by April | Education, Team Building
Saturday morning after a long week of activism and service the leadership of Blue Heart had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Man for a private tour of the exhibit “Race: Are We So Different?”
THE EXHIBIT asks the questions:
Is race the color of your skin? Is it the texture of your hair? The shape of your eyes? Is it in your genes?
Is race even real?
Race: Are We So Different? explains in clear, helpful language the origins of race and racism, and helps us understand how to deal with them in productive, enlightening ways.
Most of what we think about race is based on myth, folklore, or assumptions unsupported by genetics or biology. No one is free of misunderstandings about race, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Visit the museum of man for an eye-opening look at human nature and biology. You’ll leave transformed.
The Museum of Man is a place where dialogue, learning, and exchange forge understanding and personal connections. That’s why — after an initial temporary exhibition — “Race” was permanently installed this award-winning exhibit created by the American Anthropological Society and the Science Museum of Minnesota.
Race is a wonderful platform to engage schools and teachers, the general public, and other groups, in feeling, thinking, acting, and reflecting on race and identity, and to raise awareness, build community, and positively impact the ways in which we treat each other.
Afterwards we sat down to discuss the issues of race and found that so many eyes were opened to both historical and current facts that help piece together and shape today’s world. Jeremiah Daughtry pointed out that “It wasn’t until the Bacon Rebellion that people started seeing each other as races… Rich white people turned everyone against each other.”
by April | Community
We had the opportunity to volunteer and assist in the prevention of human trafficking by distributing tip cards during Comic Con. As we stepped out in our SuperHero Capes distributing information on how to recognize and respond to the warning signs of human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.
Today, we became superheroes to assist SAFE San Diego in spreading the word of #theUglyTruth. The ugly truth is that San Diego has a thriving underground sex economy. not just one part of the county but the entire San Diego County region.
“In San Diego (and) Tijuana it’s a major problem and we don’t want people to get numb to the fact it’s a major problem,” said Dr. Jamie Gates with the Point Loma Nazarene University. “There are about three to eight thousand survivors in a year and a good percentage of that is happening in the hotels,” said Gates. Local experts say hotels are the top location for sex trafficking with 70% of transactions utilizing social media.
“Until our community sees the damage done to women, girls and boys being forced to work in prostitution, they will lack the will to take on this threat to our children and end demand,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Summer Stephan, who heads the county’s Human Trafficking Advisory Council. “Media can play a critical role in creating this awareness, particularly in an era where TV, print, film and online representations of prostitution are often so glamorizing.”
Blue Heart Foundation Founder Tracy Morris believes it’s critical that young men understand how important it is that people understand the impact of sexual trafficking. ” The average age of entry into sex trafficking is 16 and at many times as young as 12 years old. These are our daughters, nieces and little sisters. If we don’t advocate on their behalf … Who will?”
by April | Community, Mentoring
Shortly after multiple shootings happened across the country townhall meetings were held at the George L. Stevens Senior Center in the Skyline/Encanto area. The focus of these meetings was to promote healing and bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement.
As youth advocates we have a unique opportunity to make significant change in the world. As a matter of fact, the involvement of young people has already made a difference all across the country and the world.
Kaori McGowan delivered a heartfelt speech where he questioned “How can I not be a victim of the system, when I’ve lost so many friends, family and brothers. It’s sad that every morning I have to tell my little brother “make sure you stay safe.”
H.E.A.R.T. (Higher Education And Rising Together) believes that Youth can…
Advocate for policy change:
Young people are effective at garnering support for policy development and capture the attention of political leaders and the media in ways that adults can’t.
Project a powerful voice:
Youth have credibility with their peers and other community leaders.
Young people naturally provide innovation and creativity, making this work more exciting and attractive to policy makers, partners, and other youth.
San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, several police officers, community leaders and residents attended the meeting. Zimmerman said her officer have worked hard to build relationships with the communities they patrol, and they will continue to improve communication.
One man in attendance said the meeting was a good start, but unless police departments do a better job of policing themselves, the shootings will probably continue and might take place in cities like San Diego. “Until we actually face and attack racial prejudice that’s embedded in police departments, we’re going to continue to have these problems,” said Armand King who lives in the Skyline area of San Diego.
The Blue Heart Foundation is focused on the empowerment and education of underserved youth. Our program is based on nine (9) core competencies which fall under three categories: 1) Abilities, 2) Applications, and 3) Character. Advocacy falls under character development where members model high standards of personal conduct at all times and in all places.
7. Advocacy – Members are advocates for just causes in their schools and communities. 8. Equity – Members are committed to social, political, and educational equity for all people. 9. Ethics – Members model high standards of personal conduct at all times and in all places. These are critical traits in a young man’s growth as well as ensuring that fundamentally they make good choices when exposed to difficult decisions.
by April | Education, Mentoring
CSUMentor is a website designed to help students and their families learn about the California State University (CSU) system. The CSU is comprised of 23 excellent campuses.
FRESHMAN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW
FRESHMAN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS
It is easy to understand the CSU admission requirements for California residents. Admission offices at the 23 campuses use three factors to determine eligibility.
Most applicants who are admitted meet the standards in each of the following areas:
Many CSU campuses have higher standards for particular majors or for students who live outside the local admission area. Because of the number of students who apply, several campuses have higher standards (supplementary admission criteria) for all applicants. Many CSU campuses utilize local admission guarantee policies for students who graduate or transfer from high schools and community colleges that are historically served by a CSU campus in that region. You may review the CSU Local Admission Areas for each campus here.
FRESHMAN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA
The three factors used to determine the admissibility of nonresident students are the same as those for California residents.
The primary difference is that the eligibility index (a combination of grades and test scores) is somewhat higher. Nonresident students need to complete the same pattern of courses, but need a higher GPA and test score combination. See the Eligibility Index for Nonresidents for more details.
Please note that California residents receive priority whenever admission space is limited.
REGULARLY UPDATING A STUDENTS ACCOUNT ENSURES SUCCESS!
By regularly updating our student’s database we ensure that our young men stay focused on academic excellence. The ongoing attention to completing their academic goals help our students keep their eyes on the prize! Thus far, the result is an overall 100% acceptance to four year universities including CSU’s, UC’s and HBCU’s.
by April | Community, Mentoring
The Blue Heart Foundation’s mentoring program had the opportunity to volunteer and attend the San Diego Symphony’s Summer Pops. One of San Diego’s most exciting musical summer traditions the San Diego Symphony launched Star Spangled Pops—a patriotic extravaganza with special guests singing along with the San Diego Master Chorale led by Academy Award-winner Bill Conti conducting.
H.E.A.R.T. had the opportunity to contribute to this exciting event as they volunteered by welcoming all attendees and insuring all the littlest fans were provided with glowsticks, becoming a part of the celebration. Our young men also assisted Education Programs Assistant Allison Morrisey in the kid zone where young people made their own firework bling rings as well as wrote letters to our troops serving overseas. Allison would later say “Thanks for bringing your guys to volunteer with us on Friday. They did a great job and were incredibly poised young gentlemen. I was so grateful to have their help and am impressed at their maturity and willingness to help out!”
Afterwards we enjoyed the San Diego symphony featuring classics as well as fireworks! The Star Spangled Pops will celebrate Independence Day like no other. It was a great, colorful and festive party on San Diego Bay. Located on picturesque Embarcadero Marina Park South behind the Convention Center, the Star Spangled Pops featured God Bless the U.S.A., America the Beautiful, Battle Hymn of the Republic and a salute to the Armed Forces.. It’ll was a special night night to remember. Alexzander stated “This was a great opportunity to come out and participate in helping our community and show support for our troops… I have never been to the symphony and this was amazing!”
THE EXHIBIT asks the questions:
The Museum of Man is a place where dialogue, learning, and exchange forge understanding and personal connections. That’s why — after an initial temporary exhibition — “Race” was permanently installed this award-winning exhibit created by the American Anthropological Society and the Science Museum of Minnesota.
