Por nc_coleman | 3:30 AM MST, Mié Septiembre 21, 2011
Did anyone attend the talk given by Victor Villasenor on Sept 18 at the Fullerton Public Library? If so, could you post your comments. Thanks.
Natalie Coleman (in far off VA)
Mr. Villasenor opened his lecture by welcoming the standing only crowd to come forward and sit on the floor in the front and sides of the room in order to better enjoy the presentation. The perfect host, he engaged attendees with questions on attitudes about world peace. Some were optimistic, but many like me, were unsure.
Ten years ago, as a novice genealogist, some wise person suggested I read his books to understand family history, which is the context of genealogy. I have only read two of his books, “Rain of Gold”, and Thirteen Senses”, which chronicles his family’s journey from Mexico to Orange County California in the early 1900’s, and was not only inspired but motivated to look for “the story” and not just names and dates.
Victor Villasenor is not only a best selling author, but he is an amazing storyteller and motivational speaker. Relating his family history using quotes and pictures from several of his books he set the context of his family’s migration from Mexico to southern California. He emphasized the strength of Mexican women noting their ability to be grateful and compassionate in the worst of situations. His lecture centered on the arrogance of advocates of English only, noting that language promotes understanding. He started school speaking only Spanish and the prejudice of the majority of his teachers embittered him and he became hateful. It was through the encouragement of a substitute teacher that he found his voice in writing and determined that he would encourage others disparaged in an English only society.
After several hundred rejection letters he published his first book in paperback, but due to the miscue on the part of another author he was the keynote speaker at a teachers conference and his book and presentation were widely reviewed in southern California. Now a successful author he encouraged those in attendance to find their voice, find their family, and be optimistic about the future and world peace.
Thank you for your comments. I just sent a post to Research at NR wondering what someone who has attended his lectures came away with.
His website victorvillasenor.com has a two-part interview (14 minutes each) done by Connie Martinson (who kept calling him Victor Villasena and he never corrected her). I got quite an insight into Victor's ideology, his spirituality, the tales he says are true, but publishers considered fiction since most Americans don't understand the spirituality of Native peoples (he dotes on his indigenous side).
He says that the world is entering another feminine cycle of peace and love, and that women are the center of it; however, in one of the other videos he speaks of how he and his wife had to separate (I assume they are divorced), that she thought he was insane, but that he just had to go his own way. Kind of contradictory on his part. Still, he zeroes in on what it is like to be poor in Mexico and a minority in the US, and I haven't found that anywhere else. He is not a hard core activist, which makes him more acceptable.
Emilie
Port Orchard, WA
> To: announce@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
> From: reneecapels@mac.com
> Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:31:23 -0700
> Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] Victor Villasenor in Orange County, CA
>
> Mr. Villasenor opened his lecture by welcoming the standing only crowd to come forward and sit on the floor in the front and sides of the room in order to better enjoy the presentation. The perfect host, he engaged attendees with questions on attitudes about world peace. Some were optimistic, but many like me, were unsure.
>
> Ten years ago, as a novice genealogist, some wise person suggested I read his books to understand family history, which is the context of genealogy. I have only read two of his books, “Rain of Gold”, and Thirteen Senses”, which chronicles his family’s journey from Mexico to Orange County California in the early 1900’s, and was not only inspired but motivated to look for “the story” and not just names and dates.
>
> Victor Villasenor is not only a best selling author, but he is an amazing storyteller and motivational speaker. Relating his family history using quotes and pictures from several of his books he set the context of his family’s migration from Mexico to southern California. He emphasized the strength of Mexican women noting their ability to be grateful and compassionate in the worst of situations. His lecture centered on the arrogance of advocates of English only, noting that language promotes understanding. He started school speaking only Spanish and the prejudice of the majority of his teachers embittered him and he became hateful. It was through the encouragement of a substitute teacher that he found his voice in writing and determined that he would encourage others disparaged in an English only society.
>
> After several hundred rejection letters he published his first book in paperback, but due to the miscue on the part of another author he was the keynote speaker at a teachers conference and his book and presentation were widely reviewed in southern California. Now a successful author he encouraged those in attendance to find their voice, find their family, and be optimistic about the future and world peace.
>
Victor Villasenor in Orange County, CA
Mr. Villasenor opened his lecture by welcoming the standing only crowd to come forward and sit on the floor in the front and sides of the room in order to better enjoy the presentation. The perfect host, he engaged attendees with questions on attitudes about world peace. Some were optimistic, but many like me, were unsure.
Ten years ago, as a novice genealogist, some wise person suggested I read his books to understand family history, which is the context of genealogy. I have only read two of his books, “Rain of Gold”, and Thirteen Senses”, which chronicles his family’s journey from Mexico to Orange County California in the early 1900’s, and was not only inspired but motivated to look for “the story” and not just names and dates.
Victor Villasenor is not only a best selling author, but he is an amazing storyteller and motivational speaker. Relating his family history using quotes and pictures from several of his books he set the context of his family’s migration from Mexico to southern California. He emphasized the strength of Mexican women noting their ability to be grateful and compassionate in the worst of situations. His lecture centered on the arrogance of advocates of English only, noting that language promotes understanding. He started school speaking only Spanish and the prejudice of the majority of his teachers embittered him and he became hateful. It was through the encouragement of a substitute teacher that he found his voice in writing and determined that he would encourage others disparaged in an English only society.
After several hundred rejection letters he published his first book in paperback, but due to the miscue on the part of another author he was the keynote speaker at a teachers conference and his book and presentation were widely reviewed in southern California. Now a successful author he encouraged those in attendance to find their voice, find their family, and be optimistic about the future and world peace.
Victor Villasenor in Orange County, CA
Renee,
Thank you for your comments. I just sent a post to Research at NR wondering what someone who has attended his lectures came away with.
His website victorvillasenor.com has a two-part interview (14 minutes each) done by Connie Martinson (who kept calling him Victor Villasena and he never corrected her). I got quite an insight into Victor's ideology, his spirituality, the tales he says are true, but publishers considered fiction since most Americans don't understand the spirituality of Native peoples (he dotes on his indigenous side).
He says that the world is entering another feminine cycle of peace and love, and that women are the center of it; however, in one of the other videos he speaks of how he and his wife had to separate (I assume they are divorced), that she thought he was insane, but that he just had to go his own way. Kind of contradictory on his part. Still, he zeroes in on what it is like to be poor in Mexico and a minority in the US, and I haven't found that anywhere else. He is not a hard core activist, which makes him more acceptable.
Emilie
Port Orchard, WA
> To: announce@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
> From: reneecapels@mac.com
> Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:31:23 -0700
> Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] Victor Villasenor in Orange County, CA
>
> Mr. Villasenor opened his lecture by welcoming the standing only crowd to come forward and sit on the floor in the front and sides of the room in order to better enjoy the presentation. The perfect host, he engaged attendees with questions on attitudes about world peace. Some were optimistic, but many like me, were unsure.
>
> Ten years ago, as a novice genealogist, some wise person suggested I read his books to understand family history, which is the context of genealogy. I have only read two of his books, “Rain of Gold”, and Thirteen Senses”, which chronicles his family’s journey from Mexico to Orange County California in the early 1900’s, and was not only inspired but motivated to look for “the story” and not just names and dates.
>
> Victor Villasenor is not only a best selling author, but he is an amazing storyteller and motivational speaker. Relating his family history using quotes and pictures from several of his books he set the context of his family’s migration from Mexico to southern California. He emphasized the strength of Mexican women noting their ability to be grateful and compassionate in the worst of situations. His lecture centered on the arrogance of advocates of English only, noting that language promotes understanding. He started school speaking only Spanish and the prejudice of the majority of his teachers embittered him and he became hateful. It was through the encouragement of a substitute teacher that he found his voice in writing and determined that he would encourage others disparaged in an English only society.
>
> After several hundred rejection letters he published his first book in paperback, but due to the miscue on the part of another author he was the keynote speaker at a teachers conference and his book and presentation were widely reviewed in southern California. Now a successful author he encouraged those in attendance to find their voice, find their family, and be optimistic about the future and world peace.
>