10/29/2011
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Saturday, October 29, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
M.E.Ch.A de SMC - 2011-2012 Fall Semester
October 11, 2011
Dia de Los Muertos - Day of the Dead Hisotory
Written by Carlos Miller
Azteca Central
A ritual known today as Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
The ritual is celebrated in Mexico and certain parts of the United States, including the Valley.
Celebrations are held each year in Mesa, Chandler, Guadalupe and at Arizona State University. Although the ritual has since been merged with Catholic theology, it still maintains the basic principles of the Aztec ritual, such as the use of skulls.
Today, people don wooden skull masks called calacas and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. The wooden skulls are also placed on altars that are dedicated to the dead. Sugar skulls, made with the names of the dead person on the forehead, are eaten by a relative or friend, according to Mary J. Adrade, who has written three books on the ritual.
The Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations kept skulls as trophies and displayed them during the ritual. The skulls were used to symbolize death and rebirth.
The skulls were used to honor the dead, whom the Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations believed came back to visit during the monthlong ritual.
Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake.
"The pre-Hispanic people honored duality as being dynamic," said Christina Gonzalez, senior lecturer on Hispanic issues at Arizona State University. "They didn't separate death from pain, wealth from poverty like they did in Western cultures."
However, the Spaniards considered the ritual to be sacrilegious. They perceived the indigenous people to be barbaric and pagan.
In their attempts to convert them to Catholicism, the Spaniards tried to kill the ritual.
But like the old Aztec spirits, the ritual refused to die.
To make the ritual more Christian, the Spaniards moved it so it coincided with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (Nov. 1 and 2), which is when it is celebrated today.
Previously it fell on the ninth month of the Aztec Solar Calendar, approximately the beginning of August, and was celebrated for the entire month. Festivities were presided over by the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The goddess, known as "Lady of the Dead," was believed to have died at birth, Andrade said.
Today, Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and in certain parts of the United States and Central America.
"It's celebrated different depending on where you go," Gonzalez said.
In rural Mexico, people visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried. They decorate gravesites with marigold flowers and candles. They bring toys for dead children and bottles of tequila to adults. They sit on picnic blankets next to gravesites and eat the favorite food of their loved ones.
In Guadalupe, the ritual is celebrated much like it is in rural Mexico.
"Here the people spend the day in the cemetery," said Esther Cota, the parish secretary at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. "The graves are decorated real pretty by the people."
In Mesa, the ritual has evolved to include other cultures, said Zarco Guerrero, a Mesa artist.
"Last year, we had Native Americans and African-Americans doing their own dances," he said. "They all want the opportunity to honor their dead."
In the United States and in Mexico's larger cities, families build altars in their homes, dedicating them to the dead. They surround these altars with flowers, food and pictures of the deceased. They light candles and place them next to the altar.
"We honor them by transforming the room into an altar," Guerrero said. "We offer incense, flowers. We play their favorite music, make their favorite food."
At Guerrero's house, the altar is not only dedicated to friends and family members who have died, but to others as well.
"We pay homage to the Mexicans killed in auto accidents while being smuggled across the border," he said. "And more recently, we've been honoring the memories of those killed in Columbine."
Sunday, October 9, 2011
M.E.Ch.A de SMC - 2011-2012 Fall Semester
October 9, 2011
Congrats fellow dreamers! Jerry Brown officially signed AB131!
Gov. Brown signs second part of California DREAM Act
www.dailycal.org
Gov. Jerry Brown signed the second part of the California DREAM Act into law Saturday.
AB 131 will allow undocumented students to apply for and receive
state financial aid, such as Cal Grants. The California DREAM Act is
composed of two parts, both authored by Assemblymember Gil Cedillo,
D-Los Angeles. AB 131 is the second half, and builds upon AB 130, which
was signed into law in July and allows universities to give private financial aid to undocumented students from their own funds.
“Going to college is a dream that promises intellectual excitement
and creative thinking,” Brown said in a Saturday press release. “The
Dream Act benefits us all by giving top students a chance to improve
their lives and the lives of all of us.”
The California Department of Finance estimates that 2,500 students
will qualify for Cal Grants as a result of AB 131, at a cost of $14.5
million — about 1 percent of all Cal Grant funds, according to the
Saturday press release.
“It’s a moment that’s ten years in the making,” said CalSERVE Senator Sydney Fang, co-author of the ASUC bill in support of the Dream Act.
“This is just a really key step in the movement in making higher
education accessible to all students, regardless of their citizenship
status.”
AB 130 allows students eligible for AB 540 — or those who have
fulfilled similar requirements — to receive scholarships derived from
non-state funds. Passed in 2001, AB 540 allows undocumented students who
meet certain conditions to pay in-state tuition at a state public
higher education institution.
“We’re feeling really great, I know for (Cedillo) its been since 2006
that he’s been waiting,” said Conrado Terrazas, Cedillo’s
communications director. “This has been a real big step for really
helping the economy because students who may have once worked at
McDonalds now have opportunities to be doctors, teachers, architects.”
AB 540 was intended to improve financial aid access to students who
have attended and graduated from California high schools but are still
subject to nonresident tuition, which includes, but is not limited to,
undocumented students. Undocumented students were not eligible for Cal
Grants or other state aid under AB 540, a key factor that led to the
proposal of the California DREAM Act.
“This is a huge win — hugely important for California,” said Jeremy
Pilaar, UC Student Association board member and an organizer of a group
who presented postcardsto
Brown last month in support of the DREAM Act. “We value all the
students in our state and we are going to give an opportunity to high
school students in California who want to make this their home, who want
to be contributors to society.”
Yet the impact the California DREAM Act will have on undocumented
immigrants is thought to be largely symbolic. Of the 2,240 AB 540
students at the UC level, 30 percent were undocumented, said Luis
Quinonez, a legislative aide to Cedillo.AB 131 was passed by the state Assembly last month and
had since been sitting on Brown’s desk. Brown had until Sunday at
midnight to sign or veto the bill.AB 131 will take effect Jan. 1, 2013.
Monday, October 3, 2011
M.E.Ch.A de SMC - 2011-2012 Fall Semester
October 3, 2011
This Thursday October 6, 2011
Join our club to be part of this
exciting cultural event!
Thursday
LS 110 @ 11:15-12:45
Join our club to be part of this
exciting cultural event!
Thursday
LS 110 @ 11:15-12:45
Upcoming Events
- Dear HIRE-LA's Youth Participant,
Generation Water- follow the link to find out more information about these openings.
http://generationwater.org/conservation-movement/gw-green-jobs
International Checkout
Seeking a Full-Time International Export Processor/Package Handler
Qualifications:
· Typing skills 40 WPM
· Knowledge of US Export requirements
· Experience with various shipping systems
· High School Diploma (AA Degree preferred)
Benefits:
· Full Time Employment
· $10/ Hour Starting Pay
· Healthcare Benefits after 90 days
· Paid Vacation offered after 1 year
How to apply: please email your resume to mnieto@lachamber.com
**************************************************************************
LOS ANGELES -- The
City of Los Angeles, in partnership with the Los Angeles Financial
Planning Association (FPA-LA), the U.S.Conference of
Mayors, the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, and the
Foundation for Financial Planning, will host the second annual Los
Angeles Financial Planning Day on Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Magnolia Place, 1910 Magnolia Ave., Los Angeles, CA.The event will offer FREE, no strings attached, financial counseling to city residents from certified financial planners. The financial planning process will be personalized for every person looking to educate themselves on how to plan and save. The event will also offer an opportunity to attend workshops on topics such as budgeting, investing basics, and saving for a home.
The Financial Planning Association, the U.S.Conference of Mayors, the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, and the Foundation for Financial Planning has formed a consortium to launch this groundbreaking national effort.
WHO Los Angeles Financial Planning Association - Los Angeles Community
WHAT Second Annual Los Angeles Financial Planning Day will offer FREE, no strings attached, financial counseling to city residents from certified financial planners.
WHERE Magnolia Place- 1910 Magnolia Place, Los Angeles, CA
WHEN Saturday October 15, 2011 time 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
*******************************************************************************
Advantage Sales & Marketing LLC (ASM) is a premier North American sales and marketing agency committed to building brand value for our clients and customers.
ASM's customized sales and marketing solutions include headquarter sales, retail merchandising and marketing services, specializing in client and customer events, publications and assisted-selling services for the grocery, drugstore, club, convenience, natural/specialty, sporting goods, consumer electronics and home center channels.
We currently have a number of immediate openings and we are looking for outgoing and energetic individuals to conduct in-store demonstrations in local retailers.
As an Event Specialist/Product Demonstrator you will conduct in-store demonstrations, for both food and non-food products, to generate excitement, brand awareness, and drive sales through event execution and promotions. This fun and exciting opportunity will give you a chance to show-off your sales and customer service skills through interaction with consumers. If you like to interact with people and get excited about trying new things, then this opportunity is for you!
We are seeking candidates who possess the following:
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Experience in event marketing, demonstrations or retail/grocery is highly desirable
- Ability to set-up, breakdown, and clean product demonstration equipment
- Enthusiastic, outgoing, and customer service oriented skillset
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Able to complete shifts as scheduled, including weekends
- At least 18 years of age
- Have a computer, reliable, and consistent daily access to the Internet
-
State food safety certification is a big plus
What we offer:
- Paid training in food safety and handling
- Flexible hours to fit your schedule
- Opportunities to advance and strengthen your Sales and Customer Service skills
PASADENA CITY COLLEGE
Rate of Pay: $10.00 an hour
Job Title: Customer Service Representative
Job duties:
P.C.C. - Pasadena City College Community Business Center is
looking for Customer Service Representative. Responsibilities - Live
Scan and Ink Fingerprinting, Child IDs, Front Office Reception/Clerical,
Mobile services, U.S. Passport Acceptance and other services. The ideal
candidate will - Be an active listener, be able to analyze
information/reports, have excellent customer service skills, be detail
oriented, show discretion and maintain confidentiality have filing
skills, be able to handle money and have basic math skills, have
multi-tasking skills, be organized, have good phone etiquette and
patience, be able to problem solve, have a professional demeanor, have
basic typing skills, know what Live Scan Fingerprinting is, be punctual,
reliable and flexible in scheduling, possess good spelling and grammar
skills, must be able to write legibly, maintain a clean uniform and
professional appearance at all times. Notary License a plus! *** Proof
of U.S. citizenship is required for this position Per the U.S.
Department of State all Passport Acceptance Agents must be U.S.
citizens. *** Availability - You must be available to work at least one 1
Saturday every month from 9am-3pm and have reasonable availability Monday through Friday from 8am-7pm.
Additionally, occasional off site jobs/events require some evenings and
weekends. * This position offers no medical benefits and has a maximum
of 900 hours/academic fiscal year. averages out to be approximately 10
to 15 hours per week. * Final
job offers are contingent upon passing a DMV driving record check and
FBI/DOJ background checks which are to be paid for by the applicant $51
after an initial job offer is made. If you are interested in this
position please pick up an application from their office. Pasadena City
College Community Business Center - 3035 East Foothill Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91107 626-585-3210 Office hours M-F 8am-7pm, Saturdays 9am-3pm
Scholarship
Attached you will find a copy of the 2011-2012 Paying for College: Student Resource Guide. As you may know, this document contains hundreds of scholarships, internships, and fellowships for students of various levels, from high school to graduate school. Paying for College is also linked on the congresswoman’s student webpage: http://roybal-allard.house.gov/students and her facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/RepRoybalAllard?v=wall
The guide includes the 34th Congressional District Student Art Competition (page 14). The art competition is open to all high school students who live in the 34th Congressional District. The first place winner is awarded a $1,000 scholarship, cash prizes, and a trip to Washington, D.C., where he/she will attend the unveiling of his/her artwork in the U.S. Capitol. Runners up, honorable mentions, and schools are also eligible to win scholarships and prizes. The application to enter the competition will be available in early November and the deadline will be in early February 2012.
Also attached is a flier for the congresswoman’s upcoming Service Academies Workshop. As you know, the congresswoman strives to keep our young people informed of excellent college and career opportunities, such as those offered through the U.S. Service Academies. The workshop is free and open to the public and will take place from 10-noon on Sat. Oct. 22nd, at the Downey City Library, 11121 Brookshire Ave., Downey, CA 90241.
If you have any questions about any of the items listed above, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone (213-628-9230) or email (Diana.porras@mail.house.gov).
Thanks again and I look forward to sending you future scholarship alerts.
Diana Porras
Projects Manager
Office of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34)
255 E Temple St., Ste. 1860
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 628-9230
diana.porras@mail.house.gov
http://roybal-allard.house.gov
Visit Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard’s student services page: http://roybal-allard.house.gov/students
The multicultural 34th Congressional District includes: Bell; Bellflower; Bell Gardens; Boyle Heights; Commerce; Cudahy; Downey; Downtown Los Angeles; Huntington Park; Little Tokyo; Maywood; South Park; Vernon; Walnut Park; and portions of Chinatown, East Los Angeles, Florence, Pico Union, and Westlake.
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