We would like to thank our funders: the Local Initiatives Support Corporation and State Farm Insurance. Without their support, our work would not be possible!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The wonderful person who I got to interview and takes the time to save the community was Sandra Hernandez; she is a woman who exudes a sense of peaceful calmness, she’s Hispanic, yet a very intelligent person. She just graduated from Kelvyn Park this year and is starting her freshman year at Colombia College.
She also explains to us how she has two parts jobs. One she baby sits; she was telling us that she at least attends 10 families per week. The other job is that she is a Banker. Whether shes not working, shes at school and when she’s not at school she’s working. “I hardly never get any time for myself...” she told us. Sandra is a very hardworking woman.
She was explaining to us how she’s studying for Videography and also photography so that when finished with school, she can do videos about the community and what some people do for a lifetime so that people can stop stereotyping the Latino community as a poor environment.
As I’ve said that she attended Kelvyn Park during all the four years, she was telling us how difficult it was on her freshman year, there would always be fights at least twice a week and securities would not do anything about it. Also, seniors would pick on the freshman and they wouldn’t defend themselves. She once made a video about a freshman on his first day of school and it showed how the securities would hassle him and bullies would pick on him a lot. She wanted to exaggerate the rumors and make it seem like it was the worst school in the community, in the end, she was stating the Real facts about the school.
She had worked on this other video where it takes place on Logan Square and she shows her work with the Social Justice Academy (SJA) and with the Yes-Yes-No Reference in the 35th ward. She hopes that one day it would help the people from the community and to speak up and stand up for what they believe.
Although I hardly met Sandra, she seems like a true hero. Determined and stands up for what’s right, she never gives up. Through no matter what. Sandra inspires me and I hope that one day I could become like her.
She also explains to us how she has two parts jobs. One she baby sits; she was telling us that she at least attends 10 families per week. The other job is that she is a Banker. Whether shes not working, shes at school and when she’s not at school she’s working. “I hardly never get any time for myself...” she told us. Sandra is a very hardworking woman.
She was explaining to us how she’s studying for Videography and also photography so that when finished with school, she can do videos about the community and what some people do for a lifetime so that people can stop stereotyping the Latino community as a poor environment.
As I’ve said that she attended Kelvyn Park during all the four years, she was telling us how difficult it was on her freshman year, there would always be fights at least twice a week and securities would not do anything about it. Also, seniors would pick on the freshman and they wouldn’t defend themselves. She once made a video about a freshman on his first day of school and it showed how the securities would hassle him and bullies would pick on him a lot. She wanted to exaggerate the rumors and make it seem like it was the worst school in the community, in the end, she was stating the Real facts about the school.
She had worked on this other video where it takes place on Logan Square and she shows her work with the Social Justice Academy (SJA) and with the Yes-Yes-No Reference in the 35th ward. She hopes that one day it would help the people from the community and to speak up and stand up for what they believe.
Although I hardly met Sandra, she seems like a true hero. Determined and stands up for what’s right, she never gives up. Through no matter what. Sandra inspires me and I hope that one day I could become like her.
by Esther Rodriguez
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Johanna Castro
Johanna Castro is a person that seems peaceful and calm. Her voice is soft and gentle. She has dark skin and she has brown eyes. She dresses appropriately for work. Johanna is a person that you can talk to, and also trust. She is a talkative person, and she makes you laugh.
Johanna works as a coordinator in an after-school center. She tutors and mentors children in grades K through 8. In the center, Johanna and others help kids with things that they don’t know. Johanna's been at in the center for two years, and now she’s trying to recruit more children that need help in the community. This center has been around for around 20 years; this center is for kids that are on the streets and who want some education or other help. Johanna is trying to make the center bigger by recruiting more students because the center would help them with the choice of which high school to attend. She wants to help students that need help because when she was little she didn’t speak any English, and nobody would help her with her problems. Well, only her tutor. When Johanna is not at work she is with her family or playing with the little kids in the center. She told us the she loves the little kids because they say things that are crazy sometimes. She else told us that she loves her family--that they’re her best friends. Johanna's heroes are her mom and her tutor.
Johanna is a hero because she helps people in many different ways, and of all ages. For the kids that are in high school, she helps them pick a college or high school that is better for them. She thinks she’s a hero because she’s young and she has helped a lot of people. Johanna is helping in Logan Square.
Johanna works as a coordinator in an after-school center. She tutors and mentors children in grades K through 8. In the center, Johanna and others help kids with things that they don’t know. Johanna's been at in the center for two years, and now she’s trying to recruit more children that need help in the community. This center has been around for around 20 years; this center is for kids that are on the streets and who want some education or other help. Johanna is trying to make the center bigger by recruiting more students because the center would help them with the choice of which high school to attend. She wants to help students that need help because when she was little she didn’t speak any English, and nobody would help her with her problems. Well, only her tutor. When Johanna is not at work she is with her family or playing with the little kids in the center. She told us the she loves the little kids because they say things that are crazy sometimes. She else told us that she loves her family--that they’re her best friends. Johanna's heroes are her mom and her tutor.
Johanna is a hero because she helps people in many different ways, and of all ages. For the kids that are in high school, she helps them pick a college or high school that is better for them. She thinks she’s a hero because she’s young and she has helped a lot of people. Johanna is helping in Logan Square.
Lissette Castaneda
The hero I interviewed is Lisette Castaneda. She’s a Latina and has short black hair. On the day I interviewed her, Lisette was wearing a black blouse with navy blue jeans. I can’t really tell you about her personality, but by the way she was acting she seemed to be a decent lady. Lisette is really mature for her age. She knows how to act in important events.
Lisette’s work was really interesting to me. The work Lisette does is helping out the community with what she can. She works with a lot of social stuff, and she also believes in Christian values; she basically helps out where she can, using the values she believes in.
I believe Lisette was born in Chicago, but I know for a fact, she was raised here. Lisette went to Lane Technical High School. She began to act for social justice when she was 16 years old. Also, Lisette is the president of LSNA. In my point of view; Lisette was raised by good parents. She defines heroes as someone who goes beyond themselves. Her heroes were people like Martin Luther King, President Abraham Lincoln, and ,I believe, her own mom. Lisette believes a lot in Christianity, so I am guess she goes to church a lot, and helps out there. Lisette has done amazing things, even though many people don’t notice them. By the things she told me, I can really tell that she’s a great person.
She’s a really out-going lady. I believe that in our community she is a hero. She’s a hero because she has helped to make the community a much better place. She tries so hard to make changes in our community, but sometimes she isn't successful because we teenagers don’t worry as much as we should about those things; things like what Lisette does are not noticeable for us because we don’t give it much importance. But, to Lisette, they are the most important thing.
By: Nayely Morales Social Justice Academy
LISETTE CASTANEDA
I interviewed Lisette Castaneda on October 22, 2008. On that day, I really got to know her. She is Mexican, has medium wavy hair; she is also very down to earth and friendly. Lisette is caring and has a big heart for people who are less fortunate. She is very energetic, and she loves to meet new people. Her favorite interests are reading and writing, and also worshiping the Lord Above. She graduated from Lane Technical High School. Now, she is the president of LSNA.
Lisette started working with social justice issues when she was 16 years of age. She first bceame involved with LSNA while on a council, and as I mentioned before, she is now president of LSNA. Lisette loves her work. She believes that the community views her and her work as very positive. She stated “right now we are making a big push to have supportive housing.” Lisette feels that it is her calling to help out her fellow Hispanic brothers and sisters because not everyone can fight for themselves. She also says “it can be hard when you’re fighting for what’s right because people can view you negatively.” She believes that social justice will benefit us as citizens, to improve society so people can have equal rights. She says it’s a basic right that everyone deserves.
Lisette is very caring and dedicated. She is also a regular person--she has obstacles to face and she has goals. She also has a big imagination. Lisette believes that if she could change anything about society, she would change the way youth are viewed. She says for a long time there was no such thing as a teenager, it was just children or adults, and people didn't know how to deal with teens. Also, she has goals to what we should do now. One of her goals is to be successful in life. She always wanted to do good for other people, and not just for herself. Life was not that good for Lisette at times either; she had obstacles to overcome in life as well. One of her obstacles was that her parents separated when she was just 11 years of age. Also, her neighborhood wasn’t the prettiest, and her home life was difficult. Lisette believes she is a better person for that.
Lisette has heroes in her life. She defines a hero as someone who goes well beyond themselves. She looks at people like Martin Luther King Jr., and Cesar Chavez as heroes because they fought for rights for everybody.Lisette says that her mom was a hero to her as well because she was always there for her and she was always selfless. What makes Lisette a hero in my eyes is that she goes after what she feels is right, and she doesn’t care what people think of her. Also because she looks up to people who were very powerful, it helped her to overcome big problems and keep moving on with her life. I think a lot of people should look up to her and give her a lot of respect because she is doing things some people are afraid to do.
Written By:Carlita Wyatt
Martha Juarez
Martha Juarez is a person who loves her job. She has a light skin color with brown eyes. She dresses in dark colors. She was shy at first, but then she got used to us. Martha is the kind of person that gets what she wants. If you get to meet her or talk to her, you will trust her and you will make a new friend.
Martha has been working for Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) for ten years as an organizer in the parent--mentor program. She is the coordinator of the program. Her job is to give the right/correct information, and help people do things correctly. She is enjoying her work at LSNA because when she needed help, there was nobody that could help her. So, now she has the right information to give to people, so they can help each other. Martha enjoys everything about her job.
Martha was inspired to help the community because she didn’t have anybody to help her when she needed help. Martha Juarez defines social justice as equal rights--everybody needs to get treated equally, do the right things for your future.
When Martha was younger, Benito Juarez was her hero. He is still her hero. She says that Benito Juarez was a person from San Pablo who studied to be president of Mexico.
Martha is a hero because she is one lady I know who loves her job. She loves what she is doing, she even told me to keep studying now that we the opportunity, because once we have it and we aren’t enjoying it, one day it is going to be too late to go back.
Martha has been working for Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) for ten years as an organizer in the parent--mentor program. She is the coordinator of the program. Her job is to give the right/correct information, and help people do things correctly. She is enjoying her work at LSNA because when she needed help, there was nobody that could help her. So, now she has the right information to give to people, so they can help each other. Martha enjoys everything about her job.
Martha was inspired to help the community because she didn’t have anybody to help her when she needed help. Martha Juarez defines social justice as equal rights--everybody needs to get treated equally, do the right things for your future.
When Martha was younger, Benito Juarez was her hero. He is still her hero. She says that Benito Juarez was a person from San Pablo who studied to be president of Mexico.
Martha is a hero because she is one lady I know who loves her job. She loves what she is doing, she even told me to keep studying now that we the opportunity, because once we have it and we aren’t enjoying it, one day it is going to be too late to go back.
Written by: Marisol Licea
Martha Juarez
Martha Juarez is a person who likes to help the community. She is in her late 40s. She is light- brown skinned and has light brown wavy hair. She is Mexican. She has two kids. She works for the LSNA in the program for parent mentors. She likes to give the correct information to help people. She really enjoys her job because when she needed help there was no one to help her. When she was a teenager her favorite hero was Benito Juarez. He was her hero because he was a person from the pueblo who studied to be a Mexican president and she admired that. He is still her hero today. She decided to work for social justice because she went to school where her daughters went to. In her free time she likes to take English and computer classes. When she was younger she went to Guadalupe Victoria in Mexico. She is inspired by her job today because she could keep working at her job and help people keep studying. She is working on economic issues, and by being a good leader for our community. Her advice is keep studying. To me Martha is a hero because she loves to help and give good advice to people.
Written by: Julio Borges
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