7.20.09
Some of my favorite statements in Robert P. Moses’s new article “An earned Insurgency: Quality Education as a Constitutional Right”.
“The basic story of fundamental change in the United States is a story of alliances between the top and bottom…Much of this story is hidden… it was people in small domains who understood the energy that was needed and who made the moves necessary to put change into motion”
“The Preamble to the Constitution says, “We the people”: It’s we the people who ordain and establish the Constitution, and it’s we the people who actually live it.”
“Tests of intelligence, understanding or comprehension in Mississippi were unconstitutional because black citizens had not been afforded an educational opportunity equal to that afforded white citizens.”
“The white race deems itself to be the dominant race in this country… but in the view of the Constitution, in the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior, dominant ruling class of citizens…Our Constitution is color-blind. …In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law…”
“Education is a basic American value, and it was fundamentally unfair to deny people access to education and to use their lack of education to deny them political access.”
“Unless our youth can actually demonstrate that they are part of the solution, hammering away at the door or in the streets isn’t going to create change.”
“Demanding educational rights requires courage in the face of terror.”
“Without educational equality there is no way to break the cycle we’re now in.”
Hector Acevedo
7.7.09
We are afraid of what we do not understand. As social beings we are always in search of something that will make us feel complete. Unfortunately, many choose to use alcohol or drugs in order to fill that emptiness and ignore their problems. In poor neighborhoods liquor stores out number schools, public parks and libraries, it seems that our inability to deal with our issues in a positive way may be our own self-destruction. I have been on a journey of “re-self-discovery”. Working with young people is hard work. You need to be ok with yourself in order to guide a young person in their path to personal growth. I have been amazed at how much I was truly missed during my absence. However, everything happens for a reason and my journey has put my life and my view of YPP in perspective. This organization has helped thousands of young people over the years. We are truly a family. YPP creates change through developing personal relationships with our MLW’s and CMLW’s. We care about each other and we invest time in young people. By creating personal bonds with young people we build a family. It is that sense of family that keeps me coming back to this organization. No matter how stressful this organization may be my love for young people and the people within it keeps me going. I’m back…
Math Literacy Workers
1.22.09
Young people from Cambridge were extrmely distraught once they heard about the shooting of Oscar Grant in Oakland, these are there responses.
Hector Acevedo
12.11.08
Young people know what they want and need...
