KCBA-TV (Salinas, California)

July 31, 2010

Migrant Students Help Focus On Education

MARINA, Calif- Migrant students were exposed to the arts to stay focused on education throughout the summer.

Luis Valdez is the founder and director of "Teatro Campesino," a theatre founded in the Delano grape strike along with Cesar Chavez 45 years ago..

Last year he got involved with CSUMB and the Monterey County Office of Education to create a program for migrant students.

"In some instances this is the key to give them hope and interest in furthering their education. We feel that the arts are the spark that wake up the heart and the mind and the willingness to go on," said Valdez.

Valdez said fewer people are getting exposed to the arts because of budget cuts in the educational system. He thinks migrant students need these type of programs the most.

"The migrant farm worker children are the most disadvantaged and so it is really crucial that this program exists because they get into high school and don't make it through."

Migrant program director Rosa Coronado said the younger students get involved the sooner they'll think about higher education.

"The goal of the program is to get kids at a young age thinking about college and being college students so that they can see themselves in the future attending CSUMB or any other university."

Valdez said education is key to getting students to take control of their lives.

"The weeds that grow among these kids are the kind of desperation that leads to drugs and violence and despair in general."

The program is offered to migrant students in grades 4th to 8th in the tri-county area.