Hello Aspire CCPA,

This past week, many of our students and community members celebrated Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead). This is a time to celebrate loved ones who have passed on in life and reflect on the memories that we all have shared. I am not of Latinx heritage, but I do appreciate the celebration of loved ones both past and present. Though the passing of a loved one can be very difficult, I push myself to remember the great times we shared.

One of my recent loved one who has passed was my Maternal Great Grandmother Erby Person. In many ways, she was the glue that kept my mothers side of the family. She hosted many holidays and celebrations at her house and was an all-around amazing cook. In addition to that, she was the one person who I could watch the Clippers Vs. Lakers game without fear of a remote control being thrown at me. Sorry not sorry but I'm still not a Laker fan. She was an all-around amazing person and she will always be missed. Even though it was sad to lose her, I have very fond memories of just spending time with her.

An offering to you all, whether you are religious, non-religious, Latinx or of a different ethnicity, whether you practice this holiday or not. I highly encourage you to live and enjoy every moment. There are so many positives and highlights that occur every day. Sometimes it is difficult to see, but they are there. This past week was a very difficult week for many of us. A lot was going on and yes through it all, we made it through. We are still a community committed to supporting all our students. For this, I thankful to you all and appreciate your dedication to our students.

Thank you for your commitment.

Best,

Mike

The Week Ahead