Friday, October 08, 2004

Education Corner

Marijuana use Negatively Impacts Teen Learning And Academic Success, Experts Say
White House Drug Policy Office and Leaders in Education and Health Urge Parents to Protect Their Teens’ Futures
Washington, DC--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--October 8, 2004--With over one million high school juniors and seniors preparing to take college entrance exams this fall, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) today announced a new outreach effort focusing on marijuana’s negative impact on teen learning and academic success. The "Marijuana and Learning" effort features a new “Open Letter to Parents” that will appear next week in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and U.S. News and World Report. The letter will also be available for viewing online at http://www.TheAntiDrug.com and http://www.MediaCampaign.org.
The “Open Letter to Parents” is signed by leaders in the fields of education, health, and youth drug prevention including the Center for College Health and Safety, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, National Association of Asian and Pacific-American Education, United Negro College Fund, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American School Counselor Association, National Student Assistance Association, and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
“Marijuana use is especially problematic during peak learning years,” said John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. "Parents have a major role to play in helping their children achieve good grades and a bright future—preventing drug use is a part of that mission. Research tells us that parents’ attitudes about marijuana influence their child’s decisions about illicit drug use. It is imperative for every parent to regularly send the message that marijuana use is dangerous and unacceptable in their family."
The latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health reveals that almost 4 million youth aged 12 to 17 (16 percent) had used marijuana at least once in the past year. Further, almost 14 percent of youth who bought marijuana did so on school property.
"Young people who begin marijuana use at an early age when the brain is still developing may be vulnerable to problems with memory, attention span, and learning," said Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Smoking marijuana can cause some changes in the brain that are like those caused by cocaine, heroin, and alcohol."
"The use of alcohol and drugs by students clearly impacts academic performance and eventually robs America of thousands of our most vital citizens—our youth—who do not meet their fullest potential,” said Rod Paige, Secretary of Education. “If we are to safeguard not only the fabric of our society but also ultimately our economic security, we need every student performing to his or her fullest. We need to turn our attention to this important issue to ensure that students turn away from underage drinking and marijuana use."
The “Marijuana and Learning” outreach effort is part of a larger marijuana education initiative launched by ONDCP in 2002 to dispel myths and misconceptions about the drug among teens and their parents.
"Teens might try marijuana for a number of reasons, ranging from peer pressure, school or family-related stress to depression and self-esteem issues,” said Carden Johnston, M.D., President, American Academy of Pediatrics. “Signs that a teenager may be using drugs include changes in mood, attitude, sleeping habits, suspicious friends, declining grades, truancy, and temper outbursts. Keeping communication channels open with teenagers will help parents distinguish abnormal from normal adolescent behavior."
“Research shows that students with an average grade of ‘D’ or below are more than four times as likely to have used marijuana in the past year as teens who reported an average grade of ‘A.’ Parents and teens need to understand that marijuana use can negatively affect a teen’s academic success,” said Richard Wong, Executive Director of the American School Counselor Association.
For more information about marijuana’s negative impact on teen learning and other ONDCP drug prevention efforts, please visit http://www.TheAntiDrug.com, http://www.MediaCampaign.org.
Since 1998, the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign has conducted outreach to millions of parents, teens, and communities to reduce and prevent teen drug use.

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

Community events

It is my honor to introduce myself as the representative for the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) and to humbly request your assistance in helping us promote NSHMBA’s 15th Annual Conference and Career Expo.
NSHMBA is a 501(c)(3), which was started in 1988. The mission of the organization is to foster Hispanic leadership through management education and professional development in order to improve society. There are currently 29 chapters through out the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
The conference will take place on October 21-23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The national conference attracts Hispanic MBA students and professionals from across the country. Thursday, October 21, offers a full day of professional development. On Friday and Saturday, there is a Career Fair that hosts more than 280 companies, mostly Fortune 500. There is an anticipated attendance of over 6,500 Hispanic professionals.
We would greatly appreciate any efforts that you could lend in educating your community about this incredible event and/or this incredible organization and its leadership.
Please call me at the numbers below if you have any further questions and thank you beforehand for your valuable assistance.
RAIZ Public Relations & Special Events

Mauricio Navarro
President RAIZ
4622 Maple Ave. Suite 202
Dallas, Texas 75219
navarro@raizpr.com tel:
fax:
mobile: 214-523-3440
214-523-3448
469-733-8137





Manny Hernandez


book
Originally uploaded by Manny.
Hernandez will speak about his textbook and other Latino issues at an upcoming activity in Rhode Island.

Hernandez regularly contributes opinion pieces on education issues to the Puerto Rico Sun.
Comunicado de Prensa

División de Asuntos Educativos Puertorriqueños de RI
Contacto: Abigail Mesa, Directora
401-785-9533
Fecha: 1ero de octubre de 2004
Asunto: Presentación del Educador y Escritor, Manuel Hernández

El educador y escritor puertorriqueño, Manuel Hernández, confirmó su visita a Providence, Rhode Island, para una disertación y presentación de su libro titulado: "Latino/a Literature in the English Classroom", el cual fue nominado como el Libro de Texto Latino 2004. Hernández es una autoridad a nivel nacional, conocido por sus ensayos sobre literatura. Ha conducido un sinnúmero de talleres, simposios, entrevistas televisadas y trabajos periodísticos sobre este tema.
Hernández, quien actualmente vive en Luquillo, tiene una trayectoria en el análisis de la literatura latinoamericana a nivel nacional. Dedicado a la motivación a la lectura y la escritura, Hernández se concentra en la preparación y estudio de exámenes a nivel estatal como parte de un programa de tutoría a adolescentes.
Posee una Maestría en Educación de la Universidad de Puerto Rico y un Bachillerato en Ingles del Colegio Herbert H. Lehman de Nueva York. "La educación es la llave que abre las puertas a un nuevo mundo.sin educación arriesgamos nuestra existencia como pueblo latino en los Estados Unidos. Esta invitación de impartir lo que por gracia he recibido; es mi visión de ir a los pueblos latinos en Estados Unidos y establecer un puente literario entre la literatura latina de la Diáspora escrita en Ingles y los clásicos anglosajones. No hay representación en las instituciones que gobiernan a estos países. Podemos ser muchos en población pero sin educación, los números no tienen validez. Para mi es un honor y privilegio compartir mis ideas y estrategias con ustedes" declara Hernández.
La disertación se llevará a cabo el sábado 6 de noviembre de 2004 en Progreso Latino, localizado en el 626 Broad Street en Central Falls. La misma está pautada para las 5:00 pm. Un panel de analistas se integrará al auditorio para una sección de preguntas y respuestas.
"Sé que una sóla presentación de Manuel Hernández no es suficiente para lograr el objetivo que tiene la División con esta presentación. Pero extraeremos lo esencial para utilizar su disertación en nuestros centros de trabajo y en nuestras vidas personales" indicó Abigail Mesa, Directora de la División.

Saturday, October 02, 2004

Community happenings

source: www.prdream.com

This is the new info on PRDREAM/MEDIANOCHE/MANHATTAN NEIGHBORHOOD
NETWORK's workshops: These begin in October. Classes are now forming!

PRDREAM/MEDIANOCHE/MNN

FREE WORKSHOPS: Hands-on, 10 weeks.
1. Basic Digital Camera and Editing Workshop
Leads to MNN public access certification. Classes now forming.


PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS: Registration: $25 Plus Workshop fee

1. Screenwriting: The basics, STARTS OCTOBER 7
Workshop fee: $250, Ten sessions, Thursdays, 6PM - 8:30PM

2. Cinematography: Optimize Your Lighting for Film and Digital Video
Workshop fee: $250
Two-day session: Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17
One-day Intensive session: Saturday, October 23

3. Create a Website for your Artwork: For artists.
Workshop fee: $350, One-day.
Knowledge of computers and basic software operation necessary.


All classes and workshops are held at
PRDREAM/MEDIANOCHE
MANHATTAN NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK's
Satellite Facility in El Barrio
161 East 106th Street
New York, NY 10029
(212)828.0401


=======================================
Judith Escalona
Director

PRDREAM.COM
161 East 106th Street
(212)828-0401

http://www.prdream.com
Empowering community through technology
========================================

source: www.elmuseo.org (Museo del Barrio, NYC)

Saturday October 9
LATIN BEAT AT EL MUSEO: NEW LATINO FILMS FROM LINCOLN CENTER .
1:30 PM City of Men / Cidade dos homens,
U.S. Premiere, Fernando Meirelles, Cesar Charlone,
Katia Lund and Regina Case , Brazil , 2003; 125m
4:00 PM Sábado / Saturday
Matías Bize, Chile , 2003; 63m
5:30 PM Offsides / Fuera de juego,
Victor Manuel Arregui, Ecuador , 2003; 87m
Tickets: $7 admission; $5 members, seniors, and students;
$10 combo ticket for any two films on the same day.
Tickets on sale day of show at the Museum shop.
Call (212) 660-7132 for more information or visit our website at www.elmuseo.org

Saturday, October 9
Extreme Makeover: Performance Workshop for
High School Teens, 12 noon–2pm
Meet performance artist Carmelita Tropicana and discover your new inner persona! Tropicana will lead teens in a two-hour workshop exploring autobiography through performance improvisation, movement and writing exercises.
Free for NYC high school students; registration required. Groups welcome.
Call (212) 660-7134 for more information.
Featured Site:

Virtual Boricua (www.virtualboricua.org)

This cultural site offers news articles from various media sources on issues of interest to boricuas; cultural, political and justice community information; photos; and a forum.

I am a forum member. This is a site worth visiting.

Friday, October 01, 2004

Cueva de Camuy


Cueva de Camuy
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
Check out the Sunrise, Sunset -- Anything Sun photo group at flickr. Wonderful collection of sun shots from around the world. Places range from Puerto Rico and Cuba to Japan and Brazil.