BAM: Celebrating Black Arts
“There [are] not a lot of activities about African American culture and arts,” said Ms. Lisa Byrd, Founder and Artistic Director of the Black Arts Movement performing arts festival. Black Arts Movement festival (BAM) is a celebration of African American artists in the new millennium. This three-week long event, she said, is “an opportunity to [...]
El Buen Samaritano, helping low-income families get healthy
As lawmakers and First Lady Michelle Obama implement changes impacting health care and childhood obesity issues across the nation, a South Austin nonprofit continues to tackle these very issues on a local level, as it has been for quite some time now. El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission, a nonprofit committed to helping low-income families in [...]
Anthropos Arts: Bringing the benefits of music to all students
Tunes from Jazz to Meringue were heard in the Stubb’s Amphitheater on Sunday, May 16, as students from 12 different schools in the Austin area participated in the 11th Annual Student/Mentor Concert. Students participating in the Anthropos Arts program showed their skills as they improvised solos alongside their mentors at their end-of-the-year performance. The Anthropos [...]
Youth Voices = Social Justice + Hip Hop + Creative Youth
“Hip-hop is not just music, but a support system and a social structure that unifies youth culture.” – The Cipher, Austin’s Hip Hop Project In East Austin’s Southwest Key Community Center over 100 people, diverse in age, race, and class, are bobbing their heads to the rhythm as youth from across Travis County “spit their truth”. [...]
Eastside Memorial students get an education in construction industry
A Design and Construction Industry Fair will be held at Eastside Memorial (formerly Johnston High School) on May 14, 2010 with over 100 students expected to participate. Industry professionals will be on hand to extend their knowledge with an emphasis on keeping students in school. Pete Montoya, Johnston High School alum and retired general contractor, [...]
Public input wanted on the National Museum of the American Latino
Members of the National Museum of the American Latino Commission (NMALC) will be in Austin this weekend to hold a public forum at the State Capitol Auditorium on Saturday, May 1, at 10am. This is the third in a series of public outreach sessions to seek input and feedback from the public on the development [...]
Arráncame La Vida (Tear This Heart Out)
Mil gracias, truly a thousand thanks, to Cine Las Américas and the Consulate General of Mexico for the presentation of the Mexican movie Arráncame La Vida (Tear This Heart Out). Directed by Roberto Sneider and based on the highly acclaimed novel by Ángeles Mastretta, the movie was a phenomenal cultural treasure that honored Austin a [...]
Learning Fair stresses the value of bilingual education
Hispanic students account for approximately half of the Austin Independent School District (AISD) population, and about half of these students are English Language Learners (ELLs) that come from Spanish-speaking households. “As the fastest growing population in AISD, it is important that we help them succeed,” said Sylvia Acevedo, event founder, former rocket scientist, ex-Dell executive, [...]
AISD faces unprecedented growth in Spanish-speaking students
As a state, Texas is facing a unique challenge when it comes to education. The size, growth rate, and makeup of the state’s population is “out of step with the rest of the country”. Texas is seeing triple the growth in the number of school children versus the rest of the country. Travis, specifically, is [...]
Learning fair set to make historical book giveaway
When Feria Para Aprender (The Learning Fair) takes place next month, it will not only be the state’s largest Spanish language educational event, but it will set a one-day record in Texas for the most number of educational books given away. More than 18,500 books will be given away free at this year’s event, which [...]
