Thursday, March 15, 2012

Primary Election, CPS Principal Search, Benito Juarez, Cesar Chavez, Maria T. Mooning, America's Career Institute, Golden Gloves, IBEW Local 134


CRUNCH TIME: Candidates running for public office in the Primary Election Tuesday, March 20, 2012 have only four days to convince voters to vote for them. However, most voters have their minds made up, or have already voted. For those who have not voted remember: Voting is important, Get-Out-And-Vote, and Vote Democratic!
          FARRAGUT: Kudos to members of Local School Council [LSC] at Farragut Career Academy, 2345 S. Christiana Ave. for opening the process in the selection of a new Principal. The LSC held four separate meetings to hear opinions and comments from stakeholders; LSC members met with the community on Tuesday, Feb. 14, parents on Tuesday, Feb. 21st, students on Tuesday, Feb. 28th and with teachers and staff on Friday, March 9, 2012. Each group expressed its own concerns and opinions.
          POSTING FOR the position of a new principal at Farragut Career Academy was announced by Chicago Public School [CPS] on Feb 15, 2012; and closed March 1, 2012. Applicants had to e-mail their resume, cover letter and requested application materials to CPS Central Office. CPS Central Office will review the resumes for eligibility and send qualified candidates to the LSC. The LSC members will review and interview perspective candidates, selecting three. The three finalists will be introduced to the stakeholders of Farragut Career Academy; at a Candidates Forum. The forum is designed to give the candidates an opportunity to address the school stakeholders.
          PRINCIPAL OPENING: There is an opening for a principal at Cyrus H. McCormick Elementary School, 2712 S. Sawyer Ave., Chicago, Il 60623. Position information available by contacting Amirah Salah, Chair Principal Selection Committee, CPSPrincipals@cps.k12.il.us
Application deadline is March 21, 2012.
          MEXICAN HEROES: The birthdays of two famous and historical Mexican leaders are celebrated this month. Benito Juarez [1806-1872] on March 21 and labor leader Cesar E. Chavez [1927-1993] on March 31. Both of these men's life and legacy made a tremendous impact on the lives of Mexicans and Mexican Americans. Here's a very small portion on the life of Benito Juarez.
Benito Juarez
          BENITO JUAREZ was born in a small adobe in the village of San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca, Mexico. His parents, Marcelino Juarez and Brigida Garcia, were peasants who both died of complications of diabetes when Benito was three years old. Benito was raised by an uncle. Benito described his parents as "indios de la raza primitiva del pais," ["Indians of the original race of the country."]. 
          AT THE AGE of 12, Juarez worked in the corn field and as a shepherd. He was illiterate and could not speak Spanish, only Zapotec at that time, and walked to the city of Oaxaca de Juarez to attend school. A lay Franciscan, Antonio Salanueva, arranged for Benito to be placed in the city's seminary. In 1834, Juarez became a lawyer and politician of Zapotec origin from Oaxaca. In 1843, Benito married Margarita Maza. He served five terms as President of Mexico: 1858-1861 as interim, then 1861-1865, 1865-1867, 1867-1871 and 1871-1872. In the Ley Juarez [Law of Juarez] of 1855 declared all citizens equal before the law and severely restricted the privileges of the Catholic Church. 
          JUAREZ fought against the French intervention of Mexico that proclaimed Emperor Maximilian von Habsburg I of Mexico in 1864. The last of Maximilian's forces were defeated in 1867. U.S. President Andrew Jackson gave diplomatic recognition to the Juarez government and supplied weapons and funding to Juarez. Benito Juarez died of a heart attack in 1872 while reading a newspaper social section at this desk in the National Palace in Mexico City. 
          TODAY, Benito Juarez is remembered as being a progressive reformer dedicated to democracy, equal rights for his nation's indigenous people, his antipathy toward organized religion, especially the Catholic Church, and what he regarded as defense of national sovereignty. His leadership is known in Mexican history as La Reforma del Norte [The Reform of the North]. 
Maria Mooning
          MARCH 21 is a national holiday in Mexico, which has continued to grow in acceptance within Mexican culture. Juarez's famous quotation continues to be well-remembered in Mexico: "Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la pas", [Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace."] A high school is the Pilsen neighborhood is named Benito Juarez Community Academy High School, 2150 S. Laflin St. The principal is Juan Carlos Ocon. Check encyclopedia of World Biography for more information on Benito Juarez.
          PROFILE: Maria T. Mooning was born in Chicago and has spent the last sixteen years at Farragut Career Academy High School. She has an impressive academic background: Masters of Art in Education, 1994 and Master of Art in English, 2003. Notable contributions are in areas of student, community, and professional service and with CPS projects and programs at Farragut, namely, Student of the month Director, and the Mayor Daley Book Club Head Facilitator. At Farragut she is the English Department Chair, the JROTC English Lead Teacher, instructor of Urban Student Empowered and is a fluent Spanish speaker.
          HER PASSION, the US Empowered program, aims to help juniors and seniors prepare for college. "Fifty percent [50%] of students, nationally, who enroll in college drop out in the first year," said Maria. Students drop out [of college] because they were not matched with the right college and lacked the support system needed to succeed. "My goal is to have every student in the Urban Students Empowered program graduate from college," she stated.
          PRESENTLY there are 25 students, thirteen girls and twelve boys, enrolled in the US Empowered program at Farragut. For these students their first year in college is an E-line program. Ms. Mooning said her students can contact her anytime during office hours to discuss their experiences. "I will be there for them on anything," said Maria. 
          TEN of her twenty-five students have been nominated for the National Honor Society which recognizes the best in any school. "It gives the student prestige and makes the student more marketable when they are applying for college, I enjoy what I am doing and there is nothing else I would rather do," said Maria.  
Sitting: Patricia Caraballo
          FREE HAIRCUTS: Cosmetologist and Nail Technician students from America's Career Institute, Inc. in Berwyn will be giving free haircuts and manicures to residents of Little Village on Sat., April 7, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Little Village Community Council, 3610 W. 26th St. No appointment is necessary.
          AMERICA'S Career Institute, family operated since 1997, is dedicated to helping women and men to develop and express their creativity in a career in the beauty industry. ACI students gain the knowledge and skills for work as hair dresser, hair colorist, nail technician, instructor, makeup specialist, salon owner, product demonstrator or technician to a manufacturer. Students reach their creative goals leading to employment and a lifetime career of opportunities.
          THE SCHOOL DIRECTOR of America's Career Institute is Patricia Caraballo. ACI is located at 7000 W. Cermak Road in Berwyn. For information on the school, call 708/795-1500.  
          BOXING: The schedule for the Chicago Golden Gloves 2012 amateur boxing program at Gordon Tech High School, 3633 N. California Ave. is as follows:
                           March 15, 16 and 17th
                           March 22, 23 and 24th
            BOUTS begin nightly at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for the March 15th event. Tickets are $15 on March 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24th. The championship will be contested on April 12, 13 and 14. Championship bouts begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 General Admission, $35 Main Floor and $50 Ringside. Tickets can be purchased at the door on event evenings beginning at 6 p.m. 
          THE GLOVES provides scholarship money to worthy boxers and donate equipment to needy local boxing gyms. I'll see ya at the "gloves"!
          LOCAL 134: The International Brotherhood of Electricians, Local 134 Political Action Committee is hosting a "Meet Your Elected Officials and Candidates" reception and fund raiser on Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 p.m. at Local 134 Union Hall, 600 W. Washington Blvd. At the event will be food, pop and beer. There will also be door prizes and raffles. Donation is $20. For more information call Ruben Almendarez at 708/563-1004.