Speaker Uses Electric Grill and Beef Fajitas to Motivate Students to Pass State Tes

Youth speaker challenged students to get seasoned before they get grilled by the state of Texas.

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) March 23, 2010 -- In his speech, youth motivational speaker Fabian Ramirez used an electric grill to metaphorically represent how the state of Texas was about to grill their students with the TAKS test. Seasoned beef fajita meat was used to represent the student body.

“You have to be seasoned before you get grilled,” Fabian said while holding 2 lbs of seasoned beef fajitas in the air before laying a portion over an electric grill. “Seasoned students are well done after they have been grilled.”

Public schools in Texas are preparing to administer the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test to their students in April 2010. David Crockett Elementary students in Grand Prairie, Texas, will be among those taking the TAKS test.

In an effort to keep their students motivated through spring break, Crockett’s Principal Suzy Meyer and Fifth grade teacher Brance Barker, hosted a school assembly on Friday, March 12, 2010, and invited Fabian to encourage their students to do their best on the TAKS test.

Fabian connected with the students since he has walked in their shoes having attended public schools in the Houston Independent School District system and taking similar state tests such as the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS).

The assembly was held in the school cafeteria a day before the district was scheduled to be on spring break. The audience consisted of over two-hundred third through fifth grade students, all of which are scheduled to take the TAKS test in April 2010.

Responsive Students

The students responded positively to the message and left the cafeteria wanting to be a seasoned student so they can do their best on the TAKS.

"Fabian is the first youth speaker that I've seen that has kept the students completely engaged during the entire 30 minute presentation,” said Brance Barker. “They were cheering, sitting on the edge of their seat and volunteering to answer questions which kept them involved the entire time of the presentation. It is evident that Fabian has a heart for education and a gift for connecting with students. After the presentation, students shared with me different lessons or illustrations that stood out to them - like his fajita illustration about being 'well-seasoned' with education."

Response from Teachers

The teachers were laughing and enjoying the speech along with their students. "It was exciting seeing the principal, the teachers, and the students all smiling because of the joy and enthusiasm that Fabian brought to our campus,” said Brance Barker. “His heart and passion for students and education is contagious!"

About Fabian

Fabian Ramirez is a youth motivational speaker based out of Dallas, TX. Fabian has worked with at-risk youth for over ten years and continues to be a driving force in motivating students to finish high school and continue on to college. Fabian attended Dallas Baptist University where he finished with a 3.85 GPA while earning a Master’s degree in Management.

LatinoJustice PRLDEF to PR Gov: Keep Birth Certificates Valid Through December

LatinoJustice PRLDLEF wrote a letter to Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño, urging him to delay the new law that will require all persons born on the island to get new birth certificates.

A planned July 1st implementation of the law has precipitated much confusion among island residents and the more than 1.5 million Puerto Rican-born residents of the United States.

Under the law, every single birth certificate issued in Puerto Rico will become invalid starting July 1. After that date, those wanting proof that they were born on the island must apply to the commonwealth government for a new birth certificate.

Many stateside Puerto Ricans have expressed confusion and lack of information about the new law and its impact. The U.S. State Department has not yet decided how to deal with people who present invalid birth certificates for passports, according to a spokesperson.

Thus far, there seems to be little effort by the U.S. or Puerto Rico governments to educate people about the changes.

Government officials responded to LatinoJustice PRLDEF’s letter by saying they had plans for a public information campaign.

“The only way to address the confusion and angst this is creating is to allow all birth certificates to remain valid through the end of the year,” said Cesar Perales, President and General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF. “A media blitz at this late date will have little impact on allaying people’s confusion and fear over what will happen when their birth certificates become valid. We already have states denying birth certificates from Puerto Rico so whatever communication has come out so far hasn’t been very effective.”

People born in Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth, are U.S. citizens at birth. Though the law does not go into effect until July 1, California, Ohio and Nevada have already stated they would not accept any birth certificates from Puerto Rico as proof of birth for driver’s licenses. This could effectively leave thousands of Puerto Ricans born on the island with no way of getting driver’s licenses in those states.

Creating confusion over birth certificates also fuels the real anti-Latino sentiment that has led to the escalating mandate to document the identity of Latinos for obtaining jobs, driver’s licenses, and government benefits.

Go to HAV columnist L. Patricia Ice's column--ICE ON IMMIGRATION-- for more information on these invalidations

Apply for an MBA scholarship up to $10,000 through NSHMBA

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LatinoJustice Works for Equal Education Opportunities

PRLDEF is making a concerted effort to support the DREAM ACT:
LatinoJustice PRLDEF believes that providing all students-- irrespective of their immigration status-- the opportunity to go to college is a positive step towards promoting education equality in the United States. This week, members of LatinoJustice PRLDEF’s Civic Engagement Network are participating in the National DREAM ACT action week. They are calling their representatives and urging them to support the bill, and educating their friends and colleagues about the benefits of the bill.

The DREAM Act would provide immigration relief to those who entered the U.S. more than five years ago if and when they graduate from high school, and allow them to become permanent residents and eventually citizens if they go to college or serve in the military.

Visit our network's facebook page to get involved.

The California Supreme Court is expected to announce when it will hear arguments in Martinez v. Regents of the University of California, a case for which LatinoJustice PRLDEF has submitted an amicus brief with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. The brief urges the California Supreme Court to dismiss a legal challenge to California AB540, which allows qualified students, including undocumented students, to pay in-state tuition rates at California's public colleges and universities.

Read more about the brief

Upcoming Scholarship Deadline: Chemistry Students

African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian students who are high school seniors, or college freshmen, sophomores or juniors are among those who can now apply for a scholarship from the American Chemical Society Scholars Program. Applications will be accepted through March 1, 2010, for the 2010-2011 school year.

Students must plan to major in or already be majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or a chemically-related science, and they must plan to pursue a career in the chemical sciences. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on college level and economic need.

For more details, see The American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Program accepting applications for minority students studying chemistry.

LatinoJustice PRLDEF Launches New Action Website

LatinoJustice PRLDEF unveiled a new website specifically designed to connect users to actions they can take to ensure the civil rights of Latinos. The site will seek to engage Latinos with the issues important to their community; to provide information about legal cases; and to offer tools where people can connect with government officials. The website will also become a central meeting place for young activists through it use of social networking tools. “Our goal with this website is to educate Americans about the civil rights issues facing Latinos,” said Cesar Perales, LatinoJustice PRLDEF President and General Counsel. “We have to bring attention to unjust policies and mobilize the community to support positive change. Having an effective website is critical to our success.” LatinoJustice PRLDEF over the last few years has focused on developing a communications strategy that works hand in hand with our litigation and complements our legal strategy in achieving our goals. These communications efforts have educated Americans about the civil rights issues facing Latinos, used the media to pressure public officials to revisit unjust policies, and mobilized the Latino community to support positive change. The first issue of the new website highlights a petition filed by LatinoJustice PRLDEF with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights charging that the United States has not fulfilled its mission to project Latinos. Supporters can send United States officials their own petition asking that the case be addressed by the government. The site also contains many tools and worksheets users can use to get involved in the U.S. Census. Users can also get information of all LatinoJustice PRLDEF pending cases. Students can access much information about the organization’s legal education programs, including registering for LSAT classes and LawBound Academy workshops.

Information re Temporary Protected Status for Haitians

The United States Secretary of Homeland Security has offered Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitians in the aftermath of the January 12, 2010 earthquake. TPS will be offered for a minimum of 18 months to those eligible. All nationals of Haiti, and those having no nationality who last habitually resided in Haiti, and who have continuously resided in the United States since January 12, 2010 or before, may be eligible for TPS. This includes Haitians who are undocumented or who are in a temporary status, such as visitor status, in the United States. Haitians who wish to apply for TPS must file an immigration form I-821 along with a form I-765 in accordance with the forms' instructions during the applicable registration period, which will end in 6 months. Potential applicants should check the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS ) website at uscis.gov for further instructions or consult a reputable immigration attorney or BIA accredited representative regarding the Haitian TPA application process. In Mississippi Haitians can also seek assistance at the USCIS office located in Jackson. All visitors to the Jackson USCIS office must have an Infopass appointment prior to appearing at the office. To make an Infopass appointment seek the assistance of a reputable immigration attorney, BIA accredited representative or go online at uscis.gov. There are government filing fees that apply to TPS that may be waived under certain conditions. Haitian nationals who have been convicted of certain crimes may not be eligible for TPS.
In addition to TPS, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering other immigration relief on a case by case basis to eligible Haitians such as university students, orphans, visitors and others. Please check with a reputable immigration attorney, BIA accredited representative or the uscis.gov web site for more information. Please be aware that there may be disreputable individuals charging fees for preparing and filing TPS applications. Always be cautious when requesting assistance with U.S. immigration documents.
TPS is sometimes offered by the United States government to individuals from designated countries that have suffered severe disasters, political upheaval or armed conflict. TPS beneficiaries are eligible to remain in the United States and may obtain work authorization so long as they continue to meet the terms and conditions of their TPS status. TPS does not lead to permanent resident status in the United States. When the Secretary of Homeland Security terminates a country's TPS designation, the beneficiaries return to the same immigration status they maintained before TPS unless that status has since expired or been terminated. Among Latin American countries that have TPS designations are Nicaragua and Honduras.
Received by the HAV from immigration attorney and contributor, Patricia Ice.