my smile, but I did try and make people feel welcome, especially if they're not, you know, if I don't know them yet or if they're like if they seem

05:32 Apple's logo

05:37 People used to laugh at him and think he was odd and so I think that's why I kind of was drawn to him as well as you know, and try to make him feel at home in the library because I could tell that he didn't have any friends.

05:55 And people were making fun of him and that's not right. I don't like that even grown-ups.

06:07 I have a neighbor who you know Brent and he asked about you one time how you're doing and he said I just love how it makes me feel of mother earth. Oh my God, that makes me feel so another huge aspect of who you are. My opinion is that you are incredibly creative.

06:51 Have you always been creative? I think so. I mean, I was lucky enough to grow up in a home and we weren't Rich. We were we were raised here in Watsonville, and they'll not in town and then in the agricultural community and you know

07:09 We were not the Farm Workers. My family were probably the farm owners at that point. My grandparents were the workers. Right? And so with time they were able to buy land and so we became the farmers and the people who are hiring so all my friends that let me know friends at least.

07:32 We're all from hard-working Farm Working Families. They didn't own land if I didn't even own their own home.

07:40 And so I was very lucky to be in a position where my parents had a little bit of extra money to let me be a brownie or a girl scout or take me to dance class or have enough of an education to come to town and look for.

07:59 Music classes my mom took us to piano lessons for a while. It didn't stick with me and I love music. I really love me. We did Folklorico for many many years growing up from r e i k h 7 2 I was about graduating from high school is a Mexico and we had a wonderful teacher right here watching Wheel. Her name is flooding sketch avoya and through another group called the penny Club here in Watsonville. And the penny Club was through the salesian Catholic order the salesian priest and they had a school that have been shut down out here in the outfit the walking buswell called Saint Francis. And so they let this priest use that campus.

08:59 To post students and teach the Music and start out with just the tar lessons and I want to see me lessons and it was you all kinds of people volunteering their time there and the people who wanted to send their kids to these classes for would only have to pay a penny because everything was supported through the salesian organization. And so it was a fordable or more people to be able to get there until they opened it up to

09:36 And they had a swimming pool in all kids like us we didn't ever get to go into a swimming pool until we heard about the penny Club. Although I never learned how to swim in the pool. So I was very lucky and blessed that my mother and father loved to seeing they love music I grew up with that always in my life and my mom was created in your own way. You know, she did the embroidery. I remember her when we didn't have a whole lot of money to buy decorations to cut them out of construction paper that I remember her making a Santa Claus and his sleigh with all the little reindeer houses the top of the houses look like snow on them. And that's what I remember about. My mom and my dad.

10:36 It was just in my in my jeans, you know to be a creative person and I took some crap if I didn't want to call just got married very young. And I know when we were starting out we didn't have a lot of money as well my job. You know, I first Christmas tree was what we called.

11:15 You know, I've been a lot of money on trees now.

11:22 And yeah, I think it's just natural.

11:27 I mentioned in the very beginning I asked you what your day job was because you kind of have to know this, but I'm an actress and I like to sing.

11:46 So I started singing jazz with another fellow employee at teacher. His name is Will Clark. You know, we got around a campfire one time. Is it? Hey Google. Can you sing a sing a song that they play the song and you can see nurseries, you know, like a florist places where they sell flowers and plants and stuff.

12:28 And so that's how that started and then the acting thing started because of my youngest daughter. I have a 30 years old. Now. She was about 8 years old when she wanted her aunt told her why don't you come and audition for this traditional Christmas play in San Juan Bautista, which of the town about 20 minutes?

12:53 Already over the hill and

12:57 You know, she was involved. My sister was involved with that theater company's called it'll be at the casino and it's world famous company founder. His name is out there and I didn't know it was so cool. And so my daughter and she didn't want to do by herself. She wanted me to go with her. So that's how that started the audition. We got it in Pueblo. And so what we were responsible for doing was just walking around with it is with a Christmas play. So we walk around with

13:46 Shepherds or the angel that we will be singing the song and so that was Army part route would be to sing along with the other Ensemble singers. And then from there she decided you know that you're doing the same place over and over again. You're my last child. What am I going to do at home all the time by myself, but they're all grown up now the same play but a speaking role and I got it and from there. I just kind of went on and on and I work for different theater companies.

14:34 Besides as I worked for Salinas Theater Company at Hartnell called the Western stage I did work with

14:47 Open Apple store in San Jose also with a new Amphitheater that started by one of my friends. And so I'm trying to help promote his work as well. Do this pandemic has been very hard. Now. He got his latest play accepted into the San Francisco Fringe Festival which happens in September, which is now like on Hiatus because of the whole pandemic and he won't be doing it this year, but we will be doing a reading of the same play with the East Bay theaters this Sunday.

15:32 Eastbay Peter reader just like that this Sunday and so I'm just trying to help him get his workout now cuz he's very

15:42 Very very talented writer. He doesn't just write about his culture and his you know his lifestyle he is but he has some really really great place that need to get out. And so I'm kind of either one really magnificent thing about 2:08 helping other people and I want to get back to that but I just

16:18 Maybe this is connected. I wanted to hear a little bit about what inspires your creativity.

16:25 My people my culture my

16:29 The colors that I see out there in life music, especially the Spanish music, you know, I love the young girl. I would always on my alternate offer. But you know, I'm glad she never did listen to me are my sisters because you know now that I'm older I go back and I think I remember hearing this now, so I think it's it's it's my culture that inspires me. I love I love my hand. I love my people.

17:06 I wish this country love my people the way I love my people. I could see them the way I see my people. Yes, there's good and bad in everybody. But for the most part, you know, I think it's good.

17:26 Speaking of that when we're done here with this interview. You're going to be going out. It's I'm looking out the window.

17:38 It's very Smokey Robinson trucos. We have 65,000 people evacuated from our community. We can't go outside. We all everybody has their windows closed.

17:53 My son has lost his home.

17:56 Our family home is in Jeopardy and when you're getting ready to go outside.

18:06 And do something

18:08 For your people

18:10 And I was wondering if you wanted to share a little bit about.

18:17 Terrible what's happening in the world today in not just a pandemic here in California being, you know, what are the dates of the highest-rated? It's affecting my people the most

18:30 The Farm Workers or I'll let you know pretty much I'm coming and get workers or people who live right now. I have to go work in the field so that we can have food on our tables.

18:47 You know that wine to drink comes from somewhere those hamburgers. We eat come from somewhere.

18:56 And even though they don't own the land, they're out there working it like like like crazy.

19:04 During the pandemic during all these fires out there with the ash falling on them smoke in the air. They do not have the equipment they need.

19:17 And so on.

19:20 During the pandemic a group of activists are from walking but myself included started something called the Watsonville.

19:30 Campesino appreciation Caravan and what we started with with just driving by the field in Hocking are horns and stopping at certain field or we had enough room to pull over and get out of our cars and holding up are signs that say thank you your Heroes kind of you all come there to where we recorded.

19:57 Message playing very loudly from a PA system that we rigged up into one of our cars we go out into the field with that send out messages from the community that evolve from there where the messages turned out to to be advice and information on how to be safe from the virus what to do where you can go to to get out. We started passing out information packets with all this kind of information up where you can get rental assistance where you can go to get food groceries if you needed it.

20:35 Things like that. We joined with other organizations in Watsonville have so now we take out a nurse advocates for their for their their medical clinic and she give them advice and she tell him what kind of services they offer how they can get it to me for free. We're taking food out there every now and then take music will take gifts. Whenever we can we can I make tons and tons of mass for them as well as the ones that get donated. Unfortunately now that the smoke is out there The Masks are not going to do that for them. They need special and 95 map.

21:27 That will help filter that smoke out and we don't have those right now again, they're in short supply again, I guess.

21:38 We put out a call to different organizations to see if they can help us get the mask and we'll go out there and take him to them. But for now we can at least go out there with water we go out there with our messages of

21:55 Love for them and appreciation for them and for them putting their self on the line all the time, no matter what.

22:05 Whether it's an earthquake weather the pandemic whether it's fire a heatwave rain if there's a prop that have to be picked there out there.

22:18 And they don't get the things that the desert from this country from anybody.

22:26 Yeah, we just need to change the narrative on that. They need to have.

22:32 Some way

22:35 Didn't know that this country appreciate them. I don't know your Governor Newson. Use them has given them some funds which is so thanks. I'm so thankful for I wish you can do it again because now that school started.

22:55 Sometimes one of those parents is that I have to stay home.

23:00 The other one goes out to work because everything is online now and some of the students do not will need help. It will not know how to navigate the computer for a while and so they will need help I need help with rent.

23:36 And I know it's not going to come from this president, but I'm hoping in November that things change.

23:44 Is the perfect ticket nothing is perfect, but anyting anything is better than what we have right now.

23:55 In that office

23:57 So

23:59 We are doing the census until we can stop also taking people out there too expensive cuz we need to be counted. We need to be counted and we're talking about voting or a lot of them are not citizens so they won't be able to vote. But if they know they can ask him to go and tell him to go as well. So we're trying to get that out as well.

24:26 And with what little money we have it started out with just all of the all the organization. It was about 12 adults.

24:35 And we would just get whatever we had. Whatever money we had extra. That's how we did it. And now we have a GoFundMe account and people are donating that way.

24:49 Yeah, it's it's it's it's it's amazing how much people do want to help in the way, but if we could just get our elected officials to help a little more that would be even better even better.

25:04 I want to shift gears a little bit and clearly just your ear. So motivated by compassion in your chair for other people and that includes me, so I wanted to

25:22 Ask you to talk about how we got to know what happened to Aaron how that I loved you at first in your class, right? You had a class at Central Library and I didn't know who you were at first. I knew we were trying to hire a new teacher in the sixth grade. And I don't even remember the heroes. I'm kind of dyslexic with numbers. So I'm I know it's been over 10 years 2001

26:14 And no I did not not like you. I just wanted them to hire a person of color for that position. I wanted my students to be able to see a person like them in the class.

26:34 So that way they knew that they had a way.

26:38 To get there as well.

26:42 Also, I didn't like the fact that you can bring your son Spanish.

26:50 I thought you would have been a great candidate to be one of our students.

26:55 Later on you explain to me why you're going through a lot of stuff as well. And so it was easier for you to send him where you sent him.

27:03 But I think

27:06 After we got past that in 20 years old.

27:13 I did not like you that much at first.

27:18 Got your girl on me because your daughter was my teacher. So that was really challenging to have this really be loving librarian. My daughter was her teacher something to true but that was not very nice to me anyway, and have your daughter in my classroom. And you know, there were some concerns and you would send your husband for the conferences are remember that but it did end up working out and it there was a pivotal moment. There. Was that changed our relationship and I was wondering if it was a pivotal moment and and I know it upset you for awhile. I know it made you think

28:13 I know it made you think that I was pitying you or what this is that what you felt like titties.

28:21 The I don't know if it is because I have gone through a lot too in my life with deth and

28:29 But you told me the story about your mom being disappeared and you didn't know if she was alive or not.

28:35 I just felt really.

28:40 But compassion for you because of the fact that I did grow up with a mom.

28:47 And you didn't you were not able to and

28:52 You know your children.

28:54 Would never gets here. Your grandmother and your mom will never get to see those.

29:07 It's already told that story. I just thought you know.

29:14 I guess I think it's interesting how get that for me. Thank you. And you help me a few years ago deal with difficult time. I experienced every year around her birthday when you made the suggestion that I honor her and have an offer for her and it's really helped a lot. I really appreciate all that support that you've given me through that. I think my learning from 10 to judge people or just think we just each other from our own perspective with our with our own biases or our own agenda. And then sometimes

30:07 All it takes is like this this little other side to learn something.

30:17 There is a human more of a two things that tie us together or like this compassion. Right right that we tap into bit.

30:28 Ghost yard

30:30 What first meets the eye?

30:33 And I

30:36 We got there.

30:42 Good Times bad times

30:45 And I can't imagine doing that with anybody else. I don't think I would have done it with anybody else.

30:51 You are my Yin. You're my opposite. I have a friend another friend. Who who is Michael call me. Just recently. I don't think of us as an Odd Couple. I think we're the perfect couple because we are opposite.

31:24 Balance against each other out in the way like a planner.

31:32 But yeah, I just couldn't imagine my life without you. You are my BFF.

31:39 I think I have anything that could like drive us.

31:49 What about politics maybe maybe politics?

31:55 But I'm not I don't know a lot about fathers. I just know that I don't like the person that's in the right now. I don't think so. With you and your husband wanted him.

32:11 And we talked about this recently right where?

32:16 I would like to I would hope not I mean I would hope not but I know just do time. You're going to a different shift in your life right now. And I know you're going to be just retired. So I know you're working to be different now. It won't include me as much and thinking because you getting up there in age 2 and you need to do that.

32:46 So

32:48 Yeah, I mean, I think maybe just our situations my separate is more than anything.

32:54 I just really want to thank you for bringing me on your journey and inclusion.

33:11 You know, I am like those kids in the Kinder yards with you and makes me feel like it's fun. Thank you.

33:44 Can you call it a wrap I think so.

33:54 Okay. Alright Courtney.