visionquilt.org
  • Home
  • View Quilts & Partners
    • Virtual Quilt Across U.S. >
      • View Quilt 1
      • View Quilt 2
      • View Quilt 3
      • View Quilt 4
      • View Quilt 5
      • View Quilt 6
      • View Quilt 7
      • View Quilt 8
      • View Quilt 9
      • View Quilt 10
      • View Quilt 11
      • View Quilt 12
      • View Quilt 13
      • View Quilt 14
      • View Quilt 15
      • View Quilt 16
      • View Quilt 17
      • View Quilt 18
      • View Quilt 19
      • View Quilt 20
      • View Quilt 21
      • View Quilt 22
      • View Quilt 23
      • View Quilt 24
      • View Quilt 25
      • View Quilt 26
    • West Oakland Middle School Attitudinal Healing Connection
    • Northwest Academy of the Arts
    • Mass Shooting Quilts
    • Artists For Peace & Wings4Peace
    • Youth Alive!
    • Lighthouse Community Charter School
    • Catholic Charities Peace and Justice Academy
    • FACES Public Health Institute
    • Grandparents For Gun Safety Kansas City
    • Gracie Pekrul: #Artists For Peace
    • Naomi Spinak
    • Khadafy Washington Survivor Project
    • SF Poster Syndicate & San Quentin
    • International Day to End Violence
  • Toolkit
  • IMPACT
    • Results
    • VQ Blog
    • VQ Voices
    • Purchase Vision Quilt Book
  • Donate
  • Our Vision
    • Our Vision
    • Our History
    • Contact
    • Who We Are
  • Take Action
    • Make a Panel
    • Workshops & Exhibitions
    • Community Conversations
    • Toolkits & Curriculum
    • Partner with Vision Quilt
Picture
 WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHO WE're reaching

VQ BLOG

Picture
Picture
Together we can
​prevent gun violence

VQ Intern Carlos Rodriguez Reflects on Gun Violence

8/27/2020

0 Comments

 
The following blog post is written by Carlos Rodriguez, a member of the Vision Quilt/Lighthouse Teen Council and our internship program. As a seventh grader at Lighthouse Charter School, Carlos completed the three-month learning expedition focused on gun violence. His piece focuses on his perspectives on gun violence, then and now.

It’s pretty wonderful seeing how my mindset hasn’t really changed since seventh grade to tweflth grade. I still hold loyalty, respect, and agency as the highest values a person can have for others and themselves. These values elevate one onto a different plane from those who go around disrespecting, backstabbing, and being complacent with where they are.


Although I have matured and some of my ideas are more refined, I would say that my main understanding of gun violence and how to deal with it has stayed relatively the same. When I went through the Lighthouse/Vision Quilt expedition in seventh grade, I was still pretty young and couldn’t properly express exactly how I felt about gun violence. But I still believe that the best way to improve the situation with gun violence is to have more education, and social and mental checks to whoever owns a firearm.
Picture
Carlos as a seventh grader during the Lighthouse/Vision Quilt expedition
Picture
A recent picture of Carlos, and his sister Monserrat, working on a Vision Quilt art kit
Now I am an twelfth grader. I am more articulate, and I’m able to express myself as an educated person and a critical thinker. Although this wasn’t always the case, I feel that my experiences of gun violence, and other personal and family issues, helped me to mature at a young age.

Most of the arguments people have about gun control are caused by people being unable to see or imagine the bigger picture. This comes from ignorance and being close-minded. When I started studying gun violence in the seventh grade, I was still pretty sensitive about the topic. Although I had experienced it multiple times in my life, I didn’t really have a thick s be kin to able to deal with it. One example I can easily think of is when I used to live in West Oakland and three people were gunned down in front of the apartment complex where I lived. It was the first time I had experienced gun violence so close to where I lived. I knew that it happened in all of Oakland -- and the world -- but it had never had it happened so close to home.

Gun violence is a big part of why my mom left Mexico. The majority of the people in her neighborhood have been killed or traumatized by guns. I have dealt with gun violence my entire life but now that I am a twelfth grader, I am able to process it in better and healthier ways..
0 Comments

VQ Interns Isabella Altamirano and Xitlalic Castro on "Alternatives to the School-to-Prison Pipeline"

8/11/2020

2 Comments

 
A blog post written by Vision Quilt Teen Council member and youth intern Isabella Altamirano on Oakland City Hall's recent "Alternatives to the School-to-Prison Pipeline" Youth Town Hall. The town hall featured fellow Teen Council member and intern Xitlalic Castro.
On Thursday, July 23rd at Oakland City Hall there was a virtual youth-led meeting. Student leaders raised questions, shared testimonies, and moderated discussions on “Alternatives to the School-to-Prison Pipeline.” The Vision Quilt Teen Council had the honor of being a part of this impressive group of young leaders with intern Xitlalic Castro to represent them. She shared the mission of Vision Quilt, which is to empower communities to create solutions to gun violence through the power of art and inclusive dialogue. Xitlalic also shared Vision Quilt’s proactive vision for alternatives to the school-to-prison pipeline: 

  1. Offering Lighthouse and Vision Quilt curriculum to other Oakland Unified Schools
  2. Promote and fund Restorative Justice practices in all schools 
  3. Promote and fund curriculum that empowers students to grow socially and emotionally
  4. Establish Teen Councils in every school to amplify student voices and influence decision-makers
By doing these things, it is with our hope to support students and reduce incarceration rates of youth.
Picture
Xitlalic Castro presents during the "Alternatives to the School-to-Prison Pipeline" Youth Town Hall.
I spoke with Xitlalic to get an understanding of what she thought about this opportunity to speak. She said it was really exciting, but nerve-racking. “Getting the chance to go to meetings to prepare and connect with the other youth speakers,” Xitlalic said, “was really great.” From this opportunity, Xitlalic has learned that it’s important to step out of your comfort zone because it’ll help you grow and get your voice out there, and having a great support system helps you to feel more prepared and less nervous.

You can watch a recording of the "Alternatives to the School-to-Prison Pipeline" Youth Town Hall here. The section with Xitlalic begins at 23 minutes, 50 seconds.

About the Lighthouse and Vision Quilt Curriculum

For the past four years, Lighthouse and Vision Quilt have been working together starting when two of our middle school teachers created a 3-month program to study the causes and potential solutions to gun violence. They decided to have the students interact with the Oakland community by inviting Vision Quilt to help us students get our voices and the issue of gun violence out there. We did this by holding an exhibition in the month of June (the end of the program) to showcase our panels and spread awareness to the public about gun violence.

With funding from the National Writing Project (NWP)’s LRNG Innovators Challenge Grant, Lighthouse and Vision Quilt are working on a digital toolkit to share our curriculum with other teachers and schools. Stay tuned for updates!

2 Comments

Being African American, Facing Police Brutality by VQ Intern Yafet Aklilu

8/7/2020

1 Comment

 
I am Yafet Aklilu and I am part of Vision Quilt’s Teen Council in Oakland, California. I attend Lighthouse Community Charter School in Oakland California, and I will be talking about what it feels like being an African American in America. As a young black man, I wonder what encounters with the police and racist people will be like. I wonder if I’ll end up another statistic along with #sayhisname. I wonder if I’ll ever be held at gunpoint for a non-legitimate reason. Lastly, I wonder if things will change in America or my future children have to worry about these same fears.  

America was built on systematic racism/oppression and wasn’t made for black people to succeed. I believe that black people in America face oppression and unfair treatment because of racist laws that have been implemented before and after Jim Crow. As many black Americans will tell you, being black means you're already a criminal in some police officers’ eyes. It’s sad that Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, and many more black people died fighting for equal rights but systematic racism and police brutality is still a problem.
Picture
Yafet Aklilu with his Vision Quilt panel
For my Vision Quilt panel that I created in 7th grade (2019), my image is a picture of a black man putting his hands up and a quote from Malcolm X. The hands up sign and the quote from Malcolm X are related to police brutality. I chose the Malcolm X quote because it sends a strong message about police brutality. “If someone puts their hands on you make sure that they never put their hands on anybody else again.” The image also has years of when innocent black people were killed by cops which are also related to police brutality. The words I chose was to show the number of black people who are yearly killed by cops for no reason. I want someone to know that a lot of innocent black people are getting killed by cops for no reason. There should be stricter gun laws for the police and communities because neither cops nor community members need guns. 
My Vision Quilt panel means a lot to me because it sends a strong message about police brutality. We can prevent police brutality by better training and police must be randomly tested for illegal drugs. We can also prevent police brutality by regularly testing police for racial bias and banning violence usage based on their imagination of a threat. This ban would look like questioning the threat as any other civilian unless there is clear evidence they are a threat.
Picture
"Don't Shoot" by Yafet Aklilu
I hope that my Vision Quilt panel can raise awareness about police brutality. I also hope that my Vision Quilt panel can impact police and people who are against police brutality.

In conclusion, not all police officers are racist or kill innocent black people, I’ve seen multiple acts of kindness from police officers towards black people. I also hope that all of the peaceful protests cause change because many black people (including me) are tired of the injustice we're still receiving.

1 Comment

Invitation for Creative Young People — Supporting COVID-19 Awareness in Alameda County

8/4/2020

1 Comment

 
Did you know that as of August 2, there were 11,4841 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 189 deaths in Alameda County? We want YOU to help change that! Vision Quilt is part of a county-wide initiative encouraging young people to wear masks.

We’re inviting young people ages 13-24 to submit original creative works focused on encouraging youth to wear masks.

The four categories for submissions are:
  • Social Media – a general meme, or a post that is 1-minute or less for Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram
  • Design/Artwork – a reproducible graphic design or artwork that can be used for  a poster, a t-shirt or hat insignia, postcard, etc.
  • Song or Spoken Word – up to 3-minutes (includes Rap, Spoken Word and Poetry)
  • Video – up to 3-minutes, without or without music

Your submission should focus on one or more of the following topics: (1) why it is essential to use face-coverings, (2) how to wear face-coverings properly, (3) good hygiene, and (4) the importance of physical distancing. Contestants are encouraged to be creative and inspiring!

Youth can submit up to two submissions— once we receive your submission and evaluate it, you’ll receive a $30 Visa Gift Card!

Vision Quilt will share selected submissions on social media, and we will choose one submission in each category to compete in the Alameda County Public Health Department’s All Alameda County Mask On Campaign. The winners of the County Mask On Campaign will have their work used in public messaging throughout Alameda County!

Register here to participate in the contest: https://forms.gle/KJGV8AEZqPpQ7pAG6

Upon completing your registration, you must submit your piece(s) by September 10, 2020. Submissions should be emailed to visionquilt@gmail.com or texted to 541-690-6976.

Contest Rules

  1. Contest is open to young people ages 13-24 living in Alameda County, California.

  2. Your submission should focus on one or more of the following topics:
    — Why it is essential to use face-coverings
    — How to wear face-coverings properly
    — Good hygiene
    — The importance of physical distancing

  3. The four categories for submissions are:
    — Social Media: a general meme, or a post that is 1-minute or less for Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram
    — Design/Artwork: a reproducible graphic design or artwork that can be used for  a poster, a t-shirt or hat insignia, postcard, etc.
    — Song or Spoken Word: up to 3-minutes (includes Rap, Spoken Word and Poetry)
    — Video: up to 3-minutes, without or without music

  4. Submissions are welcome in any language, particularly for ethnic groups hit hard by COVID-19. 

  5. All submissions should be original and the creator — you! — will be credited. By submitting your piece, you give permission for Vision Quilt and our partners to share your work online, i.e. via social media and email.

  6. Contestants must register by filling out this Google form:  https://forms.gle/KJGV8AEZqPpQ7pAG6

  7. Submissions are due by September 10, 2020 and should be sent via email to visionquilt@gmail.com or by texting to 541-690-6976. Submissions can be in any file format (png, jpg, pdf, wav, mp3, mov, mp4, etc.). 

  8. Contestants will receive a $30 Visa Gift Card for each accepted submission. Youth may enter up to 2 submissions. Submissions can be made in the same category or in a different category.

  9. Vision Quilt will award a total of 60 Visa Gift Cards. After the funds are awarded, contestants can still submit entries to be considered for the County contest.

  10. A team of Vision Quilt youth and artists will judge the entries, and select a winner from each category to compete in the All Alameda County Mask On Campaign.
    The County winners will be reproduced and distributed by the County.  

  11. For questions, please contact Cathy DeForest, Executive Director of Vision Quilt: visionquilt@gmail.com or call/text 541-690-6976. 

Thank you for helping to keep your friends, family, neighbors and elders safe!
1 Comment

    VQ Blog

    News, events and announcements from Vision Quilt

    Archives

    July 2022
    May 2022
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    October 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016

    Categories

    All
    Alameda County
    Art Kits
    Attitudinal Healing Connection
    Blessing The Streets
    California
    Chicago
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Disarm Hate
    Education
    Exhibitions
    Gun Violence
    Gun Violence Statistics
    Incarcerated Youth
    Junior Center Of Art And Science
    Lighthouse Community Charter School
    Los Angeles
    March For Our Lives
    Middle Schools
    Museum Of Children's Art
    Newsletter
    Nonprofits
    Oakland
    Oakland City Hall
    Southern Oregon
    Violence Prevention
    Volunteers
    Washington DC
    West Oakland Middle School
    Women
    Workshops
    Youth

    RSS Feed

    Who We Are            Read Our Blog          Get Our Newsletter           Contact Us             Donate 
​

Copyright © 2021
Photo used under Creative Commons from Annette Bernhardt
  • Home
  • View Quilts & Partners
    • Virtual Quilt Across U.S. >
      • View Quilt 1
      • View Quilt 2
      • View Quilt 3
      • View Quilt 4
      • View Quilt 5
      • View Quilt 6
      • View Quilt 7
      • View Quilt 8
      • View Quilt 9
      • View Quilt 10
      • View Quilt 11
      • View Quilt 12
      • View Quilt 13
      • View Quilt 14
      • View Quilt 15
      • View Quilt 16
      • View Quilt 17
      • View Quilt 18
      • View Quilt 19
      • View Quilt 20
      • View Quilt 21
      • View Quilt 22
      • View Quilt 23
      • View Quilt 24
      • View Quilt 25
      • View Quilt 26
    • West Oakland Middle School Attitudinal Healing Connection
    • Northwest Academy of the Arts
    • Mass Shooting Quilts
    • Artists For Peace & Wings4Peace
    • Youth Alive!
    • Lighthouse Community Charter School
    • Catholic Charities Peace and Justice Academy
    • FACES Public Health Institute
    • Grandparents For Gun Safety Kansas City
    • Gracie Pekrul: #Artists For Peace
    • Naomi Spinak
    • Khadafy Washington Survivor Project
    • SF Poster Syndicate & San Quentin
    • International Day to End Violence
  • Toolkit
  • IMPACT
    • Results
    • VQ Blog
    • VQ Voices
    • Purchase Vision Quilt Book
  • Donate
  • Our Vision
    • Our Vision
    • Our History
    • Contact
    • Who We Are
  • Take Action
    • Make a Panel
    • Workshops & Exhibitions
    • Community Conversations
    • Toolkits & Curriculum
    • Partner with Vision Quilt