Author Archives: Jose Calderon

About Jose Calderon

Jose Zapata Calderon is Emeritus Professor in Sociology and Chicano/a Latino/a Studies at Pitzer College and President of the Latino and Latina Roundtable of the Pomona Valley and San Gabriel Valley.

Interested in being part of a LRT soccer team?

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Kevin Kandamby, from the Encuentros and Latino Student Union at Pitzer, has requested whether anyone from the Latino and Latina Roundtable is interested in forming a soccer team to be part of a soccer tournament (involving day laborers in the area).  The event will be held Sunday April 17th from 7:30 AM – 4 PM at the CMC Parents Field. The event is called Fútbol Es Vida [I.E. Strikes Back] Soccer Tournament. This will be the 3rd year the event will be held and it is a soccer tournament that invites community organization, day laborers, workers, unions, students, and community members for a day of solidarity, food, fun, music, and more! The registration fee is $50 dollars for a team of at least 10 players (more are welcome and encouraged). Shirts and food are included in the registration fee. All the proceeds made during the event will go towards the Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Coalition (IEIYC) DACA Scholarship Fund. Below is link to the Facebook event students have already made. Please send me an e-mail if you are interested in being part of a Latino and Latina Roundtable team.  If we have enough players — we will register as a team.  If not, we can work with the Latino Student Union as a team.  Please get back to me right away if you are interested at:  Jose_Calderon@Pitzer.edu

https://www.facebook.com/events/481411338705063/

Jose Zapata Calderon

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Invitation to Pot-Luck Commemoration of Blanca Mariscal and Parents on April 8th

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What:  Pot-Luck Sharing of Food and Ceremony at Cesar Chavez Park to commemorate parents and the example of PUSD parent Blanca Mariscal

When:  Friday, April 8th at 4:00 pm

Where:  Cesar Chavez Park (2720 Barjud Ave. in Pomona)

By word of mouth and this invitation, we ask for your help in bringing together friends again, like we did last year, the day before the Cesar Chavez Pilgrimage, to share food in a pot-luck and in a short ceremony to honor the work of parents and the example of Blanca Mariscal.  The pot-luck and ceremony willl be held at Cesar Chavez Park (2720 Barjud Ave.) in Pomona, California on Friday, April 8th beginning at 4:00 PM. – the day before the annual Cesar Chavez pilgrimage march and fiesta.  After the pot-luck we will make flags and posters for the pilgrimage march on Saturday.

Blanca was one of the parent leaders in the annual Cesar Chavez Pilgrimage march and festival held at Garey High School. She helped  in making the food for the event and ensuring that all the proceeds would go toward student scholarships. She also was part of a delegation of parents and students which participated in a visit to La Paz (Keene, CA) where Cesar Chavez is buried. After the visit, she continued to work on the annual pilgrimage but got very sick with cancer and ended up in the hospital. Although in the hospital, she continued to organize the parents for a very successful pilgrimage but, shortly after, passed away. The Cesar Chavez Pilgrimage Committee, along with the Latino and Latina Roundtable, PUSD parents and students, family, and other supporting groups invite you to join with us in a ceremony and a pot-luck afterward.   We will also be making posters, flags, and banners after the pot-luck.  

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Invitation to 14th Annual Cesar Chavez Pilgrimage March and Celebration

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14TH ANNUAL CESAR CHAVEZ PILGRIMAGE MARCH AND CELEBRATION

 

Theme:  Our Community Voice Matters -Vote With Our Feet and at the Ballot Box: Support Ethnic Studies, Immigrant Rights, Minimum Wage, and Funding for Education

 

What: 14th Annual Cesar Chavez Pilgrimage, with a program of speakers, live music and food

When: Saturday, April 9, 2016; 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 PM

Where: starting at 9:30 a.m. at Pomona School District Headquarters (800 S. Garey Ave.) with noted community speakers and followed with a pilgrimage walk to Garey High School (321 W. Lexington Ave., Pomona, Ca) where a celebration will take place from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Open to the Public).

Starting at 9:30 A. M. at Pomona School District Headquarters (800 S. Garey Ave.) at the site of a 300-year-old tree to celebrate and listen to speakers who represent the wisdom of the elders on some of the issues affecting our communities. Followed by a march led by Danza Grupo Toyaacan to Garey High School where a young tree will be planted and where youth speakers will share words on the issues affecting them. A snake dance, afterward, involving everyone, will brings together the diverse generations in a snake dance symbolizing the unity that is needed between the various generations in overcoming obstacles to advance a more just and equal society.

 (Pomona, CA) – A coalition of local leaders, parents, students, teachers, and community groups will honor civil rights leader Cesar Chavez with the 14th Annual Community Pilgrimage, commemorating the pilgrimages that Chavez led to highlight the issues of social justice in our diverse communities. The pilgrimage honors the birthday of Cesar Chavez on March 31 and also the day he passed away, on April 23, as part of continuing a legacy of advancing human rights,  peace, and social justice in the region. As in previous years, a ceremony at 9:30 A. M. in front of the PUSD Administrative Offices, will include elder leaders from the community who will honor a 300-year old tree, symbolizing respect for our elders and the sacredness of the environment (including PUSD Superintendent Richard Martinez, Bishop Herbert Wilkins, Jeanette Royston from the NAACP, Tony Cerda from the Ohlone Tribe, and Angela Sanbrano from the Latino/a Roundtable).   After, a pilgrimage walk will make its way to Garey High School where a small tree will be planted and various speakers will speak on the importance of ensuring the development of our future leaders, our young people (including Cesar Chavez’s grandson Andres Chavez, Garey High School principal Stacey Wilkins, Garey High School Stand-out Karina Aguilar, and Mt. Sac Student Government leaders Fabian Pavon and Alejandro Juarez. Scholarships will be presented to students who best represent the principles and values of community engagement.  The entertainment will include the Son Real Band, Danza Azteca Toyaacan, Le Chic Filipino Dance Group, VOM Dance Group , Singer Paola La Portanguila, and Lincoln High Ballet Folklorico. Food will be available for purchase with all the proceeds going to student scholarships.

Sponsors: Latino/Latina Roundtable; Pomona Unified School District, PUSD Parents, University of LaVerne, Cal Poly Cesar Chavez Center for Higher Education; Mount Sac Associated Students; Culture Shock Club, Psychology Club, M. E. C. H. A., D. B. A. Club, BSU Club, CSULB: Lambda That Phi Ltin Fraternity; Mote Vista UU Congregation, Senator Connie M. Leyva, Frank Guzman, Cardenas, La Cachanilla, NAACP, Pomona Valley Branch 1085B,  IDEAS, NAACP, National Council of Negro Women, Encuentros Organization, Rural and Urban Social Movements class, Pitzer Latino Student Union, Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, Pomona Inland Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Project, UFCW 1428, Fairplex, Pomona Premiere

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Important Decision: Supreme Court Upholds one person, one vote

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The Supreme Court Upholds One Person, One Vote:

An important decision today in the Supreme Court that helps to stultify the efforts to stop the growing political power of our communities..  The Latino and Latina Roundable held a well-attended forum in Pomona a few months ago and brought attention to the significance of this case, Evenwel vs. Abbott, and how we had to be vigilant of its intent at changing how electoral districts are drawn across the country (revamping who comprises electoral districts) and reshaping who is ultimately represented by elected officials.  The challengers in the Texas case, represented by the conservative legal group Project on Fair Representation, argued that the practice of drawing Congressional districts should no longer use total population from census figures as a marker for creating electoral districts – but that it should exclude those ineligible to vote , such as undocumented immigrants, felons, and young people below the voting age.

If the Supreme Court would have decided otherwise, it would have meant that, in areas where there are a large number of noncitizens – those districts would have had diluted representation – because the districts would have been drawn just on the basis of the numbers of voters and not based on the total population.  This is a big victory against the conservative right-wing forces  who are seeking to suppress the growing political power potential of our Latino and Latina communities – our immigrant communities — and the potential of the political strength of the diverse people of color, women, LGBTQ, labor, faith-based, and community-based coalitions – that have manifested themselves more than ever in recent years.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-court-voting-districts-20160404-story.html

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Jose Zapata Calderon

Act of Racial Vandalism at Pitzer College

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This is to let you know of an act of vandalism that has occurred at Pitzer College where various walls were vandalized.  Some of the words spray painted in various locations throughout the campus included “Trump” — “Make America Great Again,” and included an attack on a candidate running for a Student Senate position.  This student is the son of respected scholar and professor Adrian Pantoja (who just completed the organizing of the 9th annual Rockabilly with students this last Saturday).   I contacted Adrian and offered our full support in exposing what has happened here and ensuring a quick response.  I sent a message to Adrian:  “This is despicable and I fully support your efforts.  Certainly, it can be covered over immediately — even if there is a sheet that is used.  Let me know if there is anything that I can do.  It is at times when our efforts are most effective – when these types of attacks emerge to stop the progress and to diminish our spirit.  I am so glad that you are responding in the way that you are responding and want you to know that you and your son have our full support.  This is also clearly not just an attack on your name but an attack against our diverse communities.  Thank you for your time on this and all you are doing.”  Adrian responded: “Thank you Jose. We are not going to let this issue fade away. I am most encouraged by the strength and leadership of my son and students. I will keep everyone informed of how the issue is being addressed.”   Adrian also responded:  “Yes, please share it with the members of the Roundtable.”

Invitation to Farm Worker Garden at Pitzer College on Friday

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Invitation from Carlos Perrett, Encuentros at Pitzer College (1050 N. Mills Ave.) in Claremont:

 The students at Pitzer, part of the Encuentro with day laborers, will be holding a noon gathering at the farm worker garden (behind the Grove House on the Pitzer College campus on Friday, April 1 to commemorate Cesar Chavez day and week.  From 1 – 2 – they will be planting roses, and working in the garden and from 1 -2 will be having having pupusas and tamales, dedicating another bench to day laborers, and holding a gathering ceremony.  

The Encuentro Students and Day Laborers

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Invitation to Latino/a Roundtable meeting on April 2

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You are invited to the regular membership meeting of the Latino and Latina Roundtable meeting that will take place this next Saturday, April 2 (from 1 – 3 PM) at the Pitzer College Broad Center Room 208 (1050 N. Mills Ave.) in Claremont.  The agenda will include introductions, reports from the various committees and include:  a summary of the Cesar Chavez breakfast, report on County Supervisor Hilda Solis honoring LRT,  report on the organizing for both the Cesar Chavez Park Memorial evening on April 8th (from 4 -7) and the Cesar Chavez Pilgrimage March and Festival on April 9th, the clean-up effort and work plans at Cesar Chavez Park on Pomona Beautification Day (for April 16th); report on voter registration efforts, plans on immigrant rights efforts including Pomona city council joining an amicus brief in support of DAPA, and status of the minimum wage and community schools efforts.  The annual Rockabilly Festival will be taking place and members can stay and enjoy the event after our meeting.

Jose Zapata Calderon

President of Latino and Latina Roundtable

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Supervisor Hilda Solis honoring Latino/a Roundtable on Tuesday

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Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis is honoring the Latino and Latina Roundtable with a special commendation for our work in honoring the Cesar Chavez Legacy this Tuesday, march 29th at 8 A. M. with a breakfast; 9:30 with the presentation commendation and ending at 10:30 A. M.  If you are interested in going, please get back to me right away.  A number of us will be taking the Metrolink Pomona North (which leaves at 6:43 A. M) and arrive at union station (at 7:35 A. M.) which is right across  from the County Board of Supervisors meeting (500 W. Temple Street, 8th Floor).  You can either go on the Metrolink with us (covering your own costs of the metrolink) or, if you want to drive, you can meet us at 8 A. M. at 500 W. Temple Street, 8th floor. 

Either way, if you are going, send me a quick e-mail so that we can get a count and let Rachel Barbosa know by Monday – how many are coming. 

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Smithsonian Latino Center Accepting Applications for 2016 Young Ambassadors

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Smithsonian Latino Center Accepting Applications for 2016 Young Ambassadors Program

March 15, 2016

Deadline: April 4, 2016

The Smithsonian Latino Center, a division of the Smithsonian Institution, works to ensure that Latino contributions to art, science, and the humanities are highlighted, understood, and advanced through the development and support of public programs, scholarly research, museum collections, and educational opportunities at the Smithsonian and its affiliated organizations.

The center is now accepting applications for the 2016 Young Ambassadors Program, an annual program that aims to foster the next generation of Latino leaders in the arts, sciences, and humanities.

Through the program, graduating high school seniors with an interest in and commitment to the arts, sciences, and humanities as they pertain to Latino communities and cultures will be selected to travel to Washington, D.C., for a weeklong seminar at the Smithsonian. The week consists of visits to the Smithsonian’s Latino collections and one-on-one interaction with renowned experts from various fields, including museum professionals. Following the week in Washington, students participate in a four-week interdisciplinary internship in museums and cultural institutions in seventeen cities across the United States and Puerto Rico, including Smithsonian-affiliated organizations.

Student selection is based on demonstrated interest, commitment and excellence in the arts, sciences, and humanities as well as academic record, leadership experience, and dedication to education and community service. The program includes meals and accommodations for the duration of the one-week training seminar, round-trip travel to Washington, D.C., and a program stipend following the four-week internship. Upon completion of the five-week program, participants will receive $2,000 to apply to their future educational plans.

For complete program guidelines, an FAQ, and application instructions, see the Smithsonian Latino Center Web site.

Link to Complete RFP

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