Schools

ALHAMBRA SCHOOLS EARNED MORE THAN $43,800 THROUGH FRESH & EASY’S SHOP FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM

bdealba — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:38:42 +0000

Release Date:

May 17, 2012

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market announced that schools in Alhambra earned more than $43,800 through its fourth-annual Shop for Schools program. The company also opened online registration on May 1st for the fall 2012 Shop for Schools program. Schools can sign up at www.freshandeasy.com/shopforschools.

Sunset View Elementary in San Diego was the top-fundraising school in California and received a $5,000 bonus. They plan on using their Shop for Schools donation to support various curriculums that can no longer be funded by the state including music and performing arts programs.

In total, Fresh & Easy is giving more than $2 million to local schools throughout Arizona, California and Nevada. Over 2,700 schools participated in the fundraising program which ran from September 15th to December 31st.

Kindergarten through eighth grade schools located within a three-mile radius of any Fresh & Easy store can participate in the Shop for Schools program. For every $20 spent at a Fresh & Easy store during the program, participating schools received a $1 donation. Each school can use the money they raised for whatever they need most.

“In a time when school budgets continue being cut, we’re happy to be donating over $43,800 to Alhambra schools,” said Fresh & Easy Alhambra District Manager Jim Bray. “Shop for Schools is much more than just a fundraising program – it is a great way for us to directly help our neighbors, teachers and future leaders, and we’re thrilled to be bringing the program back in the fall.”

In addition to collecting receipts, registered schools could also participate in Shopping Nights, fundraising events which provided an opportunity to raise even more money. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on each school’s designated Shopping Night, five percent of a local Fresh & Easy store’s total sales were donated to the school.

Strengthening the Hands of Our Community: Forum for families brings scores to San Gabriel High

Connie K. Ho — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:59:39 +0000

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May 17, 2012

“This city is quiet, they have many programs that benefit the community, and I’m very happy to be part of this valley.” These were the words of Maria Julia Lopez, a mother who attended the 3rd Annual Family Forum at San Gabriel High School, on why she loved the San Gabriel Valley.

Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) organized last Saturday's event which focused on providing parents and youth in the San Gabriel Valley with information regarding community engagement, health and safety, higher education, among other important issues. (Alhambra Source was a co-sponsor).

APALC is a legal and civic rights organization that assists Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (NHPI). This year’s Family Forum started with the theme of “Strengthening the Hands of Our Community.” Over 200 people visited the workshops, watched performances, and attended the resource fair.

During the day-long program, there were 18 different workshops that parents and students could attend. For parents, there were sessions on areas like cooking a healthy Chinese meal as well as college finances and scholarships. Concurrent youth workshops included topics such as finding a job or finding a balance in life goals.

“I think we learned a lot of new stuff and it was nice to be exposed to more cultures,” said Sarah Kim, a junior at Mark Keppel High School who attended a workshop on art and drawing.

Besides the workshops, a resource fair of different organizations was held in the courtyard of the campus. The fair featured a number of health-related groups, such as Planned Parenthood and APA Healthcare. Participants were able to learn more about health topics through fliers, pamphlets, and demonstrations.

“As an organization, we understand how important families are in strengthening knowledge and helping themselves help each other,” said Mayra Yñiguez, a health educator with Planned Parenthood in Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley. “I’m very happy and overwhelmed to see community members take an active role in their own health.”

The day’s festivities ended with entertaining performances by the Taiko Center of Los Angeles and the Hi/Low Hip Hop Crew of San Gabriel High School. For those participants who attended workshops and the resource fair, they also had the opportunity to win raffle prizes like a rice cooker and an ACER laptop. The planning committee of students, parents, and staff of APALC worked tirelessly for the program with hopes that the resources and information would prove invaluable to the event attendees.

“In the San Gabriel Valley, there aren’t a lot of events that provide parents and students the resources that they need,” said Mike Pedro, Youth and Community Coordinator for the Asian Pacific American Legal Center. “I hope it continues every year and that the parents know that we’re here to provide services to the community.”

Alhambra parents protest orchestra program cuts

Esmee Xavier — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:18:24 +0000

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May 17, 2012

Parents protested reports that the Alhambra Unified School District was cutting the award-winning Tri-City and All City String Orchestra programs at this week's board meeting. The Concerned VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) Parents Association spoke out on the decision, hoping to rally together to save the programs. "As parents, we must not take for granted what 'being in orchestra' means to our children," they wrote in an e-mail that circulated before the meeting urging parents to attend. "If this is allowed to happen, these wonderful and critically essential core music programs will no longer be available to our children after the end of this school year!"

The School Board responded that reports of cutting the program were a misunderstanding and that it is undergoing a staffing issue because Director Curtis Richardson, who has guided the program for the past 20 years, is retiring.

Saving Alhambra's youth with hard knocks

nathan.s — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:37:30 +0000

Release Date:

May 14, 2012

It began as a parental obligation for Rudy Tellez, whose daughter was at Alhambra High School at a time of vicious gang violence.

“We had a lot of problems back in the 80s with Brick City and the Asian gang...Wah Ching,” said Tellez, 63. When he witnessed a young person get shot, Tellez decided to take action: “I said no more, no more violence, we got to take care of this.”

Tellez, a former amateur boxer, took to what he knew best to curb aggression: he arranged a boxing tournament between two rival gangs. Nothing fancy, just a few boys and some boxing gloves to work out their frustrations. Today, the gangs are mostly gone, but the kids keep coming to his gym, Alhambra Youth Boxing Club. They come to work out, but also to see friends in a safe space. On any given day about 35 members, ages 7 to 25 and older, fill the gym with the sound of punches and chatter.

“We need more people like him, because he provides a real place for kids to grow and learn,” said Councilwoman Barbara Messina, who was on the city council when Tellez first approached the city about opening a boxing gym. “His heart is in the right place.”

Providing a vehicle to curb anger and support youth that goes beyond sport has been the intention since Tellez founded the gym in 1991. The retired dentist from East Los Angeles and his wife Antonia even provided a toastmasters program at their gym where teens practiced their speaking skills as well as an outreach or counseling sessions.

“That was one of our most proud accomplishments. Something that we did that helped so many kids, it really was new for the area,” said Tellez.

On a recent afternoon, the gym swelled with bodies after school. They came from Alhambra but also nearby El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, and other parts of East Los Angeles. Inside the club beat a pulse, one that all the trainers and athletes seem to understand. The young fighters, some under the age of 10, some girls, pummeled each other, but always exchanged thanks at the end.

“You get a lot of discipline here, something that a lot of these kids need in today’s society,” said Tellez, who has the abrasive swagger of a coach, but can also seem like an uncle who understands life can challenge a teenager. “If it’s boxing or with their mind, we let them work it out,”

Tellez suggests a monthly donation for membership, but he does not force anyone out for not paying. Instead, he relies on donations from parents, help from volunteers and students who clean up after themselves. In more than two decades, the gym moved three times, until finally settling in its current location on Main Street sandwiched between an auto shop and a Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation. The gym shows the ware that comes with finances stretched thin: the rings’ ropes are frayed, posters on the walls have faded into yellows, some of the speed bag frames are made from chipped wood.

But despite the gym's worn facade, the youth appear excited, some thrilled even, to be part of the group.

“Now that I’ve discovered it, I have to box like at least once a day,” said Tiffany Lemus, 19, from Alhambra. She knocks a speed bag and in the same breath talks with her friends, other girls who train at the gym. “It’s a great workout and it’s a relief – it keeps your mind off a lot of things.”

Tellez, who spends less time in the ring, still keeps a watchful eye over the scene. “We’re here for everyone, just so long as they have a good time and make it count.” And, as for the gang violence that drove him initially, he’s noticed the difference as well: “You don’t hear about it any more here in Alhambra.”

Location

Alhambra Youth Boxing Club

2314 West Main Street

Alhambra, CA 91801

United States

34° 5' 36.4992" N, 118° 8' 54.69" W

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Why is APALC supporting healthy families in Alhambra?

Wed, 09 May 2012 18:44:56 +0000

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May 9, 2012

On Saturday, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center will be hosting a forum for family issues at San Gabriel High School in Alhambra. Marvin Andrade, the national advocacy organization's director of leadership development, explains why families, why this is not limited to Asian Americans, and why Alhambra.

Among the most inspiring moments of my career in the non-profit sector have been watching youth and parents organize around a common cause: fundraising to bring more books to a school library, packing school board chambers to testify against the closing of community programs, and walking together demanding the construction of new schools.

As high school graduation season approaches, an issue confronting families is students’ access to higher education. In the San Gabriel Valley, severe state budget cuts to education have led local community colleges like East Los Angeles and Pasadena and universities like Cal State Los Angeles and California State University, Northridge to increase tuition fees while at the same time limiting enrollment.   As a result, many high school students are falling through the cracks, not able to gain admission to colleges and universities. Students of immigrant families often face additional challenges because of language barriers. The more parents know about the educational system and how to navigate it, the more likely they will be to help their children achieve a college degree.

To help empower families, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) launched the San Gabriel Valley Family Forum three years ago. The day-long event brings families together, and provide youth and parents with information on issues such as college readiness, financial aid, and more. This year the forum, which usually draws about 400 community members, will be held at San Gabriel High School on Saturday, May 12 from 8:00am to 3:00pm.

As the largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States, APALC has placed special attention to Alhambra over the past decade because of the steady Asian population growth in the city and surrounding communities. According to recent census figures, Asian Americans were the only group that grew in numbers over the past decade in Alhambra, adding about 3,000 new residents and making them 53 percent of the city. At the same time, the community is multiethnic, with more than one third of the population Latino, and one of APALC's goals is inter-ethnic leadership.

The city is also becoming home to a more mature population with established families with U.S. citizen children. Serving more than 15,000 individuals and organizations every year through direct services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, leadership development, and capacity building, APALC looks to continue building a strong Asian family voice for civil rights and social justice. Ensuring that Alhambra families have access to a quality education after high school is a fundamental factor to achieve that goal.

At the Family Forum, parents and youth can expect to have a great time with music, performances, raffles, and food. Various organizations will have information tables for families to learn about programs and services available to them. Several workshops will be offered focusing on themes such as pathways to colleges and universities, establishing careers in math and science fields, building bridges across generations, and ways parent can support children when in college. Students that are part of APALC's Student Leadership Network—a program that trains and supports community-based student leadership organizations at Alhambra, Mark Keppel, and San Gabriel high schools—will debut their service learning projects. The projects address various important issues to them, like dealing with bullying at school, and the effects of budget cuts in their schools. Parents from the Parent Leadership Program—a program geared to create confident parent advocates—will also serve as volunteers helping with logistics, while other will assist in the facilitation of workshops.

One particular issue that will be at this year’s forum will be electrical safety. Last year the San Gabriel Valley experienced some of the most potent windstorms in recent memory. Tens of thousands of families were left without power, schools were closed, and neighborhoods had to deal with fallen trees and power lines. Southern California Edison — who is sponsoring the event — will be also providing youth and parents with information on pre and post storm electrical safety, as well as other topics and issues leading to family, neighborhood, and community safety.

The Family Forum will be at San Gabriel High School on Saturday, May 12 from 8:00am to 3:00pm. Alhambra Source is a co-sponsor of the event and will have a booth.

Alhambra Thunderbirds Youth Football & Cheer now accepting registration

Tue, 08 May 2012 19:49:11 +0000

Release Date:

May 8, 2012

The Alhambra Thunderbirds Youth Football & Cheer non profit organization was founded in 1961. It has offered the youth in our community a program that teaches team work, leadership, individual responsibility, discipline, respect of others and self-esteem. While acquiring football and cheerleading skills is important, the Thunderbird program also emphasizes scholastic achievement, good sportsmanship and citizenship.

The Thunderbirds offer youth tackle, flag football and cheer to children ages 6-14. Youths from Alhambra, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and surrounding communities come to play football and cheer. Each year we have approximately 200 participants.

The 2012 football & cheer season will begin July 16th-Nov. Practices and home games will be held at Mark Keppel High School. We are now accepting registrations, teams fill up fast so register online by visiting our website: alhambrathunderbirds.com.

Onsite registration will take place on: May 12th, May 19th, June 2nd & June 16th from 10-12pm at Mark Keppel High school lower parking lot by the football field.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of our board members listed on the website or email us at alhambrathunderbirds@ymail.com

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Health, economic inequities observed among Latino Baby Boomers dispute need for less senior programs

paffairs@cslanet.calstatela.edu — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:09:17 +0000

Release Date:

May 2, 2012

CSULA professor is lead author on article
published in The Gerontologist special issue

“Latino Baby Boomers are likely to experience health and economic inequities similar to their parents as they enter the ranks of the elderly population,” according to a recently published article in a special issue of The Gerontologist.

The research article—authored by Cal State L.A.’s Professor of Social Work Valentine M. Villa and colleagues—represents the first comprehensive analysis of the health of the Hispanic Baby Boom population.

Their study finds that Latino Baby Boomers are more likely than their non-Hispanic white peers to report poorer health across all health indicators, including diabetes, obesity, functional difficulties and self-rated health. Data was compiled from Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964 (ages 43-61) in a 2007 California Health Interview Survey.

Villa, who is also director of the Applied Gerontology Institute at CSULA, said, “In addition, Latino Baby Boomers are more likely to have relatively low levels of education and high rates of poverty; challenging the notion that the next generation of elderly will be ‘healthy, wealthy, and wise,’ and therefore, not in need of as many aging programs and services.”

The reason for concern regarding the reduction of federal entitlement programs for the elderly is that Hispanics will comprise 20 percent of the next generation of older adults, representing the largest minority population aged 65 years and older. As written in the report, the majority of the Hispanics are of Mexican-origin.

To refer to the published article, click here: http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/hhs/PDF/new/GeronBabyBoom.pdf

Villa, an Alhambra resident, was presented a Certificate of Commendation in 2010 by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for her work with senior citizens in the City of Los Angeles and for her contributions to The State of Aging and Health Among Older Latinos in Los Angeles 2009 report.

Villa’s research examines how public policies affect on the health and economic status of the elderly population. Her work has focused on Medicare reform, privatizing Social Security, and the impacts of welfare-policy changes on minority and low-income populations.

Location

Cal State L.A.

5151 State University Dr.

Los Angeles, CA 90032

United States

34° 3' 52.722" N, 118° 10' 10.6032" W

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Hepatitis B Awareness Youth Art Contest

Alice Wong — Wed, 02 May 2012 03:35:34 +0000

Release Date:

May 2, 2012

HEPATITIS B AWARENESS YOUTH ART CONTEST for those in K-12. Deadline 6/17. No entry fee. Winners will be recognized with $250 at an awards ceremony and have a chance to get their artwork published on a 2013 calendar!

Viral hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver and Hepatitis B is the cause of a growing number of new liver cancer cases and for the need for liver transplants. As many as 3/4 of Americans living with the disease are unaware of their status and, thereby, are not receiving treatment and attention for their condition. The Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) population has a greater than normal susceptibility of contracting Hepatitis B as 1 out of 10 APIAs are chronically infected as compared with 1 in 1000 of Caucasian Americans, according to The National Task Force on Hepatitis B. Therefore, as Hepatitis B is an infectious life-threatening disease, raising awareness of Hepatitis B in the Asian Pacific Islander American population is essential.

For more information and to download the application: http://cacayc.wordpress.com/

Location

Los Angeles

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Alhambra, CA 91803

United States

34° 4' 40.7568" N, 118° 8' 29.4936" W

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Alhambra Educational Foundation Summer School

aef4kids — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:57:50 +0000

Release Date:

April 30, 2012

Now in its ninth year, Summer Enrichment Academies for elementary- and high school-level students is offered through the Alhambra Educational Foundation (AEF). This tuition-based program continues to grow each year in the number of participants and class offerings. The summer school program is open to school district residents on a priority basis and non-district residents on a space available, first-come first-served basis.

The 2012 Summer School for high school students and Enrichment Academy for K-8 students will begin on June 18 and end July 26. Classes for K-8 will take place at Marguerita Elementary School. Courses for high school students will be held at San Gabriel High School. The after-school music program will take place at Alhambra High School. The Basketball Camp will take place at Mark Keppel High School.

Register at the Alhambra Educational Foundation Office at 1515 West Mission Road, Alhambra, CA 91803, Monday through Thursday, 9:00am to 3:30pm. Office is closed on Fridays. For more information, please call (626) 943-3080 or visit, www.aef4kids.com.

Location

Alhambra Educational Foundation

1515 West Mission Road

Alhambra, CA 91803

United States

34° 4' 57.4032" N, 118° 8' 26.4012" W

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AUSD Superintendent Donna Perez to retire

Esmee Xavier — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:55:43 +0000

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April 23, 2012

Donna Perez announced on April 18 her plans to retire as Alhambra Unified School District Superintendent . Over the next two months, the AUSD Board will deliberate as to who will take over the position. Perez will continue to serve as interim superintendent through the end of August.

Perez began her career with Alhambra Unified as a teacher at Northrup Elementary School in 1969. She has served as superintendent since her appointment by the Board of Education in July of 2007.

In an interview with the Alhambra Source in August she outlined the most important issues facing the AUSD:

I think foremost in our minds is to improve student achievement. We’ve been very successful with that. There are many ways to measure that, but the one everyone looks at is the improvement of API [Academic Performance Index] scores as well as AYP [Adequate Yearly Progress]. Our scores steadily climb.

The budget is on everyone’s minds and it plays an important role. We spend a lot of time making sure that our district is not only fiscally solvent, but is placing its resources in the best ways possible for student achievement to continue to rise.

Thirdly, looking both at our staff and our students, we’re always keeping racial equity in perspective.