College Talk: Fuerza Unida & Latino Student Union
College Talk:
Laboratories of Democracy • Latino Student Union
CPSELs
1.3 Use the influence of diversity to improve teaching and learning.
1.5 Shape school programs, plans, and activities to ensure that they are integrated, articulated through the grades, and consistent with the vision.
2.1 Shape a culture in which high expectations are the norm for each student as evident in rigorous academic work.
2.2 Promote equity, fairness, and respect among all members of the school community.
5.9 Encourage and inspire others to higher levels of performance, commitment, and motivation.
In 2009, I, along with Lorena Ulloa, one of our most outstanding Latina students at Pali founded the Latino Student Union (LSU). The goal of this student led organization is to create a physical space (laboratories of democracy/counter-spaces) in my classroom C204 for Latino students at Pali where they can share their counterstories, study, share ideas, talk about college, get organized, address their needs and ultimately through these activities, obtain tools that will help them pursue higher education.This year I led LSU meetings as the founder and sponsor during lunch on Mondays and Tuesdays.
This is a picture of a Pali alumni panel I invited to come and talk about their college experience as First Generation Latino College Students.
And, in addition to working with the LSU on Mondays and Tuesdays, on Friday, April 27th, 2012 in conjunction with a TVN elder we led a meeting to recruit underrepresented students in AP classes. Here I talked to students of color of the importance of applying to Honors and AP classes. I encouraged and inspired them to higher levels of performance and motivation by sharing my personal counterstory. I acknowledged that many times they have shared with me that they are scared to take these classes but I commented that with dedication and by asking for help to their teachers they would succeed.
The power point used for this talk is here:
Furthermore, a colleague who conducted an action research project interviewed me about the tracking system at Pali and asked my opinion about underrepresented students not taking Honors and AP classes. I also helped him organize a focus group meeting with students of color to see what their thoughts were about Honors and AP classes. With this information he was able to talk with the English Department and offer the English Honor and AP placement test during the students' English classes instead of after school when most students of color have left the school. As a consequence more students applied to be in Honors and AP classes and more will be enrolled in them next year.
