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FLASH Update!
( Latino Festival Event in it's intimacy - Click on link below.)
It is the "5th Annual Latino Heritage Day Celebration" presented in part by City of San Pablo, Ca.
being held on Saturday, September 23rd in the heart of San Pablo, California. Across the bay from
neighboring beautiful San Francisco, Ca. and just a bit north of fellow neighbors, Oakland and
Berkeley, California. In addition to the following you will have a chance to view original prints by very
talented and fine local Latino artists in an exhibition entitled; "Latino Heritage Celebration of Arts"
by "Jose Cebreros", "Xavier Viramontes", "Ruben Guzman" and "Patricia Rodriguez".
San Pablo, Ca. is a small community that is slowly but surely capturing the attention of others. Here's a
chance to come and share in the intimacy of San Pablo's unique and flavorful festival event. It will feature
a diverse line up of Latin talents representing the immediate Bay Area, including San Pablo, Oakland,
Berkeley, San Francisco, Richmond, South City SF, Albany, and yes, to the south San Jose, California.
Representing ethnicities of Afro, Brazilian, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Chicano, San Salvadorian,
Peruvian, and Asian descent. Each performing group or individual that can headline many an event.
All coming together in the lovely Spanish style surroundings of San Pablo's Civic Center Maple Hall
Plaza and in support of this small community at large. There will be children activities, food, beverages
and drinks available. (ID required for certain drinks.) Various styles of music from Tex-Mex Tejano to
Rock & Roll to Salsa to Folklorico to Romantic and Spicy ballads of The Americas to Latin Stage
dancers to East Bay Grease Funk & Latin Soul and Comedy! Come stay all day and or at least capture
part of it as your time allows. A place to meet friends, bring friends, associates and see and hear some
of the Best in The Bay! Educate yourself further in various styles of Latin styles and American Latin
styles of music. Be ready to get yourself on the dance floor! It's all FREE!
11:00 AM till 6:00 PM ( Probable extension till 6:40 PM)
The following entertainment line - up:
"Mariachi" opens Visit website for updates. 11 AM
"Huehuecoytl Folklorico Dancers" Pt. 1 Colorful and classic traditions in dance
by 8 to 18 year old students.
11:45 AM
"Tenoch Cebreros" - Soloist Spanish Ballad Singer
12:15 PM
"Huehuecoytl Folklorico Dancers" Pt. 2
12:30 PM
"Graywolf" - Popular South Bay group making their debut with Tex-Mex Tejano
sounds of Little Joe, Flaco Jimenez, Freddy Fender plus classic Rock & Roll! 1 PM
"Carmen Milagro" - Hear and see the lovely Carmen Milagro singing romantic, moving
and spicy songs of The Americas! (featuring a guest 12 year old musician) Has appeared
on various TV shows and major events. 2:15 PM
"Julio Bravo & his Orchestra" Exciting and popular fiery Salsa beats! Julio says all
Salseros and non-Salseros to be ready to spin and twist yourselves to the Latin
Salsa sounds from around the world. 3:15 PM
"Tito Puente Tribute" featuring "Mio Timbalero Flores" & "Juan Escovedo",
(of the famous Escovedo Family), and Friends!" This will be the group's first ever
tribute performance of the late Legendary, "Tito Puente!" featuring some of the Best
Percussionist in the Bay Area! Don't Miss It! 4:25 PM
"Larry Nevarez" Comedian Impersonator See his debut in the East Bay for a rollicking
set of laughter! 5:10 PM
"Downtown Rhythm & The Rhythm Dancers" featuring guest appearance of the
legendary group, "SAPO", lead guitarist, "Bobby Simcox", Close out the day with
some of the best East Bay Grease Funky R&B Sounds and Latin Soul! 5:25 PM
Artists will be available for autograph signing and picture taking as time allows. Sound
Productions by Tellez Sounds & Lights. (Subject to Change)
Visit www.latinoheritageday.org currently for updates and or www.visadrecords.com by Sept. 14th.
Listen JJ Amaya on Oldie Show 89.3 FM out of Ohlone College on Tuesday night from 6 to 8 pm
Sept. 12th and Sept. 19th, www.lowridingwithjj.com . Also tune into "Comunidad del Valle" on Sunday,
at 12 PM on NBC TV 11 for interview and entertainment highlights. www.nbc11.com under community.
Stop by and say hello,
Best regards y en paz,
Kentara Padron
Kentara@Kentara.info
Thousands of Latino Parents and Leaders are Demanding School Choice
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Parents and Latino leaders across the nation are calling on education
and political leaders to give Hispanic children greater choice in
education. The American Hispanic Grito, a document released by the
group last week, has already garnered thousands of signatures. "This
national `grito' (shout) is about harnessing the power of hundreds of
thousands of American Latinos into one voice on one issue: education,"
said Rebeca Nieves Huffman, Hispanic CREO President. People can sign the
document by going to www.justicebychoice.org.
The events of the last month have shown the powerful voice of the
Hispanic community as millions gathered across the nation to express
their views on the immigration issue. According to Robert Aguirre,
Chairman of the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options, the
goal of the American Hispanic Grito is to create a social and political
movement. "This grito will unite a huge mass of Latinos in a single
voice for the common cause of social justice by education reform," he
added. Over 15,000 people have already signed the document.
In the United States, one out of seven Americans is Hispanic.
Latinos are now the largest, fastest growing, and youngest ethnic group
in the U.S. "Nevertheless," says Huffman, "Latino children are often
not well served by the typical public school system. Many Latino
children are stuck in low performing public schools and parents need
other options. Those options might include other public schools,
charter schools, or private schools through tax credits or vouchers."
According to the latest statistics, 56 percent of Hispanic fourth
graders read at below the "Basic" level as measured by the National
Assessment of Educational Progress. The term "Basic" describes the
ability to read English material at grade level. Research shows that
children who fail to master literacy by the fourth grade will likely
fall farther and farther behind each year. Unable to read their own
textbooks and with no hope of attending college, many of these children
drop out before graduating from high school. Revealingly, the Hispanic
high school drop-out rate is 48 percent while the national drop-out rate
for Black students is 44 percent and only 22 percent for White students.
"Decades of poor results and minority gaps have proven a one-size-
fit-all approach to schools is not good for students," Huffman said.
"Parents know their children best and they need the power to decide what
school atmosphere is best for their family."
The Grito includes the following statement: "By our collective action,
led by Hispanic Americans, we call on everyone to support the
empowerment of families by school choice so as to enable all children to
access a quality education and reach their full potential." The document
also contains details of how the current educational system fails to
provide a basic education to Latino children.
Based in Washington DC, Hispanic CREO's mission is to improve
educational outcomes for Hispanic children by empowering families
through parental choice in education. Hispanic CREO's purpose is to be a
national voice for the right of Hispanic families to access all
educational options and to be an agent for equity and quality in
education. For more information, please visit, www.hcreo.org.
Do you buy books online, use Google, or download to an Ipod? These activities will be hurt if Congress
passes a radical law that gives giant corporations more control over the Internet.Internet providers like
AT&T and Verizon are lobbying Congress hard to gut Network Neutrality, the Internet's First Amendment.
Net Neutrality prevents AT&T from choosing which websites open most easily for you based on which site
pays AT&T more. Amazon.com doesn't have to outbid Barnes & Noble for the right to work more
properly on your computer.Politicians don't think we are paying attention to this issue. Many of them
take campaign checks from big telecom companies and are on the verge of selling out to people like
AT&T's CEO, who openly says, "The internet can't be free."The free and open Internet is under
seige--can you sign this petition letting your member of Congress know you support preserving
Network Neutrality? Click here:http://www.civic.moveon.org/save_the_internet
A list of all the ways you might be affected by Net Neutrality is located on the bottom of this link:
http://civic.moveon.org/alerts/savetheinternet.html
Friends remember Ontario teen who killed self after walkout
The San Jose Mercury News, April 10, 2006
GREG RISLING
Associated Press
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Mourners packed a church on Monday to remember a 14-year-old boy whose family claimed he committed
suicide because he was threatened by a school official for participating inimmigration protests. About 200 people gathered at a
church here to remember Anthony Soltero of Ontario. Some of his friends wore black shirts with the eighth grader's face on the front.
Soltero died following a week's worth of student protests in Southern California that triggered a police crackdown on truancy.
The protests were in response to proposed federal legislation that would crack down on illegal immigrants and strengthen the
nation's border with Mexico. Family attorney Sonia Mercado said Soltero was part of a protest at DeAnza Middle School on March 28.
Mercado contended a school administrator pulled Soltero aside on March 30 and told him he could be jailed for three years,
banished from his graduation and his parents could be fined for his nvolvement in the protest. Fearful of the repercussions,
Soltero called his mother about the conversation, then shot himself in the head before she arrived home, Mercado claimed.
"He was distraught enough to the point he took his own life," said Mercado, a civil rights attorney.On Monday, school district
officials released a statement but failed to address whether the incident occurred."The district expresses its sincere sympathy
for the student's family and friends," the statement read. "Out of respect for the family's privacy and because
litigation is being threatened against the district, we can't comment any further regarding this very unfortunate incident."
District spokesman James Kidwell declined further comment.
Mercado said Soltero excelled in school, often getting A's and B's in his courses.
"There was nothing else in his life to indicate anything was wrong," she said.
Democracy Now, April 11, 2006 Eighth Grader Commits Suicide After Being
Threatened by School Official With Jail Time for Organizing Walkouts
An eighth grader in California killed himself two weeks ago after being threatened by a school official for participating
in the student immigrant rights walkouts. Anthony Soltero, 14, died after he shot himself in the head on March 30th.
We speak with the attorney representing Soltero's mother. [includes rush transcript] Along with the mass demonstrations,
tens of thousands of students have staged walkouts acrthe country in support of immigrant rights. Students defied school
lockdowns and strict bans to take to the streets in unprecedented levels and participate in the immigration protests. But
tragedy struck two weeks ago in California when an eight grader killed himself after being threatened by a school official
for participating in the walkouts. His family claimed a school administrator pulled Soltero aside on March 30 and told him
he could be jailed for three years, banished from his graduation and his parents could be fined for his involvement in the protest.
Anthony Soltero died after he shot himself in the head later that day. He was just 14 years-old.
About 200 people gathered in a church in Long Beach on Monday to remember him. Some of his friends wore black
shirts with a picture of Anthony on the front. On Monday, school district officials released a statement but failed to address
whether the incident occurred. The statement read quote "The district expresses its sincere sympathy for the student's family and
friends. Out of respect for the family's privacy and because litigation is being threatened against the district, we can't comment
any further regarding this very unfortunate incident."
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/04/11/1426249
4/9: Ontario, CA: 14 Yr Old Student Commits Suicide After Vice Principal
Threatens Prison for School Walk-Out
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS CONFERENCE
Sunday, April 9, 2006 12:00 p.m.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
710 S. Sultana Ave., Ontario, CA 91761
Louise Corales, whose 14 year-old son, Anthony Soltero, died on April 1 after committing suicide, will speak
to the community and ask for a prayer for her son this Sunday, following the 11:00 a.m. mass at Our Lady of
Guadalupe Church in Ontario, California.
Eighth grader Anthony Soltero shot himself through the head on Thursday,
March 30, after the assistant
principal at De Anza Middle School told him that he was going to prison for three years because of his
involvement as an
organizer of the March 28 school walk-outs to protest the anti-immigrant
legislation in Washington. The vice principal also forbade Anthony from
attending graduation activities
and threatened to fine his mother for Anthony's truancy and participation in the student protests.
"Anthony was learning about the importance of civic duties and rights in
his eighth grade class. Ironically, he
died because the vice principal at his school threatened him for speaking out and exercising those rights,
" Ms. Corales said today. "I want to speak out to other parents, whose children are attending the continuing
protests this week. We have to let the schools
know that they can't punish our children for exercising their rights."
Anthony's death is likely the first fatality arising from the protests
against the immigration legislation being
considered in Washington, D.C. Anthony, who was a very good student at De Anza Middle School in the
Ontario-Montclair School District, believed in justice and was passionate about the immigration issue.
He is survived by his mother, Louise Corales,
his father, a younger sister, and a baby brother.
Ms. Corales will speak to the community after mass on Sunday, April 9, 2006
at 12:00 p.m. at Our Lady of
Guadalupe Church. She will ask for a prayer for Anthony, whose funeral and burial are scheduled for
Monday, April 10 in
Long Beach, where he was born.
CONTACT: R. SAMUEL PAZ
(310) 410-2981
(310) 989-6815
Anyone who would like to send a condolence please send your e-mail to:
E-mail: samuelpaz@msn.com
********************************
LUIS ANGEL ALEJO
The Student Empowerment Project
P.O. Box 143
Watsonville, CA 95076
********************************
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