|
Casa Joaquin Murrieta, a small household of about forty-five
students, was established in 1970, by a small group of UC Xicana/o
students. These students were accepted to Berkeley, but had no housing
or financial aid. They pulled together to rent a former fraternity
house. Thus was the start of Casa Joaquin Murrieta.
I came upon "Casa" through a new organization called CALMEKAC, or
House of Higher Learning. The CALMEKAC program, working with ATDP,
gives teenagers, from the Huron-Coalinga area in Fresno county, the
opportunity to experience the campus at UC Berkeley.
Last year, my predecessors came to Berkeley and stayed at Casa
Joaquin Murrieta. It was a big success. The eight students, who came last year went back to Huron and Coalinga to express their new found knowledge to friends, family, and especially their teachers. Because of the many positive outcomes of the program's first year, the program will be continued for years to come.
My first impression of "Casa" would be just like any other
person's, who walked through the front door of this three-story
wonder. "Casa" made me feel right at home. The way people of
different backgrounds and nationalities live together without
conflict demonstrated the power that "Casa" has on people.
In twenty-eight years of continuous operation, "Casa" has been
home to over 4,000 students and is the only independent residential
Xicana/o academic support program for college students in the nation.
It has been a success from its establishment.
by Paul Garcia
gar1cia@hotmail.com
©PGarcia99
ATDP Home Page
Internet
Classroom Homepage
|
This is a photograph of "Casa Joaquin Murrieta" on Piedmont St. two blocks from UC Berkeley's campus.
Click here for more pictures
Comments on my Website
|
