Following My Own Dreams But Knowing Sadly Others Can’t
My name is Christopher Torres. I am a professional wrestler who made their debut in April of 2019. In juggling training and finding shows that will graciously book me, I’m also a student at the University of Nevada, Reno studying philosophy and journalism.
As we all prepare for the upcoming year of 2020, we’re left to consider what the next step for ourselves are. These are the goals we’ll hopefully achieve, what merits will be met and other imaginations of what could be. For myself, it’s completing my degree, continuing within academia for a second degree all the while attempting to fulfill a dream of titling myself as a successful independent professional wrestler.
The luxury of following a dream, meeting goals and aiming for higher are not shared by all. Cannot be.
In a report conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for 2018, 7,544 individuals reported experiencing homelessness. 2,000 youth in Washoe County reported having experienced homelessness.
Worse yet, Nevada ranks first in the nation for unaccompanied homeless youth. Youth and the houseless community not only within Nevada, but across the United States aren’t given the chance to dream for the faraway future when their concern is finding somewhere to sleep for the night.
Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, a non-profit organization that tracks the quality of life across the Truckee Meadows found that in 2019, 12% of the Washoe County population is in food insecurity. Food insecurity is defined as the inability to feed oneself and/or not knowing when your next meal will be. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada aids in remedying the situation of food insecurity, feeding more than 91,000 people in Northern Nevada, according to their website.
Christopher Torres puts Bruno Baretta in a kneeling key lock submission hold with a crowd watching. Bruno’s tag team partner, Thick Martel, watches from opposing corner. On Nov. 23, Torres will be putting his wrestling skills to benefit helping those in need. Photo courtesy of Victor Jones.
It Takes a Community to Survive
The Food Bank doesn’t operate alone. It takes in donations – money and food are both accepted – as well as accepting help in the forms of volunteering, becoming a partner of the Food Bank and hosting your own event to raise awareness, money and collect food.
That brings the focus then to Headlock on Hunger. Now in its fourth year, Headlock on Hunger is a yearly campaign effort during the months of September to December to not only raise awareness of the issues of homelessness and food insecurity within Washoe County, but to also make efforts to change the situation.
On Nov. 23, Headlock on Hunger will reach its apex moment for 2019 with an all-ages professional wrestling event to make one large last push for ticket sales, where all proceeds go towards the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.
I have been privileged to not have experienced homelessness or food insecurity in its most extreme form. But the means to achieve this end were reached through hardship no individual or family should be forced to endure, even on a small scale.
The total amount of barrels that were sent to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada at the conclusion of the 2016 Headlock on Hunger campaign — 48 barrels in total. Photo courtesy of Cory Dayton.
My Own Family Getting Support from the Food Bank
My mother works two full-time jobs. I work a part-time job, but must soon transition to a full-time position. Not to support only myself and lofty dreams, but a household in an area that is continuously facing the continuing trend of gentrification that forces individuals and families to make the decision between buying groceries or paying an ever-rising rent.
My family, immediate and extended, have gone to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada for support. While being privileged enough to not require their support as often as others, they were there when the forces of economic disparity coerced my family to make the choice between rent and food.
The average rent in Reno/Sparks is above $1300 for apartments.
According to a November salary report, “ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $124,001 and as low as $19,479, the majority of salaries within the Average jobs category currently range between $48,460 (25th percentile) to $70,789 (75th percentile) in Reno, NV.”
There exists a large disconnect of what statistics will say of Reno’s economic boom and what the reality is for citizens throughout the overall Northern Nevada area.
The reason I take part in Headlock on Hunger is not for the sake of being on a show to bolster my hopeful career as a professional wrestler, but to do my part in combatting nationwide hunger, starting at home in Reno.