This spring, Colorado Public Radio welcomed students from Julia Cogan and Miriam O’Connor’s 5th-grade class from Escuela de Guadalupe. The young broadcasters learned how to produce a Colorado Postcards segment from the series creators Gillian Coldsnow and Jon Pinnow.
It all started last fall when the students worked on a multifaceted project on famous Coloradan, Rodolfo Corky Gonzales. The 5th graders researched their subject, wrote essays on his life, illustrated pictures of Rodolfo, and then submitted them to Colorado Public Radio hosts, Jon Pinnow and Gillian Coldsnow.
The two professionals read all of the student essays and created 60-second scripts in English and Spanish. Then, things got really exciting!
The entire class was invited to the CPR studios for a tour, and two lucky students were picked to record the two postcards; one in English and one in Spanish. The English segment is now running live during the day on Colorado Public Radio. Both segments are available on the CPR website.
CPR News host and reporter, Arlo Pérez Esquivel, participated in a Q&A with the students about his career in broadcasting.
Jon Pinnow of Colorado Public Radio introduces Escuela students to a recording studio.
Read the full transcripts of the Colorado Public Radio segments below.
Transcript:
Rodolfo Corky Gonzales was a fighter born in Denver in 1928 to Mexican parents. He was a corked up bottle full of energy. Then he became a professional boxer. Out of 75 matches, he won 65. But the greatness of Corky Gonzales was in his words. He fought for Chicanos’ civil rights and led the movement in Colorado. His poem “I Am Joaquin” tells a story of pride and deep Mexican roots.
Gonzales started a Chicano rights organization and a dual language alternative school to make sure respect and awareness of Mexican American culture would carry on. Corky Gonzales died in 2005, but his inspiration continues in the movement he helped fire up. A library on Denver’s west side carries his name, Rodolfo Corky Gonzales. From the 5th grade class of Escuela de Guadalupe in Denver, this is a Colorado postcard.
Transcripción:
Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales fue un luchador. Nacido de Denver en el año de 1928 de padres mexicanos, era como una botella con corcho lleno de energía. Luego se convirtió en boxeador profesional. Ganó 65 de sus 75 peleas en las que participó.
Pero la grandeza de Corky Gonzales estaba en sus palabras. Luchó por los derechos civiles de los chicanos y lideró el movimiento en Colorado en la década de los años de los 60s. Su poema “Soy Joaquín” cuenta una historia de orgullo por las profundas raíces mexicanas. Gonzales inició una organización de derechos chicanos y una escuela alternativa bilingüe, para asegurarse de que el respeto y la conciencia por la cultura méxico-estadounidense continuarían.
Corky Gonzales murió en el año de 2005, pero su inspiración continúa en el movimiento que ayudó a impulsar. Una biblioteca en el lado oeste de Denver lleva su nombre, Rodolfo Corky Gonzales.
