KLRN hosted a preview screening of the new VOCES episode “The Pushouts” at the Santikos Bijou Cinema, which was followed by a discussion featuring several local panelists whose work focuses on the issues discussed in the film. The screening is part of a community engagement project around VOCES, the acclaimed four part series from Latino Public Broadcasting, featuring the best of Latino arts, culture, and history, while shining a light on current issues that impact Latino Americans.
“The Pushouts” introduced us to Victor Rios, a high school dropout and former gang member-turned-award-winning professor, author, and expert on the school-to-prison pipeline. Rios works with young people who have been “pushed out” of school for reasons beyond their control.
Our screening began with an introduction from students at SAY Sí, a nationally recognized creative youth development program, to an audience of about 60 guests; the students explained how Victor Rios’s efforts impact them, and why they remain inspired to break the school-to-prison pipeline themselves.
Following our screening of “The Pushouts”, we invited several panelists to hold a discussion about how the issues discussed in the film are relevant in San Antonio. Bekah McNeel, Education Reporter and Blogger at The Hall Monitor, moderated our panel. Our panelists included Sonya Mora, principal at Cameron Elementary, Chellie Fernandez, Network Manager at UP Partnership with My Brother’s Keeper San Antonio, and Rey Saldaña, Regional Director of Outreach for South Texas for Raise Your Hand Texas.
Stay tuned if you missed our preview or the airing of the episode – we’ll be airing it soon. In the meantime, several of our panelists have offered additional resources to enjoy and continue their discussion, including:
- An article on nationwide efforts to break the school-to-prison pipeline
- An article on at-risk San Antonio students advocating for their mental health
- An article detailing one student’s expulsion
- A data tool to help better understand school discipline in Bexar County
KLRN hosted an additional preview screening and discussion for a new VOCES episode: “Adios Amor: The Search for Maria Moreno”, which detailed the impact of Maria Moreno, an eloquent migrant mother of 12 who became an outspoken leader for farmworker rights. Through the discovery of lost photographs, filmmaker Laurie Coyle launches a journey that sparks the search for a hero that history forgot.
Community Advisory Board member Michelle Jasso assisted KLRN with the check-in process, then our screening began with an introduction from students at SAY Sí, a nationally recognized creative youth development program, to an audience of about 55 guests; the students explained how Maria Moreno’s efforts impact them today, as they grow more politically aware.
Following our screening of “Adios Amor: The Search for Maria Moreno”, we invited several panelists to hold a discussion about how Maria Moreno’s passionate pursuit of justice for farm-workers remains relevant today. Sarah Zenaida Gould, Westside Community Museum Coordinator for the Esperanza Center, moderated our panel. Filmmaker Laurie Coyle, Historian Antonia I. Castañeda, Trinity University Professor Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz, and Martha Moreno Dominguez, daughter of Maria Moreno, joined us on our panel.
We invite you to share our favorite moments from the event, including our discussion with the aforementioned panelists, as well as a sweet conversation our President Arthur Emerson had with Martha Moreno Dominguez, her husband, and filmmaker Laurie Coyle.
If you missed the episode, you can watch it on our video player here.
