Invitation from Central High School MEChA

July 31, 2012

Mr. Tupac Enrique,

The students of Central High School M.E.Ch.A. excitedly extend this invitation to lead the Sunrise Ceremony and speak at one or two of the breakout sessions at the 3rd Phoenix Union High School District M.E.Ch.A. Conference on September 14, 2012. The theme of this year’s conference is Our History: Mi Voz.

 

 We are very interested in hearing about you, how you learned to organize and what you have experienced as you’ve led Tonatierra and Los Comités de Defensa Del Barrio. We are also very interested in learning about the Doctrine of Discovery, decolonization and our rights as Indigenous Peoples. We also welcome any advice on how we can use our student voices to advocate for ourselves and our communities.

 It’s going to be an exciting conference! Two Arizona heroes are giving the opening and closing speeches: Sean Arce and Dulce Matuz. Mr. Arce is the Cofounder of the Mexican-American Studies program in Tucson and Ms. Matuz, founder of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2012. Additionally, we expect about 20 educators and community organizers to host breakout sessions including Roberto Reveles, Councilman Valenzuela, Joe Ray, Nancy Godoy and Mari Herreras. We are also expecting about 300 high school student activists from across Phoenix.

The first breakout session is scheduled from 11:00-11:55 and the second is from 12:00-12:55. Please let us know if you are available for one or both sessions on September 14, 2012.

Mr. Enrique, it would be wonderful for the chiquillos to meet you and it would be an honor to host you on our campus. Muchas gracias,

Maria G. Chacon
M.E.Ch.A. Advisor
PUHSD Teacher of the Year, 2011
602.332.4758
mchacon@phoenixunion.org