To see the invite flyer, click the thumbnail image above. The PYCers also put together the following commercials. If you’re on Facebook, click here for the invite.

So stop by next Wednesday, March 24 from 6:30-8:30 at the LKC (222 Lausanne Ave., Daly City, CA 94015 – Map). Please spread the word to your classmates and students. KSE is really happy to be able to celebrate this important community milestone with our friends at PYC-SMC. As a group interested in supporting the educational needs of our community, we definitely count PYC-SMC as a valuable resource in helping KSE with its ongoing mission. 5 years of hard work by the PYC-SMC youth and advisors is nothing to sneeze at! Thank you to everyone who’s made this great program possible over the years. On behalf of the Kalayaan School for Equity:

Kalayaan School for Equity appreciates having open lines of communication with our elected officials. It’s a good sign that someone in Sacramento is listening. This really encourages us to continue to get as many postcards signed and sent off in order to concretely show our representatives that we are concerned, not just about future cuts to our education budget, but by the fact that Northern San Mateo County schools operate on less than most schools in California. We hope that all concerned representatives will not only defend our schools from further cuts but also fight for increased funding to California public schools with a special focus on promoting both educational quality and equity; in other words, we want to stop the budget cuts and get our schools more of the resources they desperately need. Check it out!

Yee Vows to Continue to Vote Against Education Cuts, Participates in “Day of Action”

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Senator Yee praises students, teachers, and parents for standing up for education

SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) will join rallies in San Francisco and Sacramento as part of the international “Day of Action” to protest cuts to education.  Yee, who has consistently voted against all budget cuts to education and has vowed to continue to oppose any further reductions to schools and universities, is praising students, teachers, and parents for having their voices heard.

Yee plans to participate in a rally outside the Capitol in Sacramento at noon and another at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco at 5:30 PM.

“I stand with the students, teachers, and parents who are saying ‘enough is enough,’” said Yee.  “The state budget should not be balanced on the backs of students and the most-vulnerable.  I will continue to oppose all budgets that put the interests of corporations and the rich before the interests of California families.”

“We are so proud of Senator Yee for standing up and saying no to more cuts,” said Marty Hittelman, President of the California Federation of Teachers.  “After all of the carnage inflicted by the governor and the legislature on education, it is a ray of sunshine to have a legislator like Senator Yee stand up for the people of California.  We, and the students we serve, applaud him.”

“If the Governor and his Republican colleagues are going to say taxes are off the table, then Democrats should say cuts to education are off the table,” said Yee.  “We need to stand by our principles and protect students and teachers.”

Earlier this week, Yee played a critical role in mediating on behalf of several protesting University of California students who participated in a sit-in at the Capitol.  Five students were arrested, but at Yee’s request they avoided a stay in county jail and instead were “cited and released” by the California Highway Patrol.

“Senator Yee was incredibly helpful,” said Claudia Magaña, a UC Santa Cruz student who was arrested.  “We would not have felt as confident without his support.  He understands our plight and his assistance allowed our voices to be taken seriously.  His participation showed how strong of supporter he is for the student movement and public education.”

Last week, Yee again voted against a potential cut to California schools when he was one of only two Senators to vote “no” on AB 8x 5, which included up to $2.5 billion in deferrals to education.  Yee also insisted that the proposed “gas tax swap” being voted on today provided a guarantee to Proposition 98 – voter-approved minimum funding for education.  Over the past two years, Yee has voted against budget cuts to education that have left public schools $17 billion short.

“While most legislators succumbed to political pressure on the budget, Senator Yee stood strong in protecting the values of our families,” said Jovan Agee, Political and Legislative Director of the United Domestic Workers.

“Students and teachers have a crystal clear idea who ultimately will impact their success and are demanding legislators hold UC executives accountable,” said Lakesha Harrison, President of AFSCME 3299, which represents over 20,000 UC employees.  “Senator Yee has been on the front lines holding UC executives to account.  His commitment to stand with students and workers is unwavering.”

Kalayaan School for Equity is working on distributing these to local schools, churches, and neighborhoods, but we could really use your help. If you’re interested in distributing these at your school, church, workplace, family gathering, etc., email us at KalayaanSchoolForEquity@gmail.com or give us a quick phone call at (650) 641-2891 x573. After all, it’s going to take a lot of us to send the message to Sacramento.

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

Film clips screened include the works of Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Kidlat Tahimik, Lamberto Avellana, Mike De Leon, Auraeus Solito, Brillante Mendoza, Laurice Guillen, Marilou Diaz-Abaya and several others.

This presentation kicks off the KALAYAAN SCHOOL FOR EQUITY’S summer workshop series offering the local community free programming to explore Filipino community issues, history, artistic traditions, and culture.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Space is limited at the Liwanag Kultural Center!!! We’re talking a very intimate (40) workshop here. Due to the response, we are asking that people RSVP to this event on Facebook or by emailing LKCrobledomaderazo@gmail.com to reserve a spot. Alternatively, you can leave a message at (650) 641-2891 x573, but be sure to leave a number we can call you back at, in case we’ve already gone over the limit…no phone number, no valid RSVP, sorry. It’s first come, first serve. We’ll honor RSVPs only until 6:45pm, after which we’ll seat people in order of arrival if there’s space. We won’t go over capacity. So RSVP folks! And if you do, show up before 6:45 to save your spot. Thanks!!!

UPDATE! The guest list is now closed. If you really want to try to attend, you can show up. If RSVP’s aren’t there by 6:45, we’ll let others in in their place. Sorry, but we’re a small center who cannot go over capacity for any reason. Thanks for understanding.

For more information on Geo Logic and his musings on film and pop culture, please visit his blog, Prometheus Brown.