Students Elect President and Commitees

SEED students held elections yesterday for president of the group, along with representatives for each committee. The students were eager to set committees up since their arrival according to Silvia Castillo, “It helps bring up the morale of the group when ever everyone has something to do, everyone feels needed or important in one way or another.”

The committees being voted on included an executive board, a public relations committee, health, cultural events, and event planning committee. The number of students in the group is relatively small (17) some of them are in two  different committees so that there are enough for everyone to fill at least one position. 

Newly Elected SEED President
 Ana Mancia

Ana Mancia from Santa Ana, El Salvador was elected president by the SEED students . Her duties include mediating meetings, and speaking on behalf of the group to their instructors and program coordinators. Ana is also the first female president selected within the five cohorts that have studies at CSUDH.

Culture plays a big role in the importance of choosing committees amongst the group. According to Carlos Sandoval, “We come from a collectivistic society. We are used to making decisions as a group, whether it be a family unit, a community, or within our school districts. It is seen as selfish for one person to be individualistic or only care for themselves. 

“Hope Has An Address"

SEED visits Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles.

The SEED students had a special field trip yesterday to the headquarters of the largest nonprofit gang intervention, re-hab, and re-entry program in the United States. Homeboy operates through free or low cost sevices and programs, and social enterprises which employ ex gang members; their motto is “Jobs Not Jails”.

The students had a personal tour of the Homeboy facilities and main building, located at 130 W. Bruno ST, Los Angeles, CA 9001. These are known as Homeboy Headquarters, because they provide many other services around Los Angeles, but home base is here. Homegirl cafe is located inside the building, with a fresh selection of breakfast and lunch items available, as well as the Homeboy Bakery, where fresh bread is made twice daily.

Father Greg welcoming the students to Homeboy  Industries.
Photo by Jocelyn Arana 

Father Gregory Boyle, or G Dog, as he is known around Homeboy Headquarters is the man responsible for making Homeboy industries what it is today. As the founder and now best-selling author “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion”, he works daily to continue expanding the services the program provides, and change lives of many ex-gang members.

     SEED students and father Greg outside of his office.
 Photo by Jocelyn Arana

When asked why he does this kind of work, helping reform gang members, father Greg answered, “Having compassion for others equals peace. I see it as my mission to help as many people as I can while I am here. The gift of giving is very powerful, we can never do it enough.”

Some of the programs Homeboy provides include tattoo removal, job training and placement, legal services, GED completion courses, and mental and drug abuse counseling, among other services. Their mission statement includes: “Homeboy Industries provides hope, placement, and support to formerly gang involved and incarcerated men and women, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of their community.”

For more information on Homeboy Industries or Father Gregory Boyle, go to homeboyindustries.org

School Site Observations are a Success at Montebello School District

This past week, the SEED scholars have been busy commuting from Carson, CA to Montebello, located near East Los Angeles. The purpose of these trips was to learn new teaching pedagogies from teachers who work with at-risk youth and incorporate those into their classrooms in El Salvador.

The SEED scholars works side by side with the school teachers to develop an effective lesson plan that they could execute back home with their own students. SEED student Yvette Montes says, “I am learning a lot from the techniques primary school teachers use here, in some ways they are similar, but in many ways they are different than what we are used to in El Salvador.”

Fifth grade science teacher, Carlos Portal said “I’ve noticed the idea here is to engage the student in the classroom, through hands-on and interactive experience. Teachers try to make learning fun here and that will help us a great deal back home. Students who are more engaged in school be it through art, literature, or science, will be less likely to drop out and join a gang. That is our objective.”

 The SEED students showed their gratitude for allowing them into their classrooms by putting on a performance in traditional Salvadorian wear at the end of the week, and sharing with the students their own culture and customs. 

 Montebello Elementary school teacher, Victor Solorio,
with various books in english and spanish for his students.
 Photo by Jocelyn Arana

Randy Jurado Guest Lectures for SEED Students

Randy's book about the Salvadorian experience in America.
 Image from randyjuradoertll.com

Salvadorian born writer and political activist Randy Jurado gave a guest lecture for the SEED Students today, and finished with a signing of his book, Hope in Times of Darkness: A Salvadoran American Experience. The students were thrilled to be able to speak with a man who has done so much for the Salvadorian American community especially here in Los Angeles.

Randy recalled many of the obstacles he faced growing up as a first generation son of Salvadorian immigrant parents. He especially touched on growing up amongst gangs and gang members and having to deal with them in and out of school. His book touches on this subject, as well as his journey and life story that led him to do the work he does today.

The students had all read Randy’s book prior to his lecture, and had questions prepared to ask him during his lecture. Primary school teacher Mirna Lira asked, “What are some ways your teachers and parents helped you overcome the influence of gangs in your everyday life growing up?” Gangs and prevention of gang violence are especially of interest to this SEED teachers group, because they deal with them every day.

Student Roxana Clavel gave her reaction to Randy’s presentation, saying “He is very inspirational to us, we look to him to help us better understand the plight that is gang violence back home and how we can help our students overcome the temptation of gangs.” 

You can find more information about Randy Jurado and his work at randyjuradoertll.com.

Cultural Trip To Downtown Los Angeles

As part of their curriculum, it is required that the SEED students go on various cultural activities, including seeing major cities and important cultural sites within Southern California. As international students, the 17 scholars were eager to take their first trip to downtown Los Angeles this past Friday.

Lenin Perez who’s only heard stories about Los Angeles, he says from an uncle who lives here and from Hollywood movies, expressed his reaction to seeing downtown "It is bigger and more alive than I thought it would be, but there are parts of it that remind me a bit of big cities in El Salvador, like San Salvador." 

The students in the Music Center Plaza in Downtown LA.
Photo by: Jocelyn Arana

When asked how experiencing downtown Los Angeles for the first time, SEED student Ana Juarez said, "This city is incredible and much bigger than I imagined. Everything is so modern and fast paced; it’s nothing like where I live. I am making sure to take lots of pictures." Ana is from a rural part of El Salvador, a small town outside of Santa Ana, and explains that as the oldest of 9 kids, she never thought she would be able to take a trip like this. She says she is grateful for SEED for this opportunity.

The students began their tour at the historic Union Station, and made their way down to sites like Olvera Street, Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral, City Hall, and Grand Central Market. Their trip ended with a ride on Angel’s Flight, a historic landmark and functional trolley found at the heart of downtown. 

SEED Students Arrive in California

The selected scholars arrive for the first time to Los Angles, CA. Photo by Jocelyn Arana.

.A group of 17 international scholars arrived in Los Angeles last week, to begin their six month program of study within the CSU system. They are as part of a USAID funded project called the SEED program. These 17 students in particular are all from El Salvador, but previous cohorts have included scholars from Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.

All 17 are rural primary and middle school educators in their home country. Their purpose here is to learn teaching methodologies to incorporate into their classrooms back in El Salvador. El Salvador is currently facing many problems regarding gangs and gang violence, and many members are recruited at the primary and middle school levels.

Loker Student Union at CSUDH , where the students
 will attend classes. Photo by Jocelyn Arana. 

SEED stands for Scholarships for Education and Economic Development. The program is currently hosted by California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California, and it is the only Cal State so far to host the SEED Program at one of its Universities. Other Schools that have the SEED program in California include community colleges in Modesto and Bakersfield.

Juan Pablo Olivares, one of the 17 students selected for the SEED program says “We are very excited to be here and eager to learn everything we can to help make our classrooms and our country a better place”.  His classmate, Lissette Montes, added “We know we are lucky to be here, it was a long and intense process but we are thankful for all of it”.