THIS STATEMENT BY CRSF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SORAKAMOL PRAPASIRI WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED TO SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN AND SANTA FE REPORTER ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2025. IT WAS WRITTEN IN RESPONSE TO A LETTER SENT TO CREATIVE SANTA FE FROM “BLACKIN SANTA FE,” WHICH CAN BE VIEWED IN FULL IN THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY SANTA FE REPORTER ON OCTOBER 15, 2025.
PORTIONS OF THIS STATEMENT WERE ALSO QUOTED IN SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON OCTOBER 10, 2025.
At our recent PechaKucha Night, mayoral candidate Oscar Rodríguez shared a personal story about the racism he experienced as a young Indigenous student. In recounting that story, he repeated a racial slur that had been used against him.
While his intent was to expose harm, we understand that hearing that word spoken aloud caused real pain for members of our community, and that the moment deserved greater care and acknowledgment.
PechaKucha Night is designed to be a space for authentic storytelling — a place where people from all walks of life can share their lived experiences, creativity, and purpose. On any given night, those stories can touch on race, disability, gender, faith, loss, or identity. Sometimes, they bring joy; other times, they bring discomfort. Our goal has never been to sanitize truth — however, it is our intent to help our community hold it with care.
We guide and coach our presenters to share stories that reflect both their humanity and their courage. We also recognize that we carry a shared responsibility to ensure that everyone who enters the space feels seen and respected. This experience has deepened our understanding of how to balance authenticity with accountability when hard truths are spoken.
Since the event, we’ve been in direct dialogue with Black community members who were impacted and who were willing to share their perspectives with us. Their honesty and generosity have helped us see more clearly how language can reopen wounds, even when used to name injustice. We are deeply grateful for their trust, and we are learning.
As part of our ongoing reflection and commitment, Creative Santa Fe will:
- Integrate content advisories in future programming when stories include explicit or potentially triggering language.
- Strengthen our presenter coaching with trauma-informed and cultural sensitivity practices.
- Introduce post-event reflection moments — small but intentional pauses for grounding and acknowledgment when difficult stories are shared.
- Continue listening sessions and collaboration with community members to co-create restorative practices moving forward.
Our mission is to bridge divides and build futures — to cultivate civic spaces where truth can be spoken, discomfort can be witnessed, and humanity can grow stronger together.
CREATIVE SANTA FE IS COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING CIVIC SPACES WHERE TRUTH AND CARE CAN COEXIST.
PHOTO BY MOONLIGHT STUDIOS.