Opinion:  LAUSD: Don’t limit school choice for parents!

September 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment


By Yolanda Garcia, Parent at Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo in Huntington Park
Traducción española abajo

On September 11, Steve Zimmer, one of the seven members of the Board of the Unified School District of Los Angeles, presented a proposal to limit public school options for families. Zimmer proposed that the Board not consider or approve any petitions to open new charter schools. Charter schools are public schools, free and open to all children, but are independent of the school district. The Board will vote on this proposal on October 9.

I am against this proposal, not because of politics, but because of my own experience as a mother of four living here in South Los Angeles. I ask the members of the Board, including Steve Zimmer, to listen to parents and not to limit the options for families like mine.

I offer up my own story and how charter schools have had a positive impact on my family. I have four children aged 14, 12, 9 and 7. My two older children started their education at a traditional LAUSD school.

At that time, I knew nothing about test scores or how they measure school performance. What I saw was that my children were not getting a good education.

One of my sons had problems with dialect and pronunciation, but the school told me he did not qualify for tutoring. Also, there was no consistency with the teachers, my two children had several substitutes for many months and this has a big impact on them. I was frustrated, but I had to send them to school the district assigned us – we had no choice.

In 2005, I learned that a new charter school was going to open near Pacific and Gage, open to all students and that would enroll students regardless of where they lived. The school would have fewer students in each classroom, so that every student could receive individual attention. The new school was a little bit far from where we live, but I decided to enroll my children. The teachers at the LAUSD school told me I was going to regret this decision.

From the moment I entered the school office at Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo, I could see the difference. There was no comparison – from the service and communication, to the level of education and all the support that the students receive.

In our school, parents, teachers and all the school staff work together – we are a team helping to develop the academic success of the students. I want the best for my children. I want them to go to college and here at Aspire, there is no doubt that all the children will go to college and become professionals. This was something I could not even imagine when my children were attending district schools – now it is a reality.

I feel I was very lucky to be able to enroll my children in an Aspire charter school, but there are many parents who are on waiting lists for their children to enter into a charter school. Currently, around 10,000 families are on waiting lists to get into a charter school in Los Angeles. As a mother, I wish that all students have the opportunity to go to a charter school.

There are waiting lists because parents are seeing the difference and they are interested in improving the quality of education of their children. The traditional public schools are failing our children, and our children can’t wait.

But Steve Zimmer wants us to wait. We will not wait!

As parents, it is our responsibility to ensure the future of our children. It is also our right to demand quality public schools. So, I ask Steve Zimmer to listen to parents, and to focus on providing good schools, not to limit the educational options for families.

El pasado 11 de septiembre, Steve Zimmer, uno de los siete miembros de la Junta Directiva del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Angeles, presentó una propuesta para limitar las opciones disponibles de escuelas públicas para toda familia. Zimmer propuso que la Junta Directiva no considere ni apruebe ninguna solicitud para abrir nuevas escuelas chárter. Las escuelas chárter son escuelas públicas, gratuitas y abiertas a todo niño, pero son independientes del distrito escolar. La Junta va a votar en esta propuesta el próximo 9 de octubre.

Estoy en contra de esta propuesta, no por causa de la política sino por mi propia experiencia como madre de cuatro hijos viviendo aquí en el sur de Los Angeles. Les pido a los miembros de la Junta Directiva, incluso a Steve Zimmer, que escuchen a los padres y que no limiten las opciones para familias, como la mía.

Les ofrezco mi propia historia y como las escuelas chárter han tenido un impacto positivo para mi familia. Tengo cuatros hijos de 14, 12, 9 y 7 años. Mis dos niños mayores empezaron sus estudios en una escuela tradicional del LAUSD.

En ese entonces, yo no sabía nada como se mide el desempeño de las escuelas. Lo que sí vi, es que mis hijos no estaban recibiendo una buena educación.

Uno de mis hijos tenía problemas de lenguaje y pronunciación, pero los directores de la escuela me dijeron que no calificaba para recibir terapia de lenguaje. También, no había consistencia con los maestros; mis dos hijos tuvieron varios substitutos durante muchos meses y les impactó bastante. Estaba frustrada, pero tuve que enviarlos a la escuela que el distrito nos asignó – no tenía otra opción.

En el 2005, me enteré de que se iba a abrir una nueva escuela chárter cerca de Pacific y Gage, abierta a todo estudiante y que matricularía a estudiantes sin importar su lugar de residencia. La escuela tendría menos estudiantes en cada aula, para que todo estudiante pudiera recibir atención individual. La escuela nos quedaba un poco lejos de donde vivimos, pero decidí inscribir a mis hijos. Los maestros de la escuela del LAUSD me dijeron que me iba a arrepentir por esta decisión.

Desde el momento que entré a la oficina de la escuela chárter Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo, pude ver la diferencia. No hay comparación – desde el servicio y la comunicación, hasta el nivel de la educación y todo el apoyo que reciben los estudiantes.

En nuestra escuela, nosotros los padres , maestros y todo el personal de la escuela trabajamos juntos – somos un equipo ayudando a desarrollar el éxito académico en nuestros estudiantes. Yo quiero lo mejor para mis hijos. Yo quiero que vayan a la universidad y aquí en Aspire, no hay duda todos los niños van a ir a la universidad y seran profesionistas. Esto ni siquiera lo podía imaginar cuando mis hijos asistían a escuelas del distrito, ahora es una realidad.

Siento que tuve mucha suerte en poder inscribir a mis hijos en la escuela chárter Aspire, pero todavía hay muchos padres que están en listas de espera para que sus niños entren en una escuela chárter. Actualmente, alrededor de 10 mil familias están en listas de espera para entrar en una escuela chárter en Los Angeles. Como madre, me gustaría que todo estudiante tuviera la oportunidad de ir a una escuela chárter.

Hay listas de espera porque los padres están viendo la diferencia y están interesados en mejorar la calidad en la educación de sus hijos Las escuelas públicas tradicionales no están cumpliendo con nuestros hijos, y ellos no pueden esperar.

Pero Steve Zimmer quiere que esperemos. ¡No vamos a esperar!

Como padres, es nuestra la responsabilidad velar por el futuro de nuestros niños. También es nuestro derecho exigir escuelas públicas de calidad. Por eso, le pido a Steve Zimmer que escuche a los padres, y que se enfoque en proveer buenas escuelas, no en limitar las opciones educativas para las familias.

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South LA Democratic Spaces: Public Exhibit Launch

September 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment


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Introductory speeches at “South LA Democratic Spaces” exhibit

What is a democratic space?

The opening reception of the “South LA Democratic Spaces” exhibit, hosted by the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, was a perfect occasion to understand what different people from diverse cultural backgrounds believe to be the defining aspects of a democratic space.

Among the participants at the reception of the exhibit that includes 15 democratic spaces and places in South LA seen through the eyes of local community organizers and advocates, was California State Senator Curren Price. For him, a democratic space is a hopeful, resourceful and inspiring area, in which people are informed and actively engage in cooperative social affairs.

The Senator´s definition completely represented the spirit of the occasion and matched the ideas that other attendees had on the meaning of a true democratic place. Open, connected, collaborative, transformative and empowering were some of the most utilized words to describe this kind of space. Some depicted it as a place to learn.

Sandy Navarro, a student from a nearby university, said it was “nice to see different organizations teamed up and collaborating.” She was also thankful for the opportunity this event gave her to talk to different organizers and possibly involve herself with one of them.

Ellen Yan, a student at USC, had a similar point of view. For her, “this type of event is positive as it provides students an opportunity to engage with the surrounding community.”

Diana Navarro is both a USC student and a life-long resident of the neighboring community. “It is good to see USC engaging with local community organizations, but I am worried about the residents the university will displace with their development project,” were Diana´s words.

Elida Silvensa, a volunteer for SAJE (Strategic Action for a Just Economy), is one of those residents Diana made reference to. She is very troubled about her possible displacement and hopes that USC considers the situation of current inhabitants.

Final Thoughts

Toward the end of the opening reception, Benjamín Torres, President and CEO of CD Tech, said he believed this collaboration between the University and the community organizations is positive as it creates a venue between USC and critical partners who have value to offer. The evening also offered him an opportunity to network with students who had interesting ideas on how to work with the community using technology.

Community Affairs Manager of T.R.U.S.T.South LA, Tafarai Bayne, commented that the level of engagement created with this project has been powerful. He believes that the idea of organizing the reception provides residents, students and the administration of the university an opportunity to engage in critical conversations about life in the city.

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Public officials and law enforcement respond to shooting at South LA park

September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment


Listen to an audio story from Annenberg Radio News

Patrick Caruthers was was shot in the back in broad daylight Tuesday while sitting under a tree in Jackie Tatum/Harvard Park – a place where he had spent many hours as a youth volunteer for the Department of Parks and Recreation. Authorities say he was likely mistaken for a gang member, even though Caruthers had no gang affilliation.

Mark Mariscal, the superintendent in charge of Harvard Park, said today that his agency lost one of their own.

“It is a loss; it was a family loss. Mr. Caruthers … was a good volunteer that had spent more than seven years in our park program,” Mariscal said.

imagePatrick Caruthers’s pastor leads a prayer at the start of a candlelit vigil on September 26, 2012.

Tyronda Magee also used to volunteer at Harvard Park and taught Cartuthers dance there when he was a kid. She attended a vigil last night to honor her former student and remembered him as kind and good-natured teenager, who did well in school and stayed away from gangs.

“He never was messing up at school or at home or anything like that,” Magee said. “He was very like, spiritual, and all the kids at the park looked up to him like a big brother.”

imageVolunteers help build a baseball field at Denker Recreation Center.

Less than three miles away from Harvard Park sits Denker Park Recreation Center on 35th Place. Volunteers gathered there this morning to make improvements at the site such as as a new baseball field.

The money was donated by a local affordable housing developer. The center’s recreation coordinator Liz Alamillo said the improvements would have a positive effect on young people in the neighborhood.

“When you provide a safe haven for your children to come to, you’re much more comfortable bringing them here as opposed to letting them be out on the streets. When they’re here they’re away from the element that’s negative in their life.”

Senior lead officer Pierre Olega used to patrol the area around Harvard Park. He now serves in LAPD’s Southwest division, but he agreed that it will take more than police action to solve the problem of violence.

“We’ll do search warrants; we’ll identify these gang members … to make sure they stay away, but it’s also important for the communities and the parks to help on the back end. If we arrest someone and the jail’s overcrowded and they’re back out, what more power do we have?” said Olega.

Security cameras were supposed to be installed in Harvard Park over the summer. But Councilman Parks said in an emailed statement today that the issue was held up “unexplainably” in the Public Safety Committee chaired by Councilman Mitch Englander. A final vote is expected to take place tomorrow.

Superintendant Mariscal praised Parks’ leadership in trying to install the cameras after the council approved funding for them in February.

“Bernard Parks’ office … has really been trying very diligent[ly] to get this whole process done, specifically at Jackie Tatum/Harvard Park.”

While the cameras won’t stop bullets, the hope is that they can act as a deterrent to future crimes.

Eighth District Councilmember Bernard C. Parks will introduce a motion on Friday to provide a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification, apprehension, and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Caruthers’ death.

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Free health care clinic in South LA attracts thousands

September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment


imageListen to an audio story from Annenberg Radio News

About 4,800 people are expected to pass through the LA Sports Arena this weekend to get health care for free. This is the fourth year that Care Harbor has held its free health clinic there. Doctors from around LA are volunteering their time to see patients who otherwise couldn’t pay for medical attention.

Two of the most popular stops at Care Harbor are the ones that often don’t get covered by insurers: the vision and dental care stations. “It went alright, they didn’t bring the crown machine, they say they’re only doing crowns on the front teeth and my crown is for my first molar, so they couldn’t put no crown on my tooth,” said Jamon Potts. He waited almost six hours to get a wristband to come to today’s clinic. Even though he didn’t get what he came for, he said it was still worth it.

Patient Stephanie Johnson rearranged her schedule to get to the clinic today. She agrees. “I really like this. I really think it’s a good thing that they’re doing, because there’s a lot of us that can’t get no medicare or health plan. I really think they’re doing a good job. Matter of fact, if it is long, I’m not even saying it’s long because I appreciate the time they take. I’m just sitting here enjoying it.”

With election season approaching, Care Harbor is using this year’s clinic to spread the word about the Affordable Care Act, letting patients know that by 2014 they can expect to have access to healthcare.
Even at today’s event, where healthcare insurance is major topic, opinions on the issue are split.

Volunteer Dentist Younes Safa said, “I’m not for universal healthcare, I think primarily the healthcare issue is a job issue. If you can get people jobs then they can get their own insurance to their liking then that’s the way to go.”

Potts, who lost his healthcare when he resigned from his job, disagrees, “Everyone should have healthcare for free, you know what I mean, really, truthfully.”

Organizers expect to treat about 1,000 more patients this year than they saw last year, but that is still only a fraction of the estimated two-million people living without health insurance in Los Angeles.

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South LA Democratic Space: 24th Street Theatre

September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment


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Jay McAdams, Executive Director of 24th Street Theatre.

What began simply as a place for the production of plays has developed into a unique and important community institution. The 24th Street Theatre offers high-quality professional theatre for all ages, showcases the works of local artists, operates arts education programs with neighborhood youth, and is an innovator in Spanish-language shows and events.

Built in the 1920s as a Carriage House, the big green doors of the 24th Street Theatre are always wide open, inviting members of the neighborhood to stop in, to be entertained, and to participate as members of a dynamic artistic community.

Jay, who has worked in South LA for 15 years, recounted how he and his colleagues “didn’t choose 24th Street Theatre to be a democratic space, it chose to be a democratic space. The neighborhood dictated what 24th Street Theatre became. Once we set up camp here, we realized we could not just do art for art’s sake, but had to respond to what the environment needed of our art and space.”

Originalmente construido en los 1920s como una casa de transporte, las puertas verdes de 24th Street Theater siempre están abiertas, invitando a miembros de la comunidad a visitar, ser entretenidos y participar en la programación de actividades artísticas.

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South LA Democratic Space: Peace Over Violence

September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment


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Trina Greene, Program Manager of Peace Over Violence

POV enacts their organizational mission to build communities free from violence by working in underserved areas and partnering with agencies like the LA Child Guidance Clinic and the YMCA to host free, hands-on youth leadership and development workshops for at-risk youth.

More than a mobile provider, POV is the lead convener of social and political activity for the Building Healthy Communities South LA Youth Action Council that is comprised of 15 future leaders.

Trina, who is a resident and has worked in South LA for 14 years, believes “a democratic space isn’t a physical location, but a locus of collective being. The South LA Youth Action Council does not only meet at a collection of places in South LA, but is a collective sense of being. The youth come together to work with adult allies to share their voices and opinions to create social change and improve the health of South LA.”

Peace Over Violence trabaja en áreas marginadas para construir comunidades libres de violencia. También colabora con agencias como el YMCA para organizar talleres de liderazgo y desarrollo para jóvenes en riesgo.

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South LA Democratic Space: CD Tech

September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment


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Benjamin Torres, President and CEO of CDTech.

Founded in 1995, Community Development Technologies Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting economic opportunities and justice for low-income residents and communities throughout Greater Los Angeles.

CDTech innovative programs throughout the years include the creation of the nation’s first employer-based Individual Development Account (IDA) program, a degree program in mortgage lending, co-developed the first community organizing academy that provides community college credits in the state of CA, and created the nation’s first community college degree and skills program in community development and planning that they teach at LA Trade Tech Community College in South LA.

Benjamin, who has worked in South LA for 15 years, sees CD Tech’s work within LATTC “because LA Trade Tech college is underutilized and that’s why we have chosen to have our community planning program strategically be here. We wanted to create access for the local residents so that they can engage in education and training around concepts of civic engagement, community transformation, skill-building, and community development.”

Establecido en 1995, CD Tech es una organización reconocida a nivel nacional que se dedica a la promoción de oportunidades económicas y la justicia para residentes de bajos ingresos en comunidades de todo Los Ángeles. Sus programas incluyen una academia de organización comunitaria que ofrece créditos de colegio comunitario.

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South LA Democratic Space: T.R.U.S.T. South LA

September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment


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Tafarai Bayne, Community Affairs Manager of T.R.U.S.T. South LA.

T.R.U.S.T. (Tenemos Que Reclamar Y Unidos Salvar La Tierra) South LA is a Community Land Trust established in November 2005 as a democratic and permanent steward of land, to challenge the role that speculators, absentee owners and corporations have played in deciding the neighborhoods’ future. Its members are restricted to low-income residents of the land trust area.

Part of their land trust work involves healthy activity and alternative transit promotion through South LA exploratory bicycle rides, mobile mapping of the area, and an active partnership with CicLAvia by spearheading the South LA Hub that reimagines how the streets in South LA can be more open healthy, active, and safe for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Tafarai who has worked in South LA for 12 years choose the streets as his democratic space “because I feel like there is untapped potential in the streets when you think about democracy. When you look at the streets you see all this interaction between people and the streets themselves connect so many communities. In this CicLAvia event, and particularly the South LA hub, we decided to reframe the streets and reframe how democracy can be brought into the streets in a new way for bicycles and pedestrians.”

T.R.U.S.T. (Tenemos Que Reclamar Y Unidos Salvar La Tierra) South LA fue establecido en 2005 como un delegado de la tierra para cuestionar el rol de los especuladores y las corporaciones en decidir el futuro de las comunidades. Sus proyectos incluyen paseos en bicicleta para explorar y re-imaginar las calles en el Sur de Los Ángeles.

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South LA Democratic Space: The Trust for Public Land

September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment


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Tori Kjer and Ronald “Kartoon” Antwine, Project Manager/ Community Organize for The Trust for Public Land

The Monitor Avenue Park project was spearheaded by Kartoon and other dedicated community members from Watts who simply demanded a fresh, simple, beautiful, and open green space for their community.

Originally owned by Union Pacific Railroad, and subsequently a private developer, the site was considered a “blighted” area by the community. But one acre of vacant blight, combined with the desperate need for new parks in Watts became the catalyst for a community-wide movement to reclaim the space.

The Trust for Public Land has been working in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and the local community since summer 2009. Tori Kjer, an LA-based program manager with The Trust for Public Land describes the future Monitor Avenue Park as “a lot, vacant for many decades, that was hand-picked by the community as the site of their new park.” The Trust for Public Land has worked closely with the community to develop a design for their park, and completed the purchase of the land in August 2011.

Gracias al apoyo de la comunidad de Watts, el parque de Monitor Avenue es un ejemplo de cómo convertir un espacio agotado a un espacio inspirador. Este terreno era un lote vacío que fue seleccionado por la comunidad como el sitio de su parque nuevo.

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South LA Democratic Space: Los Angeles Black Worker Center

September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment


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Pearl Loehnig, Community Organizer of Los Angeles Black Worker Center.

Through the processes of coalition-building, research, advocacy, education and training, the LA Black Worker Center works to advance economic justice for African American workers, their families and their communities in the city of Los Angeles.

The organization works out of the Paul Robeson Community Center, an historic South LA building that now hosts any number of meetings, workshops and other conversations that support African American workers and promote fairness and opportunity in the labor sector.

Pearl, who has worked in South LA for five years, chose the Paul Robeson Community Center, “because it’s a space that has a lot of history connected to not only the labor movement around unionization, but also connects back to worker’s rights and really connects to creating an equitable environment to address the multi-fold crisis that we see in the Black community, as well as the Latino community.”

A través de los procesos de formación de coaliciones, investigación, educación y entrenamiento, el LA Black Worker Center promueve la justicia económica para trabajadores Afroamericanos y sus familias. La organización trabaja desde el Paul Robeson Community Center, un edificio histórico en el Sur de Los Angeles.

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