Today Manuel Mendoza, my wife’s past student, visited us with wonderful news. He just received a phone call from Harvard and told he was accepted. In his excitement he felt he had to tell his sixth-grade teacher first - Kristin. Kristin was in tears with pride. What a day…

Congratulations Manuel! Congratulation Kristin!

From the [ NWI Times ] E.C. Student Headed to Harvard By Steve Zabroski

EAST CHICAGO | An East Chicago Central High School senior will be heading to Harvard University in the fall.

Manuel Mendoza, 17, learned this week he had been accepted by the prestigious Ivy League school.

His father, Mike Mendoza, said the Indiana Harbor area resident plans to major in chemistry.

“This young man is destined for great things,” Central High Principal Larry Allen said. “He’s a terrific role model, and we’re all very proud of him.”

Manuel Mendoza comes from a class of very smart students in the city, said Kristin Frank, a teacher for the group through the gifted and talented program at Franklin Elementary School.

“He’s had a plan since sixth grade to go to Harvard,” Frank said. “He’s absolutely brilliant — they’re people I will never forget.”

Manuel Mendoza is putting in long hours after class with the school’s award-winning Science Olympiad team, his father said, in preparation for next month’s competition.

As a sophomore in 2008, Mendoza was part of the first-ever Central High science team to make it to the state finals.

“It’s great that Manuel has chosen Harvard for his continuing education,” Allen said. “There are many schools in Indiana that have never had a student attend Harvard.”

Thomas East Chicago Portrait Series

@ [ Thomasfrank.org ]

2009 Mexican Independence Parade: Slideshow (260 images, 13 min.)

You may have noticed I’ve been testing out different tools for displaying large amounts of images. This is one approach I think I may look to develop further. Unfortunately, there is limited functionality, as I could not post it to this blog.

This is the first edition of a new project called the “East Chicago Portrait Series.” I hope this piece shows the strength and energy of the Latino Culture here in the E.C. You can see from the photos how much the Latino Culture is thoroughly apart of the East Chicago identity, and the complexity of that identity. East Chicago breaks from many stereotypes. There is a back-story to many of the images. I know several of the people in the slideshow. Many are my neighbors.

I think this format offers an important framework that often goes missing in planning documents. It begins to give character to both the people and their public spaces, giving some insight into the development, the population, and the uses of this particular public space. Although many in the Parade are East Chicagoan’s, some of the traditional and more iconic costuming of Hispanic culture are hired entertainers.

Thomas East Chicago Portrait Series