Building Empathy: A Multidisiplinary Student Project

A MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROJECT BY STUDENTS AT PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

This book contains writings and art produced by students participating in the Pasadena Educational Foundation and the Pasadena Unified School District’s Building Empathy project.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Editor Sehba Sarwar Guest Editor Maysoon Khan Cover Art Kyla D. (student, Pasadena High School) Publication Graphic Design Fernando Marticorena

Pasadena Educational Foundation 351 South Hudson Ave, Room 153 Pasadena, CA 91101 +1 626 396 3625 pased.org pef@pased.org

pased.org/empathy The Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) believes that strong schools build strong communities and strong communities build strong schools. For more than 50 years, PEF has been committed to building dynamic community partnerships to support Pasadena’s public schools. Being a vital part of their community enables PEF to provide essential resources and enrichment opportunities to every public school student in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre. The mission is: Working to achieve excellence and equity in all Pasadena Unified School District schools. <pased.org> The Pasadena Unified School District’s mission is to prepare students for success in an ever-evolving world. PUSD is committed to cultural responsiveness and academic excellence. The district’s Curriculum Instruction & Professional Development Department supports student success by developing and refining curriculum, in conjunction with providing professional growth opportunities to our staff to ensure quality instruction for every child. <pusd.us> Building Empathy is supported in part by the State of California through the California Civil Liberties program, administered by the California State Library, and by California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, through their Civics + Humanities Middle Grades Grants.

Introduction Clusters of high school students walked through sections of the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), opening drawers to examine what Japanese Americans packed in their suitcases in 1942 after Executive Order 9066 was signed by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Others explored the back room of JANM’s Common Grounds exhibition and examined the replica of Manzanar Concentration Camp where 10,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned for three years. Children were among those held in the concentration camps. They were yanked out of their schools and whisked to Santa Anita stables with their families where they had to wait for as long as six months before being loaded on a train that took them to a concentration camp.

Students learned about how an entire generation of Japanese Americans residing in the U.S. today have family members who spent time in the concentration camps. In 1988, the camps were declared unconstitutional. Since then, the U.S. government has issued an apology and offered financial reparations to more than 80,000 former detainees.

In fall 2022, Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) teachers and students began their intensive study of the Japanese American experiences, made possible through a grant awarded to the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) by the California State Library. Participating teachers attended professional development training sessions and created new syllabi. At one of the sessions, teachers brainstormed a title for the project and landed on Building Empathy: Honoring Histories, Identities, and Humanity. The project was expanded in spring 2023, when PEF was awarded a California Humanities pilot grant to expand the project at Blair’s middle school through which eight Blair 9th graders received training alongside their teachers to create lesson plans to teach middle schoolers at their campus.

To initiate a project that is centered around civil liberties through which students can explore their personal histories and struggles is a privilege - and to receive funding to conduct field trips, purchase new books and electronic equipment, train students, and bring guest speakers has been a gift to PUSD’s staff and students. Prior to the start of the project, the majority of the students had never visited

Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo neighborhood. While most were familiar with stories of their own communities, they had not connected the imprisonment of Japanese Americans to contemporary struggles such as deportation at the U.S./Mexico border, the high imprisonment rate of Black and Brown residents in the U.S., and much more.

This publication contains select writings and art by students as well as text from some speeches and podcasts in which students explore contemporary issues after studying history; recordings and materials can be found on PEF’s website <pased.org/empathy>. Students who participated in the project hail from backgrounds including Mexican American, Central American, Black, Asian American, Filipinx, Chicanx, Armenian, mixed race and more. As they delved into the project, all expressed appreciation for learning a part of U.S. history that was buried in their syllabi, and how they’ve been able to apply the lessons learned by the Japanese American community to their own community struggles.

The impact of Building Empathy has yet to be measured. However, today at a divisive time in history, the connections taught through the project offer students and staff a new way of thinking and making connections to struggles other than their own.

–Sehba Sarwar, Project Director

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to the following for the support they have offered to make this project come to life: Guest speakers and artists including Clement Hanami, Leslie Ito, Jessica Kashiwabara, traci kato-kiryama, Dr. Mathew Kodama, Linda Lee Machida, and many more who offered their brilliance, experience, and talks to teachers and students.

Pasadena Media, especially Joe Carbonetta for editing podcasts and Chris Miller for supporting the project.

Guest editor Maysoon Khan for dedicating hours of her expertise to ensure the quality of this publication, and graphic design artist Fernando Marticorena for his patience with endless edits.

Pasadena

Educational

Foundation

team

including

Dr.

Patrick

Conyers, David Spiro, NC Inguanzo, Monica Lopez, Stuart Litjen and the rest of the team for writing the grant, designing the website, and helping in so many ways that cannot even be listed here.

Pasadena

Unified School

District’s

curriculum

and

professional

development team including Dr. Helen Chan Hill, Dr. Nadirah Nayo, Jose Ortega, Ashley Butler, David Flores, Dr. Manuel Rustin and many more for creating space for teachers to participate in professional development sessions, offering trainings, and supporting the initiative in a multitude of ways.

High school principals Dr. Amy McGinnis, Dr. Matthew Kodama, and Dr. Lawton Gray for welcoming this new project on their respective campuses and Teacher on Special Assignment coaches on all campuses – Fabiola Acevedo, Johanna Amaya-Dominguez and Xiomara Tovar – for providing support.

Past and current PUSD Superintendents Dr. Brian McDonald and Dr. Elizabeth Blanco as well as the boards of PEF and PUSD for believing in the project.

The amazing teachers who inspired the students to learn and produce work: At PHS, Bertha Aguilar for training students to create art and for making sure this project morphed into a publication, and to Mayte Hernandez for leading this project and creating space for students to share their voices - also to Jacob Archuleta for helping collect student stories; at Blair, to Jesus Cobian and Elizabeth Najera for working with 8th graders and inspiring them to deliver powerful speeches and grow as student leaders; and at Muir, Cuauathamec Mauricio for pushing students to record podcasts and Dr. Manuel Rustin for providing structure.

And most of all, many thanks to each and every student who took risks to share their powerful stories and art with the community – this publication would not be here without each and every one of you!

pg 1-4

pg 6-10

pg 11-14 pg 15-19 pg 20-24 pg 25-28 pg 29-34 pg 35-39

pg 41-43

pg 44-45 pg 46 pg 47-48

Borrador de discurso persuasivo: Acceso a la educación / Access to Education by Brandon T.

pg 49-52

Calentamiento Global / Global Warming by Monty L.

pg 53-56

Section 4 - Podcast Summaries by Muir High School Students Uncovering the Fallacies: Mass Incarceration of Minorities in the U.S.

by Emm C. & Isabella L.

pg 58

Zero Tolerance Podcast

by Andrew B., Edward V., Zier W., & Jacob O.

pg 59

W&E’s Podcast: Zero Tolerance

by William J. & Elena S.

pg 60

M&E’s Podcast: Zero Tolerance

by Melani H. and Elena S.

pg 61

History Chronicles Podcast

by Brooklyn, Jade G., Hailey, & Brenda M.

pg 62

Zero Tolerance Podcast

by Valeria L. & Margarita G.

pg 62 63

Section 5 - Graphic Novels by Pasadena High School Students The Interstellar Flop

by Alyssa B., Eunice S. & Wes P.

pg 65-72

Untitled

by Alexia C. & Franco R.

pg 73-81

Jaymie’s Story

by Sienna R. & August S.

pg 82-90

SECTION 1 Histories Imagined in Spanish

THE ROHWER OUTPOST In Ms. Najera and Ms. Cobian’s 8th grade Blair Dual Language Immersion Program classrooms, students studied The Rohwer Times (also known as Outpost, Rohwer news, Rowher jiho) that were produced between 1942 to 1945 by members of the Japanese American community imprisoned at the Rohwer Concentration Camp, Arkansas. After reviewing the history, students produced their own newspapers in Spanish.

Available through Library of Congress, Washington, DC. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84025150/1943-05-22/ed-1/?sp=1&r=-1.215,0,3.431,1.625,0

1

The Rohwer Times Imagined in Spanish by Delilah S.

2

The Rohwer Outpost Imagined in Spanish by Yesenia G.

3

The Rohwer Outpost Imagined in Spanish by Ashley MC.

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SECTION 2 OUR STORIES Short memoirs by Pasadena High School ninth graders modeled on prose by writer Jessica Kashiwabara

5

Servando Banuelos

by A.B.B.

6

1.

When I was 15, I interviewed my abuelo, who was cooking carne asada in the backyard. He talked about how his father used to make really delicious carne asada when he was a little boy.

I had just come back from my friend’s house and my abuelo was preparing dinner for himself and me, when he had asked how my day went at my friend’s house, but I was more curious about what else it was like for him as a little boy, Once he had finished the last piece of carne, we went inside to set up the table and I asked him, “Did you like your Mexico life more than here?” I was expecting a yes or no but he told me, “Life was simpler over there but I’m proud of the life I made here.”

2.

My abuelo was the middle child.

He has six siblings and they all grew up in Zacatecas, Mexico in a rancho named La Masita.

My abuelo moved to America because his dad wanted to bring his family to live with him since he was a U.S. citizen. He and his family came to the U.S. by bus. It was a 48-hour journey. He said it was tiring sitting on the bus all day long, and that they only ate when the bus stopped when necessary. The food at the rest stops weren’t the best but they ate what was available.

7

3.

My abuelo has a prostate cancer gene that runs in his family, When he turned 64 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he was able to catch the cancer at an early stage and get it removed.

4.

My abuelo lives here in Pasadena, but he has a third house in Montclair where we like to go on the weekends to fix up.

He is renovating it because he wants to move out there soon.

We usually drive to Montclair on the freeway and it takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. On the way to the house in Montclair we like to stop at this taco stand that is about a mile or two away from the house, we stop there because it’s our favorite place to get tacos. I like spending time with him because when he had cancer and I first found out, I thought I took the time I spent with him for granted. The smell of the tacos reminds me of him because it’s our thing that we do together.

5.

Thinking back, my abuelo is sitting on his black chair watching the news. He always has the three dogs with him while he watches television. The big dog sleeps beside him on the floor while the two little dogs sleep on his lap or in his arms. He

8.

rests while switching back and forth between the news channel or Jeopardy while he waits for my abuela to finish making dinner.

A show my abuelo and I like to watch together is Jeopardy. He’s really confident that if he were to be put on the show to compete that he would win easily. I was 10 years old and loved watching and feeling the suspense of not knowing whether the question was going to be super hard or super easy, as well as the tension of the contestants losing or gaining money.

6.

When I was nine, my abuelo was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I didn’t know at the very start, I was told a couple days before his surgery, He had to stay in bed for a week without eating any solid foods and was on an all liquid diet. The smell of his favorite orange juice always creeped into my nose when I walked in the room. He had arthroscopic surgery. He was unable to work for two weeks and would pee through a wire that went down his leg. He was home all day and would eat and sleep over and over again.

He would always make a funny noise when he lifted up his foot to open the wire when using the bathroom. He was so happy to be able to drive around and go to work after recovery because he hated doing nothing all day

The show Jeopardy is an American game show created

by Merv Griffin. Jeopardy is hosted by Alex Trebeck, and there are a series of topics with clues in the form of answers that help the contestant that buzzed the fastest figure out, which they then must answer in the form of a question. My abuelo believes that he will be the next Jeopardy champion. Whenever there is a question, the answer is correct or somewhat close.

9.

That was the first time I saw a show where people were willing to risk all their money to earn or lose more. Dark and light blues, on the screen, in the bedroom, while my abuelo, a man who showed me that courage is about someone who takes risk and is bold. They will succeed in life by always being up to any challenges, without fear.

7.

My abuelo has already decided that he wants to be cremated.

He doesn’t want anything fancy and outgoing because he says it’s a waste of money. He told me that when he passes away he’s going to leave my brother and myself his dentures.

8

10.

boots, and either a tan button up shirt or blue sweater. My abuelo cherishes this outfit because it reminds him that he works hard everyday.

My abuelo has been a construction worker and handyman for 40 years. He is currently still working this same job. He helps with electrical, plumbing, and basically anything that has to do with your house.

He builds houses and remodels them. He gets up for work everyday at 6 a.m. and works seven days a week. The only time he didn’t work was when he had gotten his surgery.

14.

We like to celebrate birthdays with our family. Whenever someone in our family has a birthday we always go out to eat. We either go out to eat or order in and eat at the dinner table. We love to get Italian food or if it is their birthday, the person chooses a specific place they want to get food from. I think many people like to celebrate birthdays with dinner, but not as much as us.

This celebration means a lot to us because it’s the time where we all get together and talk.

11.

A photo of his mother and his father that sits on his desk. A photograph taken with love and put into a frame to cherish and adore.

12.

Building houses is a special talent that my abuelo has mastered.

He has taught himself every skill that he knows. He built my godmother’s house in a year with the help of one helper and two assistants. I’ve seen him build at least two houses my entire life. I thought it was really impressive for a man who never had anyone to show him and teach him, being able to do something hard and time consuming.

15.

13.

16.

My abuelo is a very hardworking man. A man who sees beauty in a finished construction project.

A man who waits about three months to see his success. A man who thinks nothing is more ravishing than a finished house with a beautiful layout and decor. A man who feels the pride of knowing that he made other peoples’ visions come true.

This story is a story that won’t last forever. I’m searching for the experience of being confident,

or picture When I see my abuelo, I always see his work outfit. His black or navy blue Dickies work pants, his worker 9

outgoing, and hardworking. This narrative is about being able to go from nothing to something.

It’s about laughter. It’s about Love. And sickness. And health.

And change. With family. With commitment.

10

Mom

by Kyla D.

11

to experience the joy of having a child. My grandmother was born and raised in Taiwan, along with her eight siblings. My grandma worked in a hotel as an executive secretary before she became a travel agent.

1.

When I was 14, I sat down with my mom on the couch as she was reading a novel, to interview her about my family in Taiwan.

The Chinese New Year had just passed, and I thought about my grandparents and family who were celebrating. I learned about one of my grandmother’s saddest memories– when her best friend died.

4.

Almost every summer, my family and I travel to Taiwan to visit my grandparents and my mom’s side of the family. Sometimes, if we aren’t able to go in the summer, we go during the winter and enjoy the falling snow. Once we land, my aunt and uncle come to pick us up from the airport. It’s a long car ride. Their car smells of smoke and cigarettes– a smell I definitely don’t miss. The atmosphere is cloudy and gray, and tall buildings surround us.

On the first night of our arrival, all of our family goes to a restaurant called Yellow River Shuyu. They are well known for their fresh fish and delicious food. My family loves this place. We catch up with each other and talk through the night. Even while I’m still in America, the smell of white flower oil takes me back there.

2.

I brought grapes from the fridge and set them down on the coffee table. My mom put down her book and popped one in her mouth. Prior to our interview, I had prepared questions to ask about my grandmother. “Alright, cool, thanks. Next question! What was Popo’s (meaning grandma in Mandarin) saddest memory as a teenager?” She finished her grape and pondered. Finally, she thought of something: “Well, I remember the story of one winter when her friend got run over by a train.”

3.

My grandmother grew up in Taiwan. Her husband was a kind military man who moved there from China. She married him and had two daughters. My mother was their first child, soon followed by her younger sister.

She had always wanted a family of her own because she wanted

5.

In my memories, my grandmother stands in the kitchen by the counter. She cuts pineapple and other fruits. The window behind her is open; wind flaps the curtains and ruffles her

12

grandmother was the kind of person who loved to help others.

short hair. The sun shines down on us, reflecting the colors of the curtains onto the walls. In her hands are a knife and pear.

10.

A jade bangle bracelet. In Chinese culture, jade represents virtues like modesty, compassion, sincerity, honesty, and kindness.

It is said to bring good luck and fortune to those who wear it.

6.

When my mother was 11, my grandma fell ill and was hospitalized. On her way back from school she visited my grandma. She says that the smell of oranges filled the room.

It was a slow recovery, and my mother doesn’t remember much of those times.

11.

During one summer, I stayed in Taiwan with my grandparents while my mom was away in China for work. I attended a fun day camp where I improved my Chinese language skills.

It was close to the house, so my grandmother and I walked together to and from the camp.

We talked about all sorts of things. We talked about how our days went and what I had learned. We talked about the parks and buildings we passed by. We talked about the mouthwatering aroma wafting over from the street vendors.

7.

During the winter of 2019, my grandparents, parents, aunt and uncle went on a trip to Hokkaido, Japan. I was 11 years old and eager to play with the snow and eat delicious food.

8.

On this trip we took idyllic photos of the landscape and witnessed a world of snow at night.

Warmth, as a blue haze envelops Hokkaido’s evening sky, the warmth of my grandma’s hand reminded me of my mother.

There was a photograph I took of a snack on our way home. Our commute was only five minutes or so, and we would eat dinner when we got home, but that day I remember begging my grandma to buy me a beef xian bing (meat pie). Everyday we would pass by a stall selling xian bings, and every day I would start craving them. It was the best xian

9.

My grandmother, before retiring, was once a travel agent. She worked at a travel agency business. There, she collaborated with corporations to create an itinerary. She helped book flights, hotels, and transportation. My

13

place too. When he came home, he would bring leftovers that everyone would share.

bing I have ever had.

12.

My grandmother was an excellent student.

Her memorization and comprehension skills were well above her peers. During her youth, she learned several languages. She taught herself English, Cantonese, French, and Japanese – on top of Mandarin.

However, because she never used these languages in her day-to-day life, she forgot how to speak them.

15.

My grandmother is a woman, wife, mother, and grandmother.

A mother whose heart is big enough to love anyone. A mother who overlooks background and doesn’t hold prejudice. Instead, she looks at the character within and finds only the best.

16.

This memoir, infinite yet finite, will never fade in time. There is something more to be found in the heart of my grandmother, in the loving warmth she provides.

This memoir is about the heart of one person. It’s about being something bigger than yourself.

It’s about community. And generosity. And kindness. And opening your eyes. With love.

With compassion.

13.

When she was younger, my grandma dreamed of becoming a mother. On her wedding day, she received a jade bangle bracelet. In my memories, she always wears the bracelet on her left hand. Marriage was the first step to fulfilling her dream.

To welcome good fortune and prosperity in their relationship, her mother gifted her a jade bracelet. Looking at it took her back to one of her happiest moments.

I’m walking in your shoes. Trying to perceive the world as you do.

14.

On any big occasion, our family would dine at the Yellow River Shuyu restaurant. During birthdays, we would celebrate by going out to eat their fish and delicious side dishes. In the past, my grandfather and his coworkers would frequent the

14

I Love You More than You Know

by T.G.

when she was 11 years old. When she was younger she was more introverted, but opened up when talking to her family, whom she loved so much.

1.

When I was 14, I interviewed my mom while she was cooking chicken in the oven. I asked her about her childhood and how it was moving to the U.S. at such a young age. She had just come home from work when I asked to interview her while helping her with dinner. After we talked I compared her teenage years to mine and saw that they didn’t have too many differences.

In Lebanon, the schools required you to learn two to three languages, so my mom already knew basic English before coming to the United States.

When my mom first came to the U.S. She lived with her aunt and cousins who already had established their lives. My mom quickly adapted to the lifestyle in Pasadena and became very extroverted and made many friends.

2.

My mom is the youngest of three siblings. She had an older brother and sister. She spent her childhood in Beirut, Lebanon and moved to Pasadena, California 15

3.

Right around the time my second brother was born, my mom had to get major jaw surgery. During the surgery, they placed metal in her jaw and kept her in the hospital for a few days.

the house. My dad always says I learned to be a night owl from my mom - who is contrary to my dad since he wakes up before the sun does.

6.

A couple years before I was born in 2004, my mom’s only sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. My mom recalls the day like it wasn’t that long ago. She said it was a sunny but cold Wednesday at the end of March.

My mom still to this day says no matter who she is friends with, she will never be closer to anyone than she was with her sister. Her sister’s name was Tina S., and she had two loving sons and a husband. When my family recalls memories with her they say I’m just like her. She was loving, caring, and loved spending time in her beautiful garden. When I used to go to her house, the design of all the rooms was something out of a beautiful home decor magazine.

Her cancer went away but ultimately ended up coming back and she passed away on June 19, 2006. My mom has lost both her parents and her sister,but she never let any of it affect her effort in being a mom.

4.

During the weekends, my mom and I have a habit of going to a coffee shop every Saturday morning. We occasionally invite one of my brothers or one of my cousins to come with us. While in the car, the mix of my favorite music and scent of vanilla air freshener gives me such a cheery feeling that always brightens my day. On the rare occasion we don’t have time to sit at a coffee shop my mom takes us to the 7-11 store on Washington in Pasadena. Our orders from 7-11 never change; my mom always gets a large vanilla coffee with classic Lays chips and I get peach Arizona iced tea with HiChew candy. The smell of coffee shops and coconut body spray remind me of my mom.

5.

When I think of my mom I see her on a Friday night in the television room on the couch with chips and a diet coke. She’s usually watching Dateline on NBC or House Hunters International with the volume turned up so loud I can hear it from my room across

7.

I’ve never really talked with my mom about dying, I think it’s a topic that is scary to talk about.

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My siblings and I always joke about who’s going to inherit our childhood home after my parents pass away. I always get teary-eyed thinking about a life without my parents, and it pains me that my mom has to deal with not having a mom that she can rely on to help her.

8.

My mom’s favorite movie is Under the Tuscan Sun. I remember watching it with her for the first time. W e baked cookies and popped popcorn.

I remember thinking that Raoul Bova was really good looking when watching the movie the first time. My mom made sure to pause the movie every time it showed a tourist spot that she has been to, recalling and telling me stories from her first t rip to Tuscany.

9.

There aren’t many Armenian people that have made it really big as actors. The first ones I think of are the Kardashians. I always remember staying up late on the weekends and watching The Kardashians on the E! channel.

My mom always told me that the Kardashians were a bad example of how I should perceive life, but that wouldn’t stop us from watching all the episodes.

10.

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My mom went to nursing school, but soon after her father died, she discovered that hospitals overwhelmed her. My mom got into banking right after and now she works as a Vice President Service Manager at the bank. My mom started at Citizens Business Bank in La Cañada on November 1, 1994. Shortly after, she moved to the location in Monrovia. My mom has been working at the same branch since I was born, I remember going with my dad in the summers when I was younger to visit her.

11.

A stuffed animal is a cloth toy animal filled with fluffy stuffing.

Stuffed animals are given for many occasions to people at any age, but one thing about them is that they always have the same cuddly effect. A couple years before my aunt died, she bought my mom a stuffed animal sheep that wears a plaid blue dress with blue bows on the ears. My mom named the sheep Lulu because that’s the nickname my dad calls my mom. On Christmas last year, I bought my mom a stuffed sheep from the Hallmark store in the mall and now both stuffed animals are on my mom’s bed right next to each other.

12.

My mom was always hard working. She started working

our house with colorful Christmas decorations. My mom and I put up two Christmas trees in the house. The one in the living room is decorated by my mom with white and silver ornaments and bows, while the one in the television room is decorated by me and has red and green ornaments and a bright star at the top.

at age 14 at a nursing home.

She always had good grades in school and finished high school while being top of her class. She greatly advanced in her career and is constantly improving.

More importantly she’s the best mom to my brothers and me.

13.

When I think of my mom I picture her in her work attire, which consists of a black colored dress with a baby pink floral design, black sheer tights, and black heels. My mom always has her hair brushed and always has makeup on. She’s a very puttogether person and I hope to always follow in her footsteps.

She has naturally curly hair, but she gets a blowout so I always see her hair straight. Since I can remember she had blond highlights and always kept her hair down. My mom has very good hygiene and always picks out the best smelling perfume.

15.

If I can describe my mom in one word, it’s loving. My mom reminds me 100 times a day that she loves me more than anyone can. Her love language is acts of service.

She always makes my bed when I forget and buys my favorite ice cream and flowers. Since I was little, I would see her pray every morning and she would always pray for me and my siblings by name. My mom saw the beauty in the most imperfect things. She kept all my artwork from school and even put all the things I made for her on her desk at work.

14.

One thing that my mom and I have in common is that we love Christmas. Christmas day is always celebrated at my house.

We have around 30 people come over, and we cook all the food ourselves. I’m usually in charge of baking dessert, and my mom cooks the food. One of my favorite memories is staying up late with my mom decorating

16.

This story is the story of the most courageous and loving mother that has endless perfections.

No one is perfect but my mom is the closest thing to perfect in my eyes. My mom reminds me of the color yellow, the type of yellow that you see on the prettiest flowers. My mom always has a smile that brightens the

18

room like the sun brightens the sky after a cloudy day. I’m so proud to be her daughter.

I think that interviewing my mom got me closer to her and made me realize how much of a hard worker she is. I think that I should put more time aside to hang out with her everyday and get to know her better. As a result I learned so many new things about my mom and am interested in learning more.

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Untitled

by J.L.

20

1.

I am JL, 14 years old, and I decided to interview my father.

I interviewed him at our dining table while he was working on his laptop. We had just finished dinner for that night, and I decided it would be a good time to interview him. I asked about his marriage to my other father. When he told me about his relationship with my other parent and what he had to do to get married, I was both surprised and interested.

After writing down the basics of what he had said, I asked a few more questions, like how they met. “We first met in October 1997. I was a freshman at UCLA, and I responded to an ad that he made for a roleplaying group he was starting.” I think that is a cute story of how they met.

I also decided to ask why his marriage here was so special.

“Our marriage in America was important because it was here for my mother, and siblings, which made it more real for them because before it they couldn’t accept that I was gay.”

2.

My father was the secondborn child in his family, after my uncle Matt. He has two younger siblings; my aunt Diane and my uncle Chris. He grew up in Canyon Lake and was born on

21

November 25, 1978. He had me, his daughter, about 10 years after he initially met his husband.They had my sibling two years before me.

For most of his life, my father was uncertain about what he wanted.

He was not the closest that he could have been with his siblings, as his two younger siblings were younger than him, and about six years apart. His older brother just wasn’t that close to him. And for the rest of his life, he was just a normal person. When he went to UCLA, he met his future husband, Lukas M. 3.

At UCLA, my dad studied to become a mathematician. He started his career in 2008 and has been working for around 15 years. He has worked on many projects such as the Mars 2020 Rover, and SWOT. 4.

As my father’s daughter, I see him every day. My father always comes to get me at around the same time every day, taking the quiet route to my sibling’s school, and then back to our house. Sometimes we like to stop by small convenience stores to pick up snacks for our long drives. I wouldn’t normally get anything other than a soda, but sometimes he would let me get

it from my sibling so we would not get worried.

candy. He would always get a large soda and some mints.

Those things always remind me of him.

I don’t know what happened at the urgent care, but I did hear that he had to get stitches on his hand.

5.

When I think of him, I always first picture my father sitting at his desk watching YouTube or playing video games. He would be sitting in the large comfy chair with the pillow I got him for his birthday. He would watch some of the many different live comedy shows that he found and loved, or he would expand his empire in rimworld, creating increasingly complex worlds to challenge himself. He would create his world for days, perfecting the ideal scenario for himself to play for a while before starting over again.

7.

My father is an organ donor, so he can use any parts of his body to save someone else’s life.

Aside from that, he would want himself to be buried or kept in an environmentally safe way, nothing that harms the planet.

In terms of having a funeral, he likes the idea of a wake. A wake is where people who knew him gather to reminisce and remember the person they are grieving the loss of. He believes that would help him “live on in peoples’ memories the best, so that part of me could continue with you.” He closed with “but ultimately, it’s not for me to decide, since I won’t be there to care. I think whatever helps my family gain closure and grieve is what’s right. I promise I won’t judge whatever happens.”

6.

A few years ago, my dad hurt his hand when he was working on his carving hobby. He cut his thumb really badly, and it was bleeding a lot. The cut went from his thumb down to his palm, and it was a deep cut. He had to drive himself to urgent care because my other dad was busy working and my dad didn’t want to disrupt him.

I did not really know what was happening at the time, I just saw him come out of his home office with his hand bleeding, and later he told me he was trying to hide

8.

Two years ago, during the summer I fell in love with the band BTS, as well as some similar bands in that genre.

While not as interested as I am, my father was the most immersed member of my family

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partially from home and goes into work three days a week.

When he is done with his work, he goes to his personal computer and spends the rest of the day, aside from dinner and picking up my sibling and me.

besides me and would make jokes about it and listen to me when I talked to him about it.

He might not have cared about what I was saying, but he would still listen to the music with me and comment on it. I would like to show him the music of the band BlackPink, which is the band I first started playing next to him, and he would even get into some of the fanbase things, like picking a group bias and getting all into the gossip.

11.

Computers help make the world the same way our eyes see it.

Pixels light up on the screen to create images. When we look at computers, we just see our world, but more blocky, less real.

9.

This was a whole new genre of music to me, and the first time I had ever gotten so invested in any celebrity or band.

Close, bright flashy colors on my screen, on my phone and computer, and next to my dad for long periods of time, helped grow our relationship. And although I am now mostly over that phase, it was still fun to have that connection.

12.

When I was 10, my family and I went to Hawaii for the first of many times. We went with my grandmother and the rest of my extended family, my aunts and uncles, cousins, and other distant members of my family.

The trip was very important to me, as it was my first time flying over the Pacific Ocean and being so far away from the normal culture that I lived in. I love to remember all of the time that I spent with my family, all the bright and warm beaches, cold air, and unique food. Although I did not really enjoy going into the ocean, I still loved spending time with my family.

10.

My father works as a mathematician at JPL, working on different missions that will eventually be sent to space for research purposes. He has worked on many projects such as the Mars 2020 Rover.

He mostly has meetings with coworkers, but also writes code and similar things when he is not talking to people. He works

13.

One photograph I remember from this trip is a picture of my father and me, standing in front

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of the sign of the hotel where we were staying. We had gotten off the plane and driven over, and we were tired. Behind us, you can see part of the sunset and the beach that the hotel was attached to. I love this photo because it is quite beautiful.

year we went all the way to Cooperstown, New York. These vacations are very special to me because they include the entire family, not just the ones that I live with but everyone, like my grandmother, aunts and uncles, and cousins.

14.

My father has an interest in woodworking and carves pieces of wood into different shapes.

He creates spoons and wooden chains and little knick-knacks and keeps them around the house, mostly on his desks and in his office. He wasn’t always good at woodworking and picked up the hobby during the Covid-19 pandemic.

17.

My father is a man who has always appreciated his family. He likes to listen to our conversations a lot and observe what we say. He does talk with us sometimes but for the most part, like on car rides, he just listens to us.

18.

This story remains unfinished because the time spent between my father and me has yet to end.

Hopefully, it will continue for a long time, as I do not want it to end. To me, this story is a joyful one, as I do not have too many bad memories with my father, and I hope to continue to make joyful memories as I get older. I might come back to this memoir in the future, and add on what I learned throughout the years, but for now, it will end here. This story is something about being connected. It’s about closeness.

And sharing. And love.

15.

When I picture my father’s clothing, I see him in jeans, sneakers, a plain t-shirt, and the flannels that I love so much.

I would take the flannels that he leaves around the house and wear them myself because they are so comfortable. He has always had a more simplistic clothing style, but I always see it uniquely as his.

16.

A tradition we have every summer is to go on a vacation with our family. Often, it is to Hawaii, and it can also be to towns like Palm Springs. One

19.

I’m growing these connections one day at a time.

24

Memoir

by Alwand M

was a hard working man, and would have cared for you if he was still here with us.”

1.

When I was about 15 years old, I interviewed my father about my grandfather while he was doing paperwork. He was sitting by the table, paying and sorting bills from his workplace and our house while the TV was on. I was enthusiastic, but also anxious about what my grandfather was like since he died before I was born.

2.

My grandfather is the only husband my grandmother has had. They both met when they were living in the same village and lived across from each other in Iran. My grandparents only had three children. My dad was the youngest.

After he finished a new set of bills, I asked him anxiously, “I wanted to know what my grandfather was like before he died.’’ I thought he might reject the idea of answering that question, but he calmly, but quickly said, “He

My father told me that my grandfather always wanted to have kids and to take care of them outside of the harsh lands of Iran and later Soviet Armenia.

With the marriage, 25

my grandmother.

my grandparents were ready to have a family outside of the harsh country. My grandfather and grandmother left Iran to relocate to Soviet Armenia due to them being ethnically Armenian.

6.

I was seven when we went on our annual trip to Forest Lawn. While we were there, a funeral was taking place near us. The sound of grief and mourning was the only sound we could hear, while the smell of nothing filled the air.

The smell was too clean, sterile.

It smelled like nothing.

3.

My grandfather drank and smoked until his final years.

He died after four to five years fighting liver cirrhosis. He passed away before I was born.

7.

Some days out of a month, I will do some yard work with my dad to clean up the garden in the backyard of our house. We will spend hours cutting, trimming, and cleaning to make sure the backyard looks perfect.

4.

As a kid, during a few days of the year, my family drove to Forest Lawn Cemetery. The way my father drives is very bumpy and slow. It takes us 30 to 35 minutes to get there. On the way, we get flowers and sometimes food before we go. The flowers are either bought by street vendors or bought at Vons. They are colorful, and it’s ironic that they are to be put in a place that is mostly gray, white, and black.

The smell of flowers in the air brings me back.

Whenever we do yard work, we start with the plants, then remove debris from the floor, and if we have time, we will wash the concrete floor clean.

8.

Whenever I do yard work.

I always think about my grandfather, what he would do in this moment if he was alive. I think he would be cutting down the pomegranate tree with such tranquility and lightness.

5.

If I were to guess what my grandfather did while he was alive, I would say he would be helping my father in his business and spending most of his time gardening, growing fruits and vegetables, and sometimes building and weaving tools for

9.

The sun, shining bright, hot, and gold, while the man I never got to meet watches me from far above.

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out and trim it no matter the occasion. I have seen this talent through my father, who mostly helped my grandfather with the tasks.

10.

My grandfather worked as an engineer for Marubeni, which is a Japanese company that specializes in construction, auto, and industrial machinery.

He worked in the construction section of the company. His work ethic was very clean and organized, which I hope to follow.

17.

When I think about my grandfather, I imagine him in a plaid shirt tucked inside ironed pants. It was what he mostly wore and in all of his photos, you can see him wearing it.

11.

One item that my grandfather cared about was a pocket knife. It was an old pocket knife, made in 1890, but looked pretty modern. The reason he cared about this pocket knife was because it belonged to his older brother. Sadly, he died young, leaving my grandfather only with this pocket knife. I have not seen the knife, since it is kept safe somewhere. However, I always think about it when I pick up a pocket knife.

18.

A common tradition we have is Armenian Easter. The celebration is more religious than a traditional Easter. Usually, we will make hard boiled eggs with colors around the shell.

We then play with eggs by hitting two against each other.

Whatever egg does not crack wins. The main food for our Easter is white meat fish. We also have a collection of other Armenian foods too. Most of the Armenian community celebrates like us.

For me, the celebration is less about religion. It’s more about time with family.

16.

One of the talents my grandfather had was gardening.

It was his favorite thing to do in his free time. He would spend hours upon hours cutting, pruning, and trimming parts of his backyard garden. As I have told you, my grandfather was a farmer in Iran, so it makes sense. If he saw that his tree was a few inches taller than it was supposed to be, he would rush

19.

My grandfather was a gardener.

A gardener who saw the beauty of growth and change. A man who spent months waiting for the fruit of his labor. Each fruit is like a wave, changing and eventually growing.

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20.

This story will never have an ending, and I hope it never does, but I know it will. Somewhere in this story is change, change that one day I hope I can meet.

This writing is about memories that only come from pictures or words. It’s about growth. It’s about peace. And love. And solitude. And moving forward.

With patience. With change.

I’m changing, one step at a time.

28

Yo Estoy Cansada

By Viviana M.

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1.

When I was 14, I interviewed my godmother while she was watching television and sitting at the dining table talking about how challenging it was for her to get ahead with her dad being an alcoholic. My godfather, my godmother, and my mom were watching a show on the television. After my godmother told me that it was a challenge growing up with an alcoholic dad, I wondered how often her dad would buy alcohol. I was truly shocked when she told me more about her dad.

After she was done saying that it was difficult getting ahead with an alcoholic dad, I asked my godmother shockingly, “Was it really the most challenging…” not finishing my sentence because I was really curious about what her reply would be.

My godmother replied, “yes, it was the most challenging thing because my dad would always buy cigarettes and alcohol for himself.”

2.

My godmother is the oldest in her family. She was the first of six (seven, including her dead brother). She spent her childhood helping her family in San Jose, Hurbide, or Guanajuato. My godmother would want her

dad to stop drinking because she would feel embarrassed.

My godmother left Mexico with my mom at a young age.

3.

When my godmother said it was difficult to get ahead with an alcoholic dad, I was somewhat in shock because when her dad would come visit my godmother, I would see my godmother’s dad smoke a cigarette outside in front of a car.

4.

I often visit my godmother at least two days every week. I would visit her either on Friday and Sunday or when my mom would get the chance to take my brother to me to my madrina’s house in my mom’s car. I would sometimes keep my godmother company when she would run some errands. I would mostly go to my godmother’s house because my brother likes to play with my cousin on his PS5. My godmother’s dad would stay at my godmother’s house for at least one to two months or so.

When I would visit my godmother, I would see my godmother’s dad smoking a cigarette no matter what time it was. The smell of food would remind me of my godmother because she loves to cook.

30

5.

Out of everything I could remember of my godmother, I would remember the times I would go to her house to give her the present I got her. That present would be flowers and ferrero rocher chocolates. She would put the flowers I gave her on top of the chimney alongside the chocolates. She would either put them away for herself, or she would eat one and put the rest away. When I would go visit her, I would see that she would still have the flowers I would give her on her birthday on top of the chimney.

6.

When I was 11, my godmother had gotten Covid-19. I was very sad because I couldn’t visit her for a couple of weeks. On one occasion, my mom’s friend was giving away kittens and my mom had told my godmother about them. She wanted one, so we got her the kitten, but we had to put the kitten in a box.

We dropped off the kitten in front of her door. Before we had dropped off the kitten, I was so mesmerized because the kitten was really cute. It had brown and a type of cream colored fur, but during the ride, the kitten was cold. She was crying, so I tried my best to keep her warm. We called my godmother to let her know that the cat was outside her

31

front door. After my godmother recovered from Covid-19, I went to visit her.

7.

When my godmother got better and recovered from Covid-19, I was glad to see her again because it had been a while since we’d last seen each other. I gave her a big hug because I missed her. I also missed my godfather and my little cousins.

8.

Before my godmother got Covid-19, the movie Onward came out. At that time I was 11 years old, and I had just noticed that Tom Holland was one of the voice actors. I remember I would watch Onward on Disney Plus, and I would watch it at my godmother’s house with my little brother and my little cousins.

In the movie Onward, it was the main character Ian’s birthday.

Ian’s mother had a gift for him and his brother Barley, which their dad had left for them before he died. They were only allowed to open it when Ian turned 16. The gift contained a staff and stone which could bring back Ian and Barley’s father, but unfortunately something went wrong and they only had their dad’s legs. Ian and Barley went on a quest to look for another gem to bring their dad back. They went through many

when they come home from school and also makes food for my godfather when he comes home from work. She also does the laundry. After my cousins are done eating, she helps one of my little cousins with their homework.

adventures looking for the gem until they finally managed to find it. As soon as they got the gem, a dragon summoned them to its surroundings. Ian fought the dragon so that Barley could bring back his dad. When Barley brought back their dad, Ian was stuck in the dragon because they defeated it and so Ian peeked through a small hole and saw his dad. On the other hand, Barley had the chance to see his dad face to face and gave him a hug. He then helped Ian get out, and gave him a hug because his dad had disappeared.

11.

An orchid is a plant that blooms very beautiful flowers. Orchids grow in air instead of soil in which their roots are layered with white cells called velamen, which is like a sponge that absorbs water. An orchid usually stays in bloom for about six to 10 weeks.

9.

That movie taught me that when you see someone and even if it’s for a small amount of time, it has a huge impact on someone’s life. That is especially the case if you haven’t seen them in a very long time or if you haven’t seen someone at all. Embracing bright lights and a small screen in a living room with my godmother, embracing since the day I was born, has turned into a strong vessel of love.

12.

I would give my godmother an award for being the best cook because she makes the most delicious food. My godmother has always loved cooking which explains why she’s always in the kitchen. My godmother’s cooking is the best in my opinion, especially when she makes my favorite food for my birthday, which is Armenian food. It is so delicious.

10.

My godmother has been a housewife ever since she got married and had kids. My godmother is still a housewife till this day. My godmother gets my little cousins ready for school, makes food for them

13.

Last year during March, I visited my cousin in Palmdale with my godmother, my two little cousins, and my older cousin.

We would go visit her in March

32

because her birthday is on St. Patrick’s Day. At that time, my cousin turned 12 years old. When I went to visit her in Palmdale, it was really cold, even during March. When we went to go see my cousin, we met up at a park because that’s where we always meet. We only stayed there for a few minutes because it was really cold, which would’ve caused my little cousins to get sick. It got so cold to the point where my clothes weren’t thick enough to shield me from the cold.

There is a picture that my cousin took from her new camera that my older cousin gifted her for her birthday. I’m pretty sure she took two pictures, but she kept one, and I’m guessing my older cousin kept the other.

14.

My godmother is a talented cook.

She has cooked some of the best food ever, to the point where I ask her if she can cook my favorite food, which is Armenian food, on the day of my birthday. The food that she cooks is Armenian chicken, meat, mole, and much more.

15.

I remember my godmother always wearing those types of loose blouses with flowers or any other types of designs. She would

33

also wear those types of shoes you would wear when you go to a party.

16.

My godmother was given the talent of being a really good cook. She learned that talent by her mom and other relatives teaching her how to cook.

Every year on my birthday, my godmother would make Armenian food because it’s my favorite. Every time I go visit my godmother, I would see her cooking something very delicious.

17.

I picture my godmother wearing a blouse with small designs on them with blue jeans and shoes where you can just slide your foot in. Memories come back from when I was a little girl and when I was living at my godmother’s house with my mom.

18.

We celebrate “Los Reyes Magos” which is on the sixth day of January. On that day, we eat a special bread called a rosca.

Family members or friends would take turns cutting their piece of bread and if someone finds baby Jesus in the bread, they have to prepare a small meal at their house. We would also have a cup of coffee, milk, or champurrado to eat with

the bread. A lot of people also celebrate this tradition with their relatives or friends. When this happens every year, for me it’s like a celebration where friends and family get together.

19.

My godmother is a very strong woman. She saw beauty in flowers. She waited weeks on a balcony watching and waiting for her plant to bloom a beautiful flower with a very sweet smell.

20.

This is a story in which my bond with my godmother grew. I’m hoping to learn more about my godmother’s past and her experience as a child, a teen, and just growing up. The story is about my godmother’s experiences of being a little girl and also the relationship between my godmother and me.

Though this story might have many more stories along with it, I enjoyed learning about this one especially if it grew my relationship with my godmother.

I hope our bond keeps growing and growing along the way.

34

LOVE

by A.R.R.

35

1.

I was 14 years old when I interviewed my stepfather while he was watching television. We started the discussion with the assignment we were working on.

One thing I found out was that his grandmother was in school when the Pearl Harbor attack happened. I found everything interesting, and my stepfather was quick to respond to the questions I asked.

Nothing special was happening on the day of the interview. It was just a lazy weekend. While we were interviewing, my mother was feeding my younger brother.

One thing I asked my stepfather while interviewing him was “who was someone you feel close to in your family?” He responded, “I feel close to my mother.”

2.

My stepfather wants to be able to be there and provide for his family. I don’t think he considered having kids before being married for a few years with my mom, but now I think he just wants what’s best for my brothers. He first met my mother at a bar where they danced. Years later, he had three kids with her. He was born in Los Angeles. I don’t know if he ever moved when he was younger, but I know eventually that he moved to the mountains, and then moved in with my family.

36

Before he moved in, he would drive from where he lived to visit, and then he’d go back. With my mother he had three boys who are ages five and younger.

3.

My stepfather smoked and drank. Because of that, his body started having problems where he would throw up blood.

4.

I did visit him when I was younger. I don’t remember if it was specific times, just that we did. I think we did it by street or freeway. He had been smoking from a young age and continued to do so. Only a few years ago he started to throw up blood, and the doctors told him he needed to stop. He has successfully stopped smoking and doesn’t drink as much anymore.

5.

One thing I remember about my stepfather is how he did his best to support my mother. He often sat on the couch, keeping an eye on my brothers. He usually helped with taking care of my siblings and me because it was very difficult for my mom to do alone. My stepfather sat watching television waiting for dinner after a long day of work.

6.

When I was 12 years old my

stepfather often struggled with drinking and because of that his body had taken a toll over the years. After he had gone to check out what was wrong with his body, he’d try and stop drinking. He often struggled with it, but he wanted to get better.

The smell of alcohol was there– sometimes in the morning from the night before – but he usually would clean up during the day. My stepfather had to stop drinking alcohol because if he continued he could have died.

Now years later from when he started, he has stopped drinking like he used to. Sometimes he will drink one can, but it usually stops after a day.

had an understanding with each other. In the Spider-Man movie, it introduces a second Spider-Man whose name is Miles Morales. He starts off at a new school where he struggles not only to make friends but to keep up with the classes. Then he gets his powers when a spider bites him but the other Spider-Man whose name is Peter Parker was defeated by the bad guys. So he has to figure out how to use his new powers and defeat the bad guys. He receives help from other spidermen from a different universe, and it really shows the tone of the movie.

9.

I can relate to this because throughout Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales has to find himself, and he has to fit a role that was left to him after Peter Parker passed away.

I feel like in life we are always exploring and finding ourselves.

7.

My stepfather states that he would want his body cremated.

8.

I remember not long after it came out we were watching SpiderMan: Into the Spider-Verse.

Many different versions of Spider-Man show up, and they have to return to their own universe, but someone is stopping them. I saw many flashes of different colors throughout the movie in many different ways to express the tone, but also the beauty of the movie.

I was watching it in the living room of my family’s apartment.

I was with my mother, stepfather and two older siblings, and we all

10.

He works for a warehouse. Then he pulls items customers buy.

He grabs camera equipment for NBC Universal Studios and then just puts the equipment away.

11.

Something my stepfather finds very important to him is his children. Three little boys all ages five o r y ounger. T hey h ave curly black hair with small noses, and

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they enjoy it when you play with them. They were something he didn’t realize he needed. They were something that made him want to be better.

12.

One accomplishment I would give to my stepfather is not giving up. Staying stubborn to his beliefs and staying with the people he loves. I respect him for staying with his children and doing things with them. Showing them how much he loves them and cares for them. He doesn’t give up easily and will stay with something until proven wrong, which isn’t always the best thing.

13.

One experience my stepfather had to go through was growing up without a father. I think because of that he wants to be a good father to his children.

A few years ago my family was going on a trip to Fresno for Christmas to visit my stepfather’s mother. We were able to rent a car because my mother had just had my younger brother, and he wouldn’t fit in our car. We got up early in the morning, and we packed the day before. It was estimated to be a four-hour car ride, so we all took things to entertain us.

The car ride was long, and we had to stop a few times to eat

and use the restroom. It was a cloudy day. The air smelled like cows, and there weren’t many cars on the road. You could still smell the fast food after you finished eating. Watching as trees and bushes pass by. There is a picture from the Christmas trip that we took while we were in Fresno. My mother, stepfather, brother, younger brother, and sister were in the picture. We were all standing waiting for the picture to be taken. You can see the Christmas decorations in the background.

14.

My stepfather is a good cook.

He has been able to do it from a young age and has wanted his children to be able to do the same when they are old enough.

Whenever my mother is sick or unable to cook, he will step in to cook for the rest of the family.

He sometimes cooks breakfast for the family without us even asking. Even today he still cooks for the family whenever my mother feels sick or when he feels like it.

15.

Something I remember my stepfather wearing is a hat or beanie with a flannel. One of these times was Christmas a few years ago. We went to celebrate it at my cousin’s house with my aunts. We were all there, and

38

he was wearing a flannel shirt.

It was a good Christmas that everyone enjoyed.

39

SECTION 3 PUBLIC TALKS Speeches in English and Spanish by Blair Dual Language Immersion Program Eighth Graders

40

Poema (Discurso) por Melina C

¿Por qué les afecta mi acento? ¿Por qué les afecta mi aspecto? ¿Qué tiene de malo no haber nacido en un lugar tan específico?

Nos consideran personas que destruyen la economía del lugar que contiene todos nuestros sueños. Somos criminales, criminales peligrosos, criminales que deberían “volver a su país”. Porque un ex presidente, Donald Trump que debería habernos protegido, dijo: <<Están enviando gente que tiene muchos problemas, y están trayendo esos problemas con nosotros. Están trayendo drogas.

Traen delincuencia. Son violadores. Y algunos, supongo, son buenas personas>>.

Somos de todo el mundo: México, Perú, Honduras, Colombia, Guatemala, Cuba, España, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Chile, El Salvador, Ecuador, Venezuela y muchos países más. ¿Por qué se considera que su seguridad está en peligro cuando estamos presentes? También queremos ganar dinero. Treinta millones de personas cruzan la frontera sólo para sentirse decepcionadas por la falta de oportunidades. Venimos por el sueño americano. ¿Pero siguen reduciendo nuestros salarios y esperan que nos callemos? ¿Se aprovechan de nosotros y esperan que no nos demos cuenta?

Sí, es cierto, no entendemos ciertos idiomas, pero ¿significa eso que se nos debe considerar menos?

Nuestra forma de hablar no determina nuestra inteligencia.

Queremos ser aceptados. Queremos poder ser ciudadanos.

Queremos derechos similares a los suyos. ¿Por qué es tan difícil pedirlo? Llegamos al ver nuestro cuerpo débil y frágil, desesperados por poder labrarnos un futuro en un lugar nuevo. ¿Por qué tenemos que pagar un aumento gigantesco sólo para vivir un sueño que no se hace realidad?

Caminamos por el desierto, mientras el coyote nos muestra el camino hacia las oportunidades. Puede que no valgan la pena.

El sol del desierto nos quema la piel. Caminamos sólo para ser devueltos al lugar al que huímos. Cada minuto decide nuestras vidas, nos abrimos camino hacia nuestras familias en el otro lado, y dejamos más familia atrás. ¿Por qué es difícil mantener a la familia?

Quizás por la razón de que ganamos 30.000 dólares desde que somos indocumentados, por el mismo periodo que un ciudadano estadounidense gana 40.000 dólares. Trabajamos horas extras, pero seguimos siendo “inferiores” en ese sentido. Sólo queremos participar 41

en el futuro que nos espera cuando se nos pueda pagar lo mismo que a los demás, se nos trate con respeto y se nos considere iguales a todos los demás en todo el mundo. Queremos más oportunidades laborales y menos discriminación. ¿Es mucho pedir?

42

Poem (Discourse)

by Melina C.

Why does my accent affect them? Why does my appearance affect them? What’s wrong with not being born from such a specific place? We are recognized as people who destroy the economy of the place that contains all our dreams. We are criminals, dangerous criminals, criminals who should “go back to their country.” Because former president Donald Trump, who should have protected us, said, “they’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

We are from all over the world – Mexico, Peru, Honduras, Colombia, Guatemala, Cuba, Spain, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Chile, El Salvador, Ecuador, Venezuela and many more countries. Why is your safety considered at risk when we are present? We also want to make money. Thirty million people cross the border only to be disappointed by the lack of opportunity. We come for the American dream. But they still reduce our wages, and expect us to keep quiet?

Do they take advantage of us, and hope we don’t notice? Yes, it’s true, we don’t understand certain languages, but does that mean we should be considered as less?

The way we speak does not determine our intelligence. We want to be accepted. We want to be able to be citizens. We want rights similar to yours. Why is it such a hard thing to ask? We arrive at the sight of our body being weak and frail, desperate to be able to build a future in a new place. Why do we have to pay a giant raise just to live a dream that doesn’t come true?

We walk through the desert while the coyote shows us the way to opportunities. They may not be worth it. The desert sun burns our skin. We walk only to be returned to the place we fled to. Every minute decides our lives, we make our way to our families on the other side, and we leave more family behind. Why is it difficult to maintain the family? Perhaps for the reason that we earn $30,000 since we are undocumented, for the same period that a U.S. citizen makes $40,000. We work overtime, but we’re still “inferior” that way. We just want to participate in the future that awaits us, where we can be paid the same rate as others, treated with respect, and seen as equal to everyone else around the world. We want more job opportunities and less discrimination. Is that too much to ask for?

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Identidad Latina por Olivia M.

Soy latina, pero soy demasiado latina. Soy latina, pero soy demasiado blanca. Soy latina, pero sólo soy la chica mexicana. ¿Por qué mi identidad es sólo lo que parezco o lo que es mi etnia? ¿Por qué tengo que ser reducida a una marca en una casilla? ¿Por qué no pueden entender que puedo elegir lo que hago sin dejar de honrar mi cultura? A lo largo de la historia, las personas han sido juzgadas por su apariencia y etnia, y ha tenido resultados terribles. Según las investigaciones, después de la elección de Trump, el odio antilatino y los crímenes de odio contra los latinos se dispararon en más del 21 por ciento. Además, el Pew Research Center afirma que el 67 por ciento de los latinos reportaron más violencia policial contra ellos después de la elección de Trump. Trump quería construir un muro para separar a México y nos dijo que <<volviéramos al lugar de donde venimos>>. Despojó a los niños de sus padres y los metió en jaulas. ¿Qué pasaría si ese fuera tu primo o tu hermana? Eso es sólo parte de la historia de odio latino.

Durante la Gran Depresión, las personas que “parecían” mexicanas fueron apartadas porque se les culpaba de ocupar demasiados puestos de trabajo. Esto no es sólo un problema para los latinos, es una experiencia para mucha gente. Tras el ataque a Pearl Harbor, los americanos de origen japonés fueron enviados a campos de concentración porque “se parecían” al enemigo. Cuando empezó la pandemia del coronavirus, el odio hacia los asiáticos se disparó porque la gente los culpaba del virus. Emiliano Zapata tiene una cita famosa: “Si no hay justicia para el pueblo, que no haya paz para el gobierno”. Tienen que reconocer que hablaremos para hacer oír nuestra voz, y nos aseguraremos de que nada les resulte fácil mientras sigamos oprimidos. No somos sólo nuestra apariencia. No somos sólo nuestra etnia. Actos como este calan hondo en mucha gente. No es justo que tengas una opinión fija sobre mí. Si sólo me miras, soy mucho más que eso, y tienes que darte cuenta.

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Latina Identity

by Olivia M.

I am Latina, but I am too Latina. I am Latina, but I am too whitewashed. I am Latina, but I’m only “the Mexican girl.” Why is my identity only what I look like or what my ethnicity is? Why do I have to be reduced to a check in a box? Why can’t you understand that I can choose what I do while still honoring my culture? Throughout history, people have been judged by their appearance and ethnicity, and it has had terrible outcomes. Anti-Latino hate and hate crimes against Latinos skyrocketed by more than 21 percent after Trump was elected, according to research by the Pew Research Center. In addition, the research center states 67 percent of Latinos reported more police violence against them after Trump’s election. Trump wanted to build a wall to separate México and told us to “go back to where we came from.” He stripped kids of their parents and put them in cages. What if that was your cousin or sister? That is only some of the Latino hate history.

During the Great Depression, people who “looked” Mexican were taken away because they were blamed for occupying too many jobs. This isn’t just a problem for Latinos, it is an experience for many people. Japanese-Americans were sent to concentration camps because they “looked” like the enemy. When Covid-19 started, Asian hate skyrocketed because people blamed them for the virus.

Emiliano Zapata has a famous quote, “If there is no justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government (“Si no hay justicia para el pueblo, que no haya paz para el gobierno”). They need to recognize that we will speak out to make our voices heard, and we will make sure that nothing will be easy for them as long as we remain oppressed. We are not just our appearance. We are not just our ethnicity. Acts like this cut deep for a lot of people. It is not fair that you have a fixated opinion about me. If you only look at me, I am so much more than that, and you need to realize it.

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Sindicalización en América por Oscar O.

Según el Departamento de Trabajo, sólo el 11% de los trabajadores de Estados Unidos están sindicados. Esto significa que casi el 90% de los trabajadores no están representados, están marginados y a menudo sus empleadores se aprovechan de ellos. Esto no es justo.

Este problema no puede resolverse haciendo algunos pequeños cambios o arreglos. Resolver este problema requeriría un sistema laboral completamente nuevo en nuestro país. Algunos de ustedes pensarán que se trata de una idea completamente descabellada o inaudita, pero docenas de países de todo el mundo ya la han puesto en práctica. Países como Suecia, Dinamarca, Austria, y países que consideramos nuestros amigos y aliados. ¿Por qué no podemos seguir sus pasos? Se supone que nuestro país tiene un <<gobierno del pueblo, por el pueblo y para el pueblo>>, pero ¿cómo podemos estar a la altura del ideal del presidente Lincoln si la mayoría de la gente de nuestro país es explotada por las corporaciones que esencialmente dirigen nuestro país? Pueden llamarme loco, pueden llamarme comunista, pero yo no soy así. Sólo soy una persona que se preocupa por los demás.

Unionization in America

by Oscar O.

According to the Department of Labor, only 11 percent of workers in the United States are part of a union. This means that almost 90 percent of workers are unrepresented, marginalized and often taken advantage of by their employers. This is simply not fair. This problem cannot be solved by making some small changes or fixes.

Solving this problem would require a completely new labor system in our country. Some of you might think this is a completely crazy or unheard of idea, but dozens of countries around the world, including Sweden, Denmark, and Austria have already implemented it. Why can’t we follow in their footsteps? Our country is supposed to have a “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” but how can we live up to President Lincoln’s ideal if the majority of the people are exploited by the corporations that essentially run our country?

You can call me crazy, you can call me a communist, but that’s not who I am. I’m just a person who cares about other people.

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¿Quien soy? por Sean W.

Hoy tengo 14 años. Crecí siendo mitad afroamericano y mitad mexicano.

Hoy tengo 14 años. Soy estudiante de octavo grado. He oído que sólo los blancos podían entrar en las escuelas privadas. Que la gente de color no puede hacerlo.

Hoy tengo 14 años y dentro de unos años aprenderé a conducir.

Mi padre me dijo que cuando va en su coche y ve a la policía siempre tiene miedo... No porque haya hecho algo malo, sino porque es negro y quizá le acusen de un delito que nunca ha cometido...

Según Do something.org, en la ciudad de Nueva York el 88% de las paradas policiales de 2018 afectaron a personas negras y marrones y, de esas paradas, el 70% eran completamente inocentes.

Hoy tengo 14 años. Y un amigo mío me dijo que nunca creería que yo era mexicano porque mi mamá tenía la piel demasiado clara. Que no parecíamos mexicanos.

Hoy tengo 14 años. Y puede que no sea la mexicana perfecta o la afroamericana perfecta. Pero, ¿por qué importa eso? ¿Por qué tengo que ser perfecta de alguna manera que alguien me etiquetó? Soy humana y soy perfecta en mi ser. Entonces, ¿por qué me tratan como si no fuera como tú? ¿Por qué no pertenezco a nadie? ¿Por qué no soy lo suficientemente negro para algunos? ¿Y no lo suficientemente mexicano para el resto?

Tengo 14 años y hoy he contado la historia de mi vida.

Tengo 14 años y voy a ser honesto, no tengo las respuestas, ni las soluciones.

Hoy tengo 14 años. No estoy aquí para decirte cómo vivir tu vida, pero por favor no arruines la mía sólo porque no me parezco a ti.

Dentro de siete años tendré 21 y estaré en la misma situación que cuando tenía 14 años.

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Who am I?

by Sean W.

Today I am 14 years old. I grew up half African American and half Mexican.

Today I am 14 years old. I am an 8th grade student. I’ve heard that only Whites could get into private schools. That people of color just couldn’t do it.

Today I am 14 years old, and in a few years I will learn to drive.

My father told me that when he is in his car and he sees the police he is always afraid… Not because he has done something wrong, but because he is Black and maybe they will accuse him of a crime that he never committed… According to Do something.org, in New York City, 88 percent of police stops in 2018 involved Black and brown people and of those stops. 70 percent of them were completely innocent.

I am 14 years old today. And a friend of mine told me that he would never believe that I was Mexican because my mom’s skin was too light. That we didn’t look like Mexicans.

I am 14 years old today. And I may not be the perfect Mexican or the perfect African American. But why does that matter? Why do I have to be perfect in some way that someone labeled me to be? I am human and I am perfect in being. So why do they treat me like I’m not like you? Why do I belong to no one? Why am I not Black enough for some people? And not Mexican enough for the rest?

I am 14 years old and today I told the story of my life.

I am 14 years old and I am going to be honest, I do not have the answers, nor the solutions.

I am 14 years old today. I’m not here to tell you how to live your life, but please don’t ruin mine just because I don’t look like you.

In seven years, I will be 21, and I will be in the same position that I was when I was 14 years old.

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Borrador de discurso persuasivo: Acceso a la educación por Brandon T.

De acuerdo a Nuestro mundo en Data.org, <<de los 787 millones de niños en edad escolar primaria que hay en el mundo, el 8% no va a la escuela.>> Es decir, 58 millones de niños. Imaginemos que todos estos niños probablemente están trabajando muy duro en empleos que pagan el salario mínimo sólo para ayudar a mantener a sus familias. Estos niños probablemente no tienen lo suficiente para pagar una buena escuela o viven demasiado lejos de cualquier fuente de educación. Por eso debemos dar acceso a la educación a todos los niños del mundo. Tenemos que darles libros, lápices y papel para escribir. Sin una educación e instrucción adecuadas, todos estos niños se convertirán en adultos analfabetos que lucharán por conseguir trabajos básicos sólo para mantenerse a sí mismos y posiblemente a los demás.

Según el Illiteracy Among Adults in the US, la capacidad de leer es una habilidad que es muy importante que las personas desarrollen porque reduce la probabilidad de pobreza, aumenta la empleabilidad, incrementa la inclusión social e impulsa a las personas hacia una vida más saludable. Sin embargo, la capacidad de leer y escribir no es tan fácil de conseguir para todo el mundo: el 19% de la población del África subsahariana no tiene acceso a una educación correcta. Además, una tonelada de inmigrantes que llegan a Estados Unidos no pueden aprender inglés y otros conocimientos esenciales porque tienen miedo de que les devuelvan a su país de origen. ¿Sabías que los inmigrantes en California dicen que los inmigrantes en California son el 70% de las personas que no tienen un diploma de secundaria, según el Instituto de Políticas Públicas? Aquí en los Estados Unidos, un problema que tenemos es el racismo o la desigualdad hacia las personas que tratan de llegar aquí para tener más oportunidades y ser libres, pero, se lo ponemos muy difícil. Aquí en Blair, tenemos un programa para estudiantes inmigrantes que no hablan inglés. Este programa se llama “Academia Internacional”. Los profesores que hablan inglés y español ayudan a los estudiantes con inglés, matemáticas, ciencias y más. Este programa es genial pero tristemente, es el único de muchas escuelas. Creo que cada escuela

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debería tener un programa como este para que todos puedan tener una educación accesible.

Para terminar, algo que podríamos hacer para ayudar a este problema es donar libros, lápices, rotuladores y otros materiales a organizaciones benéficas como Children ‘s International. Con muchas pequeñas donaciones, podemos ayudar a muchas personas en todo el mundo. Además, podemos ayudar a difundir este problema para que otros puedan ayudar. Necesitamos más programas como la “Academia Internacional” en Blair y si usted ayuda a difundir la conciencia, esto es realmente posible.

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Access to Education

by Brandon T.

According to Our World In Data.org, “of the world’s 787 million primary school-age children, eight percent do not go to school.”

That is 58 million children. Imagine that all these kids probably are working really hard in jobs that pay minimum wage just to help support their families. These kids probably don’t have enough to pay for a good school or live too far from any source of education. That is why we should give all the children in the world access to education.

We need to give them books, pencils, and paper to write. Without proper education and instruction, all these kids will become illiterate adults who will fight to get basic jobs just to support themselves and possibly others.

According to Illiteracy Among Adults in the U.S., the ability to read is an ability very important for people to develop because it reduces the likelihood of poverty, it increases the employability, it increases social inclusion, and it drives people towards a more healthy life.

But, the ability to read and write is not that easy for everyone to get. Almost 60 percent of youth in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to education. Also, a ton of immigrants coming to the United States can’t learn English and other essential skills because they are scared of being brought back to their country of origin.

Did you know that immigrants in California make up 70 percent of people without a high school diploma, according to the Public Policy Institute? Here in the U.S., a problem we have is racism or inequality towards people trying to get here for more opportunities and to be free, but we make that really hard for them. Here in Blair, we have a program for immigrant students that don’t speak English. This program is called the “International Academy.” Teachers fluent in English and Spanish help students with English, math, sciences, and more. This program is great but sadly, it’s the only one out of many schools. I believe that every school should have a program like this one so that everyone can have an accessible education.

To conclude, something we could do to help this problem is donate books, pencils, markers, and other supplies to beneficial organizations like Children‘s International. With a lot of small donations, we can help so many around the world. Also, we can help spread awareness of this problem so others can help. We need more programs like the “International Academy” in Blair and if you help spread awareness, this is really possible.

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Fuente #1: https://ourworldindata.org/children-not-in-school Fuente #2: Alfabetización de inmigrantes Fuente #3: Analfabetismo entre adultos en los EE. UU.

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Calentamiento Global por Monty L.

En 2022, tres olas de calor impactaron el Reino Unido, quebrando registros en áreas que ordinariamente son frías y lluviosas. El calentamiento global realmente es un problema grande y las corporaciones deben ser responsables de reducir nuestras emisiones de combustibles fósiles. Aunque las corporaciones hablan sobre hacer progreso para reducir el calentamiento global, la realidad es que la responsabilidad está en ti para poner un fin a esta amenaza.

De acuerdo con un artículo de el NRDC (Natural Resources Defence Council), tipos de contaminación como dióxido de carbono que están producidos por quemar combustibles fósiles como petróleo y carbón y se atrapan el calor en el atmosphera, haciendo el planeta más caluroso. Esto ha aumentado el calor global y está causando malos efectos para el medio ambiente. De acuerdo con una artículo de NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), el calentamiento global va a causar un nivel más alto del océano, huracanes más fuertes, van a ser más olas de calor y animales van a perder sus hábitats. ¿Cómo te sentirías si tu casa lentamente desapareciera antes tus propios ojos? Sería terrible! Esto es lo que va a pasar a animales como pingüinos y osos polares si no hacemos algo. Aunque muchos no quieren admitirlo, calentamiento es un problema muy grande que va a causar problemas grandes muy pronto.

Un problema con nuestro pelea contra calentamiento global es corporaciones grandes que pollutan el medioambiente y queman combustibles fósiles. Muchas compañías hablan sobre cómo quieren <<reducir sus emisiones de combustibles fósiles>> para una década en el futuro, pero frecuentemente no hay mucho progreso.

De acuerdo con un artículo del New York Times, corporaciones como Costco, Netflix y Google no han alcanzado sus metas de cortar su emisiones aunque estas metas son muy ambiciosas., que necesitan realmente trabajar para prevenir el calentamiento global. No es justo que las personas deben parar de comprar de compañías grandes porque la responsabilidad debe ser de la compañía en vez del consumidor. Muchas personas no quieren e incluso no pueden cambiar de comprar de grandes compañías que venden productos muy baratos y buenos. Compañías deben parar de hacer promesas vacías sobre cómo quieren hacer progreso y realmente dedicarse a reducir sus emisiones y salvar nuestro medio ambiente.

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Para concluir, el calentamiento global es causado por combustibles fósiles que están quemados y llenan nuestra atmósfera y es un problema muy evidente que está causando muchos problemas hoy en día y en el futuro. Finalmente, Corporaciones deben ser consideradas responsables por mucha de la polución de el planeta y necesitan hacer cambios. Aunque es injusto, mucho de la responsabilidad es en ti, la audiencia, y necesitas hacer lo que puedes. Por favor, recicla todo que puedas, compra cosas biodegradables y haz un esfuerzo para comprar menos cosas de grandes compañías como Amazon, Costco y Starbucks. Gracias.

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Global Warming

by Monty L

In 2022, three heat waves hit the United Kingdom, breaking records in areas that are usually cold and rainy. Global warming really is an increasingly apparent issue and corporations should be held responsible to reduce our emissions of fossil fuels. Even though corporations talk about how they are going to make progress to stop global warming, the reality is that the responsibility is on you to put an end to this threat.

According to an article by the National Resources Defense Council, types of contamination like carbon dioxide that are produced by burning fossil fuels like coal or oil trap heat in the atmosphere, making the planet hotter. This has increased global temperature and has had bad effects on the environment. There will be higher water levels, stronger hurricanes, frequent heat waves, and animals will suffer from habitat loss due to global warming, according to an article from NASA. How would you feel if your house slowly disappeared before your very eyes? It would be terrible! This is what will happen to animals like penguins and polar bears if we don’t do anything. Even though many people don’t want to admit it, global warming is a very evident threat that will have terrible effects very soon.

A problem that faces our fight against climate change is large corporations who pollute the environment and burn fossil fuels. Many companies talk about how they want to “reduce their emissions of fossil fuels” for a date in the future, but frequently there isn’t much progress. According to an article from the New York Times, corporations like Costco, Netflix and Google have not met their goals to reduce their emissions even though these goals are very ambitious. This is very irresponsible and unfair by companies, who really need to work to prevent climate change. It isn’t fair that people should stop buying from these companies because the responsibility should be on the corporation rather than the consumer. Many people don’t want to or even can’t stop buying from companies that sell affordable and useful products. Companies should stop making empty promises about how they want to make progress and really dedicate themselves to reducing their emissions by saving our environment.

To conclude, global warming is caused by fossil fuels that are burned and fill our atmosphere. It is a very large problem that will 55

have dire consequences in the near future. Finally, corporations should be considered responsible for much of the pollution on the planet and should make changes. Although it is unfair, a lot of the responsibility is on you, the audience, and you need to do all that you can. Please, recycle as much as possible, buy biodegradable products and buy less products from big companies like Amazon, Costco, Starbucks. Thank you.

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SECTION 4 PODCASTS

By Muir HS Students

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Uncovering the Fallacies: Mass Incarceration of Minorities in the US

by Emm C. & Isabella L.

In this podcast, Emm and Isabella discuss and reflect on mass incarceration of minorities in the U.S. They cite the case of a 34-yearold mother who was locked up for possessing over $40 worth of cocaine, her third strike offense.

In their podcast, Emm and Isabella discuss how the U.S. has the most recorded number of people in prisons and in the criminal system than any other nation, so much so that incarceration has become a “normalized system for many.” The team examines what set the precedent for Black and Brown citizens to form the majority of those held in prison.

Use this QR code to listen to Emm and Isabella’s podcast:

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Zero Tolerance Podcast

by Andrew B., Edward V., Zier W., & Jacob O.

In this podcast exchange between four students, Edward, Andrew, Zier, and Jacob, the students discuss the Zero Tolerance Policy that was enforced during Donald Trump’s presidency. The students discuss the parallels between what the Japanese Americans experienced during WWII and contemporary times as border walls rise.

They cite the case of a young man whose four-year-old child was taken from him. Carlos talks about how distraught he was and how it felt like his “son was dead because of the distance between them.”

Use this QR code to listen to Andrew, Edward, Zier, and Jacob’s podcast:

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W&E’s Podcast: Zero Tolerance

by William J. and Elena S.

In the W&E podcast by William and Elena, the team discusses and reflects on Trump’s Zero Tolerance policy and the impact on individuals who attempted to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. The policy led to the separation of children from their parents.

Use this QR code to listen W&E’s podcast:

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M&E’s Podcast: Zero Tolerance

by Melani H. and Elena S.

In M&E’s podcast, Melani H. and Elena S., discuss and reflect on Trump’s Zero Tolerance Policy and the impacts of the policy that has been widely criticized for its inhumane treatment of immigrants and refugees. The policy, which involved separating children from their parents at the border, has resulted in a humanitarian crisis and has been condemned by human rights organizations and political leaders around the world. The policy has been characterized as cruel, unjust, and a violation of human rights. Trump’s policy separated more than 3,000 children from their parents. In this podcast, the team discusses the ramifications of the policy on immigrants.

Use this QR code to listen M&E’s podcast.

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History Chronicles Podcast

by Brooklyn, Jade, Hailey, & Brenda M.

In their “History Chronicles” podcast, Brooklyn, Hailey. Jade, and Brenda discuss the story of how a boy named David was separated from his parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. He was put in a foster home without his parents knowing. The podcasters explore how history repeats itself by examining the journey of Spanish colonizer Hernando DeSoto who enslaved indigenous women and children.

The team examines the parallels between Trump’s Zero Tolerance policy and the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

Use this QR code to listen to Brooklyn, Jade, Hailey, & Brenda’s History Chronicles podcast:

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Zero Tolerance Podcast

by Valeria L. & Margarita G.

In their podcast, Valeria and Margarita discuss the ramifications on young children as a result of Trump’s Zero Tolerance policy. They cite the case of a six-year-old girl who was sexually abused by a boy who was in custody alongsider her. In another case, they bring up the story of two parents who had to make the difficult decision of one parent choosing to cross so he could earn money for his family.

Use this QR code to listen to Valeria’s. & Margarita’s podcast:

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SECTION 5 GRAPHIC NOVELS

Pasadena High School Ninth Graders

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The Interstellar Flop

by Alyssa B., Eunice S. & Wes P.

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Untitled

by Alexia C. & Franco R.

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Jaymie’s Story

by Sienna R. & August S.

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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS

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Student Contributors Pasadena High School Ninth Graders A.A.R (she/her) is a part of PHS cross country and part of the Creative Arts Media and Design Academy (CAMAD). Her favorite activities include reading, drawing and running. After graduating from PHS, A.A.R hopes to attend a college with a good art program.

Alexia C. (she/her) is a sophomore at PHS and part of the Orchesis dance team. She is also a part of the art program, and she loves to dance and be creative - she searches for the best ways to express herself. She is not sure what she wants to do when she grows up, but whatever it is, she wants to be able to help people through a job that she loves.

Alwand M. (he/him) is a past student of CAMAD currently studying in pharmaceutical practices. He enjoys driving and playing recreational badminton. After PHS, he plans to apply to college and later on, pursue medical school.

Alyssa B. (she/her) is part of CAMAD. Her favorite activities outside of school are shopping and spending time with friends, family, and pets. After graduating from PHS, Alyssa plans to attend a four-year college and major in Ultrasonography.

August S. (he/him) was born in Pasadena and is currently 16 years old. He enjoys listening to music and spending time with friends and family. Though he doesn’t know exactly what he wants to do in the future, he is excited to see what comes next in his life.

Hazel V. (he/him) is a CAMAD and music student at PHS. He enjoys marching saxophone, and playing cello in the orchestra. In his free time, he likes to draw or read. In the future, he wants to study biological sciences and continue making art.

Layla K. (she/her) is a sophomore at PHS. She’s a student of CAMAD and a player on the volleyball team at her school. Her friends and family are a big part of her life, and she is forever grateful for them.

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T.G (she/her) is part of PHS’s CAMAD academy. Her favorite activities outside of school are photography and playing bass. After graduating PHS, T.G. wants to go to college and study to be a lawyer.

J.M.L. (she/her) is a sophomore at PHS and is a part of CAMAD. She has participated in art-based classes almost all of her life and aims to create as much art as she can while she is a CAMAD student. J.M.L. hopes to continue the path in her future after she graduates.

Viviana M. (she/her) is part of CAMAD. Her favorite activities during the school day are walking around campus and listening to music, and her favorite activities outside of school are spending time with family and drawing Mexican-style art. After graduating from PHS, Viviana plans to attend a four-year college.

Eunice S. (she/her) is part of CAMAD. Outside of school she loves to draw, cook, and go out with friends and family. After high school, she is considering studying to be a fashion designer or interior designer, but would also like to sell art on the side.

Sienna R. (she/her) is part of PHS’s Orchesis Team and CAMAD. Her favorite activities outside of school are dancing, hanging out with friends, and watching movies. After graduating from PHS, Sienna would like to pursue a career in STEM or dancing.

Blair Dual Language Immersion Program Eighth Graders Yesenia G. (she/her) has been part of Blair´s Cross Country team, and the Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program since 1st grade.

Her after school activities include music and running. Her favorite things outside of school are hanging out with friends and family and traveling.

Olivia M. (she/her) is part of Blair’s girls water polo team and has been part of the Dual Language Immersion Program for 10 years. She enjoys watching movies, hanging out with family and friends and traveling.

Ashley M.C. (she/her) is part of aquatics class, and has been a part of the Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program since 3rd grade.

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Her favorite things to do out of school are to go out with family and friends, watch movies, travel, and play with her dogs.

Oscar O. (he/him) has been in the dual language program since kindergarten. He enjoys being outdoors, playing video games, biking, reading, and spending time with family and friends. He also really likes playing, listening to, and writing music.

Delilah S. (she/her) has been a part of Blair’s girls basketball team, and the Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program since Kindergarten. Her favorite things to do out of school are spending time with her friends and family, shopping, and trying new things.

Monty L. (he/him) is part of Blair’s theater department and participates in the Spring and Fall musicals. He has been a part of the Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program since Kindergarten. His favorite things to do are read books, play video games, drive model trains, hang out with friends and spend time with family.

Brandon T. (he/him) is a part of Blair’s Cross Country and Students Run LA (SRLA) team and also is a part of the Principal’s Advisory Council and the Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program since Kindergarten. He enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends. He enjoys video games with friends and visiting new places.

Sean W. (he/him) has been part of track, cross country, choir, and the Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program since 1st grade. His favorite things to do are spend time with friends and family, play video games, and listen to music and sing. He enjoys the indoor peace along with the open air of the outside.

John Muir Early College Magnet Podcasters Andrew B. (he/him) is a student in Muir’s Business Academy. Most of the activities he engages in include drawing, writing, as well as photography. After graduation, Andrew aims to go to PCC for two years and then transfer over to CSU Northridge to pursue a career in Cyber Security.

Brenda M. (she/her) is a senior and a part of Muir’s Arts Entertainment and Media Academy. Her favorite things to do are spending time with

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family and taking photos. After high school, she plans on attending a four-year college.

Brooklyn C. (she/her) is a senior part of the Business Academy at John Muir High School. She’s a part of the MDL, enjoys being a part of the stage crew, and she also loves writing. After High school, Brooklyn plans on attending a radiology program for the 19th month to become a radiologist.

Edward V. (he/him) is 17 years old and attends John Muir High School. As of right now, he is part of a school club called MPYD which is for young men. In this club, they teach students how to become better men. Edward’s favorite activity outside of school is to hang out with friends/family. After graduation, he plans to attend Flint Ridge Center to start APP for his carpenter apprenticeship.

Elena S. (she/her) is a senior at John Muir High School. Her favorite activities outside of school are shopping and going hiking. After graduating from JMHS, Elena aims to attend a four-year college and major in nursing.

Emm C. (she/her) is a drum major at John Muir High School and also a part of the EESA academy. Her extracurriculars include band and orchestra at JMHS, the Mustang Design Lab, volunteering with Harmony Project, wildlife conservation outreach, and teaching at community events throughout Southern California. Emmeline plans to attend a four-year university in California to major in Environmental Policy.

Hailey M. (she/her) studies at Mui’s Arts, Entertainment, and Media Academy. She is passionate about the arts and creativity, and hopes to start her own billion-dollar business someday. She appreciates people getting to know her for a bit!

Isabella L. (she/her) is the captain of the girls water polo team at John Muir High School and also a part of the EESA academy.

She is apart of the water polo team, swim team, band, and marching band. Isabella enjoys hiking, hanging out with family, and traveling. She also loves to sing and sings with the LA Children’s Chorus. After graduation she wants to pursue a career in Music.

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Jade G. (she/her) is a Senior at John Muir High School and a part of the Arts Entertainment and Media Academy. Jade enjoys spending time with her friends and family, caring for animals, shopping, exploring, and making new memories. Jade plans on focusing her career on becoming a real estate agent and part-time Veterinary student volunteering at animal shelters.

Jacob O. (he/him) attends John Muir High School, and his plans after high school is to apply to Los Angeles Trade Tech College and earn a certificate to become an electrician apprentice. His activities outside of high school are reading, wrestling, and weightlifting. He also always spends time with family and goes to church.

Margarita G. (she/her) is class of 2024 at John Muir High School and is a part of the Business Academy. Margarita enjoys spending time with her siblings and exploring the outdoors. She also enjoys her job as a barista and has learned how to create beautiful images on your latte. Her future plans include attending college and becoming a cosmetologist.

Melani H. (she/her) attends John Muir and is class of 2024. Her favorite activities outside of school are spending time with family, and running her small business of customized stuff. After graduating from Muir, Melani aims to attend a four year college and major in psychology.

Valeria L. (she/her) attends John Muir High school. Her favorite activities outside of school are going shopping and spending time with her family and friends. After she graduates, she plans to study at a four year college to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

William J. (he/him) aims to go to college after high school and major in life sciences. He wishes to pursue a career in the field.

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Instructional Team Fabiola Acevedo (she/her) is the current instructional coach at John Muir Early College Magnet High School. She has been in the district for over two decades supporting students with language acquisition in both English and Spanish in most secondary grades. She has had the honor of teaching English Language Development, Puente English, AP Spanish Language and Literature, among other courses, and has served as a resource teacher at various sites. She has also had the privilege of gaining experience as a mentor teacher for the Induction Program.

BA, Cal State-Los Angeles: major in Spanish and minor in English; MEd, Concordia University, Curriculum and Development; Cal StateLos Angeles: Single Subject Credential in Spanish and English as well as BCLAD. Johanna Amaya-Dominguez (she/her), a PHS Alumni (Class of 2002), is an instructional coach at Pasadena High School. In 2007, after finishing her bachelor’s of science in Mathematics at UCLA, she returned to her alma mater to start her educational career as a math teacher and has been there ever since. The courses she has taught include Algebra I & II, Geometry, PreCalculus, Math I, II and III. Amaya formed part of both the Creative Arts Media and Design (CAMAD) and App academies during different times before becoming the Instructional Coach in 2022. She has served as the advisor to the Class of 2019 and is currently an advisor for Jesus Club.

Fun fact, Amaya serves as an associate pastor at Kaleo Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

BS, UCLA, Mathematics; Single Subject Teaching Credential in Mathematics, CSULA; MA, Mathematics Education, CSUN; MA, Theology, Fuller Seminary.

Jesus Cobian (she/her) is a Spanish language arts teacher in the Spanish Dual Immersion Program (DLIP) at Blair Middle/High School.

Cobian has been at Blair since 2020 and has taught Spanish for Native Speakers 2 (7th grade DLIP), Spanish for Native Speakers 3 (8th grade DLIP), Chicano Literature (9th and 10th grade DLIP), Introduction to Spanish (middle school), and Spanish 1 (high school). With a rich background in sociology, Chicano Studies, and bilingual education, 97

Cobian collaborated with Ms. Najera to develop the Building Empathy project for DLIP 8th graders. In the second phase of the project, she is training 8th and 9th graders to develop and teach curriculum for middle schoolers.

BA, University of California, Los Angeles, Sociology and Spanish, Community & Culture as well as a minor in Chicano/a Studies; MA, Loyola Marymount University, Bilingual Elementary; Education, Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and BCLAD. Elizabeth Najera Bustillos (she/her) currently teaches English Language Development in the International Academy at Blair High School. She began her career 24 years ago in Northern California as a bilingual teacher. In 2005, she began working as an ELD/English teacher at Pasadena High School where she became the leader of the ELD Department. Her passion for bilingualism led her to Blair Middle School where she taught Spanish Language Arts. It was there where she was nominated and was selected as a Rotary Teacher of Excellence and then PUSD Teacher of the year in 2019. Besides Najera’s love for teaching, she enjoys traveling with her husband and son, and has visited parts of Mexico, Spain, Morocco, and Turkey.

BA, Anthropology, University of California, Santa Cruz; MA, Education, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Ashley Butler (she/her), is the T.O.S.A. for secondary literacy and K-12 history and social studies in Pasadena Unified School District.

In Butler’s 12 years of teaching, she has taught: English 9, 10, 11 and Scientific Writing (a 12th grade course), World History (10th grade), U.S. History (11th Grade), AP World History: Modern, AP U.S. History and Government/Economics. During her time in PUSD, Butler has worked at John Muir High School Early College Magnet as a history teacher, technology coach and later as the instructional coach. For the past two years, she has worked in Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development to support history instruction district wide and literacy across content areas.

BA University of California, Irvine English Literary Theory; MEd, University of San Diego, Curriculum Development, with specialization in Literacy and Digital Literacy, Credential; Fresno Pacific University: Single Subject Credential English and History Social Studies.

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Bertha Aguilar Garcia (she/her) is an art historian and artist engaged in a broad range of mediums, making filmmaking the epicenter of her practice. Interested in the myriad of possibilities buried within time, Aguilar Garcia puts forward her art practice as a possibility to reshape vision. It is her belief that the displacement of vision brings forth the possibility of effortless change. At the beginning of her practice, she worked both in production design for film and advertisement in Mexico City while engaging in her own experimental filmmaking practice. Her work has been shown in the Morelia International Film Festival and the Berlinale Talent Campus.

Beyond that, she has exhibited visual art works in group shows in Mexico City and co-curated a binational art show hosted by the Americas Society in New York and the Carrillo Gil Museum in Mexico City. Ms. Aguilar Garcia serves as a teaching artist at Pasadena High School and her goal is to engage youth through the arts.

BA, Film Production UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico); MA Art History (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico); MFA Experimental Animation (California Arts Institute) Mayte Hernandez (she/her) is an English teacher who teaches English at Pasadena High School. She has worked with students at all grade levels and has been employed by Pasadena Unified School District her entire career of 21 years. In 2012, Hernandez was one of the top ten finalists for Rotary of Pasadena Teacher of Excellence Award; Hernandez was selected as PUSD’s 2012 Teacher of the Year.

BS Public Administration Concentration Administrative Management, Cal State University, Dominguez Hills; BA English, Literature Concentration, Cal State University, Dominguez Hills; Single Subject Credential, California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Cuauhtemoc Mauricio (he/him) is a social science teacher at John Muir Early College Magnet. He began working in education as a substitute teacher in a couple school districts in the San Gabriel Valley. In 2021, he began teaching as a full time educator at John Muir High School. During his three years working for the Pasadena Unified School District he has taught U.S. History, World History, AP United States History, AP World History and Government/Economics.

BA, University of California Santa Cruz, History; MEd, University of California Riverside, Education & Single Subject Credential 99

Jose Ortega (he/him) is the Coordinator of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development for the Pasadena Unified School District. He has dedicated his entire 16-year career in education to PUSD; he started as a high school English Language Arts teacher and then served as a Secondary Literacy and Dual Immersion Specialist as a Teacher on Special Assignment. In his current role, he leads the support that content specialists and instructional coaches receive, so they can implement professional learning that transforms teaching and learning through an equity lens. Ortega has also taught courses in assessment and curriculum design and implementation as an adjunct professor at Loyola Marymount University and Pepperdine University, respectively.

BA, University of Southern California, Broadcast Journalism and Political Science, minor in Spanish; MA, Loyola Marymount University, Urban Education, with an emphasis in Educational Policy and Administration; Single Subject Teaching Credential in English Language Arts and Administrative Services Credential Sehba Sarwar (she/her) is a writer, artist, and educator and serves as the Student Engagement Manager for Pasadena Educational Foundation. Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan in a home filled with artists and activists, Sarwar has been designing curriculum and teaching at all levels for more than 30 years. She’s the author of the novel Black Wings (Veliz Books, 2019), and her writings have appeared in the New York Times, Asia: Magazine of Asian Literature, Callaloo, Los Angeles Times and elsewhere. She also creates sitespecific art installations and is a recipient of artist awards through the Mid-America Arts Alliance, Pasadena Arts and Culture Commission, L.A.’s Department of Cultural Affairs, Houston Arts Alliance and more.

Sarwar’s papers are archived at the University of Houston.

BA, Mount Holyoke College, English; MA, University of Texas at Austin, Public Administration.

Xiomara Tovar (she/her) is an Instructional Coach at Blair High School International Baccalaureate. Born in San Salvador, El Salvador, she came to the US at the age of seven. She attended all Pasadena Unified public schools and graduated from Blair High School. A teacher with PUSD for over 23 years, Tovar is currently an out of the classroom coach supporting new teachers in curriculum and instruction. She

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also supports and mentors new teachers in clearing their California credential with the Pasadena Induction program. Tovar has taught Kindergarten, 4th grade, and Spanish Dual Language classes and during the summer she continues to teach English Language Arts to high school newcomers to the country.

BA, Azusa Pacific University, Education; MA, University of Phoenix, Curriculum and Instruction; BCLAD Authorization and Multiple Subject Credential.

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