H4

culture shock l.a. has an event every year called H4: Hip Hop Has History. being on the board of directors, i volunteered my time to sell water and help fundraise by selling these water bottles (they're $12 if anyone wants to buy one, btw).

i've never been to H4 before, but i'm hoping next year, i'll be in enough shape to take class and be more involved in the day. i miss dance so much, and while i try to remain involved in other capacities, i know i need to just get off my ass and dance.

Happy Birthday, Dadda!!

lolo and his eight apos. happy birthday, lolo!

MOT

2.26.10

it's been a while since i've been on a school bus. it's another world in there! seatbelts, "body fluid cleanup" kits (ew!) and really high seat backs.

we went to the museum of tolerance. the experience was beyond words. throughout the day i felt sad, proud, nauseous, triumphant, envious and exhausted for a variety of reasons.

they wouldn't let me bring my camera in, so this unfortunately is the picture i have of the day. and one that i snuck in on my phone. anyway, everyone should go. i'll go with you.

Conflict

2.25.10

it is ironic that the day that i teach conflict resolution skills, i want to beat someone's ass down to the ground. person not pictured here.

More about love

2.24.10

today was our interfaith/ intercultural breakfast. i was up since 2:30 am and worked until 6:30 pm. but it was a great morning with keynote john maguire, who is the president of claremont university, one of the original freedom riders and close friend of martin luther king, jr. he spoke on king's principles of revolutionizing our world. among many points-- resisting consumerism, reconnecting with spirituality and valuing humanity-- the one that stood out the most to me was L O V E...

bell hooks writes about approaching love as a verb rather than a noun. the idea that love is an action requires accountability on my part. instead of it just existing somewhere in a space between you and me, i actually have to work at it and exercise it with intention.

this is the year of love. love in all kinds of forms. love of my partner. love of my child. love as a family. love of my people. love of my community (ies). tough love. love that isn't traditional. love in sisterhood. love in art. love in social justice. and love amidst adversity.

i'm so blessed to be surrounded by people who model love the way it should be used. it allows me to grow and learn how to use love in my relationships, in my work and in my interactions with others to transform this place of ours. i remember mom asking me as a kid what "mahal kita" meant. i replied, "we... are... rich?" indeed we are.

The boys

Message of love

Manny and Perci go for a walk

2.21.10

80s cover bands

are cool.
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The grudge

it's 7 pm on friday. spooky elevator rides suck.
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He's everywhere!

2.17.10

Human Knot

2.16.10 great teamwork, but all i think about is antibacterial gel.

Moose n Zee

2.15.10 papa and gani made playmates for tigger while mama worked. how productive! and incredibly accurate.

Love.Mahal.Amor.

2.14.10 today was about love.

6 am

gani has this desire to wake up before the sun comes up and go walking. just for leisure. um, it's winter. and we don't live in the most scenic area for leisurely strolls. especially to starbucks... it's a little trafficky. by 7:30, we had our morning coffee, reported a drunk driver and picked up papa from his flat tire on pacific and 15th st. how eventful!

Pure Evil

"Oompa loompa doopadee doo

I've got a perfect puzzle for you

Oompa loompa doopadee dee

If you are wise you'll listen to me

What do you get when you guzzle down sweets?

Eating as much as an elephant eats

What are you at getting terribly fat?

What do you think will come of that?

I don't like the look of it

Oompa loompa doopadee dah

If you're not greedy, you will go far

You will live in happiness too

Like the Oompa Loompa doopadee doo

Doopadee do."

Tickles

before the tickle ambush.
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100th day of school

it's fast approaching. what a colorful way to count by 10s.

Compton

what an incredible day this was. we started day one of program at a continuation school in compton, and as the students are coming in, i'm greeting them and instantly i recognize one of the young women. i know that she's been in my program before, but i can't remember where. since this was our first day in compton schools, i couldn't figure out where i knew her from. so i get them settled and right before we begin program, she comes up to me and says, "kimmy, do you remember me?" i tell her, "absolutely, but i don't remember from which school." she tells me, "central juvenile hall". i screamed, "oh my gooood!" and my eyes got all misty and i grabbed her and we hugged for about a minute, just laughing.

it means soooo much to see one of the students "on the outs", as they say. i've done probably seven programs in juvenile hall schools, and it's a very different feeling than at a traditional school. we do a lot more goal setting, self reflection and personal relationship building. at the end of program, it feels like we accomplish a great deal together, but also very bittersweet because i don't know what will happen to them or what their future looks like. so to have developed relationships with them and hope for the best (some are facing 25+ years, beginning at 15 years old), it's wonderful to see a student who is coming out of that setback and moving in a positive direction.

then the lightning flashed, the thunder rumbled, rain poured and parking lot flooded. more rain. more program tomorrow.

My ride or die chick

isn't she pretty with her gold?

Attack in Long Beach

at approximately 9:00 am, on saturday morning, a child-sized bat boy broke into a residence on the 2500 block of cedar ave. in long beach and violently attacked the male resident. the attack was caught on film and attacker apprehended. when asked why the bat boy attacked, he explained that soccer was canceled due to the rain which forced him to take out his aggressions elsewhere.

No really, how do Middle School teachers do it?

in mid-reprimand.

Independence

i had a breakthrough with isagani today. i actually dropped him off at school. meaning i stayed in the car, he got out, walked to the cafeteria as i watched, and i left once he was in. this is a big deal for him, considering he's like mama and need "hug, kiss, hug again, flying kiss, kissing hand and bye bye". it actually took him about 3 minutes to make it from the car to the caf, but my big boy did it! and he got a soft serve as a reward. he said, "i got my batman costume, ice cream, and papa's home. this is the best day of my life!" gotta love that grateful kid.

Wilmington

every month we have to deposit our rent into our landlord's account. this line is looong. and i'm late for program.
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Tulog.

this is what an afternoon with jorian does.
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Pamilya

just another "low key" sunday evening in west co.
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