C O M M U N I T Y
Katie’s trifecta: teaching, triathlon, theater By Alison Myoraku Special to the Almanac
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or an average person, any one of these activities would be a challenge: teaching a third-grade class through Teach for America, training for the Ironman Triathlon, landing a major role in a musical. But for Menlo Park resident Kate Blodgett, 24, any one of those isn’t quite enough. She juggles all three. Growing up in the area, Ms. Blodgett attended San Mateo High School, where she witnessed the effects of the tracking system, with AP/honors courses and more “mainstream� classes creating an education gap between students. During her time at the University of Arizona, where she received bachelor’s degrees in musical theater and business, she heard about the organization Teach for America, a nonprofit that encourages promising graduates to teach in low-income communities. For the past two years, she has taught thirdContinued from previous page
entrenched Norteno and Sureno gangs. The first of the four homicides occurred a week later. Nineteenyear-old Menlo Park resident Catherine Fisher was fatally shot as she and two others sat in a car. Police said she was not the intended target. Two East Palo Alto residents, Jabari Banford, 23, and Hugo Chavez, 26, were gunned down July 18 and 19. Then Mr. Guzman was killed and an 18-yearold was wounded on July 24. “How I feel about these recent deaths is certainly disgust,� East Palo Alto resident Whitney Genevro, 23, said in an email to the Palo Alto Weekly. “I cannot understand these killers’ minds, and how they must not have any love inside of them. I know anger is a strong emotion, but it should never be an emotion that drives the uncontrollable desire to kill a human being. “I hope others are willing to break their code of silence because they might have infor-
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Photo by David Allen
Katie Blodgett in character as Niki Harris, the murder suspect in the musical comedy “Curtains� at Foothill College. She’s with an enamored Ryan Drummond as Lt. Frank Cioffi.
graders in East Palo Alto. Calling it “one of the most lifechanging experiences for me,� she says she is sure “it will affect the way I view education from now on.� Ms. Blodgett’s training for the mation to bring justice to these murders, and we need more people to stand up and do what is right. At my age, we have a great influence on the younger children and teens. If we are good role models, who knows the types of crimes and mishaps that can be avoided?� she said. Near the spot on East Bayshore Road where Mr. Guzman
Ironman Triathlon stems from N PEO P L E another personal experience. “My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was in col- describes the process as a “menlege,� she says, “so I wanted to tal challenge, where the mind has be supportive and at least raise to push the limits of the body.� awareness of the situation.� Still, Ms. Blodgett pushes herShe joined the Team in Train- self farther with her lifetime ing for the involvement in Leukemia and theater, and her Ly mphoma When she was growing current show, the Society, and up, she says, ‘everybody musical comedy participated whodunit “Curin an event in my family was involved tains,� playing at in Arizona. in the arts in some way.’ Foothill College Now, in 2011, through Aug. 14 she maintains When she was her connection to the group growing up, she says, “everybody and is training for the Ironman in my family was involved in the Triathlon, to be held Aug. 28 in arts in some way. I just thought Louisville, Kentucky. For this that singing, and dancing, and event, she has raised $7,922, and performing was the norm.� counting. She started in theater at age “It has been intense, and really 7, and went on to perform at crazy,� she says of the training Broadway by the Bay, with her experience. “We train six days debut in the romantic musical, a week, anywhere from two to “Meet Me in St. Louis.� Her twin nine hours a day.� sister, with whom she shared Although the training can take many artistic experiences, is now a physical toll, what with run- a professional ballet dancer. ning, biking, and swimming, she Ms. Blodgett welcomes the was killed, two young men discussed the city’s homicides, including the June 5 death of the infant, Izack. It was a turning point, they said. “The killing of a 3-month-old baby — that’s just too much,� one of the young men, who asked to remain anonymous, said. The city’s faith leaders said
challenge of stepping into character as Niki Harris, the murder suspect in “Curtains.� She normally takes the roles of “outlandish, crazy characters,� she says, and she finds Niki Harris to be the most like herself. “Theater has been the most formative experience,� says Ms. Blodgett, when asked which activity has been most rewarding. When she was in high school, theater “taught me inner personal skills and time management abilities. When I got out of school at 3 p.m., then went to dance practice until 6 p.m., and then had rehearsals from 7 to 10 p.m., if I didn’t manage it right, I couldn’t do it all.� Although participating in all of these events can be draining, Ms. Blodgett describes herself as “someone who doesn’t shy away from challenging things.� A
Visit foothillmusicals.com for more information on “Curtains� and tickets ($13-$26). The play runs through Aug. 14 at Foothill College.
the turn-around goes against decades of ingrained fear. “Now there are a whole lot more people saying, ‘Enough is enough,’� said the Rev. Paul Bains, pastor of St. Samuel Church of God in Christ. “In my years of being in the community since 1961, it’s not like it was in the past, where people said, ‘I don’t want to be involved.’ The
stop-snitching culture has taken a turn. Tips from the community led to the identification of three suspects in the Fisher and Chavez homicides: Christian Fuentes, 20, Jaime Cardenas, 19, and Fidel Silva, 24, all of East Palo Alto. Mr. Fuentes was arrested recently for violating parole, police said. A
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