BP Vision Edition 3

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 | V O L . 3 BP Vision

The Official Newsletter of Bronx Preparatory Charter School

Created by Erinn McKenzie & Ashley Quinonez

Inside this volume of the Newsletter

The Shutdown - 2 Meek Mill Review - 3 Migrant Caravan - 4 Leaders on the Court - 5 Blameful Sky - 7

*These past few weeks have been rather hectic, especially The Shutdown because of President Trump’s brilliant decision to keep the government shutdown until he gets the money needed for the wall, according to him. As of now, this is the longest Article by government shutdown to date. Isaiah Smith So how did we get here?

Well, it’s actually rather simple when you view it vaguely. A spending bill named the Appropriations Bill in US political parlance was signed by Congress and sent to be signed by President Trump, however the democrats blocked the bill from getting signed because of a previous agreement on immigration, according to BBC.

Going back to the last government shutdown in 2016, federal paid government workers were not getting paid and were unable to come to work. The same problem persists again with this years shutdown and now taxpayers are concerned about whether or not they will get the tax refunds. J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 | V O L . 3

Everyone knows that tax season is when you get all that money back and you're about to spend it big. Rest assure, the government has confirmed, according to CNBC, that even though there is a shutdown, all taxpayers will receive their tax refunds. I for one feel as if government shutdowns have been becoming more frequent and are extremely inconsiderate to the hardworking government employees who have families to provide for.

You may think this doesn't affect you in anyway, but it affects many people in the process. Public schools have had to furlough teachers for a week due to there being not enough money to pay employees.

Furthermore, we all know of the hyped-up EBT card, but did you know that there will be considerable food stamp cuts because of the shutdown?

All in all, it really goes to show how something so simple as a bill being blocked can have effects of epic proportions.

*As of 1/25/19, the government shutdown has been halted for the next three weeks.

"...democrats blocked the bill from

getting signed because of a previous agreement on immigration, according to BBC." J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 | V O L . 3

Yet he’s never made a case more Meek Mill is Overcoming passionately or comprehensively as he does on Championships, his first full- length since his release and the Societal Injustices & closest he’s come to sustaining the “1812 Overture” intensity of his Redefining Rap in “Dreams and Nightmares” for an entire album. "Championships" He raps about trauma, one of several Review by Calvin Wilson numbers tying black incarceration to the legacy of slavery. On “What’s Free,” an impassioned flip of Notorious Meek Mill has taken on a role much larger than himself. B.I.G.’s “What's Beef,” Meek launches a From the moment he was released from his imprisonment, valiant defense of not only his he embraced his role as the “poster child” for criminal character, but his humanity: justice reform. “Two-fifty a show and they still think According to his lawyer Joe Tacopina, Mill believes “It’s a I’m sellin’ crack,” he raps. “When you shame that model probationers can be immediately put bring my name up to the judge, just back behind bars simply for missing curfew, testing positive tell him facts/Tell him how we fundin’ for marijuana, failing to pay fines on time or, in some cases, all these kids to go to college/Tell him not following protocol when changing addresses.” Last how we ceasin’ all these wars, month, he advocated for lawmakers to pass legislation stoppin’ violence/Tryna fix the system granting reductions in probation time for good behavior. and the way that they designed it.”

Meek Mill raps with a level of mastery that few could muster Up until now, every Meek Mill album even in their imagination. All of his projects have told the has been less entertaining than it story a man who, because of where he was raised, has never should have been because of the lack known true freedom. of meaning behind his lyrics, but I believe Meek Mill has not only pushed past his limits, but he pushed the bar of rap expectation even higher. After a career marked too often by wasted “Invisible shackles on the king, ’cause opportunities and potential, Meek Mill has finally risen to the moment. s***, I’m on bail...I went from selling out arenas, now s***, I’m on sale.” J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 | V O L . 3

As of right now, there are over 7,000 Migrant Caravan people within the caravan all sharing the same goal; to make it to the United States. By Kerri Nieto Since his campaign, Trump promised to not allow the U.S to get flooded Over the past decade, there has been a rise in the number with more illegal immigrants. On of children and families crossing the US-Mexico border. November 2nd, just days before the These people come from countries such as Guatemala, midterms, he told voters at a rally that Honduras, and El Salvador. The Central American Caravan "if you don't want America to be consists of thousands of immigrants traveling from Central overrun by masses of illegal aliens and America, in hopes of finding asylum in the United states. giant caravans, you'd better vote Republican". So, how did this start? He also argues that “the migrant It started around October of 2018 when a group of over 100 caravan is full with stone cold Hondurans set foot in hopes of arriving in Mexico to get criminals trying to get asylum from closer to crossing to the U.S. However, within two days of the United States.” Trump labelled the their journey the caravan went from around 100 people to migrant caravan as "an invasion". In more than 1,000 people according to the estimates of fact, one of the actions he has taken to Associated Press reporters. This growth happened because prevent the people of the caravan to others got more motivated to go to the United States so cross the border is send troops to the they joined the caravan. Southern Border. With denial of providing asylum to them, many According to Robert Lopez, an Outreach Coordinator caravan members are considering working for the Texas Civil Right Project, the main reason staying in Mexico. people are aiming to seek asylum in the U.S is for protection. Robert Lopez says that some things people in New York can do to help is He says, “People are running away from death threats from look for non profit organizations to gangs in their country, running away from poverty and help stop the separation of families natural environment problems.” from the caravan. Many families have gone through separation while in the Lopez recaps about a story concerning a police officer who border and speaking up about it will got contacted from gangs to help them out with their show a message that it’s wrong to do activity. However, after refusing their request he fled with this and hopefully stop it from his daughter for their safety. happening.

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Leaders of the Court

By Mavelyn Reyes

Failing to reach her standards her freshman year, striving for greatness her sophomore and junior year, and finally reaching her goal her senior year, Franchesca Gomez is glad to have proven herself and to be a leader on her team.

She is the starting point guard and the team captain, but achieving her goals of being team captain and the starting point guard are not the only thing that she strives for. When asked about what her main goal throughout the years has been she responded, “My expectations throughout the years [have] been to get better and be a developed athlete for college.” With “developed” meaning that she wants to be able to play her position as well as she can before goes off to college. All in hopes of becoming a better athlete and play college basketball.

It is not only the adrenaline of the game that Franchesca likes about the game but also the way that the game can be used as a to from reality. “My favorite part of the game is the intensity. When I play, I forget about the world and focus only on the thing in front of me: the game, ” Franchesca stated.

Franchesca chose to play basketball over all the other sports and there is a reason for that: “I play basketball over all the other sports because it allows me to express myself differently.”

When Franchesca is playing in the court we can see a person focused on the game and nothing can distract her. She is playing basketball but that is not all that she is doing on that court. She captures the crowd's attention with her precision, and how she controls the pace of the game when the ball is in her hands. You can see her expression with every pass that she throws and every shot that she makes, but that is not what makes her a leader, but how she able to motivate her teammates, while keeping her calmness and focus even when things may get challenging.

As her teammate Imani Marcano stated, “I have learned to keep my attitude in check because of the way that she keeps her attitude in check.”

She is a player that helps ward off the bad vibes. She has not only proven herself to be a leader on the court, but off of the court as well. Hadiza, one of her teammates described her as, “a role model for me off and in the court.” Franchesca not only supports her entire team, but as described by Hadiza, she helps as individuals too. Franchesca has come a long way from her freshman year where she mostly sat on the bench to now being team captain and starting point guard on her team.

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Then there is Orlando Cedeño, who is a player on the boys Orlando’s swift moves on the court makes the basketball team. He is the starting point guard, and the crowd more engaged in the game. When he captain of the boys varsity team. He has worked his way to hits the other team with a pump fake and that spot since his freshman year on junior varsity. His then lays it in, the crowd roars. He is in expectation has been to improve his game throughout the control. He’s living in the moment and years and now he can’t wait to make it to the teaches his teammates as he plays too. championship. Orlando isn’t only a player that plays basketball well; he is also a player that “To win a division championship, I believed that I have inspires his teammates to do better and be improved throughout the years because my defensive and better at the game. His teammate Justin offensive iq has gotten better. I have gotten stronger, and Cuenca said, “Orlando is a good teammate. my endurance has improved.” I’ve already learned from him. For me, he motivates me everyday to be better than him.” What’s Orlando’s favorite part of the games? “Winning. Coming into this varsity season, I’m feeling confident He is a player that plays his position well, but because I truly believe that with the group of boys we have, when needed to he fills in other positions and we have enough talent to make it far. A lot of our guys have plays those well to. He is a versatile player. He worked really hard throughout the offseason, so I’m excited doesn’t let his mistakes affect his game. He to see it pay off.” never complains when he fills in other positions. Cuenca added, “He plays the 1-3 Not only is Orlando a player that enjoys winning, but he positions very well and Orlando has a great likes to share it with his team because they have been chance in playing at the next level.” working hard year round for this. When you watch Orlando play, you see a player that is not only confident in his own He is a player that demonstrates the game, but he is also confident in his team. The way that he discipline and the maturity to play at the next shares the ball and supports his teammates throughout the level as recognized by Justin. Orlando is a game shows his leadership. player that has been on his high school team for 3 years and has already become a player that others can learn from.

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Blameful Sky

Poem by Vivian Uzibor

The sky is above us Do you see it? Of course you don't You're most likely in a room hiding from it You never fail to use it as an excuse to not leave the house You constantly blame it without remorse How dare you blame the sky? It's just being itself Is that not enough? Oh, silly me for forgetting what happens now-a-days People feel as though they need to create fabricated versions of who they really are The sky takes pride in its purpose in life It makes a place for the planes to fly It's a place people use to say, they'll make it there Some do appreciate the sky for its raw state It's a little too late now The sky is broken, and weak The treatments towards its presence has been nothing but negative But I guess it's the sky's fault for not being strong enough, right? But it is The sky has nowhere to run or hide Yet you still find a way to blame the sky It gives light to everyday motions and darkness to every risky action One day the sky will no longer be the one to blame It won't be an excuse on your final day.

* Photography by Erinn McKenzie B P V I S I O N THE BP JOURNALISM CLUB

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