Maisie Chin is the co-founder of CADRE, a parents’ organization in South L.A. Before participating in a panel on how schools should discipline children, she talked meditation, constellations, and condiments in the Zócalo green room—and confessed to having been a pretty defiant kid.
What’s your favorite condiment?
I don’t know if it’s a condiment. Olive oil? Salt? It’s not your usual thing that you would find on a condiment stand.
How did you get into trouble as a kid?
Mainly at home. I talked back a lot; I kind of didn’t take no for an answer. I was pretty defiant.
What would you bid for on eBay?
I think I would probably bid for something like a laptop, a new MacBook.
What advice do you give to parents whose children are entering public school for the first time?
Know your rights and understand that there’s a lot of learning that has to go on alongside supporting your kid through school. There’s a lot of things that could go wrong, and it’s good to know the scenarios and rights that you have and how to advocate for your child.
What’s your favorite place to eat in South L.A.?
I’m not very picky; I actually eat at a lot of places. It’s probably the Roscoe’s on Main and Manchester.
What surprises you most about your life right now?
I can sleep at night. I feel like everything is lined up. I get to be who I really am, 95 percent of the day. I somehow thought there would be a lot more compromising on that as we got older.
What do you do to clear your mind?
I’ll either meditate or I’ll watch sports.
What’s your favorite spectator sport?
Basketball.
If you could play any instrument, which would you choose?
Probably the trumpet.
Do you have a favorite constellation?
I’m not really good at the constellations, so I can’t even really name most of them. But I like the name Orion—I’ve always liked that name. It’s just got a wonderful effect. It’s a beautiful name.