ALA Festival Celebrates Cultural Diversity
ALAN TAM
Co-News Editor
Teachers, parents and students gathered on March 6 to recognize Hispanic identity at the Alhambra Latino Association’s (ALA) festival on the AHS campus. Entitled Literatura y Cultura: A Family Affair, the event’s purpose was to improve communication between community members and educators in the Alhambra Unified School District.
Though originally scheduled to be held in December, the renovation of the auditorium postponed Literatura y Cultura for several months.
“We had been waiting [three] months for the construction [of the auditorium] to finish,” said ALA President Rosa Aguilar. “We decided to continue on with [the event] inside the cafeteria and the [surrounding] buildings.”
The festival began in the afternoon with workshops held in classrooms throughout campus. These seminars were directed by teachers and writers from across Southern California and discussed topics ranging from children’s literature to genealogical studies.
Participants also had a chance to discuss the process of creating independent films with guidance from Kevin Duffy, screenwriter and director of the film Becoming Blond.
“It was very interesting to [see] how much work and collaboration it takes to make a film,” said sophomore Jimena Jaramillo.
The workshops were followed by performances featuring students from Marguerita, Repetto, Northrup, Fremont and Baldwin elementary schools. The Mark Keppel High Theatre Co. worked in conjunction with the MKHS Orchestra to present the introduction to their play “Into the Woods,” an amalgam of four fairy tales. A father and daughter duet along with three choreographed dances ended the segment.
The second annual Poetry Slam began after the performances concluded.
Sixteen poets from AHS recited their original stanzas and prose. Ranging from blank verse to rhythmic couplets, the poetry presented by the students was varied with many of the works composed in both Spanish and English and dealt with family problems, illness, relationships and environmental issues.
“I’m not a good writer,” said senior Sarah Alhadeff. “[But] when I do poetry, it doesn’t feel like writing. I feel like my poem helps someone else going through the same situation.”
This year’s Poetry Slam was dedicated to coordinator and Spanish teacher Joshua Moreno’s father who passed away last year due to cancer three months after the first event took place.
“My dad was a printer,” said Moreno. “But he always loved poetry. I’m sure that he would be proud of the work we have done here.”
Overall, there were over four hundred students, parents and teachers in attendance at the event. Organizers believe that Literatura y Cultura has reached its intended audience and goal.
“In terms of attendance and participation, it has been a success,” said Aguilar.