Who is Civitron?

Originally a New Bedford native, I actually began my career as a masked adventurer in 2005, patrolling the hidden paths and back alleyways of Salem, MA. I had the great pleasure of becoming a father in the two years prior and felt motivated more than ever to help make the world a safer place. I sought to become the change I wanted to see in the world and be a role model for my son. Formerly a soldier in the Army National Guard and an ongoing student of Praying Mantis Kung Fu, I now work in with “at risk” youth and autistic adults in the human services field.

Since establishing myself in the ranks of what the media now refers to as “the real-life superhero movement”, I have had the opportunity to work with many costumed heroes such as Zetaman (a master of compassion and love for those in need), Dark Guardian (crime fighter with a heart of gold), Nyx, Phantom Zero and the Black Ghost (an inspirational hero rallying against youth violence in New Orleans) just to name a few, as well as inspire an entire league of new heroes such as Radiance, Green Sage, Kismet, Text, Miss Fortunate, Poseidon, Ladytron and even my own son, the Mad Owl. I have hosted mask-making workshops with Habitat for Homeless Children, AS220, Rise and the Providence Roller Derby to help kids discover their inner superhero. I spent three years working with Superheroes Anonymous to coordinate annual conferences in Massachusetts, New Orleans, LA and Portland, OR. I have travelled across the country to help those in need, building houses with Habitat for Humanity, patrolling with the Guardian Angels and fundraising with Project Bread and hosting food drives for local food pantries.

Today, I am back in my hometown, building upon my experience and working with my partner to teach our son how to to be a good person. I am making an effort to distance myself from the RLSH community I helped build to focus on exploring the neighborhoods and hidden wonders of my city, building and riding bicycles, volunteering locally and writing about my adventures. With the help of my friends and the support of my family, I hope to soon unveil a new series of art-based projects and events focused on actualizing the super-heroic potential and telling the story of my neighbors in what some call the “Secret City”.

Perhaps it’s unnecessary but I feel this is important to note – While I still maintain the Civitron persona, I no longer consider myself a member of the “RLSH community”. I’m not sure what I would prefer to be called – Dad/Geek/Artist/Urban Adventurer/Costumed Activist/Extreme Altruist/SCUL Pilot. I am all of these things and so much more. I am Civitron. I still aim to do good in the world and through my current projects (involves equal parts journalism, urban art, culture hacking and guerilla marketing) I hope to promote the ideas and ideals of heroism and actualizing ones own very real “super powers” to help make the world a better place. These ideas, after all, are everything I humbly wish to stand for.

I am not a hero… but everyday in ways big and small, I strive to be one.

Mad Owl Takes Flight

Yesterday, as I was preparing dinner (Spanish rice with black beans and red kidney beans. We add shredded cheddar over the top and eat it with tortilla chips. Maybe not exactly authentically Puerto Rican but… Yum!), my son sat on a stool by the refrigerator and watched as I stirred the simple ingredients into a culinary masterpiece. However, something else was on his mind. Our conversation went something like this:

“Dad, I miss being a superhero in Superheroes Anonymous and I miss all other heroes.” (SA is among other things an annual volnteer/training conference for masked adventurers, founded by Chaim “Life” Lazaros and Ben “Cameraman” Goldman. I helped organize years 2, 3 and 4 [Note: Illya King did all the hard work on that one. www.illyaking.com] and for my son it seems the name became synonymous with costumed activism. Visit www.superheroesanonymous.com to learn more about their events.)

“Me, too kiddo.” I replied.

“Where is everyone?” he asked.

“They’re still around. Many are still superheroes (like Dark Guardian, Nyx and Phantom Zero) and others moved on but are still heroes in other ways (like Kismet [a rockin mom], Green Sage [high school science teacher] and Zetaman [still helping helping the homeless of PDX]). We’re just not all necessarily “in” Superheroes Anonymous.”

He shrugged, “I guess I just miss our team. Whatever it might be called.”

Finally, I asked, “Well, what does a “superhero team” look like to you?”

"Strike Out Hunger 2011" with Project Bread

Monday, November 15, 2010 – Members of The Heroic 100 convened in Boston to “Strike Out Hunger” with Project Bread!

We at Heroic 100 feel it’s important to help out hunger projects and events like this because today, thousands of people in Massachusetts experience hunger because they can’t afford adequate food. Local families are struggling even more this year to put food on the table because of a recent rise in the cost of everyday food and the high cost of living in the state. In fact, many families and individuals who never thought they’d need to ask for help are now having to decide between paying rent, getting medical care, or buying food.

This is such an important time to come together and help our friends and neighbors in need. Remember, the most important time is now and our compassion is the greatest weapon we have against poverty and hunger, in the streets, in our shelters and at our dinner tables. Get out there and fight to end hunger now because no one should have to choose between rent, medicine or food.

My friends are all very awesome and always willing to help out for a good cause. Together we raised over $600 to feed hungry people in Massachusetts through the wonderful programs ofProject Bread! Please, check out their new site for ways you can get involved in the fight against hunger. Special thanks to our donors (also listed on the ticker at www.projectbread.org/goto/heroic100) – Peter Tangen, Kris Civitarese, The Almeida Family, Aimee, Phantom Zero & Nyx and my awesome bowling team. I had a great night out and I hope you did, too.

I’m looking forward to next year’s Walk for Hunger with Project Bread in May! If you’d like to suit up and join the team, email Civitron at civitron@heroic100.org. For more information about Project Bread and ways you can help end hunger in Massachusetts, visit www.projectbread.org or follow them at www.twitter.com/walkforhunger

First Days

Tomorrow is my son's first day at 2nd grade. He'll have a new classroom but the same teacher and most of his classmates will join him but he's nervous. It's not a fear of the unknown. I think he kind of loves that. Instead, it's a fear of reoccurring challenges. Awkward social situations, kids taking advantage of his sweetness, teachers not trusting him and not provided the patience and attention that he needs.

I'm not saying my son's any different from any other child. I'm saying my son is a genius. He's creative and playful, independent yet cuddly, he's a born leader but willing to follow a cute girl or an adventurous boy. He want's to explore the world and get his hands dirty, while keeping the hand sanitizer nearby. He's just like every other kid and he's amazing!

Last year's school year was trying. He'd come home with stories of kids telling on him for stuff he "didn't do" and we'd have meetings with the teacher. She seemed to enjoy having him in the class but he needs to cut down on the noises and sit still, of course. (I've got so much to say about that, by the way but it will have to wait for another entry.) He received poor marks in conduct and effort but scored stellar in academics. How did that happen? How did he not try to get amazing grades? For real?

The longer I'm a father, the more I understand the importance of being involved in your kids life. I mean, this isn't news! I don't mean smother the kid. I'm a firm believer that kids are like cakes. The more noise you make, the more you mess with them, the more warped it's gonna come out. I say put the good ingredients in them, stir out the lumps, set the temperature and let them be... but stay involved.

Tonight, we finished up our summer reading project. We made a mobile about dragons. It's awesome! Then, we talked about the first day of school. As we talked and he didn't want me to offer any advice or even comfort him, it was clear that this kid was going to deal with this on his own. Did he learn this from watching me? By 6-years old, (he's now 7) they are they're own person but they are looking to you for the example. I need to provide a better example. Maybe I need to work with other people to help me through my stuff? Maybe I just need to let him know that he has a community he can turn to in time of need, whatever that need may be.

If you're a parent, you want whats best for your kids. You want life to be easy and you want the world to open up before him/her. We just can't force it on them. They'll find their place in the world. Maybe they'll let us hold the door open for them but meanwhile, parents, just be patient.

Where Life Takes Us

This morning I awoke with optimism. Well, optimism came later... after the choking. Let me start over. I pulled a muscle in my back and ended up in severe pain for several days. I was feeling better, last night but woke up this morning unable to breath comfortably. The optimism arose in me as I prepared for the day and watched the sun's morning light creep across the city street and into the window's our cute third-floor apartment. My son, who recently turned 7-years old, woke up a few hours later and immediately wanted to play New Super Mario Brothers Wii. However, I wasn't in the mood to play and I was fairly dismissive and unresponsive to his need to connect.

I think this is what's happening. He feels a need to connect and right now, video games are a comfortable form of expression for him. Unfortunately, most of the world views them as a mind-numbing waste of time and turns children's minds to mush. Why am I conforming to this school of thought? I think video games are awesome fun! Maybe if I had an alternative to offer... but I didn't. And I just brushed him off until he exploded and I took a walk.

My reasoning was I felt that I should separate myself from a situation which I could potentially make worse by over-talking, shouting or intimidatingly posturing. That's not the kind of person I want to be and it's not how I want to teach my son. I want him to know that open communication and understanding are key to overcoming challenging social situations. Admittedly, I haven't been setting the best example.

Sometimes, it's hard for me to remember something my very good friend, Nicole just said. "It's rough being newly alive in a strange land." After all, he's only been here 7 years.

My morning walk took me through Downtown New Bedford, picking up litter as I went. I figured I should probably do something useful and it's actually kind of cathartic for me. That means, "purging of emotions or relieving of emotional stress". I just looked it up.

Anyway, I walked down William Street and toward the water. I explored storefronts and alleyways. I said "Hello" to some people sitting around the water fountain at Custom House Square. I wanted to do more for them but I brought nothing with me. I started to wonder if they would have accepted an offering or if pride would get in the way.

Pride and ego are two concepts on my mind, lately. I don't think I used to think much about them at all but I've recently been reminded of how fragile my ego is and how rigid my pride is. I don't like that but it's a reality I'm facing.

On the walk back, over route 18 and up Union Street, I stopped at the Serlingpa Meditation Center to find out when Meditation for Kids would start but it already did and I was invited in for a class and guided meditation.

The class was about Karma and how our actions can have an effect on our environment. Kelsang Chokyi, the resident teacher talked about separating yourself from potentially violent or high intensity situations so that you may better focus your energy and handle the problem in a good way. "Without inner peace, outer peace in impossible." - Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

I took the information and returned to my family. My son greeted me at the door We wrapped our arms around each other and apologized for our behavior, earlier. After lunch, the three of us went to the beach for a swim. And when we returned home, we played video games.

I'm not a perfect father and I can never hope to be but I can do my very best to be a good father.

Real Heroes: Mexico's Super Amigos

Saturday, July 31, 2010 - (From the Hot Docs official description) In Mexico City, five real-life“social wrestlers” have capitalized on the popularity of Mexico’s larger than life Lucha Libre wrestlers to fight for social justice rather than trophies. Wearing custom masks, costumes and capes like the wrestlers who inspired them, these anonymous grassroots superheroes protect their metropolis against injustice.

Super Animal challenges bullfighters to leave the bulls alone and fight him instead. After a savage beating kills his boyfriend, Super Gay becomes a champion of gay rights, fighting rampant homophobia. Ecologista Universal battles environmental destruction of every kind, all on foot. Super Barrio is the defender of poor tenants, helping them resist evictions by slumlords cashing in on gentrification.

With a mixture of live action, comic book-style animation and a surf guitar soundtrack inspired equallyby mariachi music and Batman, Super Amigos shows that with a little imagination, a good heart and the right mask, anyone can activate their communities to triumph over evil.

View the film here: http://www.hotdocslibrary.ca/dsr/#/en/video/11123 – In Spanish with English subtitles – Official Selection, 2007 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.

Real Heroes: Wild Fire

Thursday, July 29, 2010 - “Fire Starter”, an article recently published in the August/September 2010 issue of Bust Magazine, features the story of a bold young hero named Dallas Jessup. The author, Phoebe Magee writes, “Dallas Jessup was a 13-year-old Portland, OR high school freshman in 2004 when she first saw the surveillance video on the news of 11-year-old Carlie Brucia being abducted from a Florida car wash.” The piece continues to describe how Jessup, “a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a student of Filipino street fighting …realized she possessed a certain set of skills that could protect other young girls from the same fate. So she created Just Yell Fire, a free 45-minute video”. The video teaches young women ages 11-19 a set of basic martial arts skills they can use to defend against sexual assault or other attack.

Now 18 Jessup has helped spark a movement that she calls a “million-girl revolution.” In the Bust article Jessup says proudly, “Girls are fighting back. Even in places not known for standing up and defending girls’ rights.”

A DVD of this video is also available for shipment anywhere in the world. The video is free and available through her website, www.justyellfire.com or write to “JUST YELL FIRE” P.O. Box 5647, Vancouver, WA 98668 for a free DVD.

For the entire article, check out the August/September 2010 issue of Bust Magazine, available at your local bookstore or through mail order at www.bust.com