Skagit Valley Herald article, Nov 8, 2024, by Racquel Muncy
BURLINGTON — Members of Underground Ministries and O.U.R. Journey came together Thursday to share the impact generational trauma has had on their lives and on their journey toward healing.
The event kicked off a three-part speaker series called Generations, which explores the generational trauma of different groups.
It is hosted by Burlington Lutheran Church. [BLC edit: and Underground Ministries]
Pastor Charis Weathers said the goal is to try and unbury what is beneath Skagit County by looking into the trauma that various groups are going through.
“I’m hoping this appeals to understand our history and understand ourselves,” she said.
O.U.R. Journey and Underground Ministries members spoke about their experiences as gang-affected individuals and the work they are doing to help others like them.
Alex Sanchez said those at Underground Ministries are working to build relationships and trust over time.
“A lot of what we do is over time,” he said.
He said Underground Ministries supports those who have recently been released from incarceration to provide them the support they need to break down barriers.
This can be anything from tattoo removal to accompanying them to appointments, to helping them get a driver’s license.
“These are all external barriers,” Alex Sanchez said.
Tony Cienfuegos spoke about the retreats and trips those involved in Underground Ministries have taken and how the time together has brought about healing and empowerment.
“I believe we motivate each other,” he said.
Genaro Sanchez, founder of O.U.R. Journey, spoke about the work the organization is doing with gang-affected and other marginalized youth.
“Why wait to work with men and women who are incarcerated when we could start working with the children?” he asked. “We empower the youth so they can empower themselves.”
The team at O.U.R. Journey works to build relationships with at-risk students and create supportive environments.
The men also shared pieces of their stories and how they got to where they are today.
Genaro Sanchez said by the age of 5 he was seeing violence everywhere.
“My dad loved me, but he gave me all his trauma,” he said.
Sanchez said when he was 13 his father died from a heart attack.
After this, he said he took all his hurt and turned it into hurting others.
Alex Sanchez, who is Genaro Sanchez’s younger brother, said he took a similar path.
“As young as I can remember I had hate,” he said. “I hated him (his dad) and it turned into hating myself.”
Alex Sanchez said he remembers being asked what he wanted to do when he grew up, and while his classmates said they wanted to be a firefighter or have other careers, he said he wanted to go to prison.
“I wanted her to throw me a lifeline,” he said of his teacher.
Instead, he said she said to keep talk like that for home, and that she got angry.
Cienfuegos said as a child his teachers called him a troublemaker despite him knowing he was a good kid. So a troublemaker is what he became.
Alex Sanchez said it is easy for kids in poverty or experiencing violence to fall into a bad lifestyle.
“There’s no system in place to help kids in those circumstances, so they go to gangs,” he said.
It’s why O.U.R Journey and Underground Ministries has worked to create a system of support for children and adults.
Chris Hoke, founder of Underground Ministries, said men like those who spoke Thursday are ahead of the game in terms of handling generational trauma.
“I’m inspired by these guys,” he said. “Hopefully we can be inspired by these conversations.”
Next Thursday, Nov. 14, speakers will be Upper Skagit Indian Tribe elders Kay Knott and Laura Pennington.
“It’s rather eye-opening,” Weathers said of the stories Knott and Pennington have to tell.
The final topic on Thursday, Nov. 21, will be on The New People, and a panel of Norweigan, Dutch and German immigrants will be interviewed.
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