Saturday, June 17, 2006
Cousins celebrate Jesse Ayala and Sergio Mireles's graduations
(L-R) Bottom Row
Elena Mireles, Lorena Barbosa-Mireles, Esteban Mireles
(L-R) Top Row
Christian Albouras, Sergio Barbosa-Mireles, Jesse Ayala Jr., Diego Mireles, Allysa Ayala, Tony Ayala
Friday, June 16, 2006
Information I received about a fundraiser
Wednesday, June 14
La Chicanada to Scotlandia?
by RudyG
Growing up in Texas, it was a big deal if we got to go across town to the "other" amusement park --the one the Anglos went to that had more and bigger, usually working, rides than the one on our side. It reminds me of episodes of "Everybody Hates Chris" because I went to Chris's school, at least the San Anto version. Such memories were how some Chicanos grew up during the 1950s, events that made for a distinct, sometimes hard, upbringing.
Today ain't the 50s, thank Quetzalcoatl. This summer, 15 mostly Chicano/mexicano, Denver North High School students are invited to perform "Simply Maria", a dark comedy written by 17-year-old Josefina Lopez (from Los Angeles). Hell, they're not just going 'cross town; they're headed to "the world's largest arts gathering", the International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Chicanos performing for Scots? On a world-class stage? For the full story, you can go to the URL below, but come back when you're done:
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_3629676
I saw the Black Masque Theater perform "Zoot Suit" last year to a sold-out crowd, and I kept forgetting I was in a high school auditorium--they were that chido. Their performance rivaled others I've seen in professional settings, and I felt a certain rare pride in mi raza.
A great deal of credit must go to their teacher/director Jose Mercado, who fought the DPS administration when they wanted to cut the program. Mercado comes by way of the Chicano theater group Su Teatro, and he's one of the finest results of their community work.
If you ever get the opportunity to witness them perform, do it; they are impressive enough to even make you love theater.
Yeah, they need $60k! But imagine--they've almost got it. This is one of those village things; it takes more than just their work and Mercado's to get them to Scotland.
They could use la Chicanada's help. Our help.
If each La Bloga visitor contributed $10 (or more), they could reach their goal. Wherever you live in Aztlán, think of these unpaid, hardworking Chicano/Latino/mexicano kids as representatives of our shared Chicano culture, about to present it to the world.
If you have your own blog or website, consider doing a short post on the Black Masque Theater, and feel free to link to this post. Help spread the word, maybe only because we didn't get to go across town very often when we were young.
Whatever you decide to do, do it soon, today even. Their ride won't wait.
Tax-deductible checks can be made payable to North High School Theatre Dept. and sent to:
North High School
ATTN: Scotland
2960 N. Speer Blvd.
Denver, CO 80211
If you're visiting, emigrating to, or residing in Denver, you can also contribute by attending the fundraiser below (although I'm not certain the kids will be performing).
Monday, June 05, 2006
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Guest Editorial in the Wisconsin State Journal
Focus Efforts To Help School Dropouts'
Wisconsin State Journal
Saturday, June 3, 2006
Thanks for the Wisconsin State Journal editorial last Sunday, "We can't leave dropouts behind." The editorial highlighted an issue that often takes a back seat to other educational issues.
For the past three decades, Omega School Inc., which prepares students to pass the general education development credential or high school equivalency diploma, has been quietly helping adults achieve their educational goals. Unfortunately, the term "high school dropout" stigmatizes "individuals failing school," rather than "schools failing to provide a way for individuals to succeed."
Last Sunday's State Journal editorial called for "a more coordinated effort, backed by more money and more leadership . . ." Omega School has long worked cooperatively with adult basic education programs such as the Madison Area Literacy Council, Operation Fresh Start, Head Start GED program, Even Start and Madison Area Technical College's Alternative Learning Division to increase access to services and help students who transfer between programs.
But we are a collection of small, nonprofit organizations without access to the resources to make system-wide changes to address the dropout issue.
I believe that an effort similar to "Schools of Hope," focusing on the reasons why students leave school before graduation, could reduce the number of high school dropouts. A concerted campaign could maximize the efforts of the groups mentioned above and draw others to the cause as well. It is important not to let this issue get lost as summer starts, and I encourage the Wisconsin State Journal to initiate steps to this end.
For its part, Omega School has been conducting research on the needs of those who did not finish high school. In response, we have relocated to a new building on Badger Road next to the Metro Transit's South Transfer Point to make our services more accessible. We are open in the morning, afternoon and evening to fit the schedules of those working first, second or third shifts. In addition to the one-to-one instruction we have long practiced, we will also offer small group instruction and increase our use of technology. We are positioning ourselves to prepare for the future.
As the editorial noted, this high school graduation season is indeed a time when high school dropouts can see the importance of earning a high school diploma and are willing to put in the time and effort to finally finish this important credential.
Omega School has helped more than 5,000 young adults earn GED/HSED credentials during the past three decades. We will celebrate the success of our most recent group on Saturday, June 10, at 2 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School, followed by an open house at 835 W. Badger Road from 3 to 5 p.m. We anticipate more than 50 GED /HSED graduates and their families to be in attendance.
It would be fitting if we could announce at this ceremony that our community is coming together to make major changes to address the problem of high school dropouts. I invite the Wisconsin State Journal and its readers to join us in this cause.
Oscar Mireles
Executive Director
Omega School
Wisconsin State Journal
Saturday, June 3, 2006
Thanks for the Wisconsin State Journal editorial last Sunday, "We can't leave dropouts behind." The editorial highlighted an issue that often takes a back seat to other educational issues.
For the past three decades, Omega School Inc., which prepares students to pass the general education development credential or high school equivalency diploma, has been quietly helping adults achieve their educational goals. Unfortunately, the term "high school dropout" stigmatizes "individuals failing school," rather than "schools failing to provide a way for individuals to succeed."
Last Sunday's State Journal editorial called for "a more coordinated effort, backed by more money and more leadership . . ." Omega School has long worked cooperatively with adult basic education programs such as the Madison Area Literacy Council, Operation Fresh Start, Head Start GED program, Even Start and Madison Area Technical College's Alternative Learning Division to increase access to services and help students who transfer between programs.
But we are a collection of small, nonprofit organizations without access to the resources to make system-wide changes to address the dropout issue.
I believe that an effort similar to "Schools of Hope," focusing on the reasons why students leave school before graduation, could reduce the number of high school dropouts. A concerted campaign could maximize the efforts of the groups mentioned above and draw others to the cause as well. It is important not to let this issue get lost as summer starts, and I encourage the Wisconsin State Journal to initiate steps to this end.
For its part, Omega School has been conducting research on the needs of those who did not finish high school. In response, we have relocated to a new building on Badger Road next to the Metro Transit's South Transfer Point to make our services more accessible. We are open in the morning, afternoon and evening to fit the schedules of those working first, second or third shifts. In addition to the one-to-one instruction we have long practiced, we will also offer small group instruction and increase our use of technology. We are positioning ourselves to prepare for the future.
As the editorial noted, this high school graduation season is indeed a time when high school dropouts can see the importance of earning a high school diploma and are willing to put in the time and effort to finally finish this important credential.
Omega School has helped more than 5,000 young adults earn GED/HSED credentials during the past three decades. We will celebrate the success of our most recent group on Saturday, June 10, at 2 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School, followed by an open house at 835 W. Badger Road from 3 to 5 p.m. We anticipate more than 50 GED /HSED graduates and their families to be in attendance.
It would be fitting if we could announce at this ceremony that our community is coming together to make major changes to address the problem of high school dropouts. I invite the Wisconsin State Journal and its readers to join us in this cause.
Oscar Mireles
Executive Director
Omega School
Saturday, June 03, 2006
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