Category: Uncategorized

Mike Yawn

Each year, the Center for Law, Engagement, And Politics partners with the Huntsville Public Library, hosting a five-week “Citizenship Preparatory Course” for local documented immigrants. This year, with the help of intern Jose Carreno, Library Literacy Coordinator Mary Kokot, and three unpaid student volunteers, we were able to assist 13 local immigrants on their journey to citizenship.

Many people–even citizens–don’t know what it takes to naturalize, which is one reason Richard Lane and I established this program in 2008. For most immigrants, they have to pay approximately $1,000 for the paperwork, submit extensive records–including travel records for many years–demonstrate that they can read English, demonstrate they can speak and understand English, and also pass a Civics Quiz.

What are some of the questions on the quiz?

• Name one of the authors of the Federalist Papers.
• There are fifteen cabinet departments. Name two of them.
• What is one power of the federal government?
• What is one right reserved only for citizens?
• There are four amendments to the US Constitution that involve voting. Describe one of them.
• Who was President during World War I?

If the immigrants can show they know this information, while also demonstrating a clean criminal record and good moral character (not, for example, an excessive drinker or a former prostitute), then they earn their citizenship.

Over the five weeks of the course, we cover these materials, alternating between boring lectures (led by me) and more hands-on help and translation by the volunteers, which this year, included Nataly Elizondo, Michelle Moya, and Yajaira Gutierrez–with a photography assist by Olivia Discon.

While the volunteers’ bilingual skills are helpful, almost all of the immigrants are required to take the test in English (there is an exception for those who are 55 years old and who have been in the country for 20 years), so we try to avoid extensive communication in Spanish.

This year’s immigrant roster was impressive, with two professors, professional staff from the College of Osteopathic Medicine, two janitorial staff, and eight other local residents. This list included: Dr. Elisa Herrmann, Jose Arroyo, Maria Elena, Junior Jepjio, Alexandra Herrera, Nancy Vasquez, Iris Santos, Veronica Garcia, Dr. Juan Diego Daza, Nancy Martinez, Marisa Pimental, Carmen Cedeno, and Gregoria McGuire. McGuire passed her citizenship test during the course, and she continued to attend the course to work on her writing and learn more about US history and government.

One of the most appealing aspects of the course is the friendships that develop over the five weeks, despite broad differences in background, occupations, and cultures. Among our 13 classmates, for example, eight different countries were represented–including Cameroon, a first for us in the 16th year of leading the course!

Our final class is a “Thanksgiving,” with immigrants and volunteers bringing dishes from their native countries. With a healthy helping of bar-b-que and desserts and drinks from Mexico, Germany, El Salvador, and Brazil.

This Thanksgiving is not just part of what is taught in the class and on the citizenship test, it also reflects the friendships that have formed.

Thus the smiles you see in our photos are genuine. Indeed, even as the class was over, groups lingered, continuing to talk, exchange phone numbers and the like.

And thus it was with much inner warmth that I exited the building for our final class. This warmth was enhanced when Gregoria walked out with me, noting, “You are a good person, and I am grateful to know you.”

This struck me as very generous, and also coincidental, inasmuch as this is how I think of her. And as we parted for our cars, she added, “I think you must have a Mexican heart.”

Kimbell Art Museum

by Chrissy Biello

Designed by Louis I. Kahn and opened in 1972, the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, impresses visitors with its art, architecture, and surrounding landscape. The Piano Pavilion, designed by Renzo Piano, brings the outdoors in, with large windows framing the elm and oak trees that surround it, allowing visitors to experience nature as an extension of the architectural space.

Walking through the gallery, many pieces stand out, but one in particular is the Virgin and Child (The Borromeo Madonna), which is attributed to Donatello! This sculpture was especially surprising to find, as one would not expect to casually come across a sculpture that is suspected to be from Donatello himself.

Not far from the Donatello sculpture, another famous Italian Renaissance artist is represented…

While Michelangelo is often remembered as a sculptor, his first known painting, The Torment of Saint Anthony, was on display. The piece shows Saint Anthony being attacked by demons, and it is believed Michelangelo was only twelve or thirteen when he painted it.

One that is particularly interesting for those interested in Greek and Roman mythology is the Judgment of Paris by Lucas Cranach the Elder. To summarize, it is said the Goddess of Discord tossed an apple to Paris, forcing him to choose among three nearly identical goddesses offering different bribes, a decision that ultimately triggered the Trojan War. Interestingly, a similar moment of unexpected judgment occurred in 1976, when a blind wine tasting saw French judges unknowingly favor Californian wines over their own, an event later dubbed the Judgment of Paris.

The museum had several incredibly famous artists in its galleries. Matisse, Picasso, Gaugin, El Greco, Edward Munch, and many more! Each turn lead to another pleasant surprise, all encompassed in a beautiful structure which remains a piece in and of itself!

The Kimbell Art Museum is the perfect place for anyone who enjoys architecture, art, landscapes, and more. Whether you prefer one aspect over the others, it is hard not to appreciate the thought and care put into the entire museum. Overall, the Kimbell Art Museum is a true treasure in the Fort Worth community, both architecturally and artistically significant.

Exploring Downtown Fort Worth

by Olivia Discon

Beyond the Kimbell Art Museum, Sundance Square offers another side of Fort Worth’s artistic and architectural landscape. The area, once quieter in past decades, has become a lively center for shopping, dining, and events. Designed as a pedestrian-friendly space, it encourages people to gather.

Of course, in the heart of the plaza lies the Richard Haas mural, a large-scale trompe-l’œil piece that plays with perception, giving the illusion of depth and architectural detail on a flat surface. This piece, among many others of Haas’, has revitalized what was once a plain, visually unappealing building, into a cultural hub. If you know LEAP, you know this was a “must-do” selfie stop!

On our walk, we had the chance to see a sculpture by Jesus Morales…

…Alex Katz…

… and though it was through a window, we saw a James Surls!

I am always intrigued by the philosophy of gathering spaces and downtowns such as these, and we took the time to engage with the space as it was intended: exploring and engaging.

Though we weren’t able to watch the Inauguration in D.C., the LEAP ambassadors made the most out of January 20, 2025 in order to learn and expand our understanding of democracy. Through exploring the arts and historic artifacts, we are happy to say that the day was not unspent!

The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall

by Michelle Cardenas

On Inauguration Day, as the nation welcomed a new president, the LEAP Ambassadors continued their Democratic Tour with a visit to two of America’s most iconic landmarks: the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

Our first stop was the Liberty Bell, a powerful symbol of freedom and resilience. Standing before this historic artifact, we couldn’t help but reflect on its significance—once rung to mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence and later embraced by the abolitionist movement as a symbol of liberty for all. Of course, no visit would be complete without a photo of the famous crack, a reminder that even imperfections can carry deep meaning.

After capturing the moment, we made our way across the street to Independence Hall, where the Founding Fathers debated and signed the Declaration of Independence and later drafted the U.S. Constitution. While we didn’t go inside, standing in front of the hall offered a sense of connection to the past.

However, we had the opportunity to visit the nearby Senate and House chambers, where pivotal moments in American history unfolded. In the House chamber, we stood in the very place where the first peaceful transition of power took place—when George Washington stepped down from the presidency and John Adams was sworn in. Standing in that historic room on Inauguration Day made the experience even more meaningful, serving as a reminder of the enduring legacy of democratic leadership.

As we continued our tour, we left with a greater appreciation for the moments and monuments that have shaped our nation’s history, and a little extra gratitude for warmer climates.

Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMOA)

Saara Maknojia 

Art plays a significant role in incapsulating the historical evolution of cultures across the world. To learn more about art in different parts of the world during the different time periods, LEAP students paid a visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Gravitating towards the third floor of the museum, we split into groups to take on the two exhibits. Michelle, Israel, and I began our time strolling through the European and Asian art exhibits. The European side of the exhibit began with painting and artifacts from the Medieval time period. Immediately Michelle found, what happened to be her favorite from the exhibit, a piece by Joos Van Cleve titled Descent from the Cross.  

Passing through the European and Oriental artwork from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean artists, I approached a room filled with art best aligned with my heritage. The Southeast Asian collection contained a variety of “murti’s”, or idol sculptures often found in South Indian temples. From the columns with engravings of mythological characters depicted in Indian folklore stories, to the brass and golden murti’s, this surely became my favorite in the exhibit.  

Making Our Way to the Next Floor at PMOA

Cinthia Villarreal 

 After wrapping up the third floor, we headed to see my personal favorite section of the museum, the Impressionism and Post-Impressionism exhibits. With renowned artists such as Van Gogh, Cezanne, Claude Monet, and Mary Cassatt along the walls, we were thrilled to be exposed to more of the work during this artistic revolutionary era. As always, I gravitated toward Monet’s work. However, I was quite taken aback from one of his works from the later stages in his career, characterized by a dark colored shadows and bright colored background, giving the viewer just enough detail to get his idea across. Camille Pissarro’s Summer Landscape caught Israel’s attention. 

As we explored the other exhibits, we surprisingly walked past not one, but two huge Diego Rivera art pieces. We were incredibly surprised by having a Mexican American artist present so far north. 

The Modern and Contemporary art exhibit was our last stop in the museum. Chrissy, who found an interesting newfound appreciation for modern art last year, became visibly excited when we approached a couple of Andy Warhol signature pieces…

 

Though I find myself questioning this style of art extensively and is most definitely far from being my favorite, I can appreciate people’s feelings and appreciation towards the unique styles which they may gravitate towards and try to understand the intention of an artist when trying to provoke the viewer. We are always grateful to be exposed to a variety of ideas and fields that expand our knowledge and understanding not only of the arts, but of other people’s viewpoints that might differ from ours.  

A Little Fun in the Snow

By Olivia Discon

You would think that after 5 days in extremely cold weather that us Texans would immediately retreat indoors when presented the opportunity. However, we decided to hit the hills just outside the museum and go sledding!

This group had fun letting physics decide their fate, with some going down fairly smoother than others…

Cinthia, who is our ice queen, swiftly and enthusiastically rode down the hill several times and with different techniques.

Saara and Israel, who had a bit of a competitive edge, decided to race down the hill. That was soon squashed by a handful of icy collisions.

As for Chrissy, well, it was complicated. For starters, she unintentionally began backwards, and in true Chrissy fashion, did a couple of spins down the hill. She tried her best to regain control, and to that extent she did. However, it was too late for the immense fits of laughter achieved by the peanut gallery (us). So much so, that we gained the attention of CBS Philadelphia!

During an “on-the-street” interview, correspondent Kerri Corrado, was inquiring about how citizens brave the cold weather and how it may impact them.

While you can watch it here, here’s a short recap.

Michelle suggested layering up to the viewers, while Saara indicated our short-lived, childlike wonder out in the elements.

Chrissy, who made her way back up the hill from her wipeout, was covered in ice, as noted by Corrado.

Israel made it clear that he absolutely hated the cold weather and was quote “over it”.

I, myself, was not qualified to give anyone in Philly tips to brave the snow, as I had mysteriously lost one of my gloves.

While this was not the interview we were expecting, we were grateful for the opportunity to share our travels with the Philadelphian people!