February 10th, a big day of presenters at CCHS: Reynaldo Berrios of Cholo Style and Carl Wilkins.

On February 10th CCHS was presented with the rare opportunity of having two speakers visit the school, each representing two very different yet similar experiences.

Reynaldo Berrios, reformed gangbanger and author of Cholo Style, gave a presentation to a group of students on the counterproductive and self-defeating elements of gang violence. Reynaldo also had lunch with a group of students who participated in the Cholo Style reading circle. Reynaldo and the students engaged in a lively discussion about the many ways to avoid gang violence and focus on self-empowerment and leadership.

Carl Wilkins, the last American to leave Rwanda during the 1994 genocide also visited CCHS on February 10th. In a school-wide assembly, Mr. Wilkins described the horrors of being in Rwanda when an estimated 800,000 members of the country’s Tutsi minority and thousands of moderate members of the Hutu majority were systematically murdered by extremist Hutu militias from early April to mid July in 1994.

Eva Rutland, Winner of the 2000 Golden Pen Award for Lifetime Achievement, to visit CCHS

Eva Rutland, author of more than 20 novels and winner of the 2000 Golden Pen Award for Lifetime Achievement, presents the timely and relevant story, first published in 1964, of her life in the years “before integration, before affirmative action—when segregation was the norm, discrimination was legally tolerated, and blacks were second-class citizens”.

The students in Kellee Thomas' class are reading Eva Rutland's "When We Were Colored: A Mother's Story." CCHS is looking forward to her visit on March 12th.

Reynaldo Berrios, author of Cholo Style, to visit CCHS.

The Classic era of Cholo style and lowrider culture, as seen through the artwork, interviews and true stories created by homies and homegirls themselves, compiled from the seminal street 'zine Mi Vida Loca

Author Reynado Berrios is a reformed gangbanger who raises two sons and calls San Francisco home. Rey was nearly killed in vicious knife-fights, and produced Mi Vida Loca at great personal risk for over a decade, ultimately turning against counterproductive gang violence and advocating La Raza resistance to gavacho power.

Rey is scheduled to visit CCHS February 10th. Students will begin reading and discussing his book January 12th.

Performance Artist Maria Elena Ramirez visits CCHS

Maria Elena Ramirez proudly presented Chicana "Her-Story", a multi-media presentation of Oral History, including teatro, music, rap and storytelling. Maria Elena presented a feminine perspective of what has transpired over these last 500+ years since 1492, when Columbus invaded the Americas, including her poems "Time to De-colonize Your Mind" and "Don't call me a `Ho`, No Mo." Students responded very positively to Maria Elena's performance, commenting that they have "never heard history told like this" and that they would like to learn more about what is not always taught in school.

To read more about Maria Elena's presentations visit her website at http://chicanaherstory.com/poetrywebpage.htm

Tommie Lindsey visits CCHS

On November 13th Tommie Lindsey visited CCHS. He spoke to several students about the importance of writing and recording their own stories, learning from every experience and especially about being proud of who they are. Mr. Lindsey also shared with the students that he began his very successful career at CCHS when it was El Rancho Verde. He began his Forensics Program at El Rancho with a small group of students. Mr. Lindsey's Forensics Program is now nationally recognized.

Author Tommie Lindsey to visit Conley

The dynamic and motivating forensics teacher and writer Tommie Lindsey will be visiting Conley on Thursday November 13th.


• In 2002, Lindsey was featured in the PBS documentary Accidental Hero, a story about students from a multi-racial high school gaining life- changing inspiration from their coach — Lindsey — through the art of public speaking and debate.

• In 2003, Lindsey was awarded Oprah Winfrey's Angel Award, and was among the recipients of One Hundred Black Men Excellence in Education Awards. He received one of 23 Genius Grants from the MacArthur Foundation in 2004. The prestigious grant is given for an individual's creativity and contribution to society.

• Lindsey co-authored the book It Doesn't Take A Genius: Five Truths to Inspire Success in Every Student.

Teatro Chicana author visit

Our visit with the authors and editors of Teatro Chicana: A Collective Memoir and Selected plays was a success. The women shared stories from their book speaking about their adventures and life experiences while in Teatro Chicana as well as how they came to be involved in Teatro. They spoke about the collective feeling of discontent amongst the youth of the late 1960’s and 1970’s and how Teatro allowed them to address the many issues faced by women and people of color during this time. Twenty-five students and staff attended the session. They had the opportunity to ask questions, talk with the authors and have books and posters signed.