Meet Yesika Ordaz | Historian, Vegan Activist, and Podcaster

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yesika Ordaz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yesika, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
Prioritizing certain traits and habits has allowed me to live a successful life. My life purpose, values, and goals, personally and professionally, are in alignment. I was able to come to this place after centering and prioritizing mental health, wellness, and mindfulness. Practicing yoga was key. So was reading! I read as often and as much as I can. Acting in ways that helped me achieve my goals, regardless of fear, was also pivotal. My perseverance, and sometimes pure stubbornness, helped me succeed.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I am an Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder and a scholar of Latinx History. Before moving to Colorado, I grew up among a family of farm workers in Northern California. At the age of 18, I left home to pursue higher education and became a first-generation college student at UC Santa Barbara, triple majoring in Women’s Studies, History, and Global Studies. It was here that I developed my current politics and interest in social justice and community engagement. I then continued to graduate school, receiving a Masters in American Studies from Cal State Fullerton, and a PhD in American History from UC Davis.

In addition to teaching courses that center on histories of incarceration, Latinx migration, and radical social movements, I am a writer. My previous writings have examined how immigration detention functions at various intersections, including anti-migrant violence, detained migrant labor, and the racial and gendered punishment of migrant bodies. To make my research more accessible to people outside of academia, I have started to produce more public-facing work. I have written Op-eds for the Washington Post discussing reproductive violence against migrant women and the harm LGBTQ folks have faced due to immigration enforcement. I recently published my first book, The Shadow of El Centro: A History of Migrant Incarceration and Solidarity, which was released in 2021.

I have been vegan for about four years and my second book project will explore the multifaceted history of veganism and plant-based foods throughout the Americas. This research will illuminate the wider and transnational history of Latinx veganism and how communities of color have engaged with questions of animal, human, and plant relations for centuries. Linking my professional work with my commitment to creating community, I co-founded the Denver Metro Chapter of Veggie Mijxs in 2020. The goal of the collective is to center women, non-binary, femmes, and trans BIPOC while providing a safe place for folks to explore decolonization and plant-based food justice. Expanding upon this interest in intersectional veganism, I also co-founded Brujeria Veganx, a podcast that decenters whiteness in veganism and focuses on ancestral healing and the magic of plants.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I like to support BIPOC-owned businesses. When friends and family visit the Denver metro area, I take them to some of the following spots!

For food, I recommend the vegan options at Kahlo’s/Tarascos or one of the many amazing vegan food options in the area, such as Vegan Van, Pescky Kitchen, or Cholo Ass Vegan.

I am a big coffee drinker so the beverages at Cultura Craft Chocolate and Cabrona Coffee are a must! Raices Brewing and Novel Strand Brewing Co. are go-to places for beer.

I am a big horror fan so the Crypt, Slashers, and the spooky Lakeside Amusement Park are all great places to hang out.

Lastly, I like to take visitors for a drive or hike into the mountains to see the beauty that Colorado has to offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shoutout my older sister Angela Ordaz, for paving the way!

Website: https://www.jessica-ordaz.com/

Instagram: chicanx_veganx

Twitter: OrdazYesika

Image Credits
Ordaz1-Dillon Wanner Ordaz2-Dillon Wanner Ordaz3- University of North Carolina Press Ordaz4-Cindy Loya Ordaz5-Molly Gonzales Ordaz6-Molly Gonzales Ordaz7-Molly Gonzales Ordaz8-Joelle Cruz Veggie Mijxs mission-Jessica Ordaz Denver-Veggie Mijas