I'm Bonnie Duran, a big fan of Lupita Patterson. I have known Lupita for over 25 years, and her friendship has been a gift and a blessing. Lupita was a central part of our People of Color and Allies Sangha and has completed the Spirit Rock/Insight Meditation Society Community Dharma Leaders (CDL) program.

Lupita is an immigrant, woman of color, lesbian, and disabled person, and she strongly believes in human rights and liberation from oppression. Lupita was born in Mexico City in 1962 and immigrated to Seattle in 1996. She has a B.A. in acting and has worked in radio, TV, and theater in Mexico City. In her first US job, she was able to use her training for Theater of the Oppressed workshops in domestic violence and sexual assault. She worked with urban and rural underserved/ marginalized communities to address and overcome their inequities and barriers. She also had a successful voice–over business.

In 2011, she got married and moved to Europe. Living in Spain, she published a children’s book, taught meditation, and worked as a tour guide. After some years, her marriage ended, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her work was interrupted. She became isolated and had a significant health crisis. She returned to the US in 2022 to be with her community and get care.

With our support, Lupita will restart her voiceover business. She’ll get equipment, a computer, microphone audio interface, ISND (source connect) to record remotely, a website, recording and editing software, software classes, a demo reel, branding, membership to professional organizations, publicity, etc. She will also be able to better attend to her healthcare needs.

This is an opportunity to support Lupita, who has given so much to so many, and for those with greater advantage to engage in income redistribution. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Below are words from Lupita.

I came back from Spain to the States last year. Coming back to the States presents me with different challenges. Getting housing, a job, a source of income, and adapting to changes to different systems. My teacher, Arinna Weisman, allowed me to stay at the Dhamma Denna retreat center in California for several months; this helped me with my health recovery. I returned to Seattle last March to stay at a friend’s house. I’ve been doing different jobs to earn income, but it's unstable. I want to start my voiceover business to get a more stable source of income and continue the social justice work I have done in the past. Your help is essential for me to be able to do this.