Skype Interview with Luis Urrea & Into the Beautiful North

Preguntas por Luis:

1.  Your book raises a lot of issues about the border and the human rights violation s that happen at and around the border.  Were you hoping to change these conditions with this story? Gicela B.

2.  I have been in the foster care system for most of my life and I want to write my own book about my story.  What advice do you have for me as a writer?  Lidia M.

3.  Living in San Diego and growing up "Chicano", many of us speak and understand "Spanglish" and enjoyed the use of it in the book.  Do you speak this way in Chicago?  Where did you pick up this language?  Sonia

4.  Zitlally

5.  How did you decide to become an author? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or were you inspired to begin writing at some point during your life?

6.  In your book, the poorest people are the kindest and most humble, like Don Porfirio, Dona Araceli and Angel - were you trying to send a message by including these characters?    Marlem D.

7.  Being the son of a Mexican father and and American mother, which culture or heritage do you identify more with?  Which one do you find easier to write about?   Nancy R.

8.  Which character do you most identify with and why?
  Laura


9.  Your book gives a voice to the often silenced undocumented people of this country.  How can we as students, give a voice to the undocumented people in San Diego because we are not famous authors?  Teresa V.

10.  Your book is very funny - was it hard to write in a humorous way about such a serious topic?
  Liliana

11.  Do you have any Raza in your college classes in Chicago?  Do you teach from a Chicano perspective?

Goals for the New Academic Term - January 24 to March 25

1. List at least two specific academic goals you have for the next 10-week academic term. Please make sure to include specific steps describing HOW you're planning to achieve these goals.

2. List at least 1 social/personal goal that you're planning to achieve in the next 10 weeks, also making sure to include steps on the HOW!

3. For those girls who have been attending Lindsay for some time, reflect on the goals you set for yourself last term (on your blog) - did you reach those goals? Why or why not?

Setting Goals for the New Academic Term

1. List at least two specific academic goals you have for the next 10-week academic term. Please make sure to include specific steps describing HOW you're planning to achieve these goals.

2. List at least 1 social/personal goal that you're planning to achieve in the next 10 weeks, also making sure to include steps on the HOW!

3. For those girls who have been attending Lindsay for some time, reflect on the goals you set for yourself last term (on your blog) - did you reach those goals? Why or why not?

Where in the World?

If you could take a trip to one country in the world, where would it be?
1.  Name of your country?
2.  What hemisphere is it in?
3.  Is it closer to the equator, the prime meridian or both?
4.  What continent is it located on?
5.  What is its capital?
6.  What countries does it border?
7. Why do you want to visit this country - be specific!
8.  Post at least one picture of this country on your blog post.

Hinduism: Reincarnation and the Dewali, The Festival of Lights

90th Anniversary of Women's Rights to Vote - 19th Amendment

On Wednesday, August 26, America celebrated the 90th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment which prohibits each state and the federal government from denying any citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's sex.
The 19th amendment was ratified August 18th, 1920, when Tennessee became the 36th state to approve a woman's right to vote.

Commemorative Forum on the Historic Moratorium March

Raza Si! Guerra No!
COMMEMORATION OF THE HISTORIC AUGUST 29TH NATIONAL CHICANO MORATORIUM MARCH
On Thursday, August 26, 2010, Unión del Barrio will be organizing a forum in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the historic “Chicano Moratorium Anti-War March of August 29th, 1970”.
40 years ago (August 29, 1970) close to 30,000 Raza and supporters, marched through the streets of East Los Angeles protesting the U.S. imperialist war in Viet Nam and the oppression of “Chicanos” (Mexicanos) here at home. Thousands of Los Angeles Sheriffs and other police brutally attacked the marchers; killing three, injuring dozens, and arresting hundreds. Raza defended themselves by throwing rocks and bottles, and burning police cars.
The commemorative forum will include speakers, a film screening, and photo/poster exhibition. It will have as its primary aim to tie the struggles of the past, to present issues and concerns of critical importance to our Raza.

Reflection Questions:
1) What further questions/comments do you have about this historical event?
2)  One African American veteran said of his experience in Vietnam, "Why should I come over here when some of the South Vietnamese live better than my own people back in the States".  What do you think he meant by this?
3)  What issues do you believe should be marched for today (perhaps similar issues that were marched for in 1970)?
4) BONUS: For the girls who attended the forum, please reflect on your experience.  What did you think of the speakers and/or film?  What further questions do you have? What feelings did you leave with?

Vietnam Moratorium of 1970 - Remembering Ruben Salazar

Ruben Salazar 1928 - 1970

It was a pleasant warm morning on August 29, 1970 when the third and largest National Chicano Moratorium March started from Belverdere Park for its six mile march to Laguna Park in East Los Angeles to protest the Vietnam War. Chicanos were dying in disproportionate numbers in what was considered a racist war. Many of the protesters felt that the real battle was not in a far away land but in this country; a country which was denying the Mexican-American community the most basic of human rights. At around 3 p.m. when most of the 30,000 marchers had reached Laguna Park, a swat team of more than 500 policemen began to sweep the park with billy clubs upraised and hurling tear gas grenades. Panic and riot ensued. Two hours later many businesses on Whittier Boulevard had been vandalized, nearly 200 marchers had been jailed, hundreds were injured, and three were killed. Among the dead was Ruben Salazar, who had attended the rally to report the story for Spanish-language television station KMEX. The never adequately explained tragic killing of the prominent, controversial, and popular Salazar made him an instant martyr of the Chicano movement and a symbol of police abuse of Mexican Americans. 

read the whole story here 

Exam Essay Paragraph

Compose a paragraph describing the ways in which you will institute a healthier lifestyle for yourself and your child.  Please be SPECIFIC!  You can use the notes from all of the nutrition classes, and make sure to include changed behaviors (ie: specific habits you've changed or modified).  The paragraph should be about half a page, including a topic statement, with clear supporting sentences and concluding sentence.  As always, use all the academic spelling, grammar and punctuation. 

Conozca sus derechos!

Setting Goals for the New Academic Term: August 16 - October 22

1. List at least two specific academic goals you have for the next 10-week academic term. Please make sure to include specific steps describing HOW you're planning to achieve these goals.

2. List at least 1 social/personal goal that you're planning to achieve in the next 10 weeks, also making sure to include steps on the HOW!

3. For those girls who have been attending Lindsay for some time, reflect on the goals you set for yourself last term (on your blog) - did you reach those goals? Why or why not?

Don't forget to comment my blog when you're finished and look at fellow bloggers for inspiration!

Cover Letter for a Resume

The cover letter serves as a letter of introduction, and is submitted with your resume.  Your cover letter should be tailored to the specific job for which you are applying and should emphasize your basic qualifications.  It should be concise, neat and grammatically correct.

The body of the cover letter should include the following:

• the first paragraph includes why you are contacting the employer and how you learned about the job 
• the second paragraph presents your basic qualifications and what you can contribute to the job
• the third paragraph expresses an interest in the company, your desire to interview, and contact information

A cover letter introduces you to an organization even if there are no job openings at the present time.  Paper clip the cover letter to the front of your resume!

Parenting - Pelvic Exam / Getting a Pap Smear

The Pelvic Exam

Proper Tampon Use

Proper Tampon Use

Drain Safety

Persuasive Speech Power Point

Sample Resume

Resume

Characteristics of Your Ultimate Mate

In Keepin' It Real with Coop, you were asked to list the most important characteristics of your "ultimate mate".  Please write your list on your blog and comment me when you are done - we will be using this list in future classes with Marla!

Post MLA-formatted Samoa Essay Using Scribd - see example below

Samoa Essay

Street of Dreams Poetry Performance

Congratulations to all the performers!

- Elizabeth C.

- Anastasia P.

- Chelsea G.

- Quaneka D.

- Isabela C.

- Teresa V.

- Cynthia N. 

- Lucerito L. 

- Tiana B. 

- Maura

- Nancy S.

- Nancy R.

- Adeline 

- Jahzeel O. 

- Erika C.

- Liliana

- Kelsey L.

- Alyssa F.

- Erika G. 
- Sonia G.

Please post your performance piece using Scribd!

History of Juneteenth

Juneteenth originated as a celebration of the ending of slavery in Texas. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and 1,800 troops of the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the Civil War had ended and all enslaved persons were free. Even though President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had gone into effect on January 1, 1863, freeing all enslaved persons in those states in rebellion against the United States, for various reasons the decree had not yet taken effect in Texas.


The proclamation issued by General Granger—General Orders, Number 3—announced:

The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer. . . .

That evening, thousands of people in Galveston celebrated their freedom with dancing, singing, and feasting. In the years that followed, other Southern cities also began to organize Juneteenth festivities. It was not until January 1, 1980, however, that Juneteenth was designated an official state holiday in Texas. Through the efforts of African American state legislator Al Edwards, Juneteenth became the first emancipation celebration granted official state recognition.

Today Juneteenth is celebrated not only in Texas, but in cities throughout the United States. Typical Juneteenth activities include picnics, parades, barbecues, ball games, and family reunions. It is also a time for people to recount the events of the past. Today Juneteenth has taken on a more national perspective, celebrating African American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures.