There have been reports that Senate Majority Leaders Henry Reid is considering bring the DREAM Act to a vote, for more information follow the link below
http://blogs.ilw.com/gregsiskind/2010/07/reid-considering-dream-act-vote-before-election.html
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Chillin’, Grillin’, and ... Postsecondary Education?
Side Note: REMINDER! LSU is having a fundraiser at the Panda Express in Burien Saturday July 31st, all you have to do is order some food and part of the proceeds will go to LSU. If that isn't enough motivation for you, below is a great reason why we should support this group.
LSU has done it again. On Sunday May 30, 2010, Latin@s Stand Up! Movement, better known as LSU (Movimiento Latin@s Arriba, in Spanish) had their 4th Annual Barbecue.
This group of Latino students from Global Connections High School in the Highline School District, was founded in 2006 by a couple of students after attending the LEAP Conference. “The LSU mission is to motivate Latin@ students to go for a higher education, prevent them from dropping out of high school, and college awareness. LSU also wishes to help the Latino community make good decisions and help increase their opportunity for a better life.”
Every year, among hosting other events, LSU celebrates the end of the school year with a BBQ for the Latino families in the community. In the past, the focus had been Global Connection students and families. This year the word spread to other members of the community whose children would soon attend high school.
“Me parece un muy buen grupo...me gustaría que mis hijas se involucraran en esto,” (“I think this is a very good group...I would like my daughters to get involved in this”), said a mother, whose daughters will soon attend high school.
The BBQ was hosted at Angle Lake in the city of SeaTac. Students, parents, friends, and members of the community all enjoyed the delicious food and music. Even Global Connections’ teachers and Principal Rick Harwood joined the celebration. Among them was LSU advisor Jill Weseman, who, along with other teachers, including Jennifer Wittenberg and AJ Campanelli, has supported the club back when it was only an idea. "Over the past four years, the LSU has become a powerful force for positive change in our school and community. The annual Family BBQ has drawn in new members and engaged their families in the work. This year's BBQ was completely planned and facilitated by parents and students, and was the most successful and well-attended it has ever been--despite the rain!"
As usual, the BBQ consisted of student-led workshops. In the past, the guest were divided into three groups and rotated to the different workshops. This year, due to the rain, the workshops were presented to the entire group of attendees.
The first workshop was presented by Rafael Vasquez, Jose Lopez, and Gabriela Osorio; three of the founders of LSU. Their workshop was entitled “Más Allá Del Salón” (Beyond the Classroom). The workshop invited parents to share their educational experiences and reflect on what educational goals they had in the past and whether or not they achieved them. The presenters also talked about what students should expect in college and what impacts college life may have on a students’ culture and points of view.
The second workshop was presented by Senior Yessica Perez. Yessica has been involved in LSU since the very beginning. She joined the group not long after it was created. She will be attending the University of Washington in Tacoma. Her workshop was about the DREAM Act. She had presented the same workshop in the 2010 LEAP Conference.
The third and final workshop was presented by two LSU parent volunteers, Lorena Mendez and Martha Maldonado. They shared their experiences in working with LSU with a slide show of photographs. These photographs reflected the dedication LSU and parent volunteers have had throughout the school year.
The Latin@s Stand Up! Movement had a successful BBQ this year. New faces from both the community and LSU itself brought about rewarding experiences. Nothing less was expected of them. Congratulations and hope next year’s BBQ is just as great.
Brought to you by Gaby Osorio, LEAP Volunteer and Scholarship Recipient
LSU has done it again. On Sunday May 30, 2010, Latin@s Stand Up! Movement, better known as LSU (Movimiento Latin@s Arriba, in Spanish) had their 4th Annual Barbecue.
This group of Latino students from Global Connections High School in the Highline School District, was founded in 2006 by a couple of students after attending the LEAP Conference. “The LSU mission is to motivate Latin@ students to go for a higher education, prevent them from dropping out of high school, and college awareness. LSU also wishes to help the Latino community make good decisions and help increase their opportunity for a better life.”
Every year, among hosting other events, LSU celebrates the end of the school year with a BBQ for the Latino families in the community. In the past, the focus had been Global Connection students and families. This year the word spread to other members of the community whose children would soon attend high school.
“Me parece un muy buen grupo...me gustaría que mis hijas se involucraran en esto,” (“I think this is a very good group...I would like my daughters to get involved in this”), said a mother, whose daughters will soon attend high school.
The BBQ was hosted at Angle Lake in the city of SeaTac. Students, parents, friends, and members of the community all enjoyed the delicious food and music. Even Global Connections’ teachers and Principal Rick Harwood joined the celebration. Among them was LSU advisor Jill Weseman, who, along with other teachers, including Jennifer Wittenberg and AJ Campanelli, has supported the club back when it was only an idea. "Over the past four years, the LSU has become a powerful force for positive change in our school and community. The annual Family BBQ has drawn in new members and engaged their families in the work. This year's BBQ was completely planned and facilitated by parents and students, and was the most successful and well-attended it has ever been--despite the rain!"
As usual, the BBQ consisted of student-led workshops. In the past, the guest were divided into three groups and rotated to the different workshops. This year, due to the rain, the workshops were presented to the entire group of attendees.
The first workshop was presented by Rafael Vasquez, Jose Lopez, and Gabriela Osorio; three of the founders of LSU. Their workshop was entitled “Más Allá Del Salón” (Beyond the Classroom). The workshop invited parents to share their educational experiences and reflect on what educational goals they had in the past and whether or not they achieved them. The presenters also talked about what students should expect in college and what impacts college life may have on a students’ culture and points of view.
The second workshop was presented by Senior Yessica Perez. Yessica has been involved in LSU since the very beginning. She joined the group not long after it was created. She will be attending the University of Washington in Tacoma. Her workshop was about the DREAM Act. She had presented the same workshop in the 2010 LEAP Conference.
The third and final workshop was presented by two LSU parent volunteers, Lorena Mendez and Martha Maldonado. They shared their experiences in working with LSU with a slide show of photographs. These photographs reflected the dedication LSU and parent volunteers have had throughout the school year.
The Latin@s Stand Up! Movement had a successful BBQ this year. New faces from both the community and LSU itself brought about rewarding experiences. Nothing less was expected of them. Congratulations and hope next year’s BBQ is just as great.
Brought to you by Gaby Osorio, LEAP Volunteer and Scholarship Recipient
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Drumming to the beat of Leadership & Education
Edward Alfonso Esparza
In Vancouver, WA a mentor for Latinos leads our youth into a path of creativity, passion, and leadership. One of his programs is well recognized. This program is a mixture of empowering the Latino youth as well as using music as means of personal expression. It is none other than One of a Kind Drumline!
What exactly is the program?
One of a Kind Drumline is about leadership through performance which consists of several kids that range from Kindergarten to twelfth grade. Kids learn that the drum is a part of them and can be used to reach success.
It is important act upon good citizenship. To emphasis this, the group does community service. They plant trees and clean around the community.
One of a Kind Drumline promotes education. Last October the youth went online and research different careers; it did not matter what grade they are in, they all did it. That way they can start looking into different career opportunities and see how they can apply their interests with what they can do for careers. Eddie also engaged all his students into the national college fair. They got criticized for taking the younger students. But, Eddie believes that exposing the kids even if they are young is the way to go. That way promotion of higher education is instilled in their young growing minds early on.
Eddie said “expose kids to music, community service, and career research will prepare the youth for what is in store for them as they continue to grow and learn”. He wants to make sure these kids obtain skills to make succession a reality.
What is behind your aspiration to form this program for the youth?
Growing up in poverty, Eddie used the drums to help him deal pain. We all have our own means of dealing with various life experiences. Eddie having a mixture of Native American and Mexican blood running through his veins was tempted by rhymes of the drums. The drums allowed him to overcome a lot and have made him who he is today. Eddie saw the positive impact the drums had with his life and formed this program to make his method of coping with things available.
When did you start the program?
One of his co-workers, Tammy, had a troubled foster child. He reminded Eddie of his own childhood. Eddie was going to teach his son how to play the drums and invited Tammy’s son to join them. They started with having a bunch of broken equipment and gathered kids to play them. Eddie was used to fixing drums; so he would buy stuff from E-Bay and fix them. From then on, they would get more drums and more drums to fix up. Later, they received grants which allowed them to expand their amount of equipment.
What is the foundation of the program and what are you trying to achieve with it?
“If it was not for my drums…I do not know where I would be right now,” Eddie says. Eddie grew up dealing with complex issues and understands that as minorities, we deal with a lot of issues which can either empower us or break us down. He used the drums to empower himself so founded this program to bring out a positive notion of dealing with the complexity of the life of a minority. The program gives the youth tools to empower themselves with.
Do you plan on expanding this program into other regions?
“Yes,” Eddie says, “we do plan on expanding it but first we have to finish establishing the non-profit status.” Their plan is to develop the program to where they are teaching students and providing them with an area to study. He loves all his students equally; but relates to Latinos more because they share the same culture and history. His mission is to serve everyone but especially the Latino youth.
It’s me Dani…bringing you the news from our Communities, Leaders, and Youth
Friday, July 9, 2010
Eat at Burien Panda Express for a Good Cause
A message from Gaby, one of the many students doing great work in their communities. Please find time to support Latin@s Stand Up, an excellent high school club who work to improve the Latino dropout rates at Global Connections High School (in Sea Tac) by educating Latino parents in their language on important educational issues affecting their student in an un-intimidating location and encouraging parents to partner with the school. Some past LSU events include an annual BBQ for Latino parents, visiting a college classroom, and attending educational conferences.
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Hello Everyone,
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-----------Hello Everyone,
Global Connections High School's Latin@s Stand Up Movement (LSU) is having a fundraiser. On Saturday July 31, 2010 from 11am - 10pm present the attached flyer to the Burien Panda Express and 20% of your purchase will be donated to LSU. Please tell your friends, family, and colleagues.
Thanks,
Gaby
Hola a Todos,
El Movimiento Latin@s Arriba de la preparatoria Global Connections estara recaudando fondos. El Sabado 31 de Julio del 2010 presente el volante adjunto al Panda Express de Burien y 20% de su compra sera donado al Movimiento Latin@s Arriba. Favor de pasar este correo a sus amigos, familiares y colegas.
Gracias,
Gaby
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