Ancient MesoAmerican Cosmovision Conference

Hosts: Houston Community College’s Mexican-American/Latino Program and the Museum Guadalupe Aztlan of Houston, Texas.

ANCIENT MESOAMERICAN COSMOVISION CONFERENCE

(The Conference is Free of Charge)

DATES: Thursday, June 25 (English) and Friday, June 26, 2009 (Spanish)
Location: Thursday and Friday, Southeast College, 6815 Rustic, Houston
Art Exhibit Opening: Thursday, June 25 at 7pm at the Museo Guadalupe Aztlan, 708 Telephone Rd., Suite B. Houston, Tx 77011.
Program: HCC Southeast College – Lecture Hall

Thursday, June 25

• 8:30 – 8:40 - Welcome: Dr. Joanne Lin, Dean of Student Services
• 8:40 – 8:45 - Introduction to Ancient Mesoamerica – Dr. Grisel Cano
• 8:45 – 9:45 – Guest Speaker, Artist, Educator -Ramon Barela – McAllen, Tx. “Mind Shift”
• 9:45 – 10 - Break
• 10:00 – 10:45 – Carminia Martinez – Anthropologist – “Calendars, Prophecies, and the 2012 Millenarian Movement Among the Council of Mayan Elders and Priests of Yucatan.
• 10:45 – 11: 15 - Alfonso Lopez - “The Ah-Men: Mayan Priest of the Agrarian Cult of Traditional Pueblos in Yucatan”
• 11:15 – 12:15 - Artist, media producer, Gabriel Gaytan
  “Tonal Achtli, Semilla del Sol, Seed of the Sun,” A Mesoamerican Visual Literacy Experience with Art, History and Culture
• 12:15 – 1 - Lunch
• 1:00 – 1:45 Angelina H. Rodriguez, LPC, ATR-BC - A Mayan Tradition in a New Culture-Celebrating Death Through Art”
• 1:45 – 2: 30 – Panel with presenters -Question and Answers
• Afternoon – Visit the Tlaquepaque at 708 Telephone Road
• Thursday – Art Exhibit – :Mindshift - Featuring Ramon Barela – Museo Guadalupe Aztlan - 708 Telephone St. Suite B – 7 pm.

Friday, June 26

• 9 – 9:30 – Introduccion – Ramon Barela, artista
• 9:30 – 10:00 – Ruben Bello, artista “ABYA-YALA, el verdadero nombre del continente americano.10:00 a 11:00 – Dr. Aid Avila Covarrubias “Ruta de la Peregrinacion Azteca”
• 11:00 – 11:15 – Break
• 11:15 – 12:15 – David Palmer - Neoliberalismo y Globalizacion de la Sabiduria Elemental
• 12: 15 – 1:30 – Lunch
• 1:30 – 2:00 – Jesus Medel – Los huipiles
• 2:00 – 3:00 Reunion con los Presentates – Mesa Redonda.

For more information, contact Grisel Cano @ 832 878-4079.

Excerpts from Lee College Fiesta de Graduación Speech by Baxt

Lee College, Baytown, Texas, May 28, 2009
"Think outside the box, be creative, consider other possibilities, and then act on these possibilities and stay the course."

There are few good jobs in today’s economy for people without a college education, according to Rice University Professor Stephen Klineberg. . .

Education gives you tools, ways of thinking needed to build a good life―one that benefits you, your family, and your society. And, when one door closes, you have ways of analyzing and solving problems that enable you to open another door. . . Education explodes the size of your world. Education is power and it is powerful, and Education is the only possession you can never lose, unlike so many other things in our lives. In addition, education it is invaluable wherever you go and in whichever country you finally choose to live.

We are a knowledge-based society, says Klineberg of Rice University . . . “What you earn depends on what you’ve learned.” Cities like ours needs and wants creative, knowledgeable and skilled individuals. When you have that knowledge and those skills, you are freer. You can live anywhere. Poverty of the type many Hispanics in the US experience, or experienced in their home countries, can become a thing of the past. Economically speaking, education is the great equalizer.

Yet there is a problem. Hispanic students in general, and immigrant Hispanic students in particular, do not take advantage of higher education opportunities like their peers from other ethnic groups. Not here in the Greater Houston area. Not elsewhere in the US. This is important because Houston, like many cities, faces a serious challenge: How to reverse a troubling and stubborn trend. As Whites (or Anglos) fail to replace their numbers (historically the educated), Hispanics, as an ethnic group, continue to be the fastest growing and least well educated among all groups. If the US is to continue to prosper and to continue to be a land of opportunity, then you must help, you must prepare yourself to assume positions in business and government and you must be prepared to carry the baton of freedom and economic development that helped make the US great.

[Hispanics are the largest population in the Houston area, 1% more than white. In 1980, Whites (or Anglos) made up 62% of Harris County’s population and Hispanics 15 – 16%; in 2006, Anglos are a minority at 36 – 37 % while Hispanics are the majority at 38%. (Klineberg, 2008)]

[48 % of Hispanic immigrant students do not finish high school; only 8 % finish college, compared to 5 % of Anglos who do not finish HS and the 29% who finish college.(Klineberg, 2008)]

So, what is going on? While there may be bias on the outside, the greatest obstacle to higher education for Hispanics is the limit you place on yourselves in your minds. That does not mean you are less intelligent that someone with a college education. It is what you expect from life, what you think is possible, not what actually is possible. The limits on development can be internal, or they can come from pressures and/or influences of family, friends and/or the community.

The roles we play, our achievements, the type of occupations we choose, whom we marry, how we raise our children, our religious beliefs, etc.) are largely dictated by the influences and expectations of three key groups―our families, our community, and our friends (i.e., our peers), and especially our peers when we are adolescents. So, choose your friends carefully.

I believe, if you young Latinos support one another’s dream and right to a higher education and you are adequately mentored so you know the way to college and completion, low expectations will disappear as more of you become educated and the low-education stereotypes you hold for yourselves will be no more. Peer Support and mentoring are key here and these young women here tonight can vouch for that.

Granted there are many, many obstacles in the path of immigrant students in acquiring valuable education, knowledge and skills. Money and status are two such obstacles. But these are primarily excuses and not reasons not to succeed. You will work hard in life in whatever you try to do. Why not work hard to achieve an education that will give you and the ones you love a better life.

In regards to legality of status issues: Students attending a Texas high school for 3 yrs before graduating can still pay in-state tuition as a Texas resident, as opposed to International. If you took the recommended courses, the Texas Grant is available for low-income students, but you must apply early. The DREAM Act, which affects immigrant students who want to stay in the US, has been reintroduced and has more of a chance of passing than ever before. It has the President’s support.

Last week President Obama and his Administration joined Microsoft, the College Board, US colleges and Universities, in publicly supporting the DREAM Act, “I support the DREAM Act 100 percent," he said. Specifically in reference to immigrant students he said, "These students are now children of the United States, and it is very likely that they will remain in this country." He also said, he wants more students to have the opportunity to go to college, and to have access to more resources, scholarships, and loans.

The second obstacle to a higher education is cost. But cost is not a valid excuse either. Many scholarships are available for Hispanic students and, while harder to find, a number of them do not require citizenship or permanent residency. During the scholarship season, they are listed on our site and on other education-oriented websites. And you can attend and finish college without a scholarship. You will work hard, true, but you are not afraid of working hard. You will do that anyway in life. Absent scholarship, you can work your way through, as one of our students here tonight did and graduated with honors in International Business last weekend from the University of Houston Downtown.

So, what I am saying to you, and to your parents, ‘Think outside the box, be creative, consider other possibilities, and then act on these possibilities and stay the course.’ This is the message I am trying to communicate in Amigas Latinas for College and hopefully someday Amigos Latinos for College. By now you may be beginning to understand my philosophy and the reason I founded Amigas Latinas for College.

REMINDER - ALC Garage Sale on June 13

Our BIG garage sale fundraiser is still planned for Saturday, June 13, 2009 from 8:00 - noon at the Amegy Bank in Bellaire. We have collected some donations but need many more. You can begin dropping off your donations on June 1; please contact Adriana Sanchez at http://www.blogger.com/asanchez71@att.net or at 281-777-3534 for more information.

Also, we will soon post a list of volunteer opportunities for the pricing the merchandise beforehand and working the day of the sale. Please check this site for more information. Please help us make the garage sale a big success!

ALC Officer Elections - update #3

We will soon be announcing a date for the ALC officer elections. In the meantime, here is an updated list of candidates for office.

PRESIDENT

Maria-Paola Matheus

My name is Maria-Paola Matheus and I want to run for President of this great organization. Like many of you may already know, I am currently a junior at the Awty International School but have spent four years at Westchester Academy for International Studies. I am a part of the Honor Society, French Honor Society, Model United Nations, and Student Council among other things. I have had the opportunity to work for a hospital where I help many people in need. Through my job, I have learned to be more hard working and determined whenever I have a task at hand, all of which would help me be a better President of the organization. I have been part of the organization since the beginning of this school year and I have attended the majority of the meetings. I believe attendance is crucial because we can not do anything if people do not try to keep themselves apart of the organization. As for Amigas Latinas for College, I see that there could be some great potential. To make the organization bigger and better run (especially for Virginia Baxt, the founder), we could attempt to do many new things and activities. We could have a spring carwash along with community raffles (you would be surprised at how many companies are willing to donate things and services), community bake sales, and Amigas Latinas for College merchandise. Thus, we could bring in much more money. We could also try to do much more to help out with the college process. That would include visiting more colleges and arranging more people to come talk to us that could guide us in the fields we want to possibly go study in. I know that each of us is going to succeed in getting into college. We all can do this. I would enjoy being President because I am productive and I am a people-person, listening to what each and every one of you has to say. So please, elect me as next year’s President: you will not regret it. Thank you for taking the time to considerate me for President.

Carolina Mendoza

I would like the opportunity to run for the president position of ALC. I believe I meet the criteria needed for this position. I have been a commited member of the club since 2006. This year I was the communication officer and was responsible in fulfilling all of my duties. During my time in the club, I feel I have increased my knowledege in leadership and responsibilty. I am certain that I am more than ready to run for President of the club. During my three years in high school, I have achieved many accomplishments. Some of these accomplishments include being a Honor Roll student for two consecutive years, completing 80 hours of community service, and being involved in other clubs. My freshman year I was involved in the Latin Rhythm Club, performing for my peers in the school pep rally, gaining confidence. My Sophomore year I was involved in the French Club which gave me a chance to experience French culture. I learned the fundamentals of their language and cuisine. My Junior year has been by far the most productive. I have had the chance to be part of the Best Buddies club in my school which is an organization that mentors children with special needs. Being a part of this club has aided me into becoming a more mature person. Since a young age I have been extremely passionate and interested in the field of culinary arts. My freshman year I enrolled in Introduction to Culinary Arts, the following year I enrolled in Baking and Catering, and finally my Junior year I interviewed for a position in the Chef Training program offered to students who were highly interested in the field; thankfully I was able to be part of the class and accomplished a semester of duel credit college hours receiving training from a professional chef. At the end of the program I attained my Serv Safe certificate. Receiving the certificate at such a young age was a huge accomplishment and I'm honored to have the opportunity to gain it. The certificate will increase my chances of aquiring a job in a professional kitchen. As I get closer to becoming a senior, I am eager about my future plans of attending Le Courdon Bleu in Austin. I will be able to finally make my passion into a career. Being a member of the ALC club for the past three years has been a great experience. I would be incredibly honored to end my last year in the club as the President of Amigas Latinas for College.

Priscila Cevallos - updated

As President of Amigas Latinas for College, I will create a focused and united group of motivated girls. My strive to fulfill the ALC’s mission: to increase the number of Hispanic young women who succeed in achieving goals of higher education, my unwavering work ethic, and my amiable and compassionate manner will all be qualities that will be maintained. As President, I intend to bring leadership and commitment to Amigas Latinas. I believe in Amigas Latinas and I believe that if we want to go far, we must go together. Next year I hope to inspire all the girls of Amigas Latinas to unite and help each other achieve their goals and dreams.

Priscila comes from an international, multicultural background. She was born, raised, and attended her first school in Germany, then moved to Brazil where she resided for two years, and later traveled to the United States, where she has lived ever since. Priscila is also fluent in four languages: Spanish, Portuguese, English, and German. She is entering her junior year at Westchester Academy for International Studies, and is starting the International Baccalaureate Program in the fall. At school, she is involved in Model United Nations, serving as a delegate for Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Rice and University of Houston Conferences, respectively. She is also in German National Honor Society and National Honor Society at her school. This year Priscila participated in the Odyssey of the Mind Competition, receiving first place at regional’s, and second at state, and traveled to Maryland to compete with teams from around the world. Priscila started a Med-Club for Girls at her high school and led a Blood – drive in March of 2008, gathering more than 83 pints of blood. She also commenced a Bioneers Club, the purpose being to become aware of leading an environmentally sustainable life at home, at school, and in community, and learning the steps to do so. Cath Conlon and Pat Greer interviewed her, on their Eco-ology radio show, about the Youth Bioneers Club in the spring. Priscila is on the board of the Bioneers Youth Committee, in charge of organizing and planning the first ever Texas Youth Bioneers Conference at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Priscila has been practicing ballet for over 10 years with the Houston Ballet, Allegro Ballet, and many others, and was featured in the world premier of Storm Recaptured when she was 14, dancing one of the lead roles in the ballet. She is an intern at KPFT’s Human Rights Show and has conducted interviews with people from all over the world. She was invited to speak with LaVerne Williams at the Art Institute of Houston and at the Bats on the Bayou Convention over the participation of the youth in environment. In November, she was invited to attend, on a scholarship, the training to become a facilitator of the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium in Texas, made by the Pachamama Alliance. Priscila is one of the few teens involved with the program and ever since the training, has facilitated many symposiums around Houston and at home. She co-facilitated a workshop with Heather Harder, who had been a previous presidential candidate, on Leadership in Women. At the beginning of the summer, Priscila cooperated in the neurological research project led by Harvey S. Levin, Ph.D from the cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine, and Mary Newsome who is the assistant professor of Dr. Levin. The purpose of the project was to study the brain scans of certain brain-injured children and compare them to healthy children. Priscila was also invited to attend a Money & You Workshop on a scholarship, and is now part of a team, working on a project to bring a business workshop to students in high school and college. Recently, she was involved in the Blackwood Nature Camp for 8 – 13 year olds as a counselor, receiving CPR, first aid training, and leadership experience in a course of three weeks.

VICE PRESIDENT

Natalia Sanchez

I would like to nominate myself for the officer position of vice-president. I have been to almost every meeting and event there has been since I joined Amigas Latinas for College, and I've seen just how much lack of commitment there is in some of the group members. I think I would make a good vice-president because I really like and care about this group, and I actually make an effort to be an active member. I connect with a lot of the girls in the group and I've become friends with them as well, and that has made it easier for all of us to work together. I have some ideas for ALC to work on next year. It would be very helpful if we could have more writing workshops where we could all get together somewhere with some mentors and have each one of us work on whatever essay we need help on. We had something similar to this at the HEB room, where it was a "work on anything you need" workshop, and some of the college girls helped us. We should also have more volunteering opportunities where EVERYONE is required to go to because these are things that would make any resume look really good, but a lot of the girls don't realize that, so only about 5 or so show up to these events. Also, we should have some fun meetings so that everyone can just get to know and get comfortable with one another because sometimes it's hard for new members to get used to everyone else already knowing each other. Those are just some of the things I have in mind right now, but I would definitely like to have some input towards what ALC is going to look like next year, since it will be my senior year as well.

TREASURER

Cynthia Hernandez
I would like to nominate my self for Treasurer. I'm very responsible and I'm good at remembering things as well as reminding people when things are due.

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Victoria Cárdenas

I would like to run for Communications Officer for the 2009-2010 school year. I strongly believe that communication is instrumental in the success of any organization. I would make a good officer because I am responsible and have the technology skills to share information between ALC members and the community. I would make sure to let all ALC members know when and where meetings are scheduled, and ensure they come as well.

Priscila's Odyssey of the Mind Finals Carwash

Fundraiser Thank You!

I would like to thank everyone who participated in the carwash this past weekend. We had a great turnout of the Amigas Latinas for College girls and board members and were able to raise $350! We met the blinding sun and constant streaming of cars with enthusiasm and fun! Pricyla did a great job waving down the cars and our assembly style carwash was very effective! The ALC support was amazing and I am so thrilled that so many were able to help out. A special thank you Virginia and John for providing us with the many useful materials and that wonderful charisma and to Paula Alam for the lovely parking lot and the cookies. I would also like to thank my mom, Clevin, Natalia, Cynthia, Erika, Pricyla, Mrs. Sanchez, and Adriana and her family for doing a great job washing cars and the never-ending enthusiasm! I think it was a fantastic fundraiser!

Love and Thanks,

Priscila Cevallos

ALC Officer Elections - update #2

PRESIDENT

Maria-Paola Matheus

My name is Maria-Paola Matheus and I want to run for President of this great organization. Like many of you may already know, I am currently a junior at the Awty International School but have spent four years at Westchester Academy for International Studies. I am a part of the Honor Society, French Honor Society, Model United Nations, and Student Council among other things. I have had the opportunity to work for a hospital where I help many people in need. Through my job, I have learned to be more hard working and determined whenever I have a task at hand, all of which would help me be a better President of the organization. I have been part of the organization since the beginning of this school year and I have attended the majority of the meetings. I believe attendance is crucial because we can not do anything if people do not try to keep themselves apart of the organization. As for Amigas Latinas for College, I see that there could be some great potential. To make the organization bigger and better run (especially for Virginia Baxt, the founder), we could attempt to do many new things and activities. We could have a spring carwash along with community raffles (you would be surprised at how many companies are willing to donate things and services), community bake sales, and Amigas Latinas for College merchandise. Thus, we could bring in much more money. We could also try to do much more to help out with the college process. That would include visiting more colleges and arranging more people to come talk to us that could guide us in the fields we want to possibly go study in. I know that each of us is going to succeed in getting into college. We all can do this. I would enjoy being President because I am productive and I am a people-person, listening to what each and every one of you has to say. So please, elect me as next year’s President: you will not regret it. Thank you for taking the time to considerate me for President.

ALC Officer Elections - update

We have another candidate for one of the officer positions.

TREASURER

Cynthia Hernandez
I would like to nominate my self for Treasurer. I'm very responsible and I'm good at remembering things as well as reminding people when things are due.

Support our fellow ALC member Priscila Cevallos

Priscila Cevallos invites all Amigas Latinas for College members, mentors, and board to join her on May 16, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.at the Amegy Bank in Bellaire (5301 Bissonnet) for a car wash.

The money raised will help send her to Ames, Iowa where the 2009 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals are located. This is an opportunity of a lifetime and Priscila needs all the support she can get.

Priscila looks forward to seeing you there. Thank you for your help!

ALC board member Polly Alam is providing brownies and cookies from a commercial bakery that is one of her customers.

Please contact Priscila directly if you want to help. Her number and email are: 832-444-7844, pricevallos@hotmail.com

ALC Officer Elections

Several fine candidates have nominated themselves for ALC officer positions for 2009-2010. The election date has not yet been set but will be in the near future. In the meantime, please familiarize yourselves with the candidates and their positions.

PRESIDENT

Carolina Mendoza

I would like the opportunity to run for the president position of ALC. I believe I meet the criteria needed for this position. I have been a commited member of the club since 2006. This year I was the communication officer and was responsible in fulfilling all of my duties. During my time in the club, I feel I have increased my knowledege in leadership and responsibilty. I am certain that I am more than ready to run for President of the club. During my three years in high school, I have achieved many accomplishments. Some of these accomplishments include being a Honor Roll student for two consecutive years, completing 80 hours of community service, and being involved in other clubs.. My freshman year I was involved in the Latin Rhythm Club, performing for my peers in the school pep rally, gaining confidence. My Sophomore year I was involved in the French Club which gave me a chance to experience French culture. I learned the fundamentals of their language and cuisine. My Junior year has been by far the most productive. I have had the chance to be part of the Best Buddies club in my school which is an organization that mentors children with special needs. Being a part of this club has aided me into becoming a more mature person. Since a young age I have been extremely passionate and interested in the field of culinary arts. My freshman year I enrolled in Introduction to Culinary Arts, the following year I enrolled in Baking and Catering, and finally my Junior year I interviewed for a position in the Chef Training program offered to students who were highly interested in the field; thankfully I was able to be part of the class and accomplished a semester of duel credit college hours receiving training from a professional chef. At the end of the program I attained my Serv Safe certificate. Receiving the certificate at such a young age was a huge accomplishment and I'm honored to have the opportunity to gain it. The certificate will increase my chances of aquiring a job in a professional kitchen. As I get closer to becoming a senior, I am eager about my future plans of attending Le Courdon Bleu in Austin. I will be able to finally make my passion into a career. Being a member of the ALC club for the past three years has been a great experience. I would be incredibly honored to end my last year in the club as the President of Amigas Latinas for College.

Priscila Cevallos

Priscila comes from an international, multicultural background. She was born, raised, and attended her first school in Germany, then moved to Brazil where she resided for two years, and later traveled to the United States, where she has lived ever since. Priscila is also fluent in four languages: Spanish, Portuguese, English, and German. She is entering her junior year at Westchester Academy for International Studies, and is starting the International Baccalaureate Program in the fall. At school, she is involved in Model United Nations, serving as a delegate for Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Rice and University of Houston Conferences, respectively. She is also in German National Honor Society and National Honor Society at her school. This year Priscila participated in the Odyssey of the Mind Competition, receiving first place at regional’s, and second at state, and traveled to Maryland to compete with teams from around the world. Priscila started a Med-Club for Girls at her high school and led a Blood – drive in March of 2008, gathering more than 83 pints of blood. She also commenced a Bioneers Club, the purpose being to become aware of leading an environmentally sustainable life at home, at school, and in community, and learning the steps to do so. Cath Conlon and Pat Greer interviewed her, on their Eco-ology radio show, about the Youth Bioneers Club in the spring. Priscila is on the board of the Bioneers Youth Committee, in charge of organizing and planning the first ever Texas Youth Bioneers Conference at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Priscila has been practicing ballet for over 10 years with the Houston Ballet, Allegro Ballet, and many others, and was featured in the world premier of Storm Recaptured when she was 14, dancing one of the lead roles in the ballet. She is an intern at KPFT’s Human Rights Show and has conducted interviews with people from all over the world. She was invited to speak with LaVerne Williams at the Art Institute of Houston and at the Bats on the Bayou Convention over the participation of the youth in environment. In November, she was invited to attend, on a scholarship, the training to become a facilitator of the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium in Texas, made by the Pachamama Alliance. Priscila is one of the few teens involved with the program and ever since the training, has facilitated many symposiums around Houston and at home. She co-facilitated a workshop with Heather Harder, who had been a previous presidential candidate, on Leadership in Women. At the beginning of the summer, Priscila cooperated in the neurological research project led by Harvey S. Levin, Ph.D from the cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine, and Mary Newsome who is the assistant professor of Dr. Levin. The purpose of the project was to study the brain scans of certain brain-injured children and compare them to healthy children. Priscila was also invited to attend a Money & You Workshop on a scholarship, and is now part of a team, working on a project to bring a business workshop to students in high school and college. Recently, she was involved in the Blackwood Nature Camp for 8 – 13 year olds as a counselor, receiving CPR, first aid training, and leadership experience in a course of three weeks.

VICE PRESIDENT

Natalia Sanchez

I would like to nominate myself for the officer position of vice-president. I have been to almost every meeting and event there has been since I joined Amigas Latinas for College, and I've seen just how much lack of commitment there is in some of the group members. I think I would make a good vice-president because I really like and care about this group, and I actually make an effort to be an active member. I connect with a lot of the girls in the group and I've become friends with them as well, and that has made it easier for all of us to work together. I have some ideas for ALC to work on next year. It would be very helpful if we could have more writing workshops where we could all get together somewhere with some mentors and have each one of us work on whatever essay we need help on. We had something similar to this at the HEB room, where it was a "work on anything you need" workshop, and some of the college girls helped us. We should also have more volunteering opportunities where EVERYONE is required to go to because these are things that would make any resume look really good, but a lot of the girls don't realize that, so only about 5 or so show up to these events. Also, we should have some fun meetings so that everyone can just get to know and get comfortable with one another because sometimes it's hard for new members to get used to everyone else already knowing each other. Those are just some of the things I have in mind right now, but I would definitely like to have some input towards what ALC is going to look like next year, since it will be my senior year as well.

Shirley Serrano

I would say that I am the right candidate to be Vice President because I have been in ALC for more than a year and I know and am aware of how everything works. I can take the initiative to do what needs to be done. I have basically been taking the position of vice presidency while Jessica was out most of the time, so I would say I am capable of doing what my responsibilities are. I talk to all the girls in the organization and get along with them very well. I attend every meeting that I have to be at even when I am not needed. This will be my second to last year to be in the organization as a high school student and my senior year I will be running for presidency and I want to try vice presidency first. So I would really like this opportunity to help out and have some responsibilities.

SECRETARY

Vanessa Serrano

I would like to run for Secretary in the ALC organization. Reason being that I have been an ALC member for over a year now and this coming year I will be a senior. I think that it would be a great experience to learn how to keep track of the information and be more organized about the different events and things that will be going on. I have seen my sister do this work and I have learned from her a lot. I also have learned to be more opened and be more outgoing with the members. I get along pretty well with them too and I think they are amazing girls and I have loved working with them this past years. I will miss them a lot once I leave to college. In conclusion I would really love having this position and be more involved in the organization this coming year. I know it can be a big hand full sometimes, but in the long run it is worth it. I hope to get this position and be part of the ALC officers. would definitely like to have some input towards what ALC is going to look like next year, since it will be my senior year as well.

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Victoria Cárdenas

I would like to run for Communications Officer for the 2009-2010 school year. I strongly believe that communication is instrumental in the success of any organization. I would make a good officer because I am responsible and have the technology skills to share information between ALC members and the community. I would make sure to let all ALC members know when and where meetings are scheduled, and ensure they come as well.

Awakening the Dreamer Symposium

Join us for a Symposium on Saturday, June 20th, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. featuring facilitators Priscila Cevallos and Clevin Cevallos

Where: HEB Bunkerhill Community rm, 9710 Katy Freeway

Copyright 2008 by Priscila and Clevin Cevallos. All Rights Reserved.

Amigas Latinas Open House on May 9, 2009

If you plan to attend and have not yet RSVP'd, please contact Adriana Sanchez at asanchez71@att.net. Hope to see you there!

Awakening the Dreamer

Priscila Cevallos is going to co-facilitate a presentation titled 'Awakening the Dreamer.' This is environment preservation, multidimensional program. To learn more, visit the: awakeningthedreamer.org

• Saturday, June 20, 2009, 9AM- 1PM. Please be on time because program will start promptly at 9AM
• HEB Bunkerhill Community Room (front of story), 9710 Katy Freeway

In the mid-1990's, through a mysterious set of circumstances, a group of North Americans visited a remote and intact group of indigenous people - the Achuar - located deep in the Amazonian region of Ecuador. The result was the Pachamama Alliance. (Source: website)

Excerpts from the website:
In recent years concern over the destruction of the world's tropical rainforests has reached global proportions. Alarm about the extinction of species, the permanent loss of potentially life-saving medicinal plants, the irreversible damage to the delicate balance of the Earth's climate control system and the tragic disappearance of indigenous cultures has captured the attention of millions of people around the world.