On being an activist: "What drives me is my family, my community, my people out here. Things should be different and I'm not a complainer. I'm a doer so I go out in the field, making sure everyone is alright, and doing something and coming up with solutions. That's what I am, a solutionary. I like to change things. There's a lot of stuff happening but no solutions."
Hector is one of the volunteer activists who help organize healthy food distribution around Reno for those most in need.
On listening to the homeless: "We want to hear their voice. I think that's what's important, not what we have to say but the voices of the people and the stories of the people out here. We are giving food and clothes, building a comunnity. We are trying to find solutions instead of saying, 'oh, just leave, get a job like the rest of us'."
Hector says cell phones have changed the way activists can organize and protect themselves.
On the importance of cell phones for community activists: "Police target our community, black and brown mostly, but it happens to poor white people too. It happens out here all the time. We film the police just to make sure everything is ok. Cell phones are a big tool. We can organize and mobilize on cell phones and we can also catch video. Every time I see police, I just film anytime I can just to make sure I'm ok, everyone else is ok and that's our right."
Hector sets up music before a food and clothes distribution community effort begins at a now fenced-in former tent city in Reno.
On how police should change: "They need to be out here with services to the people, rather than harassing. Catch the killers, catch the real criminals, catch someone doing corporate corruption. Out here, we are just trying to survive. People are just trying to live."
Activists reach out with healthy food and conversation at a now fenced-off former tent city in Reno.
On the dangers of gentrification: "I don't think it's good for all these new businesses to come in here downtown, and try to kick all the poorest people out. All the services are here. Gentrification, that's another fancy word for relocating people out of the community."