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Barrio Writers, a program started in Santa Ana, has helped transform youth through self-expression into published authors! Now, today they hit television screens in Garden Grove and other cities throughout Orange County. Check out the following press release as well as cities, dates, and times where you can catch Barrio Writers TV.
“BARRIO WRITERS” TV PROGRAM GIVES VOICE TO YOUNG
WRITERS ON GARDEN GROVE TV3
Carissa Hernandez didn’t know what to expect when she joined 30 other students in a program called “Barrio Writers,” in the summer of 2009. Program founder and author Sarah Rafael Garcia wanted to provide youth in underserved communities a chance to express themselves in a free, college-level creative writing workshop. The effort resulted in a book titled, “Barrio Writers, Empowering Teens Through Creative Writing.” But getting the word out about “Barrio Writers,” didn’t end with a first edition. Hernandez is set to share the work of her fellow students, as host of the Barrio Writers TV show set to air on cable TV Feb. 23.
“It was unnerving seeing yourself on the screen,” says Hernandez now a sophomore at Segerstrom High School in Santa Ana. “Being able to see how the whole TV thing works – the different takes – and then when you see the show, how it all fits together.”
The program was taped last year at the Time Warner Television studio in Garden Grove. The teens recite their works on camera including poetry, short stories and bi-lingual writing. Workshop students composed and performed the theme song.
“What I look forward to at a Barrio Writer workshop is that glow on their face, the pride they feel for the first time when they share their stories,” says Garcia.
“The Barrio Writers is an open space to get to know yourself and learn from others,” says Xochitl Sanchez. “It has definitely reinforced my drive to use my opportunities when it comes to college.”
The Barrio Writers TV show begins airing on February 23 through March 16 in the following cities:
Garden Grove – Ch. 3 Wednesdays @12:30 pm and 5:30 pm
Orange – Ch. 6, Tuesdays @ 7 pm
Huntington Beach, Midway City, Fountain Valley, Rossmoor, Westminster, Stanton, & Cypress – Ch. 6 Wednesdays @ 3:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Buena Park, Fullerton, Placentia, & Santa Ana – Ch. 95 Wednesdays @ 6:30 am and 6:30 pm, Saturdays @ 4:30 am and 4:30 pm
Anaheim/Anaheim Hills & Villa Park – Ch. 97 Fridays @6:30 am and 6:30 pm, Saturdays @ 4:30 am and 4:30 pm
Brea, La Habra, La Habra Heights, & Yorba Linda – Ch. 98 Fridays @ 6:30 am and 6:30 pm, Saturdays @ 4:30 am and 4:30 pm
provide youth in underserved communities a chance to express themselves in a free, college-level creative writing workshop. The effort resulted in a book titled, “Barrio Writers, Empowering Teens Through Creative Writing.”
MQ says;
I would just lovvvvvve to see some of this “empowerment writing”.
Just another social justice, victimization, moaning from a community who’s kids get FREE healthcare, school breakfast, lunch and probably dinner. Santa Ana is not UNDERSERVED it is over served and the result is bad schools, lazy parents and kids who find it more interesting to get EMPOWERMENT from writing about their hardships and wants than actually writing about famous people, world affairs and the hardships of the actual vulnerable of all over this world!
I am more than sure all the moan bag writing is about the struggle of THEIR people!
SNORE!
That’s good, now go to sleep, Quinn. Lullabye, and good night…
She saw a picture of brown kids smiling and went into mode.
I agree with you, Quinn. Seems like just a way for the founder to fluff her resume’.
MQ: Watch the TV show and then flap your yaps.
…And if you want to see some of the empowerment writing and read it for yourself…go buy the book. It’s available at Calacas in Santa Ana.
Some where there is a brown, yellow and white kid smiling for the chance of a little food or sadder yet, a wee bit of love!
Sorry, I don’t feel sorry for them just cause they’re brown. Not when they are lucky just to go to school!
Sorry, I would rather give my money to a worth while cause.
You said you would ‘looooove’ to see the writing. I pointed to a place where you could do just that! Now you change your tune.
And there’s always Barrio Writers TV! I don’t know where you live, but if it’s in one of the cities showing it, check it out that way.
By doing such, you could actually know about something before spewing off the same ol’ tired yada, yada, yada…
Like I said, there are people staving in this world and kids who don’t have the luxury of being born in this country…So if you don’t mind, I will skip the tired old American minority blues and send my money to people who really need it!!!!
Like little brown kids in Central America, or russian kids in orphanages!
Michelle Quinn – “Friend of the Global Poor!”
@ Michelle Q:
If you are serious about helping children and people from other parts of the world, then allow me to introduce you to Love-to-All.
1) Love-to-Al is based out of Orange.
http://lovetoall.org/
We held a fundraiser/toy drive in December for several orphanages in Tijuana. We delivered these toys, and other donated items (blankets, shower curtains etc) in time for Christmas to three orphanages – people paid $25-$35. It included Dinner; appetizers; Entertainment (Mariachi music; ballet folklorico; “polka dancing”; DJ and live group dancing. So it was fun and a great way to assist.
Love-to-All mission is to help children from all of the world.
2) THE PURPLE PALACE (Ninos de La promise – The Children of Promise). Orphanage started by two Christian missionaries (Tyler and Connie – Tyler is a Doctor & Connie is a nurse.) They took abandoned children and are helping with 100% of their needs, with 100% private donations. I have been volunteering or helping them for about 8 years.
check them out:
http://www.thepurplepalace.org/
Click alson on “About us”
There are small but very important ways you can help, even when purchasing items for yourself.
If you need their contact info, please email me at barraganfj@gmail.com
Francisco “Paco”
Now let’s place bets on how Quinn responds. My money’s on “moan bag” and a four-letter word.
I will look into both charities…thanks!
And I was thinking that to inspire and empower the “barrio writers” may be it would be a good idea to send them down to Mexico or with the money from the book to Russia, so they can write about how lucky they are!
Yes, they might have loser parents, believe me, we know there is a lot of them in Santa Ana and we know there are a lot of kids in Santa Ana who are abandoned (Orange Wood) abused (juvenile hall) and neglected (200 gang types) in Santa Ana but Santa Ana is no barrio, it is a place that has a lot of losers in it.
So get out and move on and learn from the experience and be a better parent!
And yes, stop moaning!
Have you read or heard a single fucking story of theirs? What are you going to say when it turns out NOT be “moaning?” Maybe some of them DO express appreciation of America. You are the walking, loudmouthed personification of closed-minded prejudice.
Who needs to hear their stories, we are paying for them everyday!
No, Vern I am the personification of a realist and I can’t be bothered anymore with liberals and victims, when in fact there are real victims in this world.
I would not waste one minute on a book written by kids who have NO business complaining when thousands of kids are BEGGING in the street.
The problem with the youth of this country is they don’t know the youth in Africa or India, who would love to learn to write in school and I bet their writing, would reflect on their hopes and goals in a life that only is meant for hell!
Why do you think The big O. went else where to build her school? In her own words the supposed under privileged youth in the US would not appreciate it! Is your hero closed minded?
I’m saying HOW IN THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW THEY’RE COMPLAINING ABOUT ANYTHING? Idiot.
MQ is the biggest complainer ever in the history of the blogosphere. That she routinely accuses others of it is called ‘projection’
“I’m saying HOW IN THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW THEY’RE COMPLAINING ABOUT ANYTHING? Idiot.”
MQ Says:
Lets just say a well educated guess! I have yet, to see one com
Barrio Writers’s Profile
Barrio Writers
are changing the term “Barrio” back to its rightful definition. It’s not a bad neighborhood, it’s not a gangster term or just part of the Mexican culture…yes it is a Spanish term but it stands for OUR commUNITY & ALL it brings together!
February 7 at 7:07am
8 people like this.
Michelle Castillo Garcia A place where our great grandparents were forced to live. A place they turned into a wonderful,warm place to call home 🙂
February 7 at 7:52am · 1 person
MQ says:
A place where they where forced to live??? No Michelle, it is a place where people were forced out of their home’s and schools.
All this BARRIO, which really in English mean’s “dirty hole” writing is about a racist who is getting a few kids together to write about her favorite subject….Victimization!
Wise up Vern, I don’t need to read the sh*&, I only need to read their face book page or their tweets!
Thirty high school and college students signed up for the 10-week program. They met twice a week in Santa Ana to read and reflect on essays written in various styles by a range of authors, including Ray Bradbury, John Steinbeck and Malcolm X.
Deep class discussions often moved students to open up about issues they face at home, including poverty, domestic violence and drug use. Some broke into tears after relating their stories.
Participants also listened to lectures by authors and educators, and they went on field trips to places like the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach.
MQ says
Malcolm X??? Really!
They cried because of the stories of domestic violence, drug use and poverty!
First Poverty:
If you have a roof over your head and food in your stomach, you’re not that poor. Just because you are not wearing coach, does not equal poverty!
Domestic violence: You have a huge majority of single mothers and men who drink all day…. You have a cultural problem in Santa Ana. Don’t write about it. Demand a no tolerance policy. You hit, you’re in jail! There are NO VICTIMS JUST VOLUNTEERS!
Drug use: Welcome to welfare users!
I should write a book. Santa Ana, tale of two cites, one American, the other Mexican!
I’m glad none of the Barrio Writers have dignified your trash with a response. 🙂
They can’t they know its true! Tweet away and the Facebook page is a real eye opener….Right Michelle?
Is Michelle the same girl who helped organize the anti-white thanks giving day? or was that another racist?
-Arthritis at age 14
-Domestic Violence at age 6
-Depression at age 15
-Death of a father months into her Senior Year
-Assimilation into a new country THEIR PARENTS BROUGHT THEM TO
Tell me, Michelle Q. if this is anything “new” to you? Forget about the last names…the ethnocentric labels you love to throw. These are issues so many kids go through. Thank you for making our point that BEING LATINA/O SHOULD NOT DETERMINE how we are portrayed. This isn’t a “Santa Ana” thing…this isn’t an “OC” thing…this isn’t a “California” thing. This is: empowering teens through creative writing.
Also, Thank You for checking out our Twitter and Facebook page. We still have a lot to write (We love writing..almost as much as you. Its therapeutic, isn’t it?!). We don’t plan on going away any time soon.
BW > MQ
X 1000.
Take a week off Michelle, you are dragging this blog down into the gutter. Bye bye.