An initiative intended to educate the community on Mexican American studies begins Sunday.
The event, Tucson Freedom Summer, runs through July 22 and will feature free workshops, presentations and community forums.
"With the dismantling of the acclaimed Mexican American Studies program in the Tucson Unified School District, it has become even more essential for the families in Tucson to become empowered and involved in the education of their children," a news release from the Tucson Freedom Summer Coalition read.
The effort is being driven by a coalition of local community groups dedicated to public discourse, community awareness and civic engagement. Volunteers from out of state are also participating.
The scheduled upcoming events are from 5 to 7 p.m. at the John A. Valenzuela Youth Center, 1550 S. Sixth Ave.:
• Sunday: The academic benefits of ethnic studies and Mexican American Studies for Tucson students, presented by Lorenzo Lopez, Sally Rusk and Rene Martinez - former TUSD Mexican American Studies educators.
• July 15: The academic power of bilingual education, presented by Sal Gabaldon - TUSD language acquisition specialist.
• July 22: The school-to-prison pipeline: the educational crisis for Latino youth, presented by Raúl Alcaraz and Sean Arce.
In addition to educational events, Tucson Freedom Summer is planning daily activities including canvassing for November school board elections and fundraising.
Find more info online
Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.
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