by Linda Castillo
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting educator, author, and advocate for social justice Francisco Jiménez at a book reading for The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child (Spanish title: Cajas de cartón) published in 1997. In this book, Francisco writes about his childhood when his family came to California in search for a better life.
Jiménez other works include Breaking Through (2002), Reaching Out (2008), and Taking Hold (2015), all with Spanish translations. These books were relatable to many offering a glimpse of the life and plight of migrant laborers in America.
He went on to earn a Ph.D. and became a professor his alma mater, Santa Clara University. His wife, Laura Jimenez, also graduated from Santa Clara University in 1967. Laura dedicated 19 years of service working for Santa Clara University and is set to retire this year.
In honor of the couple’s transformative power on the lives of our youth, the Chicano/Latino Alumni Association will be establishing the Francisco and Laura Jimenez Breaking Through Scholarship.
Francisco and Laura Jimenez Breaking Through Scholarship Reception
Join us for a reception honoring Francisco and Laura Jimenez. We will celebrate with food, drink, music, stories, and reflections on these two incredible SCU figures. There will also be live and silent auctions to raise funds for an endowed scholarship in their name. The purpose of the scholarship is to solidify their legacy and their continued efforts to make SCU a welcoming place for anyone, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and first-generation categories.
Date: October 7, 2016
Time: 3:30pm PDT
Location: SCU St. Ignatius Lawn
For more information visit: https://www.scu.edu/alumni/events/eventcalendar/#event_id/24222/view/event
If you are unable to attend the event and would like to make a donation for the Francisco and Laura Jiménez Breaking Through Scholarship fund visit https://mysantaclara.scu.edu/GIVE/Jimenez