A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION Woodland Hills, California
Volume 136 - Issue 10
One copy free, each additional copy $1.00
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
'Flor y Canto:' Conversation with Danny Trejo
Photo by Nancy Corona Danny Trejo speaks during the "Flor y Canto" event and book signing event on the Performing Arts Building Mainstage at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 18, 2022.
TRISHA ANAS Copy Editor
P
among
ierce College students and faculty clutched books in their hands while whispering themselves in the
Performing Arts Building on Wednesday, May 18. Everyone was waiting for actor, and now author, Danny Trejo.
Professor Angelita Rovero and the Political Science, Economics, Criminal Justice, Law and Chicano Studies (PEACh) Department held the Third
Annual Chicano Studies “Flor y Canto” event, which featured a conversation with Trejo and a book signing to celebrate Chicano excellence. For many Chicanos/Chicanas, especially those living in the Los Angeles area, Trejo has become an icon and a role model. Rovero, who teaches Chicano Studies on campus, said that she was grateful for having Trejo on campus to speak to students and faculty and for them to learn his story. “[Trejo] is one of the most prolific celebrity artists and human beings, and he’s the most giving and the most generous,” Rovero said. “It’s important for my students to read about his story. It inspires them, and we have a lot of students who need that positivity and to know that no matter where you come from, you can reach the stars.” Trejo released a cookbook in 2020 named after his restaurant “Trejo’s Tacos.” In 2021, he released a memoir about his life. During the event, Trejo spoke out about his experiences and how he turned his life around, from dealing with a drug addiction and being incarcerated to becoming a role model for Los Angelenos. Trejo also talked about how his success came from doing acts of kindness. “Everything good that has ever happened to me happened as a direct result of helping someone else,” Trejo said. LA Community College District Board of Trustees president Gabriel Buena said that it was crucial for people to understand what Trejo
truly means to the Chicano/a community. “Mr. Trejo is part of the field of Chicano studies,” Buena said. “Part of the field of Chicano studies is about the full breadth of the discipline from Criminal Justice, to literature and to culinary arts, and to sending a message to generations that where you start off has no bearing on where you will end up.” Aside from being an actor, Trejo is also famous for his recent culinary ventures with “Trejo’s Tacos” and “Trejo’s Donuts.” Trejo said that with his newfound businesses, he still tries to help people, including handing out meals to the unhoused population in LA. Trejo also works as a drug counselor for troubled and at-risk youths, and said that his faith has helped him through hard times. “I think my relationship with God is really strong,” Trejo said. “That’s one of the reasons why I have had very few bad days. I have to be humble enough to let him have his own ways.” Before ending the event and leading into the book signing, Rovero had announced that Trejo would be the keynote speaker at the LACCD Mi Gente graduation celebration on June 5. Following Rovero’s announcement, members of the organization Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) greeted Trejo early for his birthday, giving him warm hugs, a birthday cake and a happy birthday sing-along. tanas.roundupnews@gmail.com
Brahma Fest welcomes high school students SAMMY JOHNSON Reporter
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Photo by Michael Moreno High school students Katheryne Molina (left) and Rana Rabizadeh participate in a lab tutorial with Life Science technician Karen Steinhauer at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 17, 2022.
Student Art Gallery opens [see NEWS on pg. 3]
few hundred Los Angeles high schoolers were given the opportunity on May 17 to attend Brahma Fest, a barbecue and workshop event. Attendees came with different goals and ambitions, post-graduation. One of the seniors, Ashley Park, said she wants to major in something health related and has been into the subject ever since her freshman year. “I kind of felt useless, so I wanted to pursue something where I could help others,” Park said. Senior Jonah Humphrey said he wants to major in film but is also leaning toward music. “When I was little, my dad was in a band and we used to go to all these shows,” Humphrey said. “He was also a movie director and was a really big inspiration there. I got to see behind the scenes.” Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga worked with other deans to bring these kids, as well as 400-500 other seniors
to campus. Beforehand, they put together different areas and activities to help those seniors explore their passion. According to him, the students were welcomed at the south gym before being grouped up and spread out around the campus, partaking in different activities. These activities included counselor orientations, presentations, and booths set up on the mall over by the victory parking lot. Theater Department Chair Michael Sande said that one of the main reasons behind the event revolves around getting enrollment numbers back up after the decline during COVID. Gerardo Sosa, another senior, said he is aspiring toward athletics. He originally wanted to go to Valley College, but changed his mind when he discovered all that Pierce has to offer in terms of sports. “Now that I know that Pierce has things like swim, cross country, basketball, and soccer, I decided to change my mind,” he said. sjohnson.roundupnews@gmail.com
Opinions................................2 News.......................................3 Campus Life..........................4 Features.................................5 Sports.....................................6