Bienvenidos otra vez a La Voz. Me da gusto cada vez que sacamos un ejemplar nuevo por que para nosotros es un placer
comparir con la gente todo lo que esta pasando en Austin y otras partes.
En la portada, on the cover, we have Consuelo Herrera Mendez. Consuelo was the first Mexican American school teacher to be hired by the Austin Independent School District in 1927.
Here in Austin we have a middle school in the Dove Springs neighborhood that is named in her honor. When you read her short biographical
sketch on page 9, you will be amazed, just as we were, at all of the activity she was involved in during her time on this earth.
Another story we wish to call to your attention is the Ernesto Fraga story on pages 6 and 7. Mr. Fraga is a long time Chicano activist who
worked for a while in Austin with the Brown Berets. For the past 36 years he has been in Waco, Texas where he published a community based
newspaper called Tiempo. Recently Mr. Fraga suffered a heart attack and will be out of action for a while. This story by Waco Tribune-Herald reporter Mike Copeland provides a good overview of what Mr. Fraga has committed his life to.
Martha P. Cotera is a one of a kind. As a major figure in the Chicano/a Movement, she continues to be a force of nature at 80 years young. I had only heard her name prior to moving to Austin in 2004, but it didn’t take long to find out who she is. A true community leader in every way, she is the first to rally friends when she senses an injustice has been committed. And she is afraid of no one. Martha P. Cotera is a true asset to the Latino community in Texas.
Once again the Austin Independent School District has become the focus of a group of community activists who do not believe the
school district is doing enough to improve the educational outcomes of Mexican American students.
This group has issued a manifesto with 15 items (See page 11) that it wants the school district to address. The group is also letting it be known that
maybe the time has come to divide the school district and let others tackle the challenge of providing an first rate education to Latino students.
Last but not least we wish to call to your attention, the variety of events that will be taking place throughout Central Texas during the
month of September. See our Calendar of Events and other notices that can be found on pages throughout this issue of La Voz.
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Copyright 2018 by Alfredo Santos. To read the entire La Voz issue and catch up on back issues visit: http://www.lavoznewspapers.com/