Under the Sun: Dmitra Smith; musician, advocate

I once knew a Dmitri, but you’re the first Dmitra I’ve met

My mother was absolutely sure she’d have boy, but she got me. She was an avid reader and loved Russian writers, so Dmitri became Dmitra.

Well, you’re certainly not Russian. Where were you brought up?

I lived in the Seattle area, and I still head up there every year. In 1992 my husband Pascal and I moved into a warehouse in South San Francisco. I’d always wanted to live in a big loft space. Frankly, city life began to feel pretty harsh. Pascal is an expert stone mason and finisher; we’d been doing work in Napa and Sonoma, and right after 9/11 we moved into the “Expansion Mansion,” an old Victorian in Glen Ellen. It looked romantic and there were rumors about Jack London, but I think it was haunted.

Good story, but now you’re in The Springs

Yes. Living in the mansion was kinda creepy. We ended up buying this house from a couple who lived here for years. We met them, they liked us and passed up some bigger bids in accepting our offer. Now we live in the coolest part of town! Cafes, tattoos, great food and markets.

The Springs is definitely not Sonoma. Do you see it changing?

Gentrification is happening. Houses are being bought and turned into vacation rentals. Tele-tech workers have moved in; I saw a Google bus at El Molino! I’d hate to see the Springs filled with boutiques with $500 shoes, but that’s what money does. The reality is that in “The Portrait of Sonoma County” report The Springs is at the bottom of the quality-of-life index. Jobs, schools, health-care, crime; we’re in the same classification as West Santa Rosa. But there’s diversity, and a natural camaraderie, even acceptance.

Sounds like you’re plugged in

Transformation will happen. Maybe it’s time for The Springs to become a city of its own. Many who live here want the community to bind itself; people want to participate and become better informed. The facade painting controversy brought out some of that, but the issues go far deeper than paint.

Is that why you’re on the Sonoma County Human Rights Commission?

There’s a great deal to be done. I’m in my second term and now the Vice-Chair. We’re dealing with very tough stuff, things like the Andy Lopez shooting, immigration rights, human trafficking, LGBT related crimes – those sort of things. Supervisor Susan Gorin has been enormously supportive.

Human trafficking? In Sonoma County?

Sadly, yes. Twelve and fourteen year-old girls get ensnared via the web; some of them are runaways. Once trapped, they are shipped around, and sold in and out of the county for sex. It’s horrible. Big money brings crime – the Casino for example – but trafficking is also a cultural problem, a modern form of slavery.

Talk about harsh

Well, it’s also a chance to educate law enforcement. The county is not ignoring what we do and looks to us for new initiatives. And we’ve formed the Junior Human Rights Commission, made up of sixteen young people between fourteen and eighteen years of age. They’re looking at bullying, racial inequality, trafficking, poverty…that’s very satisfying.

You are also a musician, writer and singer?

I performed classical Indian dance with a group for ten years but since 2008 I’ve been in a couple of bands; I guess you’d say we’re Punk Rock. I write lyrics and play some percussion. Our band Ex’s with Benefits just released a new CD called “Bad Hotel.” My music is issue-based – social and historical – so it’s got songs about homelessness, Wall Street, the history of slavery and plastic surgery. I like my music to act as a lens focused on society. Woody Guthrie’s guitar said “This machine kills fascists.”

And what’s your experience of being a black woman in Sonoma Valley?

I’ve accumulated my list of micro-aggressions. I’ve been viewed suspiciously as “the other,” had people ask for my ID a lot, and been treated badly by some. The area’s diversity is increasing, slowly…a trickle really, but I like to keep my attention on the big picture.

 

Interview by Larry Barnett