An e-mail from my Mom to the extended familia:

We made a Difference!

For years, all of us have heard about events that happened in the City of Mountain View that affected our family. From closing of schools to the moving of our house. We always talked about what happened and why but the end result was - those things happened regardless of what people said to try to change that particular event. It always seemed that "our" voices of the minority community were never heard.

Yesterday that changed.

Some of us have been more active than others in trying to get involved in events that affect the community. (I usually like to sit back and watch - but due to the dynamics of being influenced by Nick & Chris - or my old age - I'm changing!)

Anyway, hopefully you all have heard about the politics going on in Mountain View lately regarding the decision to close a school. First it was Slater (until the parents protested) than it was Castro (the school I went to). Understand that Castro is largely a non-english speaking community and we felt this school was targeted because it would beeasier to close due to the assumption that "voices" would not come forward and be heard. Boy, were they wrong.

True, I started paying attention to this issue because of Rosemary but it was because of Oscar stepping up and taking the challenge of being the voice of this "silent" community that I got a little more actively involved. Never did I know how Oscar's charismatic personality could impact so many people! It wasn't a one-person show - it just took one person to be the megaphone for the community. So after a 26 hour vigil that mostly occurred in the rain - our voices were heard - the school board decided to delay implementation until next year and then voted to close Slater (still a sad event). Thru the coordination of the new "Mesa de la Comunidad " - a press releases was generated and every major news station was there recording these events. A few tried to insinuate that the only reason Oscar was there was because of his relationship to RoseMary but he set them straight with the right reasons. Another important factor is that parents and community leaders outside of the Castro community came together for the good of the kids in this district.

So why am I sending this out - I want us to all to remember that in our family history there was a victory. And we, each in our own way, can get the silent voices heard for the people that need a megaphone. I am truly impressed with both RoseMary's perseverence, that her fellow board members make the right decisions, and Oscar for putting himself out for the community with no rewards in return (besides seeing his face TV!).

Funny - one of my fellow protesters (during the 26 hour vigil) and a friend of Rosemary said to me, "RoseMary told me not to worry because 'my family is a part of the community'. I didn't know what she meant - but now I do - it must be great having family nearby because I don't have that support." I thought - yeah IT IS GREAT to have family - something I think we all take for granted sometimes. (As Oscar, Lisa, Marisa, Marco, Elena, David, Angelica, Nick, Chris & Mark all participated!)

That's all - see you at Easter!