I first got acquainted with the name Torolab in the year 2005, December to be exact. I found myself severely hung-over at the world famous Museum of Modern Art ( MOMA ) in Manhattan, New York City and after two cups of coffee, looking at the famous work by Warhol, Diego Rivera and Frida Khalo I made my way up to the top floor of the building. There was a special "Security Art" exhibit being displayed and the work that caught my eye the most was a Christmas tree like object composed of dozens of different sized security cameras. This was a work of art that served a purpose, complete 360 degree surveillance function. To my delightful surprise I looked down at the tag of the work of art and it read " Raul Cardenas Torolab, Tijuana, Mexico". A sense of civic Tijuana pride came over me like wildfire. I called my friends over and showed them that there was actually artwork from where we all had come from on display in NYC. Some didn't seem as delighted as I was but I was absolutely proud that an artist's work from Tijuana was being recognized by such a world famous museum like MOMA.

Torolab is the artistic creation by one Raul Cardenas and now conformed by many other people along with him. Based out of beautiful Tijuana, Mexico, ToroLab is now in its eighteenth year of existence promoting art that goes beyond a nice painting or beautiful mural (much respect to Diego Rivera but this is a little different). Torolab is the creation of Raul Cardenas but now has grown to be conformed by many others and has reached levels of success it cannot have dreamt of before. It is a multi disciplined art movement that has its purpose elevating the quality of human life, survival, and esthetic. Achieving all of the things in a poetic manner, La Granja Camino Verde by ToroLab is the most ambitious and humane project I have heard of in my life.

Video: La Granja

The Camino Verde neighborhood of Tijuana ( formerly known as Grupo Mexico and colonia Durango) is one of the most at risk communities in a city of 1.7 million people. Raul showed me investigations and research that had been done pertaining to poverty, hunger, crime, drug use, gangs and Camino Verde was at the very top of all those lists for the entire city. The community of shanty built homes on top of tires, few accessible roads, upon a huge hill in the south side of Tijuana is home to over forty thousand people many of whom were not born in the city and migrated from other states in Mexico. It's most famous residents include el TEO, a narco gang warlord that terrorized the city a few years back. Police even feared entering this part of town. This is the place where Torolab would decide to build their Transborder Farmlab.

La Granja Camino Verde is a nonprofit multidisciplinary art project that is aimed to help rebuild a community shattered by poverty, violence, hunger and drugs into a place where its residents can proudly call home. It's method of combating hunger, violence and poverty is simple; through art, culture, training, exchange, shared knowledge and the generation of economic models that empower citizens for territorial and social transformation.

The project is so ambitious that it has been recognized by Harvard University cultural agents as a project that can be replicated throughout the world. It has received funding by Mexican government agency SEDESOL, San Francisco Art Institute and many other important organizations. It provides residents of a impoverished part of the city the ability to learn though workshops on everything from reading, writing, music, organic farming and distribution of these products. Companies like Plantronics have already made La Granja it's home for new employee orientation and in a way where assembly line is not the only job option for these people after being employed. It seeks to reach employee's and let them know there is work beyond the assembly line, a low level, not paid well job many Maquiladoras give to Baja citizens. The Baja California Orchestra did a strings seminar there and many of the children in the community attended. The list of cultural and educational activities happening in La Granja goes on and on.

I spoke to a woman who was from the neighborhood, her story was moving and her interview almost brought me to tears. Her daughter was heavily involved in the project. They spoke of the area where the huge building is and what used to be there. Gangs used to be there. Heavy gang activity and drug sales ran rampant there three years ago, now a building filled with endless and useful knowledge lays there. They also spoke to me of how even Tijuana Innovadora has jumped on the band wagon and built a beautiful and architecturally impressive digital library, the first of its kind, in the community. They also told me how a local politician tried to make this digital library her office and the community stood up against her to not allow it, something that was very heavily covered by the press on both sides of the border. A new sports facility has been built for residents to use. These are just some of the tangible advancements that have come to Camino Verde since La Granja was built.

I asked Raul what was the main objective of this project and he answered " To eradicate hunger in Baja California" . He later said if he could only do it in Camino Verde that would prove that it can be done anywhere. He has been asked by governments of other places to replicate the project but Raul is hesitant to do so without fully changing the environment in Camino Verde first. I believe this could make the man a millionaire but I also believe that is not what he is aiming for. Empowering the citizens of Camino Verde to make a better life for them and their loved ones is what I believe Raul really wants.

For more information about this life changing project please visit www.torolab.org .

*Follow Tony Tee on Twitter @tonyteefiesta

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