The language was simple. A quote from the PUSD website reads, "PUSD's at large board districts became geographic sub-districts encompassing Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre".
As a result of the latest elections there are four seats that are defined by geographical boundaries and three seats that are At Large. In 2015, after the next election cycle, all seats will have geographical boundaries. Currently one of the At Large seats is empty. That seat will be appointed by the current board.
There were 37 applicants for the vacated seat. The applicants ran the gamut. I'm betting all had a concern about the district and cared about the students. That is where the similarities stopped.
The number of applicants to be interviewed has been reduced to nine and they'll be interviewed tomorrow.
The Pasadena Latino Coalition (PLC) has sent a letter to the board expressing their concern that there are currently no Latinos on a board that makes decisions for a student body that is 60% Latino. The argument is made that this is a "historic opportunity to... appoint a well qualified Latino applicant, ...who will help strengthen the community's engagement to help contribute to the betterment of Pasadena's education system".
The other day I was asked if it wasn't racist to think that a Latino should be appointed.
Would I feel the same way if there were no whites on the board and 60% of the students were white: that a white person should be appointed? Not sure if they heard me when I shared, "Yes, I probably would feel the same way".
The PLC decided to not pick one applicant over another. That was something to which all members agreed.
Quite frankly I'm hoping that the person who is chosen is a Latina or Latino that has worked with the local community or local schools and for the sake of the group Latino Heritage, that they have been supportive of the work that we have done.
Every year there are 1,000 people that participate in our Parade & jamaica. Even more benefit from the talks, movies, concerts and educational activities that we provide at a variety of sites.
We welcome all who support us and who take part in our activities. How grand for the young people we work with to have someone with whom they can identify and who will serve as a role model for them.
Friday, May 31, 2013
The Washing of the Water
The staged reading of The Washing of the Water will take place on Saturday, June 1, 7 P.M. at the Beckman Institute at Caltech.
The play is by Marcus Renner, directed by Brian Brophy and is based on over 60 interviews of people that live and work in Altadena, La Canada Flintridge, and Northwest Pasadena.
The characters are drawn from the people who neighbor the arroyo "whose stories intersect in a polluted past and search for a fresh start amidst the wilds of the Hahamongna Watershed Park".
I recognized people in the play, maybe you will, too.
This staged reading concludes the Caltech's New Plays Festival.
Performance is free, donations accepted.
https://outreach.caltech.edu/events/39472
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Get ready for 2013
We're about to begin our committee meetings for the 2013 Latino Heritage Parade & jamaica.
Keep your eyes open, open, open.
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| Banners by VADA, Pasadena High School |
Friday, May 10, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
2013 PUSD Latino Recognition Ceremony
The school year is winding down. That means that the end of the year celebrations are beginning to go to full swing.
Last week there was the PCC President's Latino Advisory Committee Scholarship Breakfast. Nearly $60,000 in scholarships awarded since the inception of the awards. Fourteen scholarships were awarded last Tuesday. Those of us who coordinated the event wish there could be more and are resolute that their will be more next year!
On May 11th the members of LULAc will hosting their Leaders in Education Recognition and Scholarship Awards from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at Washington Middle School. The master of ceremonies will be outgoing school board member, Ramon Miramontes. Moctezuma Esparza will present a special award honorirng Sal Castro and LAUSD President Monica Garcia will be the keynote speaker.
El Centro de Acción Social usually has a scholarship event, but information on that event isn't available online, at that this date. I'm sure it will be, but not as of this writing.
On May 19th several groups will be presenting the Latino Recognition Ceremony at PCC. In 2007 several groups that provide services to Latino students joined together to present the Latino Recognition Ceremony. Over the years the groups have changed, but the commitment has remained.
This year keynote will be author and PCC Author in Residence, Reyna Grande. There will be recognition of the educators Sal Castro and Pasadena's own Oscar Palmer.
The ceremony is focused on acknowledging the efforts of all students and their families, being especially mindful of those who may not "walk" in June due to units they might need to complete over the summer or a need to pass the CAHSEE exam. The students have students have stayed, or, in some cases, returned to school.
There'll be more information highlighting this event later this week.
A last thought - Latinas and Latinos make up about a third of the city of Pasadena. Latina and Latino students make up 60% of the PUSD. Is it any wonder that there would be different events? To be honest, I'm surprised when folks are surprised that more than one recognition exists.
Last week there was the PCC President's Latino Advisory Committee Scholarship Breakfast. Nearly $60,000 in scholarships awarded since the inception of the awards. Fourteen scholarships were awarded last Tuesday. Those of us who coordinated the event wish there could be more and are resolute that their will be more next year!
On May 11th the members of LULAc will hosting their Leaders in Education Recognition and Scholarship Awards from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at Washington Middle School. The master of ceremonies will be outgoing school board member, Ramon Miramontes. Moctezuma Esparza will present a special award honorirng Sal Castro and LAUSD President Monica Garcia will be the keynote speaker.
El Centro de Acción Social usually has a scholarship event, but information on that event isn't available online, at that this date. I'm sure it will be, but not as of this writing.
On May 19th several groups will be presenting the Latino Recognition Ceremony at PCC. In 2007 several groups that provide services to Latino students joined together to present the Latino Recognition Ceremony. Over the years the groups have changed, but the commitment has remained.
This year keynote will be author and PCC Author in Residence, Reyna Grande. There will be recognition of the educators Sal Castro and Pasadena's own Oscar Palmer.
The ceremony is focused on acknowledging the efforts of all students and their families, being especially mindful of those who may not "walk" in June due to units they might need to complete over the summer or a need to pass the CAHSEE exam. The students have students have stayed, or, in some cases, returned to school.
There'll be more information highlighting this event later this week.
A last thought - Latinas and Latinos make up about a third of the city of Pasadena. Latina and Latino students make up 60% of the PUSD. Is it any wonder that there would be different events? To be honest, I'm surprised when folks are surprised that more than one recognition exists.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Today!
Not sure there is any more room, but, just in case you can try
The information in the poster will not help you make a reservation.
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