Renee Fajardo - The Journey

Since 2010 MSU Denver Chicana/o Studies Journey Through Our Heritage team has supported a project known as the Return of the Corn Mothers. This multi-generational and multi-cultural exhibit of stories and portraits of women features over 70 women, each who recounts in story form the women who influenced them in their life journey.
I applied to the MSU Denver Ted Talk event because these women’s stories are shining examples of renewal and resilience. In 2020 Covid devastated the world. We realized our vulnerability, our interconnection and our need to support each other worldwide.
What better way to gain insight about overcoming adversity, than to embrace the stories of women who have overcome loneliness, prejudice, heartbreak, displacement and loss. These are the stories of ordinary women who have shown extraordinary commitment to their communities, yet often times are taken for granted. They help shape and nurture our world. They remind us we do not stand alone and do not act without affecting each other. Behind us, in front of us and in our presence, their perseverance that ensures us - we can survive no matter what we face in life.
The Cheyenne have a proverb, “A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground. Then it’s finished; no matter how brave its warriors or how strong their weapons.”
Often times we dismiss the narrative of our women. We forget that the struggles we face are only a small part of a bigger picture. Our women’s stories teach us not to give up, to overcome despair, to stand together, to build community, to find strength, to be creative and to always believe in tomorrow.
I am deeply humbled to be able to bring to the Ted Talk stage the journey of these women and the labor of love of those who endeavored to document their journey. The Corn Mothers speak on a universal level about the importance of women’s stories as an impetus of love. As long as there are women who imagine a better, brighter day, there is hope.
The biggest challenge I have faced in creating this Ted Talk was figuring out how to properly honor the legacy of these women. Finally I realized that it is not me, but you, as the audience, who must honor them. By finding your own Corn Mother and spreading her story, you honor all women who have come before and will come after. It is you, who will continue a legacy of hope for all humanity.