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Martial Arts History Museum Launches Crowdfunding Campaign for Outdoor Signage

Martial Arts History Museum Launches Crowdfunding Campaign for Outdoor Signage

( NewMediaWire ) - April 14, 2025 - Glendale, CA – The Martial Arts History Museum, a cornerstone of cultural preservation and community engagement, today announced the launch of a crowdfunding campaign to secure funding for the installation of new, prominent outdoor signage. The signage, slated for installation on Brand Boulevard in May, will enhance the museum's visibility and accessibility to the public. The museum seeks to raise $20,000 to cover the costs associated with permits, design, and installation.
Entering its 26th year, the Martial Arts History Museum has established itself as a vital resource, not only for martial arts enthusiasts worldwide, but also as a haven for community outreach. The museum provides humanitarian efforts, including specialized tours and visitation for groups of individuals facing dementia, Alzheimer's, and mental disabilities, as well as offering free admission to children and adult groups with mental disabilities.
'We believe it is crucial to be an integral part of our community,' states Museum President Michael Matsuda. 'By offering specialized tours and complimentary admission to those groups, we open doors and potentially unlock memories and experiences for individuals who may benefit from them. I recall a visitor with dementia who, upon seeing a photograph of his old instructor, was able to converse in detail about his past. When people discuss underserved populations, these are the individuals we are referring to. In our own modest way, we offer a beacon of hope.'
For over 15 years, the museum has provided specialized programs for the underserved, offering a supportive environment for individuals facing mental health challenges. This initiative provides a platform for expression and personal growth, demonstrating the museum's commitment to making a positive impact on lives.
Beyond its role as a repository of martial arts history, the museum serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the arts and the sacrifices made by those who brought them to America. 'The martial arts and the Asian American community deserve a place in history,' adds Matsuda, 'a place where their contributions are acknowledged and preserved for future generations.'
The museum's fundraising goal of $20,000 will address the substantial costs incurred for permits, design, and installation. 'We faced significant bureaucratic hurdles, including the need for variances and additional permits,' explains Matsuda. 'Despite being a non-profit, we received no discounts. We are committed to bringing inspiration and hope to the city of Glendale. While we have not received any waivers, we are determined to move forward.'
The Martial Arts History Museum invites community members, martial arts enthusiasts, and supporters of cultural preservation to contribute to this important initiative. Donations can be made through https://www.facebook.com/donate/2474125976254861/
About the Martial Arts History Museum
The Martial Arts History Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich history of martial arts and its cultural significance. Located in Glendale, California, the museum features exhibits showcasing the diverse origins and evolution of martial arts from around the world. It also serves as a community hub, offering educational programs and outreach initiatives.

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These graduating Lowell students were called ‘lottery kids.' The stigma never went away
These graduating Lowell students were called ‘lottery kids.' The stigma never went away

San Francisco Chronicle​

time19 hours ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

These graduating Lowell students were called ‘lottery kids.' The stigma never went away

When the freshmen class walked into San Francisco's elite Lowell High School for the first time in the fall of 2021, they were slapped with a label that stuck for the next four years: lottery kids. Unlike prior decades of Lowell students, those 621 students hadn't gotten in because of exceptional grades and impressive test scores. Those students and the following ninth grade class were admitted through the same mostly random process used at the district's other high schools — a decision based on a lack of grades and test scores in the early years of the pandemic to evaluate the Lowell applications. They were lucky. Some said it wasn't fair. They hadn't earned admission, didn't belong and would fail, a number of parents, teachers and others in the community said. Others, including a majority on the school board, hoped the change would be permanent to help bring more Black and Latino students to a school that was more than 50% Asian American about 1% Black. Lowell returned to merit-based admissions for the fall of 2023, leaving two years of lottery years sandwiched between merit-admission peers. Those two years could help answer a burning question: What if the district randomly admitted students to one of the top-performing and academically rigorous high schools in the country? It turns out that overall, the academic disparities between the lottery and merit students were relatively small, according to district data. The average GPA of the first lottery class was 3.45, compared to an average 3.69 GPA over the previous five years. The average SAT score of lottery students lagged by 78 points compared to the average merit-based SAT taker back to 2020, although lottery scores were still 240 points above the national average. And on average the class of 2025 took 2.65 Advanced Placement courses, compared to an average 2.8 over the previous five years, although nearly on par with the class of 2020's 2.69. Based on the basic academic data available, the sky did not fall as some predicted, said Tony Payne, district executive director of high schools. But that isn't surprising, he said, given Lowell's reputation as a rigorous academic school. 'Even when it was a lottery, I think families and students would self-select around this academic environment,' he said. 'Kids who would have gotten into Lowell anyway, a ton of them applied. 'I think the data makes sense from that perspective,' he added. Benjamin Zhang, who was graduating Monday in red cap and gown as part of Lowell's first lottery class, was perhaps among the kids who would have been at Lowell regardless of the admission process. But he and his classmates would never know. Still, Zhang, the class salutatarian with a full scholarship to Yale University, said in his graduation speech that they were defined by the lottery. 'That title hung over us like an overdue assignment. 'Not merit-based,' they said. 'Just lucky,' they whispered,' said Zhang. 'And … let this be our final act: To say that we are not defined by a lottery, a label or a transcript. We are defined by what we did with the chance we were given.' While the lottery had little impact on academic markers, it did have an impact on student demographics, with random admissions significantly increasing the number of Black and Latino students. The senior class this year, the first lottery group, included 22 Black students and 121 Latino students, for example, while the senior class of 723 students four years earlier had just five Black students and 78 Latino students. At the same time, there was more attrition in the lottery class, with 93 of the original freshmen leaving by senior year, compared to an average of 41 over the previous five years. Other district high schools also saw upticks in attrition, although not as large. District officials said understanding the data is complicated by the fact that the first Lowell lottery class was hit with a double whammy, entering high school after spending all of eighth grade and the end of seventh in online learning because of the pandemic. They started high school, lost among the three buildings and four floors at Lowell with masks secured to their faces, their social skills withered and their grade-level academics and study skills a big question mark. Lowell principal JanMichelle Bautista ticked off the list of challenges for students during that first year back to in-person learning: 'Behavior changes, academic progress, stamina for coursework, sitting in a classroom for 90 minutes.' Teachers would say the lottery kids were so different, Bautista said, but the reality was 'we were all so different.' The pandemic-era Lowell lottery triggered a fierce debate over whether or not the school should remain exclusive to ensure the district's academically motivated students could thrive, even if the student body had few Black and Latino students. For decades, Lowell had been a point of pride for the city, consistently one of the top performing public schools in the country, churning out prominent figures in politics, entertainment, literature and science. Amid the pandemic, the progressive-majority school board moved to make the lottery permanent in February 2021, after voting in October 2020 for a one-year random selection for upcoming fall freshmen. Lowell parents and other city residents were outraged. 'The job market is merit based, college is merit based,' said parent Surveen Singh during the school board meeting that made it permanent in 2021. 'Lowell's high standards, training and rigor have given many students, especially immigrant families, the impetus and skills to attend college and succeed. 'Why on earth would anyone want to take that away?' Critics of the merit-based system argued back. 'There should be no sacred cows in the SFUSD schools,' said Virginia Marshall, representing the San Francisco Alliance of Black School Educators. 'Every child should have the opportunity to go to Lowell High School.' A year later, following a recall of three progressive school board members and a lawsuit, the school board returned Lowell to a merit-based system. It does not appear the school board will reconsider the Lowell admissions policy anytime soon, even with the lottery class data in hand. 'We absolutely want to preserve the rigorous instruction and academic programming offered at schools like Lowell,' said school board President Phil Kim. 'We know students are up to the challenge, and families are asking for more of these opportunities across all our high schools. The demand is there.' Some members of the two classes of lottery students and their families said they felt the stigma of being at Lowell under the random admission process in the halls and classrooms. 'I heard those stories from the students,' Bautista said. On Monday, the four years of hard work and stress seemed to fade into the background as parents sat in the stands at Kezar Stadium watching the Lowell graduates walk across the stage as their names were called. 'I'm beside myself with joy,' said parent Jameelah Hoskins. Her son, Yusef, was among the 22 Black students in his class. He had been a straight-A, honor roll student in middle school, who at times — like many if not most Lowell students — struggled to keep up with his courses, especially after COVID, Hoskins said. 'The thing I remember is his determination to stay (at Lowell). He wanted to do the work,' she said. 'I was the one saying, 'if you want to go somewhere else, it's OK.'' Yusef will attend City College of San Francisco in the fall and enter the entrepreneur program, perhaps combining it with an electrician trade program, his mom said. Yet among the smiles and goodbye hugs on graduation day, the lottery lingered, a topic in family conversations and in nearly every commencement speech made by a graduate or adult, including Bautista. 'You were scrutinized, second-guessed, and demeaned. People including yourselves questioned your worth, your ability, your presence,' the principal told her lottery kids. ' Never did you shrink in the face of unfair judgment … You turned doubt into drive, exclusion into excellence, criticism into community. 'You belong in every room you walk into. You belong at every single table where decisions are made. You belong in every dream you dare to dream.'

Advocates help raise awareness in Harrison County for Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
Advocates help raise awareness in Harrison County for Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

Advocates help raise awareness in Harrison County for Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month

CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — June is Alzheimer's and brain awareness month, and here in West Virginia, more than 38,000 people aged 65 and older have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or some sort of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Impact Movement. And as the age of people diagnosed is decreasing, general concern is increasing. Advocates of the cause are helping raise awareness of Alzheimer's and brain health by speaking with local city councils. These advocates were granted a proclamation on behalf of the Harrison County Commission in its meeting on Wednesday, the Clarksburg City Council on Thursday, and will receive one from the Bridgeport City Council on Friday. 12 News spoke with Bill O'Field, Mission Chairman of the North Central Walk to End Alzheimer's, who spoke with doctors from the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute on what some of the key signs of dementia and Alzheimer's may look like. Harrison County commissioners split on future of Sunset Ellis property 'It's normal in the aging process to maybe forget a name or forget where you put your car keys, but then you find them. And maybe later in the day, the seniors say, 'but then I remember that name when I get home. The doctor said that's good.' That's just the normal aging process taking place. But it's when you can't cook for yourself, you don't know how to do your laundry, those are the true signs of Alzheimer's,' said O'Field. O'Field also mentioned to be wary of weight loss and depression, and to maintain a healthy diet and exercise, as a healthy body can help result in a healthy mind. The Harrison County Senior Center offers an Alzheimer's support group in its boardroom at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. You can call 304-623-6795 for more information. The North Central Walk to End Alzheimer's will also be held on Oct. 5 this year at the Meadowbrook Mall with registration beginning at 1 p.m. and the ceremony beginning at 2 p.m. For more information about Alzheimer's and local resources, you can call 800-272-3900 or click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

What to know about Alzheimer's and taking charge of brain health
What to know about Alzheimer's and taking charge of brain health

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

What to know about Alzheimer's and taking charge of brain health

WACO, Texas (FOX 44) – The month of June is recognized as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. This is done to encourage Americans to take charge of their brain health. Dr. Nicholas Schwedock of Vesper Medical Care dropped by our studio to have a dedicated conversation about Alzheimer's and dementia. You can watch our interview in the video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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