Hispanic Speaker Series @ JFK University

JFK University is pleased to host this special event with teacher, author, and educational activist Candeacute;sar A. Cruz, who will share his journey for educational equality and justice. This event is part of the University's Hispanic Speaker Series.

Lunch will be served from 11:30 am - noon followed by remarks by Mr. Cruz with the opportunity for Q&A.

Space is limited. To RSVP, http://www.jfku.edu/Events/Hispanic-Speaker-Series-Cesar-Cruz.html

About the Speaker

From marching 76-straight miles, to hunger striking for 26 days, Candeacute;sar has dedicated his life to fighting for justice. He was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mandeacute;xico and migrated to the U.S. at a young age with a single mother and grandmother. He grew up in South Central L.A. and moved to the Bay Area to study. Candeacute;sar graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in History.

For the last 20 years, he has been an educator, most recently serving as Dean of Students at Arise High School in Oakland. He co-founded the independent school, Making Changes, out of his home, and has sought to create autonomous education spaces. For the last four years, he has overseen the Homies Empowerment Program serving trauma impacted/gang involved youth in Oakland. He is the author of two books, Revenge of The Illegal Alien and Bang for Freedom.

He just completed the second year of a doctoral program in Educational Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Last summer he served as the Assistant Dean of Harvard Universityandrsquo;s Secondary Schools Program. During the 3rd year, Candeacute;sar has joined the staff of Homeboy Industries and will conduct a 10-month residency at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, CA. At Harvard, he is part of a great teaching team that has officially brought Ethnic Studies course to HGSE.

Amidst all, he is proudest to be a husband and father of three children: Olin, Amaru, and Quetzali.