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Community With Liberty & Justice for All
2005 - Citizenship, Education and Service
April 28, 2005 - The second annual With Liberty and Justice for All program was held at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, California. This kickoff event brought together over 1000 students, teachers, and state and community level leaders to celebrate this year’s theme of Citizenship, Education, and Service. At the event, CYC inaugurated the Highest Office: Citizen Award, which was presented to nationally renowned educator Jaime Escalante for his exemplary professional role modeling and teaching accomplishments. Joining Mr. Escalante in this, first of its kind, reunion program were his former students and colleagues from Garfield High School as well as Edward James Olmos, the actor who portrayed Escalante in the Academy Award nominated film Stand and Deliver. Event panelists were eagerly greeted by Sacramento community leaders at the reunion luncheon following Mr. Escalante’s appearance on News10 and at the reception preceding the event. The evening’s program took place at the Crest Theatre and began with the group SUKAY performing traditional Andean music for an already enthusiastic crowd. Panelists offered poignant insights into how Mr. Escalante’s exemplary model of citizenship contributed to their drive to succeed and current achievements. The renowned A.P. Calculus teacher and his former students and colleagues then shared personal stories revealing the power of education and the difference one citizen can make in creating better schools and communities. Toward the end of the evening, Edward James Olmos surprised panelists and the audience when he emerged from backstage to present Mr. Escalante with CYC’s Highest Office: Citizen Award. Inspired by Supreme Court Justice Felix Franfurter’s statement that “in a democracy, the highest office is the office of citizen,” the award will be given annually to an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to society and exemplifies the finest qualities of citizenship. Mr. Escalante’s teaching accomplishments show how one citizen can contribute to reducing the achievement gap among California students, and for this reason, he received the first award of its kind. Because of so many unforgettable moments throughout the evening, With Liberty and Justice for All made a tremendous impression on all involved. The event proved to be a great success and inspired those attending to embrace the values of education, citizenship, and service.
Copyright ©2003. Center for Youth Citizenship.
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