<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red'>PLEASE do not reply to this email, contact Jorge Melgoza, <a href="mailto:jorgemelgoza@berkeley.net">jorgemelgoza@berkeley.net</a> </span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>On Saturday, April 13th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. we are planning to sponsor a summit, a call to action if you will, to bring attention to the fact that many of our young men of color are still struggling, not just academically but socially/emotionally at BHS. In addition to the keynote speaker, workshops will be provided for both students and parents so please register for the event if you are willing to be part of the solution. You can register at <a href="mailto:BHSLeadershipForum@gmail.com">BHSLeadershipForum@gmail.com</a> or stop by the BHS Front Desk for a registration form. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The summit is meant to go beyond "talking" about the problem and move towards taking ownership for the problem. The summit is the first layer in a multi-layered response to the issue. Berkeley High School, in collaboration with the Berkeley Alliance and BUSD - The Office of Family Engagement and Equity is working together to finally interrupt the racial predictability of success. This summit is simply the beginning. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The next layer is about enrolling those interested students into a year long Literature Class. There will be an application process to determine their willingness to receive mentoring and become leaders in their community. They will learn about character and leadership through their exposure to the rich and diverse narratives found in our African American and Latino Culture, most importantly they will learn how to become the great leaders of the future by learning from the great men of the past. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>This event is not meant to "solve the problem" affecting all our young men of color at BHS in a year or to enroll everyone interested; we don't have that capacity yet. This program, this class, this event is designed with the understanding that all of our students even our high achieving students of color need a counter narrative to the images and messages that belittle and deny them an opportunity to take pride in being African American and Latino. Students need to be exposed to curriculum that goes beyond simply covering units on Slavery or Immigration and delves deeper into the rich and long contributions made by our Latino and African American Communities to this country in all subjects. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>This event is about Berkeley High School making a concerted effort to support our young men of color. It is about one community, one school, one class, one group of mentors but, more importantly, one group of students working together to make a difference. We will begin on a small scale and over time work on calibrating our resources and refining our process. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>In order to kick off this event we are inviting Baruti Kafele. "Principal Kafele is an award-winning educator, internationally-renowned speaker and best-selling author. Principal Baruti Kafele is on fire! He’s on a personal mission to motivate, educate and empower educators, parents and children toward the elimination of the attitude gap, the world over.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>A highly-regarded urban public school educator in New Jersey for over twenty years, Principal Kafele distinguished himself in the classroom and as a school leader. As an elementary school teacher in East Orange, NJ, he was selected as the East Orange School District and Essex County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. As a middle and high school principal, he led the transformation of four different schools, including “The Mighty” Newark Tech, which went from a low-performing school in need of improvement to national recognition by the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education, and U.S. News and World Report Magazine recognizing it three times as one of America’s best high schools." Additional information can be found on his website at (www.principalkafele.com). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The last piece to the approach is recruiting a large number of mentors who are willing and able to provide our young men support throughout the year. Students will have opportunities to hear from other mentors throughout the year. We are calling on our men in Berkeley and the surrounding community to make a direct impact on this problem by committing to be present in their lives and most importantly present at Berkeley High. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The counter narrative we propose is simple: teach them how to read and write using a culturally relevant curriculum, teach them how to think, provide them with mentors, teach them how to rise up when they stumble, and they will, and then get out of their way. In addition to literacy and character this program is meant to provide them with a mentor and the leadership skills necessary to make a difference, not only in their lives, but in their community. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>In addition to the keynote speaker, workshops will be provided for both students and parents so please register for the event if you are willing to be part of the solution. You can register at <a href="mailto:BHSLeadershipForum@gmail.com">BHSLeadershipForum@gmail.com</a> or stop by the BHS Front Desk for a registration form. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Respectfully, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Jorge Melgoza<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Vice Principal<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Berkeley High School<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>510-644-8744<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'>________________</span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'>Diane Douglas, Marguerite Fa-Kaji, and Lisa Sibony are the parent-volunteer facilitators of the etree; please direct any questions to them at <a href="mailto:bhs-owner@lmi.net" title="mailto:bhs-owner@lmi.net"><span style='color:navy'>bhs-owner@lmi.net</span></a>. To post a message, send to: <a href="mailto:bhs@lmi.net" title="mailto:bhs@lmi.net"><span style='color:navy'>bhs@lmi.net</span></a>; BHS etree archives: <a href="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/" title="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/"><span style='color:navy'>http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'>To </span><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red'>unsubscribe </span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'>from the etree, send an email to <a href="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net" title="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net"><span style='color:navy'>bhs-request@lmi.net</span></a> with one word only in the subject line: 'unsubscribe'; To <b>subscribe</b> to the etree, send an email to <a href="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net" title="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net"><span style='color:navy'>bhs-request@lmi.net</span></a> with one word only in the subject line: 'subscribe'</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='color:navy'><a href="http://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/"><span style='color:navy'>http://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>