C É S A R A . C R U Z
BIOCésar A. Cruz- From marching 76-straight miles, to hunger striking for 26 days, César has dedicated his life to fighting for justice. He was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México and migrated to the U.S. at a young age with a single mother and grandmother. He grew up in South Central L.A. and moved to the Bay Area to study. César graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in History. For the last 19 years, he has been an educator, most recently serving as Dean of Students at Arise High School in Oakland, CA.. He co-founded the independent school, “Making Changes,” out of his home, and has sought to create autonomous education spaces. For the last four years, he has overseen the Homies Empowerment Program serving gang impacted/involved youth in Oakland, CA. He is the author of two books, “Revenge of The Illegal Alien,” and “Bang for Freedom.” Currently he is entering the second year of a doctoral program in Educational Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This summer he will serve as the Assistant Dean of Harvard University’s Secondary Schools Program. Amidst all, he is proudest to be a husband, and father of three children: Olin, Amaru and Quetzali.
EXPERIENCE
2015-present Harvard Business School Cambridge, MA A d u lt D ev elo p m en t C o a ch , Harvard University
Support the development of 52 adults in the MBA program by serving as a coach in the Authentic Leadership Development course under Professor Scott Snook.
2015-present Harvard Graduate School of Education Cambridge, MA C o - I n str u cto r / F o u n d er, Ethnic Studies at Harvard University
Instructor of the first Ethnic Studies course at the Graduate School of Education. 2014-present Harvard Graduate School of Education Cambridge, MA
T ea ch in g F ello w fo r S ch o o ls L ea d er s P r o g r a m at Harvard University
Year-long Teaching Fellow supporting the development of 46 aspiring school leaders serving as a coach for 4 of them, and a teaching fellow for 23 of them. 2014-present Harvard University- Secondary School Program Cambridge, MA A ssista n t D ea n at Harvard University Summer School
Assistant Dean for 250 students enrolled in the Secondary School Program as part of Harvard University’s Summer School.
2013-present Harvard University Cambridge, MA
D o cto r a l C a n d id a te , Harvard Graduate School of Education, Class of 2016 Educational Leadership, Aldrich Fellow.
Consultancy with San Diego Unified School District, Scope of Work: Diversify workforce.
2014-present Center for Collaborative Education Boston, MA R e s e a r ch e r / W r ite r
2-year research study on best practices for Black and Brown boys in BPS. 2013 (Summer) National Institute for Urban School Leaders Cambridge, MA F a cilita to r , Harvard Graduate School of Education
Facilitated discussion group for 20 urban school principals at Harvard University. 2010-2013 ARISE High School Oakland, CA
D e a n o f S tu d e n t S e r v ic e s , Adelante Coordinator Co-Founder – Adelante Support Services Program
Create/Oversee wrap-around support services for student body (250 youth). Teach/Oversee cohort of 30 youth leaders, Homies Empowerment, in a 4-day per
week leadership class (focus: Ethnic Studies, Self-Care, The Leader Within). 2009-2011 Urban Services YMCA Oakland, CA
D ir e c to r/Founder, Intervention Support Services Co-Founder – Homies Empowerment Program
Create/Oversee citywide youth development program for gang-impacted and gang-involved youth in partnership with the YMCA.
Teach Latino history at Fremont and Castlemont High Schools.
2007-2009 Oakland Leaf-Urban Promise Academy Oakland, CA (Had to move to Southern California for a period to care for my grandmother who passed away)
D ir ecto r , Project Phoenix Academic & Administrative Coordinator Lecturer- Chicano(a)/Latino(a) Studies
Oversee Academic support program for 40 lowest performing students in school. Hire, oversee, provide weekly professional development workshops for mentors.
Created 1st Chicano/Latina Studies course at Urban Promise Academy.
2005-2007 Avenues Project-East Oakland Comm. High Oakland, CA E x ecu tiv e D ir ecto r , Education Non-Profit
Founder/Lecturer- Chicano Studies Dept.
E.D. for start-up nonprofit. Hired/managed staff of 20+ artists, musicians, educators to create an innovative program inside of two public high schools: East Oakland Community High and the Youth Empowerment School.
Started and served as a Lecturer of the 1st Chicano Studies Department for high
school students in East Oakland. Taught African-American and Latino Film Class along with an Introduction to Chicano Studies course.
Chicano/Latino History Department for High School Students http://teolol.blogspot.com/
2004-2006 Making Changes Freedom School San Pablo, CA C o - F o u n d er , E x ecu tiv e D ir ecto r , L ectu r er - L a tin o S tu d ie s
Created an independent afterschool, community learning center where we offered 10 community classes, fed the community daily without governmental funds in a grassroots, community based effort.
2004-2006 J.O. Ford Elementary Richmond, CA T ea ch er C o a ch / R ea d in g I n ter v en tio n S p ecia list
Worked one-on-one with teachers, primarily 1st-3rd grade, as well as students to
develop their basic reading skills or to strengthen their teaching skills. 2002-2004 Peaceful Schools Project San Pablo, CA O n - S ite D ir ec to r , C o n flic t M a n a g er T ea c h er
Oversee training/service of 300 students at Downer School (WCCUSD). Train 4-6th graders to be peacemakers at school.
1999-2002 Hatchuel, Tabernik & Assoc., Healthy Start Richmond, CA H ea lth y S ta r t C o o r d in a to r
Created community collaborative w/ local social service agencies, police, students, community representatives and parents at Cesar Chavez Elementary.
Conducted at length surveys to apply for $300,000 operational grant. Received $300,000 grant as a result of our collective work.
1996–1999 Norwalk Christian School Norwalk, CA 8t h g r a d e cla ssr o o m tea ch er / S p o r ts C o a ch
Instructor in three subjects (English, Science and Journalism)
Coached football and baseball developing leadership skills through sports. 1993–1996 Upward Bound-NHU San Jose, CA E n g lish I n str u cto r , C o lleg e C o u n selo r
Taught in 6-week summer program at San José State University.
Served as a counselor during academic year teaching students the skills they needed to get in and succeed in college.
EDUCATION
1991–1994 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA 1994-1999 University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA May 2000 B.A., History Minor-Women’s Studies, UC Berkeley
Aug. 2013 Doctoral Program (Ed.L.D.) Harvard University Cambridge, MA. Expected graduation date: May, 2016
AUTHOR/VISITING LECTURER/KEYNOTE ADDRESSES
n Author- “Revenge of the Illegal Alien: A Mexican Takes on the Empire” Book Published- Making Changes Press, 2008, ISBN: 978-0-6151-5299-8
n Articles Published: Voces: A Journal of Chicana/Latina Studies, Vol 2, Number 2 (UC Davis, ’99); OC Weekly; LA Times; Oakland Tribune; URB Magazine, 4080 Magazine; Latina Magazine and various others.
n Keynote Addresses at: Stanford Univ., University of Illinois at Chicago, American Univ. (Wash., D.C.), University of New Mexico, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCSD, Mills College, SDCC, USF, SFSU, UC Irvine, CSUS, NAACS (’05-Miami, FL.), ACLU (SF), Multicultural Summer Institute (Prince William County Public Schools, Manassas,
VA.), Cornell Univ., Columbia Univ. and various others.
n Awards: Kolajo Afolabi Educational Award, Harvard University, 2015, Meade Fellowship, Washington, DC. 2015, Comcast Local Hero Award 2012, Jefferson Award for Public Service, 2011, Peacemaker of the Year (KPFA-Pacifica Radio, 2004), California Senate Human Rights Award (2004), Human Relations Award (City of Cerrito, 2003), Orange County Human Relations Award (1996) and various others.
OTHER WORK
EXPERIENCE n Tenant Rights Advocate-City of Berkeley Rent Board (2002-2003)
n Program Council-KPFA (1 year term-2003), radio host-Making Changes Report n Administrative-Adm. Assistant-Lawrence Hall of Science (1991-1993)
n Waiter/Server/Barista –Bakers Square, Café Strada, Free Speech Café n Community Organizer-Trained by SEIU Local 880 Chicago, IL.,
KIWA (Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA.), CAAAV (Bronx, NY.)
REFERENCES (CONTACT INFO AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST)
Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade Professor SFSU, Raza Studies
Dr. Deborah Jewell-Sherman Professor Harvard University
Kate Sugarman Co-Principal Arise High School
INTERESTS/OTHER ASPECTS OF MY LIFE n
n Co-Founder “END-dependence Spoken Word Collective” details available at:
www.brownpride.com/END-dependence
n Writer, Column online at: www.brownpride/com/cesar
n Baseball/Softball Coach, Team Co-Founder (2000-2007) UC Berkeley-Intramurals n Teacher-Black and Brown Film Studies: http://teolol.blogspot.com/
INFORMATION ABOUT CÉSAR A. CRUZ ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB News Article: Huffington Post, Feature on César A. Cruz http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hooplaha/watch-1st-male-mexican-im_b_3443082.html
iTunes Link to César A. Cruz’s first book “Revenge of the Illegal Alien” https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/revenge-of-the-illegal-alien/id443681643?mt=11 News Video Footage: Cinco Stars for this Ivy Leaguer
http://hooplaha.com/2014/05/cinco-gold-stars-for-this-ivy-leaguer/
Fox News London Video Footage: How Gangs Are Breaking the Cycle of Violence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BwsxVGtB5g
News Article: Oakland Tribune- Oakland Educators Prepares for Harvard http://www.insidebayarea.com/News/ci_23528321/Oakland-educator-prepares-for-Harvard-doctorate
Author’s Site: 2nd Book: “Bang for Freedom”
http://www.lulu.com/shop/cesar-cruz/bang-for-freedom-a-brief-history-of-mexican-mafia-nuestra-familia-and-latino-activism-in-the-us/paperback/product-22091949.html News Radio: Pacifica Radio, Morning News, Interview with César A. Cruz https://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/66744
News Article: Comcast Local Hero Award http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_18255228
News Radio: KPFA, La Raza Chronicles, Interview with César A. Cruz http://larazachronicles.blogspot.com/2009/08/cronicas-dela-raza-18-aug-2009-kpfa.html
News Radio: IndyBay, Panel with Immortal Technique and Tomas Alejo https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/11/13/18628580.php?show_comments=1 News Article: Oakland Tribune, Latino Group Unites Oakland Youth Across Gang Lines
http://www.insidebayarea.com/top-stories/ci_14102891
News Article: Los Angeles Times, Protesters Win Deal from Governor http://articles.latimes.com/2004/jun/05/local/me-fast5
News Briefing: Sacramento Bee, Hunger Strike Ends After Deal Reached http://www.calstate.edu/pa/clips2004/june/7june/hunger.shtml
News Article: East Bay Express, Portrait of the Times http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/portrait-of-the-times/Content?oid=1074176
