Share: Chelo Manchego saw his home country El Salvador as “another world”. His family lived in a gated community due to the dangers in his neighborhood, however, he had his own ways of escaping reality. He spent hours in nature with his friends and loved to be outside as much as he could. In El Salvador, there are earthquakes constantly, so he would make a tent outside because he was convinced it was safer than being inside a building. His family was always supportive of …
Mirror Pool Stoners: ‘Don’t hide the weed, divide it’
Share: Names marked with an asterisk were withheld for privacy reasons. Written by Grace Pickering and Mandie Montes In the days since the rain poured over Southern California, the once dead grass on campus has become luscious, providing a haven for students to practice tai-chi, bask in the sun, or hang around the mirror pools – a spot where students regularly consume cannabis. Students are seen often huddled together in various groups scattered around the edges, standing around and smoking a bowl or two while …
Breathing and existing through mindful meditation
Share: On a warm day, atop the grassy patches near the library and C building, sits Samantha Salomon adorned with flowers while sun rays beam off of her. As her portrait is about to be taken, there is a wave of unexpected heat, that is quickly masked by the wind causing the flowers sitting in between her arms to fall nonchalantly into place. Salomon is no stranger to the outdoors, as she enjoys spending her time outside, especially now that spring has rolled around on …
Behind the words of Ana Castillo
Share: Esteemed writer Ana Castillo began to write as a young activist in the 1970s. She used her poetry as a form of social protest by exploring the political and ethical implications of her personal experience. Her work seeks to challenge notions of not just Latinos and Latin culture, but ideas about gender roles, sexuality, spirituality, family and culture. She was recently hosted by the PCC English department for an evening of reading and discussion in the Creveling Lounge where students, faculty and staff gathered …
Lancers’ Lives: A music professor, her harp and Hollywood
Share: When she’s not busy playing at prestigious Hollywood parties or photobombing Mariah Carey’s paparazzi pictures, award-winning harpist, Dr. Alison Bjorkedal, spends most of her time teaching music at PCC or performing for others. Follow:
Nurturing Latinas’ futures at PCC conference
Share: When my sister, Becky Montes was a mere two years-old, my mother, Teresa Montalvo, introduced her to advocacy for other Latinas—my sister just didn’t know it at the time. They lived in a tiny, beige apartment across Pasadena City College (PCC) and my mother, an immigrant from Mexico City, had been living in the United States for 11 years. Follow:
Award winning ESL professor teaches through tech
Share: As a college professor and a mother of a 10 year old daughter, Catherine Datko understands how important technology is. From having to use a typewriter to write her papers in college, to now having a cellular device where papers can be written from one’s fingertips, Datko has witnessed the constant improvements technology has had within the past decade. She has always been passionate in helping people which is why she became an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, and through her testimonies …
Lancers’ Lives: Sculpting life through ceramics
Share: The class atmosphere on Tuesday night ceramics in PCC’s Visual Art department is unreserved and easygoing. Two artists brought cookies to share. Students chatted while they wedged clay, a process of kneading the clay to remove air. In the coming weeks, it will be fired at 2300 degrees Fahrenheit to become art. But it is currently gray and tan mush. Follow:
Forgotten voices of PCC’s marginalized communities
Share: A single mother, a military veteran, and a first-year student can be found seated inside the same classroom, engaging in the typical school conundrums: taking a copious amount of notes while listening to the professor’s rudimentary lectures. Some compose themselves in a more relaxed setting, closing their eyes and daydreaming as time slowly shifts by. Others discreetly use their phones, listening to the rhythmic pop tunes while head-bopping to the beat. In each classroom setting, new students enter and leave, following the roundabouts and …
PCC students walk out for change
Share: As PCC student Jorge Perez stood up with ten of his classmates in his Anthropology class to walk out to the mirror pools Wednesday morning, one thought was playing on repeat in his mind: “It’s time to send a message.” Follow: