The 411 on the N/Sur/Gentes
N/Sur/Gentes at EOC
A group of young leaders, in training, who seek to change the school/community by changing themselves.
Young N/Sur/Gente Leaders will:
*set a high end example for the rest of the school of what it means to rep East Oakland (EOC).
*develop as peer-to-peer counselors and peer-to-peer academic motivators.
(Meaning that you have your homies’ back as they are trying to come up or as they are struggling!)
*be accountable for what they do- you ARE the example!
-in the classroom, hallways, lunch, in the back, even on the block.
-it doesn’t mean that you are perfect; it does mean that you try and make positive changes.
*not give up if they are struggling to read or struggling in school, but rather believe in themselves and try to challenge themselves.
*know that they are here on earth to shine and it’s time.
Working to Develop Freshmen/women
As you get stronger as a leader you will help mentor/guide/support younger students so that one day they may be at your status; an N/Sur/Gente.
What does the name N/Sur/Gente mean?
N/Sur/Gente in English means Insurgent. An insurgent is someone who makes changes possible by any means necessary much like Zapata, Assata Shakur, Malcolm X and many others.
N: could symbolize the North or Norte.
Sur: Spanish for South where many of our people may come from. Such as the Southern part of the U.S., south of the border or even as far back as South Africa.
Gente: Spanish for people.
Together we are North/South/People who are united. We are not asking you to rep a color.
We are asking you to recognize that there are peoples’ from the murder dubbs’ to the 100s that are in the same struggle as you. Together we can be powerful.
Examples of powerful groups that came together:
I Wor Kuen: Chinese Revolutionaries from New York.
Black Panther Party African American Revolutionaries that began in the town, Oakland.
Brown Berets Latino (Raza) Revolutionaries that started in East L.A.
American Indian Mov. American Indian freedom fighters who fought back for the land.
Young Lords Party Puerto Rican freedom fighters that started in Chicago & New York.
Nation of Islam Islamic sisters and brothers trying to change their life.
Latin Kings & Queens Ex gangsters who reclaimed the streets of Brooklyn & the Bronx.
N/Sur/Gentes History will be written/created by you!
Training Process
Advisory, retreats, trips, ‘grinding,’ and puttin’ in work for the N/Sur/Gentes.
Facilitator: César A. Cruz 510.776.3740, teolol@avenuesproject.org, www.cesarcruz.com
Adult Mentors: Ketia Brown, Jeff Duncan-Andrade, Wayne Yang, Jazmín Preciado and Trevor Gardner.
