Area residents, as well as a slew of local officials, attended the May 6
“Celebration of Immigration” community event, organized by Live Oak High School’s Student Voices group.
Held at San Martin/Gwinn Environmental Science Academy (100 North Street in San Martin), the free event was put together by LOHS students in an effort to show their solidarity and support for the immigrant population in the area.
The group worked in partnership with Services Immigrant Rights and Education Network, whose keynote speaker Sandra Cruz spoke on issues facing undocumented immigrants.
Food trucks, community providers, games, face painting and more were all part of the student-led event.
City of Morgan Hill Councilmembers Rene Spring and Rich Constantine as well as Morgan Hill Unified School District Superintendent Steve Betando, School Board Trustee Teresa Murillo and Police Chief David Swing were among attendees to the weekend event.
Live Oak Student Voices is a student group created out of a nationally publicized incident at LOHS on Cinco de Mayo in 2009.
“With tensions across the nation at an all time high, students, teachers and staff members have begun to see an impact on the school climate. Once again, Live Oak Student Voices want to be at the forefront of bringing people back together,” according to MHUSD staff. “Hoping to make a broad impact in South County, they decided to embrace this opportunity to create a community-wide celebration focused on the strength that diversity brings to our South County community.”
The Live Oak Student Voices also meets weekly with school site administration to share the needs and concerns of students.
