Tuskegee Airmen exhibit educates elementary students

In celebration of Black History Month, San Diego Unified School District's Race Human Relations and Advocacy Department, in association with the San Diego Regional Airport Authority, San Diego Urban League, and the Neighborhood Association presented the “Tuskegee Airmen Rise Above” Traveling Exhibit.

This exhibit was located on the Porter Elementary School campus and is a one of a kind climate controlled movie theater with a 180 degree screen providing a multimedia experience not soon forgotten.

On February 18, 2014, School Board Vice President, Marne Foster celebrated the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen with a commendation at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Students visited the exhibit daily for the week of February 18-21, 2014. The Tuskegee Airmen Rise Above Exhibit was also available to the public each day.

Special thanks to Lillie McMillan, Dr. Shirley Wilson and Agin Shaheed for making the event a great success.

Find out more about this event by contacting Shaheed, Director of the Race Human Relations and Advocacy Department, at (858) 490-8678.

According to its website, the goal of the Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron is to share with everyone the inspiring legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first black military pilots and their support crews. Their strength, courage, and ability to triumph over adversity during World War II can serve to inspire others about how to succeed today.

The Americans who would become known as the Tuskegee Airmen wanted to fight for freedom as pilots during World War II. What made them different from the thousands of others with the same patriotic zeal was that they were black at a time when the U.S. military had no black pilots or air support crews.

In the 1940s, the ignorance of segregation and prejudice was a sad part of American culture. This meant the U.S. military wouldn’t give black men a chance to train as pilots, but as the country geared up for war, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was pressured to change that. He ordered the Army Air Corps to set up a pilot training program in Tuskegee, Alabama.

The program was not expected to be successful, but the young black soldiers who worked so hard to become America’s first black military pilots proved everyone wrong.

Bullying on the run at Mann Middle School

Learning to get along is a part of growing up and Mann Middle School in City Heights works to teach its students about bullying -- how to avoid it, how to prevent it, and how to get along.

The school's recent Anti-Bullying week brought staff from around the district to help students learn these important lessons. Amir Rahim of the district's Race and Human Relations Department and Officer Flores of our San Diego Unified School Police opened the week with a motivating assembly about the effects of bullying and ways to stop it on and off campus. The message, “Stop Bullying,” was clear.

Lunchtime events included students signing anti-bullying pledges and created a photo journal which shows students covering their mouths with the “words hurt” written on their hands.

Other activities included writing an essay to a bully from the prospective of the victim; Principal Courtney Young will be selecting the essay winner and the winning essay will be available on the school's website. Other students worked in groups with Crawford High School students to discuss the effects of bullying and how to stop a bully. They also placed anti-bullying posters around campus.

For more information on the program, contact Young at (619) 582-8990.

Martin-Zimmerman Dialogues address tough social issues

In an effort to drive further discussion about race relations in our schools and in the community, San Diego Unified recently hosted the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman Dialogues at the Ed Center.

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Although the famous court case may have been the impetus for holding the dialogues, the conversation focused less on the case itself and more on the issue of racism and how changing attitudes and creating a more tolerant society starts with education.

“This is not so much about George Zimmerman or Trayvon Martin as it is about giving students the tools they need to address the issues we face right here in our own community,” Agin Shaheed, chief of the district’s race, human relations and advocacy office told UT San Diego.

The district hopes this event will serve as the launching point for middle and high school students to engage in similar conversations and learn how to address these types of issues in a productive manner at school and in the community.

Organized by the Office of Race Human Relations and Advocacy, the event featured a panel of local experts offering a variety of perspectives. Most all agreed that racial and ethnic bias continues to divide our schools, our communities and our nation.

Panelists Dr. Alberto Ochoa and Dr. John Robert Brown

The event’s distinguished panelists included: Dr. Alberto Ochoa, San Diego State University; Chief Rueben Littlejohn, San Diego Unified School Police Department; Danell Scarborough, City of San Diego Human Relations Commission; Dr. Joe Fulcher, San Diego Unified School District Chief of Student Services; Dr. John Robert Brown, retired district administrator, author, and education consultant; Lynn Sharpe-Underwood, City of San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention; Prof. Jesse Mills, University of San Diego; Tina Malka, Anti-Defamation League; Salimisha Logan, NAACP; LaShae Collins from Assemblymember Shirley Weber’s office; Lee Muhammad, parent representative and Program Coordinator at the Multicultural Counseling and Consulting Center; Al Abdallah, Chairperson of the San Diego Urban League Board; and student representative Michaela Valk, SCPA ASB president.

For more information about the dialogues, contact the district’s Office of Race Human Relations and Advocacy at 858-490-8678.

Board salutes Filipino American History, Native American Heritage

The Board of Education has proclaimed October as Filipino History Month and November is Native American Heritage Month.

Many classes around the San Diego Unified School District will use these months as an incentive to focus on Filipino History and Native American Heritage.

For October's designation of Filipino American History Month, Subdistrict E Trustee Marne Foster noted that the local chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society is a very active educational group in San Diego.

"The Filipino American community in San Diego County is the largest Asian American group in the county," she wrote to Trustees, also noting that there are more than 3 million people in the United States of Filipino heritage.

In his message to the Board of Education, Subdistrict D Trustee Richard Barrera said that Native Americans have a rich and important heritage in the United States and that there are many students of Native American heritage at San Diego Unified.

"The contributions of Native American Indians to this nation’s government, history, and culture are as numerous and varied as the tribes themselves," Barrera wrote, "and the President authorized and requested to call upon federal, state, and local governments, groups and organizations and the people of the United States to observe such month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities."

Download copies of the proclamations (PDF)

• Filipino History Month»
• Native American Heritage Month»

SD Unified Board Supports District Attorney Youth Programs in Schools

DA Partnering with Schools on Crime Mapping, Prevention Programs

San Diego Unified School District’s Board of Education has voted unanimously to support District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis's Youth Advisory Boards and other initiatives aimed at breaking the cycle of gang violence, helping students make good decisions, and improving the safety of schools in the district.

“As District Attorney and as a former judge, I’ve seen the direct link between students who drop out of school and defendants who end up in prison,” DA Dumanis said. “Our programs are working to keep students on the right track and we’ve already seen some inspiring success stories from our Youth Advisory Boards. Helping our kids get the best educational opportunities available continues to be a personal focus of mine and an area where the DA’s Office has an important role to play.”

The District Attorney’s Office is working with San Diego Unified’s Race and Human Relations Department and other school leaders to establish more Youth Advisory Boards in specific schools.

"The Youth Advisory Board has had a positive impact on many students at Lincoln and Morse High schools by helping students to maintain a focus on the importance of education in their lives,” said Shelia Jackson, Board of Education trustee. “The Board of Education values this partnership with the District Attorney and our students will continue to benefit from the work of Youth Advisory Boards.”

The DA’s first Youth Advisory Board was created in 2008 to allow students to address pressing issues affecting young people in San Diego County and work toward a positive change throughout the community. The first schools with Youth Advisory Boards were Morse and Lincoln High Schools. As part of the program, the students wrote and produced an Emmy-winning short film, “4 or 40: The Choice is Yours.” The film continues to be used during presentations to students across San Diego County.

“The District Attorney’s Youth Advisory Boards provide positive mentoring to our students and helps them to make the right choices about their futures,” Superintendent Bill Kowba said. “We look forward to continuing and expanding this partnership to keep our students in school and away from the negative consequences of gangs and crime.”

More recently, the DA’s Office partnered with City Schools to conduct crime mapping in an effort to learn more about the types and amount of crime occurring around San Diego schools. Results showed higher concentrations of crime around schools in central San Diego, southeast San Diego and Mira Mesa. As a result, preventative programs like the Youth Advisory Board plan to be offered at schools in those areas first.

The District Attorney’s Office is also working to provide schools with its Girls Only Toolkit. The DA, in partnership with the City of San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention (CGPI), crafted a new educational curriculum called Girls Only, designed to prevent young girls from becoming involved in gangs and prostitution, will now be offered countywide. The curriculum promotes self-esteem, develops healthy coping skills and inspires positive motivation.

The innovative education toolkit focuses on girls age eight to 12 and works to empower girls before they enter their difficult teenage years. The program provides a forum for young girls, giving them the opportunity to find alternatives to the kinds of abusive relationships that often lead to involvement with gangs, substance abuse and, eventually, the criminal justice system.

• Coverage from Fox5 San Diego»

IN THE NEWS: Program Helps Lincoln High Student Avoid Hatred

A local Anti-Defamation League program implements Holocaust curriculum, sponsors trips.

"In my opinion, you learn about the Holocaust not just to learn about how it affected the Jewish community, but how it relates to issues happening today. A lot of people were bystanders when the Holocaust happened. The biggest thing I learned is not to be a bystander. If you see people being mistreated, if you see someone become the target of hate, you have to raise your voice.” -- Myra Rodriguez, Lincoln High.  Read more from the San Diego Jewish Journal»

Padres Host Student Body Presidents

Student leaders from La Jolla High, above, and Patrick Henry High, below, were guests of the Padres.

ASB presidents and other student body officials were guests of the San Diego Padres for a game just before the season ended.

Presidents from Clairemont, Crawford, Patrick Henry, La Jolla, Mission Bay, Morse and Point Loma high schools received tickets to enjoy time together as the home team won its last game of the season. It was an evening of laughter and memorable times.

Race Human Relations and Advocacy is thankful with this new partnership with the Padres that allows the students to have a group experience out in the community.

Thank you to Alex Montoya, Manager of Latino Affairs and Christina Papasedero, Coordinator, Community Relations and Padres Foundation, and the San Diego Padres for this opportunity.

For more information on the Race, Human Relations and Advocacy program and ASB government, contact Rodolfo Parra at (858) 490-868.

Local Community Groups Open Dialogue with East African Community

A new dialogue between San Diego's community of residents of East African descent and local service providers and educators was begun recently thanks to a conference sponsored by the Voices of Women, United Women of East Africa Support Team and City Heights HOPE.

Agin Shaheed, San Diego Unified's Race Human Relations and Advocacy Department program manager, was part of panel that to discussed how to provide better advocacy for children and adults in a diverse cultural community.

In addition, Shaheed gave a motivational speech to the participating students on how to become responsible citizens of San Diego’s community and shared information about the contributions of East Africans to the American culture.

Participants are working mprove the service and enhance the overall health and well-being of East African families living in San Diego.

For more information, contact Shaheed at 858-490-8678.

Pt. Loma, Crawford Students in National Bizfest

Two students from Pt. Loma High and one from Crawford High will advance onto the national BizFest Youth Entreneurship Competition this week in Miami Beach.

BizFest, a signature initiative of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is an innovative and intensive entrepreneurial training program where Hispanic high school juniors and seniors learn how to turn their hobbies into profitable business ventures. The three students were winners in the local competition that was held in August.

The winners are: Kevin Thai of Crawford High School, most innovative for his business plan “Conception”; Joanna Brito of Pt. Loma High School who created "Fruit of the Book" and received recognition for business plan with the most potential;  and Guadalupe Barajas, also of Pt. Loma High, who was awarded most entrepreneurial for her creation, "Eco Able Inc."

“I learned a lot about the different components of business plans” said Thai. “I learned about industry profiles, management, marketing and financial. I also appreciated that they invited keynote speakers to talk to us, they were a great motivation.”

 

Visa, Sempra Utilities and Mission Federal Credit Union are also partners in the local program.For more information, please contact District Counselor Mariana Gomez from Race Human Relations & Advocacy at (858) 490-8678 or e-mail at mgomez5@sandi.net. 

Hombre Noble Program Provides Life-Changing Experiences

Students and counselors in the Hombre Noble Program.

Chicano and Latino male students, who have participated in the Circulo de Hombres/Hombre Noble Program, also participated in an annual rites of passage retreat held from Sept. 9-11.

The retreat was held at the local Native American reservation at Manzanita. These young men were provided with a life changing experience held in a safe and healthy environment which helped to facilitate their journey into higher education, and try to reverse the trends of violence, and educational disregard that continues to plague Chicano and Latino males.

The Hombre Noble Program is a ten-week curriculum designed for grade levels 5-12 Chicano and Latino males. The curriculum covers culture, history, self-esteem building, career exploration and goal setting.

The students were chaperoned by Macedonio Arteaga, Pupil Advocate, Race Human Relations and Advocacy Program, and Mario Valladolid, District Counselor, Race Human Relations and Advocacy Program.

For more information, contact Agin Shaheed , Program Manager, Race Human Relations & Advocacy Program, 858-490-8678.