May 7, 1999
Spanish Expert to Talk on Latin American Culture and the Cold War
Jean Franco, professor emerita of Spanish at Columbia University, will give the annual Robert C. Elliott Memorial Lecture at 7 p.m. May 13 in the Institute of the Americas Building Complex at the University of California, San Diego. Her topic is Latin American Culture and the Cold War.
Franco is one of today's leading authorities on literature, culture, and politics in Latin America. She has written extensively on nationalism, postnationalism and gender issues and was a pioneer in the study of popular culture and mass media in the Americas.
Sweetwater school district considers tougher graduation requirements
Students, parents, and community members can preview and comment on proposed changes to Sweetwater High School District requirements for middle-school promotion and high-school graduation.
During three public forums, district staff will outline draft plans for new standards that if approved by the board of trustees, would go into effect with the class of 2004.
Developed in collaboration with teachers, counselors, parents, and students, the plan calls for greater rigor in math, science, writing competency, community service, technology skills, student work portfolios, performance on the statewide SAT-9 test, and cumulative grade-point averages in both scholarship and citizenship.
Forums will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the following dates: May 11, Montgomery High cafeteria (south San Diego); May 12, Sweetwater High cafeteria (National City); and May 19, Hilltop High cafeteria (Chula Vista).
Those unable to attend may request a copy of an opinion survey about the proposed standards by calling 585-6114 ext. 200.
Getting Your Show on the Road
Film makers need to think of the markets they are targeting in the initial stages of their productions, not wait until edit, says Richard Propper of Solid Entertainment.
Propper, whose company distributes documentaries, will speak at an upcoming seminar of film and video distribution called "Getting Your Show on the Road." The workshop, which will be held May 12 at KPBS-TV, is designed to help San Diego film makers find profitable venues for their work.
Registration will being at 6 p.m. at KPBS, 5200 Camp-anille Dr., on the campus of San Diego State University. The charges is $15 for registered AIVF members and $25 for non-members, payable at the door. For reservations call Leng Loh at (619) 594-2881.
Coalition of Neighborhood Councils
The Coalition of Neighborhood Councils (CNC) is an organization consisting of twenty-five diverse community councils in the Fourth District. The CNC is a major resource and information sharing vehicle for all community councils and was designed to meet the needs and concerns of all of the District's neighborhoods.
In March, a very informative and exciting meeting took place which included a dynamic discussion and video presentation by Gus Newport, former mayor of Berkeley, CA and former Executive Director of Dudley Street. "Holding Ground . . . the Rebirth of Dudley Street" is an award winning documentary about community, vision, struggle and change. This video could be one of the most inspirational and motivational tools with regard to reinforcing what a small group of committed activists can do when they decide to share a vision, a mission and resources in an effort to affect change in their communities.
The CNC meets every third Monday of each month at the Jacobs Foundation, 5160 Federal Boulevard, San Diego. Join us at the next CNC meeting scheduled for Monday, May 17, 1999 at 6:30 p.m. For further information call Vernon Brinkley, 463-3485 or email vcbgpb@ix.netcom.com.
August 2000 will mark the 30th anniversary of the National Chicano Moratorium of 1970, the largest Mexican-American mass protest demonstration in East Los Angeles and Southern California history. As a high point in the fight for Latino/a equality, the Chicano Moratorium on Vietnam was conceived as an anti-war rally organized to protest the disproportionate number of Mexican Americans serving on the front lines in Vietnam. The Moratorium was the largest in a protracted series of Mexican American mass civil rights struggles in the 1960s and 1970s known collectively as the Chicano Movement. Supported by numerous Chicano organizations, organizers including Chicano student organizations and barrio groups such as the Brown Berets called for Mexican Americans to fight for social reform and equality at home and not to fight in Vietnam.
On August 29, 1970, over 20,000 protesters gathered in East L.A. to hear speeches, engage in cultural activities and demand equality for Latinos. Carried out in the non-violent protest tradition of the Southern civil rights movement, the Moratorium highlighted the existence of a powerful Chicano student and barrio movement throughout the Southwestern United States. According to University of California, Berkeley professor, Dr. Carlos Muñoz, Jr. "those struggles opened doors for equal opportunity in higher education and created Chicano Studies programs in colleges throughout the country. From these emerged the first generation of Mexican American scholars, writers, poets, artists, filmmakers, actors, lawyers, medical doctors, health care and social workers, and teachers."
In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, please join the Mal-com X Library for a commemoration and discussion of the meaning and legacy of the Chicano Moratorium with Artist, Mario Torero, and Brown Berets Activists, David Rico and Professor Jorge Mariscal, Department of Literature, UCSD and editor of Aztlan & Viet Nam: Chicano & Chicana Experiences of the War.
Saturday, May 8, 1999, 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Malcolm X Branch Library & Performing Arts Center, 5148 Market Street, corner of Market & Euclid.
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