Photo courtesy of Danny Showers

On Friday April 30th 2010, Interact Club was recognized with the Ron Prascher Interact award for the best student-run rotary club in the Interact District (5450) division because of their outstanding contributions to TJ and the community.

The Ron Prascher award was presented to them by the annual Rotary District Conference recognizing them as the top club among more than 77 rotary clubs in the Midwest area.

TJ Interact is part of the Denver Technical Center branch of the Interact organization, a world-wide organization.  “We beat clubs in Cherry Creek, Evergreen and Colorado Springs; something I was very proud of,” said Daniel Showers, the club advisor.

Since their foundation in 1998, Interact has been contributing to the local, national and international community, always willing to help those who are in need. The main projects that the club is recognized for have been at an international level, assisting victims of natural disasters. “Being part of these projects has helped me change the lives of many. Interact makes me feel confident about helping and making me feel outgoing,” said Thomas Currington, the Vice-President of Interact and the winner of the Rotary Merit Scholarship, which he plans to use to attend the University of Northern Colorado next year.

The Shelterbox project was one of Interact’s most successful, collecting nearly 1700 boxes of food, clothing and medicine, all benefiting the people in Haiti and others in third world countries. The contributions the students made where able to benefit the lives of many of those affected by the earthquakes in Haiti. “The students have worked on a lot of projects. Interact does community projects at many levels, going beyond the requirements that were needed,” said Showers. Every year the students have to work on at least two projects that will develop their leadership skills, teamwork and help them have a grasp of current events happening in their communities and the world in general.

With Daniela Cardona as the Interact Club President and Thomas Currington as the Vice President, the students who are part of this club have two good leaders helping the community. There are 27 active members of the club and, thanks to their hard efforts and motivation, they are now being recognized as the top in their area.

On top of the recognition from the Rotary district, the students in the club are already receiving district scholarships and plaque citations. “These things state that we are the best of the best,” said Showers, who was also recognized because of the great work he has done with the students.

During the presentation of awards, Showers was named the Rotarian of the Year because of his tireless commitment to his students and community. Showers has spent many years mentoring and guiding students to reach their goals. “I was very surprised, emotional and very proud. It was such a big honor,” he said.

“This year has been great. By being part of all of this we are finally setting the name of TJ to be recognized,” said Currington. By following the motto of the club, “Service Above Self”, these students are demonstrating their dedication to their school and activities.

For the first time in TJ history, the Interact Club was honored because of its great contributions to the school and its international projects.  The Ron Prascher award is the beginning to many future recognitions for TJ. Students are changing their own lives and, on the way, changing those of people around them.

Photo courtesy of Martha Alvarez

Few have the courage to walk up to a podium and show their naked baby pictures or some of those terrifying elementary school mug shots that many try to forget. Sandra Cisneros did this and much more during her presentation in Denver on April 7^th, which proved to be a good icebreaker.

Cisneros boldly walked up to the stage at the Metropolitan State College of Denver’s Tivoli Turnhalle with a smile on her face and happily waving to all the students who applauded her many accomplishments. After admitting to being nervous about presenting to a large crowd and at a school that was recognized in the mid-west for their encouragement of cultures and backgrounds, she began to tell students about her life. “I was surprised at how Cisneros was able to get in front of such a large crowd and talk about things that were hard for her. Just being up there would have made me nervous,” said Joanna Carrillo, one of the TJ students who was able to attend the presentation.

Although she is now the widely recognized author of works like Woman Hollering Creek, Caramelo, The House on Mango Street and a series of poetry books like Loose Woman, Cisneros overcame many obstacles that most of her readers did not know about. “By telling us about her depression and how that changed her work, I was able to understand what was going on in her work better,” said Carrillo. All of her work embodies part of her life, from the dark poetry during times when she was feeling depressed to the small bilingual children’s works that she published during one of her best emotional times. All of her work is based on emotion, something that sets her structure of writing apart from others.

In 1983 Cisneros published the first copy of House on Mango Street and since then she is credited with being one of few Latina writers who has reached commercial success in the American market. “I’m amazed at how she went from living on a couple dollars a day to helping fund an organization and do all this other work for the Latino community. She is a very strong woman and she taught us that following your dreams can pay of in the end,” said Sara Hernandez, a TJ sophomore who was also present at the event.

In addition to writing, Cisneros has taught at the Latino Youth Alternative High School in Chicago and has been a college recruiter at Loyala University in Chicago. She served as literature director for the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio, Texas, and was an artist at the Foundation Michael Karolyi in Vence, France. She has been a guest professor for California State University, , Berkeley, Irvine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Cisneros is also a member of PEN (not-for-profit cross-cultural company) and Mujeres por la Paz, a women’s peace group which helps organize. Throughout her career Cisneros has also managed to keep her feminist views in her jobs as well as works, and continues to use that today.

Teachers all over the US are basing lessons and curriculum on the writing done by Cisneros in order to educate their students on overcoming obstacles. Because of TJ’s Distinguished Hispanic Speakers Series, the students from the school were able to meet and talk with the inspiring author. She autographed students’ personal copies of her work as well as offered to take a picture with the students who were able to attend. “Taking a picture with us was very cool! It showed that she is nice, and wants to spend time with students and people who love her work,” said Hernandez.

The presentation was made even more special when Cisneros began to read parts of her unpublished book, a series of essays and poetry that she has been putting together for a couple of years and will be available to the public within the next year. She also showed the crowd many of her personal pictures which will also be part of the unpublished collection. Cisneros said that she was writing this book to clear up all the rumors that people have written about her, everything from her sources of inspiration to being a prostitute in Tijuana before she began to write. “More than an auto-biography,” she called her work.

April 2^nd, 2010 will be a day to remember for any Cisneros fan who was present. She shared her experiences with a room of students and humbly accepted praise for her work. After this experience her readers will love her work even more and wait anxiously for another masterpiece.

Photo by Rebecca Holt

Born in Torrance, California, Jordan Shelton will soon be returning to his home state, this time to attend Stanford University, one of the most prestigious higher education institutes in the nation.

Shelton found himself at Thomas Jefferson because of the Computer Magnet Program. ”I thought the program had a good academic structure as opposed to the IB program and all their homework at schools like George Washington,” said Shelton. By coming to TJ, Shelton found himself in many of the 3-D design classes and enjoys working on many of the projects as a hobby.

A busy student, Shelton is involved with a multitude activities. He runs track and cross-country during the school year and spends many of his summers tutoring elementary and middle school children from the Denver-Metro area. “I began to do this through CABPES, the Colorado Association of Black Professional Engineers and Scientists. It is basically a summer program that students sign up for and receive help with math,” said Shelton. CABPES concentrates on helping students who want to pursue careers in engineering and science by helping represent minority students in these fields of work, something Shelton might see himself doing in the future. “Jordan is an incredibly bright guy. I’m sure the work he will do will change the world someday,” said Nelson Vore, Shelton’s physics teacher for the past two years.

When it came time to apply for college, Jordan knew exactly were he wanted to go. “I’ve wanted to go to Stanford since I was ten. It’s just a great school and I love California as well,” said Shelton. Glad to finally be done with high school, Jordan is looking forward to the freedoms of a college student. “Sleeping in, the great campus, the open space and location of the school are all things I am excited about,” he said. Being only forty-five minutes from San Francisco, the upcoming years look to be some of the most exciting for Jordan.

Shelton is in no hurry to decide what he wants to study. “I am thinking of either engineering or physics, but I don’t have to decide until the end of my sophomore year,” he said. Challenging himself in math and science during the past three years, Shelton now feels ready to move on to more challenging classes. For this school year two of his favorite and most challenging classes are AP calculus and AP physics. “The best thing I will remember Jordan for was his awesome scrambler in honors physics,” said Vore. The scrambler project consisted of getting a cart and an egg to move more than ten meters and reach a certain marked spot using only momentum and energy created by the vehicle.

“One of my favorite memories here is the cardboard boat races in AP physics. We got to work on something out of the ordinary and play in the pool until all the cardboard boats had sunk,” said Jordan. On top of enjoying being in his physics and calculus classes, Shelton mostly enjoys spending time with his friends and listening to music. “I listen to everything, but mostly R&B and hip hop,” said Shelton.

With a cumulative GPA of 4.3 and recognition in both Track and Cross Country, Shelton has been able to accomplish his dream of going to Stanford for the 2010-2011 school year.

A scene from Café Cultura. Photo courtesy of Teatro Izcalli

Not many areas in Denver provide a safe environment for spoken word, danza, and also encourage the sharing of Latino culture. Café Cultura brings a show to the communities of the Denver-Metro area, inviting everyone to come and share their thoughts on every second Friday of the month.

Beginning with a traditional native blessing and danza Azteca by Grupo Tlaloc, the crowded Inner City Parish stage vibrated with the drum’s resonance. Grupo Tlaloc’s performance captivated the audience, keeping them enthralled to see the next act. “Every time I come to Café Cultura I know that there will be something amazing happening. The opening act is always one of the most entertaining parts,” said Eduardo Zuniga, one of the spectators during the March show.

As is accustomed at Café Cultura, the opening act was followed by spoken word and poetry from members of the audience. Everyone is encouraged to participate, from young children to teens to the older generations.  The main act in Café Cultura for March was Teatro Izcalli, a teatro campesino traveling all the way from California.

Macedonio Arteaga founded Izcalli in 1993 in San Diego to promote and preserve Chicano and indigenous art, culture and history. The organization hopes to continue to motivate young Chicanos to finish school and better their lives and those of their families. This traveling theater addresses issues such as racism, identity, higher education, health education and the representation of Latinos in the entertainment world, taking ownership of the negative commentary made about Latino culture and using it as a way to entertain and educate the public.

When Latinos, Chicanos or Mexicans see this group they can relate to the lessons it teaches through comedy, as well as the actors they see on stage. Older and younger generations share the stage, making a parody of all situations in the Latino community. “We travel to many different states, from New York to Wisconsin and Arizona. We’ve done agency workshops with multicultural groups, teaching to elementary schools (mostly),” said Artega.

“The group started after watching a Culture Class in San Diego, California. I began a la brava, most of us had no experience in acting,” said Arteaga. The group features seven players, including Arteaga’s wife and daughter, who have all been acting together for 15 years.

“When we first started, the group met in a restaurant and wrote their ideas on a napkin. These are still some of the things we use today. Many of our ideas come from summer programs with students. That was where we developed some of them. We just meet and write down stuff as well; ideas we take from television and other shows, changing it to be culturally relevant,” said Artega’s wife, Alicia Chavez-Arteaga.

“Teatro Izcalli is part of the larger organization, Izcalli. The Teatro started as a way to raise money for an escuelita (elementary school). As a non-profit organization that focuses on Latino advocacy.  The mission of IZCALLI is to transform the lives of Chicano/a and Indigenous communities by promoting cultural consciousness through the arts, historical education, and community dialogue,” said Chavez-Arteaga.

Café Cultura was the proud host of Teatro Izcalli, drawing a crowd to the Inner City Parish auditorium.

Café Cultura has been part of the Latino community for the past six years, and since then has housed some of the most successful open-mic and Latino arts presentations in the Denver Metro-area.

“Café Cultura is an artist collective & open mic that showcases the work of the Chicana/o, Indigenous, Latina/o, and other under-served communities, and provides opportunities for new artists and activists of all backgrounds to learn, grow, and create positive change. As poets, activists, and artists, we strive to keep our oral and artistic traditions alive,” said Ara Cruz, one of the founders.

Ara Cruz and Bobby LeFebre, two Chicano/Indigenous spoken-word artists and activists started Café Cultura in October 2004 with the help and ideas of other community members.  As the months passed and interest increased, Ara and Bobby knew that they were creating something that was long overdue. They tried to host Café Cultura at different locations during the first sessions and they settled down at the Café Café coffee shop on 44th Ave. and Zuni St.  At Café Café about 60 people can be part of these spoken word sessions.  In the spirit of showcasing the talent in our community, Café Cultura began a tradition of featuring specific artists and performers.  In fact, the now popular and successful Debajo Del Agua had its first performance at Café Cultura, which also offered a venue for informative short films and a space where people could network.

The success in this area led to artists coming in from coast to coast for a chance to perform. “Some of the memorable features are Cihuatl Ce (LA), Guerrilla Queenz (LA), Molina Soleil & Aju, Teatro Izcalli, Slam Nuba, Nubai, Gabriela Garcia Medina (LA), Blackfire (Arizona), Taina Asili y La Banda Rebelde (Abany, NY & Philly), and Broadcast Live (Albany, NY),” said Cruz.

Because of these performances, Café Cultura has received many acknowledgements from Denver and Colorado media. The Denver Post and the North Denver Tribune, Westword, as well as El Semanario have featured many of the works in Café Cultura, concentrating mainly on some of the spoken word and hip hop workshops that they host in the local high schools and community centers.

During 2005, the founders of Café Cultura decided that they were moving to a different location in order to accommodate the growing crowds attending every 2^nd weekend of the month. “It was difficult to leave Café Café because they treated us so well. However, we had to do it to respond to the needs of our communities. Since finding a new home in October 2005 at Denver Inner City Parish/La Academia, we have more than doubled in size.  On average, more than 150 people attend our event on a regular basis,” said Cruz.

“The roots of Café Cultura go back to the work done by our elders in previous decades and even further back through the cultural traditions passed down by our ancestors. One of the events that began the trajectory of this was the passing over of Abelardo “Lalo” Delgado into the spirit world. As a respected elder and veteran Chicano poet, we came to the realization that it is our responsibility to carry that palabra (word) and use it to help our communities,” said Cruz.

Another was the struggle of the native people to stop the celebration of Christopher Columbus that takes place through an annual parade in Denver. This work forms part of a larger movement uniting indigenous people from throughout this continent, which many native people refer to as Turtle Island. During this struggle, people representing southern Indigenous nations, known by terms such as “Chicana/o,” “Mexicana/o,” and “Latina/o,” came together in unity with those Natives of northern nations, referred to today as “American Indian” or “Native American,” to end the celebration of genocide, slavery, and oppression. “These actions inspired us to form Café Cultura in that spirit of Red/Brown Unity. In fact, our first open mic event took place the night of the All Nations Four Directions March on October 8th, 2004. The next day, many of us participated in the direct action that took place in an attempt to transform the holiday,” said Cruz, an attendant at that first Café Cultura, who believes in the views of the native people and the impact they have had on Café Cultura.

In addition to the written word produced from the sessions, a collaboration with Tiahui Podkast (http://www.tiahuipodkast.com) has allowed Cafe Cultura to reach national recognition (they are featured on two episodes). MySpace and FaceBook have also helped connect many people to the events and have been a major way of spreading the word for many of the most recent sessions. For more information visit (http://www.myspace.com/cafecultura) and (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-Cultura/49001449645).

The work done by Teatro Izcalli and Café Cultura have impacted Latinos and especially Latino youth in the Denver area. The collaboration of these two organizations led to a successful night in the Denver Inner City Parish, and the beginning to many similar, future performances for the Café Cultura.

French Teacher Paul Kirschling is looking for a few good families to host French students this summer. artwork by Rebecca Holt

Every other year some of TJ’s French students take a trip to France and get to stay with a host family during their time there. Now, in addition to this year’s trip to France, students from France will be traveling to Denver, something that hasn’t happened in the community for a long time.

Vistas in Education (VIE) as well as Paul Kirschling, TJ’s French teacher, have taken time to organize the stay of French students in the TJ community. VIE has been organizing trips for American students to France since the 1970s, and now they want to give French teens a taste of the Colorado lifestyle. The company specializes in French/American family stays, successfully having families host students for the last 35 years.

“(VIE) is looking for fun and active families that are interested in hosting a French student from June 15th to July 5th,” said Kirschling. “Students will be here for the July 4th weekend in order to be able to experience an American holiday as well,” he added. The only requirements for hosting is giving the students their own bed, welcoming them into your family, and including them in day-to-day activities with people of their own age.

“Being with a host family is the ideal way to experience another country and culture; it is the ultimate way,” said Kirschling, who has traveled to many countries himself, and understands the benefits of having someone on whom to rely. “It will be an incredible and unforgettable experience for the students,” said Kirschling, who began working with VIE two years ago, encouraging his students to take part in the host-family stays in France.  He now encourages them to host students here, as well.

The students from France are required to know some English in order to be able to interact with their host families. They are selected by their English teachers based on their maturity and abilities.  VIE tries to connect families to students with similar interests, selecting them based on their adaptability, sensitivity to other cultures, and good health.

Coming to the U.S. can sometimes be a slight culture shock for the students. “They tend to have a lot of family around them and are usually very social. The food is often better and meals tend to be longer,” said Kirschling, stating some of the differences between the American and French culture. “French teens are less casual, and tend to be a bit more fashionable. Teens in France are usually better dressed in public,” he added, but despite these few difference he believes American and French teens to be similar and will interact very well.

Just as TJ’s students are excited to travel to France, there are many French teens hoping to be able to visit the U.S. If your family or any other families in the area that you know are interested in hosting one of these students, please contact Paul Kirschling at paul_kirschling@dpsk12.org or at 720-423-7009.

Photo by Rebecca Holt

After working as a math teacher in Adams County and Douglas County High Schools, Nicholas Tussing brings his vast knowledge of Math to TJ. This will be his fourth year teaching at the high school level.

During his time as a student at Eagle Crest High School in 2003, Nicholas Tussing was a well-rounded and involved student. “As a high school student I ran track, cross-country and was part of the German Honor Society and the National Honor Society (NHS),” said Tussing. On top of a busy extra-curricular schedule, he also managed to take more than 12 Advanced Placement classes in subjects ranging from Math to Literature. He is still working to further his education at the University of Colorado in Denver, where he will complete his Masters Degree in Statistics and Related Math within the next year.

At TJ, Tussing teaches Statistics and Geometry to upperclassmen and has found it an enjoyable experience so far. “I like the school spirit and the atmosphere. Students have been good so far,” he said.

Some students find the change from Sperry’s relaxed teaching style to Tussing’s more direct approach challenging. “Class is really different, but I feel like this semester I have been learning a lot. Mr. Tussing’s class is a lot of work but if we really try we will be able to do a pretty good job,” said Sara Olan, a senior in the Statistics class.

With many surprises for students, Tussing dedicates much of his time to their education as well as his own. He will be completing his Master’s in Mathematics this year as well, graduating during the same time as many of his students. Despite teaching not being his first-choice career, he is enjoying his job. “Teaching was my second choice for a career; I became a teacher because I think it is an honorable service to the community. My first choice was to be an Officer in the USAF (United States Air Force), but it interfered with my family plans,” said Tussing, a father to 3-year-old Avery.

On top of teaching, and attending school, Tussing finds time to dedicate to his family and hobbies. “I write novels. I have not yet published, but it is a goal for the future,” says Tussing who is hopeful to some day see his name on the cover of a science fiction book.

Literature is a large part of Tussing’s life. “I really like to read science fiction and fantasy,” said Tussing. “It is fun to escape into a world that is completely different than our own,” he added.  Tussing began writing during his first years of college and found the genre very interesting. “The science fiction and fantasy in my mind are more creative; like I’ve said, it’s an escape from this world.”

Looking forward to seeing how his first semester at TJ unfolds, Tussing encourages his students to be motivated and involved in his classes. “It’s really exciting to be able to have a new math teacher and I hope he stays in the school for a really long time, “said Olan.

Photo by Rebecca Holt

When not spending time with her own children, Freshman Counselor Erin Thompson, one of TJ’s newest counselors, can be found at TJ in her office assisting freshmen with their schedules and a whole lot more. With this being her ninth year as a counselor, Thompson still enjoys spending time with students and helping them – and herself – adjust to a new school.

Being an East High School graduate, Thompson can relate with many of the urban students’ issues, and is willing to help all students have a great stay here. “I have worked at PS1 Charter and Florence Crittenton Alternative and one year with the Youth Employment academy,” said Thompson. Florence Crittenton is a school where teen and future teen parents attend in order to develop skills for raising their children as well as providing an education for the parents. Thompson describes PS1 Charter as a diverse yet small school where students focus on life-long learning. “Many of the students are similar, but they haven’t decided to make the change (at alternative schools). Students at TJ are more self-motivated and don’t need as much support from adults in the building,” said Thompson.

Deciding to come to TJ was a hard choice for Thompson, made easier by TJ’s good reputation and small size. “TJ students don’t have as much baggage. Students at an alternative school need a lot of love; they do not trust schools because they have had such a terrible experience in the past,” said Thompson.

After just one year at TJ, Thompson is already involved with the Student Council, as the adviser alongside Administrator JoAnne Moreno and Treasurer Derek Steffes. She keeps busy helping organize and supervise major school events like dances and pep-rallies. “Mrs. Thompson does a great job at helping with school events. I’m very excited to go to some of the dances she has helped with because they seem really fun,” said Thomas Dodson, a freshman who Thompson has helped become adjusted to high school classes and events.

Sports have always been one of Thompson’s favorite pastimes. During her time at East High School she played Varsity Soccer as well as Swimming and Diving and Tennis. After college she also continued to be involved in sports, including pursuing a major in Sports Science. “I was an athlete and an athletic trainer in college. Sports Science fit my interests. I like science, and anatomy was always my favorite class,” said Thompson, who decided to pursue a teaching and counseling career because of the experiences she had with children. “I always enjoyed kids, whether it was at a summer camp, coaching soccer, or being in the classroom helping out. I was a fitness trainer for a year working in a health club, but I was bored being in the gym all day. It was really the coaching that made me want to be in a school full time. I was counseling my soccer players anyway, so it was a natural fit. I started off coaching soccer at Manual and knew that I wanted to work with high school kids full time,” said Thompson.

Thompson also assists with coaching for her daughter’s soccer team and Girl Scout troop. “I have a nine-year-old daughter whose team I coach. I am also responsible for leading one Girl Scout troop meeting per school year for my daughter’s troop. We did this in December where we made gingerbread houses, decorated stockings, and made surprise balls,” said Thompson. Being a very family oriented person, Thompson likes to dedicate as much time as possible to her children and husband.

Having graduated from Regis University and Colorado State University, Thompson sees much importance in education. “One piece of advice I have for beginning students is not to fail classes; not passing classes will make upcoming years much harder for them,” said Thompson. Having students keep college in mind through their journey in high school is her main goal, as a counselor at TJ. She hopes to continue to spend time with incoming students helping to guide them on throughout their high school careers.

Artwork by Rebecca Holt

La inmigración es un evento del cual muchas de las familias latinas se preocupan  día a día en los Estados Unidos. Cada familia tiene su propia historia, algunas originando desde Brasil y Colombia, al igual que la más conocida historia de los inmigrantes que vienen de México.

Mucha gente que vive en este lado de la frontera se pregunta porque estos individuos vienen a los Estados Unidos sabiendo que serán ilegales y recibirán igual o menos oportunidades que en su país de origen. Hay muchísimas respuestas para esta pregunta. La mayoría de estas personas vienen por una razón que puede ser sumada en una sola palabra- oportunidad.
En otros países, Estados Unidos es visto como la luz al fin del túnel, la única forma de salir adelante. Mucha gente viene porque ya no encuentran que hacer en sus tierras nativas, no solamente porque se les antoja venir.

Poder venir a los Estados Unidos crea un sentido de esperanza para las personas que se encuentran en una situación de desesperación. Están dispuestos de arriesgar todo para salir de las condiciones en las que se encuentran en sus países.

Todos alguna vez hemos escuchado las historias de los migrantes atrapados en el desierto, arriesgando su vida solo para ganar un par de dólares por hora, y nos preguntamos “¿porque?” pero la pregunta verdadera debería de ser, “¿Que harías tu si estuvieras en la misma situación?”

Mucha gente estadounidense no entiende los motivos por los que los inmigrantes vienen a los Estados Unidos porque ellos nunca se han encontrado en aprietos aquí. Mucha de la gente que se la pasa criticando a los inmigrantes han estado siempre viviendo en lugares donde la pobreza nunca ha rozado los escalones de sus puertas. Si vivieran un día en la vida de un inmigrante entenderían porque la gente viene con tanta desesperación.

México siempre se ha encontrado bajo una crisis económica, desde los tiempos de Porfirio Díaz y Pancho Villa, hasta ahora cuando esta bajo un nuevo gobierno que se honora en decir que son honestos y están tratando de mejorar el país. Pero a pesar de los esfuerzos de las autoridades mexicanas la gente todavía se encuentra atraída por la economía y las historietas que los inmigrantes que regresan a México cuentan.

Después de tantas generaciones de seguir esta rutina, los latinos ven los Estados Unidos como una oportunidad que fácilmente pueden alcanzar. Los Estados Unidos es la tierra de la esperanza para los que no la pueden encontrar en otro lugar.

Después de todo, America es la tierra de los inmigrantes, con gente que provienen de todas partes del mundo. Los inmigrantes de estos tiempos solamente esta buscando las mismas fortunas y oportunidades que generaciones pasadas han recibido por parte de este país. Solo tomando un minuto para considerar la historia de las familias que están aquí podemos entender porque los Estados Unidos son reconocidos como la tierra de los inmigrantes.

Many people who live on this side of the border wonder why these people are willing to risk so much to come and live in the United States, many of them aware that they will be labeled as “illegals” and will receive the same or even worse treatment than in their homelands. There are many answers to this question.  Most of the people come for a reason that can be summed up into one word: opportunity.

Other countries view the United States as the “light at the end of the tunnel,” their salvation and escape from the poverty and lack of opportunities they face in their own countries. Many of these people come because they see no other way to escape from their troubles, not just because they want to, but because in many cases they feel like they have to in order to survive.

The United States creates hope for people who feel lost and see no way out of the situations in which they are in. Many of them are willing to risk everything they have, including their lives and families, to overcome the problems they face in other places.

We have all heard the stories of the people lost in the Sonora and Chihuahua deserts risking their lives to come and work for a few dollars an hour in the piscas, picking vegetables and fruit or cleaning hotel rooms and tables and we ask ourselves, “Why?”  But the question we should be asking is, “What would I do if I found myself in their place?”  We can know the way people feel and the reasons they do things only if we take a moment to think about the way we would react if we were in the same position.

Many U.S. citizens do not understand the motivation of these people because they have never had any extreme hardships to face. Many of the people who criticize immigrants have never seen poverty, perhaps blinded by their own well-manicured front lawns. We can’t expect them to try to comprehend where these people come from, but if only once they had to live a day in the life of an immigrant, they would understand the reasons why they come here with such exasperation.

Mexico, like many other countries, has always found itself under an economic crisi, since the times of Porfirio Diaz and Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution, until today when the Mexican government claims to be an “honest authority” and “trying to better the country.” But despite the efforts of Mexican authorities and those of other countries, many people still find themselves entranced by the stories of a better economy and the opportunities that can be found on this side of the border in the U.S.

After many generations of coming in and out of the United States, Latinos see this as an opportunity at which they can easily succeed. The U.S. is the land of hope for those who cannot find it anywhere else.

After all, America is the melting pot of immigrants from countries all over the world. Today’s immigrants are simply looking for the same fortunes and opportunities that previous generations have found in this country. By just taking a minute to consider where each family comes from as well as the reasons why they are here, we can understand why America has become the land of immigrants.

Artwork by Mia Nogueira

More than four decades after his death, Martin Luther King Jr. is still remembered for many positive outcomes he accomplished for his community. A proud advocator for civil rights, Dr. King was always looking for a way to better the life of African American people. Assigned a holiday by President Ronald Regan in 1983, citizens from all over the United States continue to honor Dr. King every January.

Born on January 15, 1929, Dr. King was always a well-guided man thanks to the help of his grandfather and father, both pastors at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. King attended segregated public schools in Georgia, obtaining his GED at the age of fifteen.  He received a B.A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from where both his father and grandfather graduated. He later enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, who later gave birth to their two sons and two daughters.

In 1954, Dr. King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama as well as a member of the executive committee of the National association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In early December of 1955 he began the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of the United States: the bus boycott. The boycott lasted 382 days.

On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United states had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, African Americans and Whites were finally able to ride a bus as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested and his home was bombed, but at the same time he showed that he was willing to take these and many more risks to protect his people. In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization that provided new leadership for the civil rights movement. In the years between 1957 and 1968, Dr. King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action, and at the same time he wrote five books as well as many newspaper articles.

At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King Jr. was the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He used his power and resources to advance the civil rights movement and get more people to become involved. He led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world and inspired his letter from a Birmingham jail, a manifesto for African American rights. King also directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people, to whom he delivered his I have a Dream speech. During these years he was arrested at least twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees, was named Man of the Year by Time Magazine in 1963, and became not only the leader of African Americans but also a world figure.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, he was assassinated. Today we continue to hold memorials for Dr. King all over the United States. His legacy brings large events to the Denver-Metro area, including the “Marade” on Monday, January 18th. Starting in the MLK memorial site in City Park at 9:00 a.m., the Marade begins at 10:00 a.m. with participants marching together to Civic Park, where food and desserts will be served until 1:00 p.m. At the National Western Stock Show, the Martin Luther King Jr. African-American Rodeo of Champions aims to show how cowboys and cowgirls impacted the West throughout history. The Rodeo will take place on January 18, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the Denver Coliseum, (reserved seating for this event costs between $13 – $35).
Martin Luther King Jr. will continue to be commemorated for many years to come. Everyone loves his sense of community leadership and the inspiration his memory provides.

photo by Rebecca Holt

After being a teacher for over 28 years, Mark Sperry will be retiring at the end of this first semester, just before his beloved class of 2010 graduates.

After having taught almost seven years at Montbello High School, Sperry found himself being transferred to TJ in 1992. “I got lucky to be able to get a job here, because I really like the school,” said Sperry. “One of the things I will miss the most about teaching is the students. That is the real reason why a person teaches, because they enjoy being around kids,” he added. Sperry has enjoyed his time at TJ, and is glad to have spent the past 18 years here.

“I began teaching because I really like kids and I enjoyed the summer vacation. Growing up I loved to travel, and this job allowed me to do so,” said Sperry.

“I had a rocky start. Teaching was rough at first, but after the first few years I began to get better at teaching,” said Sperry. During his first years of teaching for Montebello he taught “Hold Youth” classes, which were aimed at student dropouts or students close to dropping out. Continuing to teach math classes, Sperry now instructs seniors in probability and statistics, and underclassmen algebra and geometry.

“Teaching gives you great skills in dealing with people. I remember someone at CU, who once said to me that teaching is not hard, but it is one of the most honorable professions. It should probably be ranked somewhere next to doctors and other similar careers,” said Sperry. After almost 29 years of teaching he feels that he has the sufficient skills to go back to school and certify himself in other areas.

After retiring, Sperry plans to expand his knowledge in business and computer science. “Once I retire I plan to get a second career, take computer classes, Oracle Data Base courses, accounting and finance classes. These are the things I have always enjoyed. I want a good second career in business,” he said. Sperry hopes to one day be working with a finance company.

“People who stick with teaching should be proud. Some of the smartest people are teachers; take Mr. Jackson, Mr. Vore, Ms. Witulski and Mrs. Doyle, they are all people who could do anything but they chose to teach. These are the people with the courage to teach, and they decided to do so,” said Sperry.

His years of teaching have been a learning experience for him, as well. Sperry has learned to interact with the students and adjust to their ways of learning, something he suggests all beginning teachers to learn to do. “All I want is new teachers to know what they are getting into. Before they decide to teach they should intern first, that way they can see what they are getting into,” said Sperry. “Teaching is like getting into the circus because you have to perform in front of other people every single day,” added Sperry, comparing a teacher’s lectures and lessons to a professional performer’s.

“Some of the students I remember the most are Ben Sprague, Eric Thompson, Malcolm Glenn, Zach Cohn, and the Mancoff twins,” said Sperry. “My favorite events at TJ were always the graduations. Those are always great events to go to; they always make the best memories,” he said.

“I want my students to remember that I treated them equally and fairly; I let them have a second chance in their work if they were absent, and helped them all catch up with their work,” said Sperry. As advice for the students he will be leaving behind, Sperry encourages all his students to follow their dreams. “Everyone should absolutely go with their passion; someday you will make money from it,” he said.

Many of the students are sad to see Sperry retire so suddenly, but he is doing it for his own well-being, as well as for his family’s. “Once you have kids you don’t have the same time you used to. I want to be with them,” said Sperry, who has a six-year-old boy and a ten-year-old boy, both of whom he wishes he had more time to be with. “I’m tired and I need the time to be with my family; this just seems like a good time to retire,” said Sperry.