As economic distress plays out in classrooms across the country and bullying-on-the-bus expands big-time into cyberspace, teens and their parents are, more than ever before, looking for solutions to these serious, everyday challenges. Anointed Moments tells the true tales-from tearful to triumphant-of the teachers, educators, parents, and children who have been involved in transforming two struggling Catholic schools in urban Los Angeles into precedent-setting, nationally-recognized schools of distinction. These are stories of communities and schools which embrace ethics of kindness, good character, tolerance and appreciation for each other's differences - characteristics that encourage respect and cooperation, and which turn out a generation of young people fully prepared to enhance the world. The book will appeal to all educators, parents, and students-whatever their zip code or faith-who want to learn how to better lift themselves and others, to be more fully present, and to live richer, more rewarding lives. Written by Dan Horn. Foreword by actor and director Edward James Olmos.

Gangs, riots and peace as outcomes of societal processes. Ecological relationships between a society and its communities over time (social history). Expalins broad aspects of evolutionary processes to peace and violence. Discusses current dogma of peers, parents and DNA, and dismisses killing over turf, status and revenge in favor of fundamental causative elements. Examines psychological, emotional and physical aspects of societal violence and local community violence. Suggests systemic changes for permanent solutions; Discusses the three types of gangs: Traditional (same group), Hate and Predator, and "new" Hybrids as sub-category of Traditional gangs. Discusses race, racism, eugenics then and now and how factors into ongoing non-productive efforts. What went wrong, how and why? Describes how solutions can be found by understanding the social evolution of Peace and Violence. Explains fundamentals of source and causes of gangs and other community violence. Combines advanced community knowledge with computer modeling with super-cybertechnology to develop an individual community "prescription" toward peace.

"Within the pages of this book, we truly get a candid look at war, patriotism, fear, and love. . . . My culture will benefit immensely from these strong and compelling stories, but my hope is that all cultures of this incredible society we call America will read the oral histories of Chicano Vietnam veterans and their families and learn." -- Edward James Olmos, from the Foreword

One of the most decorated groups that served in the Vietnam War, Chicanos fought and died in numbers well out of proportion to their percentage of the United States' population. Yet despite this, their wartime experiences have never received much attention in either popular media or scholarly studies. To spotlight and preserve some of their stories, this book presents substantial interviews with Chicano Vietnam veterans and their families that explore the men's experiences in combat, the war's effects on the Chicano community, and the veterans' postwar lives.

Lea Ybarra groups the interviews topically to bring out different aspects of the Chicano vets' experiences. In addition to discussing their involvement in and views on the Vietnam War, the veterans also reflect on their place in American society, American foreign policy, and the value of war. Veterans from several states and different socioeconomic classes give the book a broad-based perspective, which Ybarra frames with sociological material on the war and its impact on Chicanos.