In support of the great work that’s happening California-wide in defense of Public Education, the Kalayaan School for Equity would like to put some focus on what’s happening in our local schools. Below is some quick info to get you up to speed on Daly City, one of San Francisco’s most underrated neighboring cities, and its currently under-funded public schools. Not coincidentally, Daly City’s the place we call “Home”. If you’ve got love for DC, please read on and consider helping us out in the months to come.

• FACT: According to 2007-2008 data, our high school district, Jefferson Union High School District (JUHSD) on average had $5,237 to spend on each student. Only 12.5 miles down the Peninsula, San Mateo Union High School District had $8,077 for each of their students; just 25 miles away, Sequoia Union High School District had $10,611 to support each of theirs; and a mere 32 miles on the other end of the county, Palo Alto Unified School District had $7,809 to use to educate the youth in their area. Compared to the lowest of these numbers, JUHSD had $2,572 less per student to work with.
• FACT: According to 2007-2008 data, JUHSD had $1,219,824 less to spend on its students compared to the average “Per Pupil Spending” amount of all California Schools. Factor in the budget cuts we’ve already sustained since 2007-2008, and you have to wonder…

There are very few of us who would argue that the quality of public education has a direct relationship with the prosperity of our local communities as well as that of the entire state. We’re often shocked to hear that California ranks #48 amongst the 50 United States in terms of how much money it invests in the education of its young people. It’s clear, we have de-prioritized education.

Daly City and Northern San Mateo County schools know these facts from experience. Our school districts are not only underfunded compared to the rest of the state but also compared to more than 70% of our county. Couple this fact with the area’s largely immigrant and working class population which requires a unique set of educational resources, it is clear that our schools are under-funded; by no means do we have the resources required to adequately address the needs of our population.

And just who lives in Daly City? We’re more than just “that place with the Target and the movie theater that’s less crowded than Metreon.” Of Daly City’s 101,514 residents (2008 estimated), 35.4% are Filipino, 24.9% are Latino, 19.5% are Asian, 15.7% are of European descent, 4.56% are African American, 0.44% are Native American, and 2.4% are Pacific Islander. The 2008 median income for a Daly City household was $60,310, and the median income for an entire family was $66,365. Daly City is also one of the most densely populated cities in the country with a 2008 population density of 15,703.8 people per square mile. However, Daly City’s per capita income for the city was merely $22,900. The result? About 5.2% of Daly City families and 9.1% of our residents live below the poverty line.

Recognizing the facts surrounding the under-funding of California’s schools will be important in the next few years as this debate about our investment in Public Education continues. As a community, we need to understand that the February 2009 and the upcoming cuts to the State’s Public Education Budget mean that we will actually be further crippling schools that have already been forced to operate on fumes. How much longer can we ask Public Educators to “be creative” or “efficient”? How can anyone be asked to save when their accounts are way too low as it is?

As a community, we need to come together to understand these issues and find ways that we can support our schools directly as well as advocate for their well-being. Even those of us who do not work in schools or have children of school-age should be concerned about the long-term effects an under-funded school system could have on the future of our neighborhoods. Please join us in the months to come as we struggle to find ways to unite Northern San Mateo in defense of our Public Schools. Please contact us at KalayaanSchoolForEquity@gmail.com or by phone at (650) 641-2891 x573.

In solidarity with the great momentum happening in Northern San Mateo County schools around the “March 4: Day to Defend Public Education”, the Kalayaan School for Equity is trying to do whatever it can to raise awareness about these seemingly unending budget cuts that directly threaten our public schools, whether it’s K-12, Community Colleges, CSU’s, and the UC’s.

To support our local school district, we’ve put together a 35-50 minute (depending on how deeply you decide to engage students/audience members) Apple Keynote and PowerPoint lesson that we invite all to download, distribute, and most importantly use on March 4th and beyond. We hope you’ll find it to be a valuable tool to raise awareness about how our local schools are funded and the short and long-term effects that further cuts could have on Northern San Mateo County. Included is some eye-opening data about the per pupil spending of our local schools, how that compares to other districts on the Peninsula, and info about California’s Economy that offers some interesting perspective on the issue. Of course, if you’re a Cali resident but aren’t living in Daly City, Pacifica, Colma (snicker), or South SF, some of the specific info might not apply directly, but—we’re really sorry to say—chances are most of it will connect to you and your community.

• If you want to download a low-res PDF of the presentation to preview it, click here. (PDF 1.4MB)
• If you’re on a Mac that has Keynote, click here. (Keynote 7MB zip)
• If you’re on a Windows PC or a Mac that doesn’t have Keynote, click here. It’s definitely not as pretty, but works just fine. (PowerPoint 10.6MB zip)

We’re currently working on other support materials such as other lessons, handouts, etc., so keep checking back. Kalayaan School for Equity is hoping to work up to a larger campaign to gather broader community support for our local schools. If you’re interested in helping out, please contact us at KalayaanSchoolForEquity@gmail.com or at (650) 641-2891 x573.

Liwanag Kultural Center is offering two $500 “Walk for Dreams” Scholarships to students who are entering or continuing at a 2- or 4-year college/university in Fall 2010.  In the spirit of our “Walk for Dreams” walk-a-thon which helped us raise the scholarship money, we are looking to raise awareness about the issues facing undocumented immigrant students who cannot avail of conventional Financial Aid and many other scholarship opportunities due to their immigration status. So many of these hard-working young people had no say in the decision to immigrate to this country and, often times, are completely unaware that they are in fact undocumented until they begin the college application process. Liwanag Kultural Center believes that, while the Immigration Debate is a complex one, all young people deserve access to a quality education. The minimum eligibility requirements for the scholarship are as follows:

•Must be currently enrolled in high school or college/university.
•High school applicants will complete graduation requirements by the end of Spring 2010.
•Will attend college in the Fall 2010.
•Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or better.

Deadline: Thursday, April 15, 2010

Click for more info!

Have you been curious what all the blog hoopla’s about? If you’re wondering what this means for online publishing or how you can take part by creating your own blog, come by KSE’s “Cookin’ Up Blogsilog: An Introduction to Web Blogs” workshop next Thursday, November 12, presented by Ninoy Brown of FOBBdeep, an experienced blogger who has a thing or two to say about this exciting new medium of expression.

Participants will work hands-on to create their own blog, learn about all the skills necessary to creating a successful blog, explore their blogging potential, and discuss ways to maximize online communities to help build their audience as well as help support community-building efforts beyond the Internet.

If you have access to a laptop, please bring it to the workshop. As with all our workshops, space is limited, so please RSVP by emailing LKCledesma@gmail.com or calling (650) 641-2891 x573.

Attention Daly City middle and high school students! Do you need a little extra help with homework? Do you have questions you couldn’t get answered in class? Want help raising your grades? Need a productive space to study or work? You should check out our free weekly Study Hall.

We’re re-opening for the 2009-2010 school year next Tuesday, Sept. 1 and will be open every Tuesday that school’s in session from 3:30pm-6:00pm. Study Hall takes place at the Liwanag Kultural Center at Hillside Park (222 Lausanne Ave. Daly City,‎ CA‎ 94014…a few blocks from TR Pollicita MS and Jefferson HS).

To view a PDF of our Study Hall flyer with more information about how the program works, click here. For even more info, email KalayaanSchoolForEquity@gmail.com or call us at (650) 641-2891 x573

This year, the Kalayaan School for Equity will be piloting the 5A Program, a new afterschool program for 5th and 6th Graders providing arts enrichment and academic support for a small group of local youth.

For details, please download a 5A Brochure. If you’re interested in applying, you can download and print an Enrollment Application by clicking here.

Join us for Part 2 of the Photography Workshop by JC Photography. This time will be focused on applying the basics covered in Part 1 while working with studio lighting equipment.

Once again, bring a notebook and a camera (eg 35mm, Digital, SLR, etc.) if you have access to one. If you can’t bring a camera, KSE there will have some on-hand to work with.

As usual, space is limited so please reserve your spot by emailing LKCvargas@gmail.com or leaving a message at (650) 641-2891 x573. Those who attended Part 1 will be prioritized, but open spots are available to new attendees.

Interested in Photography? Want to know how to get the most from your existing equipment? Register today for the upcoming Photography two-part workshops series by JJ Casas of JC Photography brought to you free by Kalayaan School for Equity as a part of our Kasanayan Community Arts Workshops.

The series will cover the basics of photography, basic camera functions, working with lighting equipment, and more. This is a great opportunity to learn a new skill, brush up on the basics, and get some hands-on instruction from an experienced professional.

Bring a notebook and a camera (eg 35mm, Digital, SLR, etc.) if you have access to one. If you can’t bring a camera, KSE there will have some on-hand to work with.

As usual, space is limited so please reserve your spot by emailing LKCvargas@gmail.com or leaving a message at (650) 641-2891 x573.

Thanks again to Geo Logic aka Prometheus Brown for presenting at Kalayaan School for Equity’s event last week. Check out pictures from the event below. If you want to get hip to Philippine Cinema, be sure to come out the upcoming “Resistance of Philippine Cinema Film Festival” where we’ll be watching some of the film’s discussed at the workshop. Click the photo above for photos by Anthony Buada and click here for photos by Joal Vargas

On June 24, 2009, Daly City’s Kalayaan School for Equity was honored to host Geo Logic of Seattle’s hip-hop duo Blue Scholars (aka Prometheus Brown) as he presented his unique take on Filipino Films in his presentation, “The Resistance of Philippine Cinema”. Based on overwhelming participant requests, we will be screening three films discussed in that presentation along with special video introductions of each film by Geo Logic. Each film screening is free, but space is limited, so come early.

Friday July 10
Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros)
2005 | Director: Auraeus Solito | Starring: Nathan Lopez, Ping Medina, JR Valentin

Maxi (Nathan Lopez) is a 12-year-old effeminate gay boy living in the slums with his father and brothers who are petty thieves. The story revolves around the conflict between Maxi’s love for handsome young police officer Victor (J. R. Valentin), and his family’s illegal livelihood. Neo-realist in orientation, the film is a tale of lost innocence and redemption amidst the poverty of Manila’s slums.

Friday July 17
Himala (Miracle)
1982 | Director: Ismael Bernal | Starring: Nora Aunor

Ismael Bernal and Nora Aunor’s 1982 classic movie, deemed CNN’s Best Film of All Time in the Asia Pacific, tells the story of a girl who claims to have been chosen by the Virgin Mary as the messenger of good faith in a town who is convinced that its lack of water is the result of an unfortunate curse.

Friday July 24
Sakay
1993 | Director: Raymond Red | Starring: Julio Diaz, Tetchie Agbayani, Pen Medina

Raymond Red’s dramatization of the life of Macario Sakay, a Filipino
revolutionary general who led the anti-colonial Republika ng Katagalugan (Tagalog Republic) against the U.S. Military during the often overlooked Philippine-American War.

Where: Liwanag Kultural Center (222 Lausanne Ave., Daly City, 94014)
When: Doors at 6:30; Program at 6:45
Cost: FREE

For more info, contact KSE.