Join us for a discussion on the newly-released report by Public Advocates, the ACLU of California, and Gente Organizada: Our Right to Resources. This report found rampant and illegal misspending by school districts on law enforcement and other hardening measures in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties.

Out of 136 school districts, more than 40% illegally diverted money intended for English learners, foster youth, and low-income students towards police, security guards, or other hardening measures such as surveillance equipment. These actions violate the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), the state's education funding law and only further criminalize high-need students, and students of color, especially Black students.

The report recommends that districts invest those funds instead on proven, evidence-based resources such as school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, school nurses, restorative justice practices, and positive behavior intervention supports. And it provides a toolkit and other resources that will help you advocate for resources in your own communities.

In this session we will:

  • Look at some of the findings from this report.
  • Share the story of how youth in Pomona won additional counselors through a LCFF campaign to divest funds from police and security and reinvest in counselors and other positive student supports.
  • Provide recommendations to undo this harm.
  • Provide tools for you to get involved in your school’s decisionmaking, including discussing a toolkit that will help you advocate for resources in your schools.
  • Answer any questions you have about the report, toolkit, or starting a campaign in your own district.

Speakers include:

  • Nicole Gon Ochi, Public Advocates
  • Victor Leung, ACLU of Southern California
  • Ariana Rodriguez, ACLU of Southern California
  • Irene Rivera, ACLU of Southern California
  • Amir Whitaker, ACLU of Southern California
  • California Association of School Counselors

Event Date

Thursday, March 12, 2020 - 5:00pm to
Friday, March 13, 2020 - 5:45pm

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Thursday, March 12, 2020 - 6:00pm

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On Monday, March 2nd, I cast my vote for the first time. This milestone comes after 16 years since my deportation as a veteran of the United States. This I know will not save me or my people, but it is a step I know not a lot of people with my past or circumstances ever have the opportunity to take. I truly hope that changes.

The opportunity to vote is not just a privilege but a responsibility. Some Americans who are born with this privilege never exercise it. I at one point served the U.S. military — less than 10 percent of the country chooses to do. I was willing to die for a country even if laws didn't apply to me or if the Constitution didn't fully protect me. But I am here with you, trying again because like my return home, it is all a community effort.

I'll be honest: I've found myself struggling with things like homelessness, suicidal thoughts and addiction. As I continue to learn about myself, change things in my life, I keep finding out I know nothing. Each day is an opportunity to learn from our struggles, be it self-inflicted or be it life's circumstances.

But each day is a reminder who and what community is. I've decided to continue my work for the Deported Veterans Support House as long as it takes. Especially with our recent acquisition of the 2.4 acres of land in Mexico, which would help our services at the border exponentially. We will always need supporters, allies and volunteers.

Most importantly, I've decided to make it a lifelong commitment to try and build stronger relationships with my family. The border separated me from drives to school and nightly dinners among many other precious memories with my daughter. Now that I'm home, she is my priority.

My congresspeople, my president won't be perfect. But I will demand that they stand for bringing our deported veterans home and I hope you join me. Our deported veterans are as American as any American-born citizen. I dare say, they have gone above and beyond by service. We are no less American because of our imperfections.

Airborne All the Way.

Spc Hector Barajas 82nd ABN veteran, deported in 2004 and repatriated as a U.S. Citizen in 2018

 

Date

Tuesday, March 3, 2020 - 4:15pm

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Hector Barajas wearing in his U.S. Marine uniform seated at his desk, an American flag folded into a triangle on a shelf behind him

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Your Power, Your Vote – Special Election 2020
Los Angeles: Vote for Your District Attorney in 2020
Author:
Hector Barajas

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