St. Patrick's Day Fundraiser = success!

CASA wants to thank Emily Alvarado, Kelvin Guerrero, and everyone else who helped make these BE GREEN wrist bands. Hand-crafted, made especially for the greeen holiday, we sold all of the ones we made!

Juan Ezpinoza: "I just want to be creative and live forever"

Juan Ezpinoza, a designer and builder, a philanthropist and believer. With an architecture background from UCLA and USC, and influenced directly by Frank Lloyd Wright, Juan understands the power of architecture not only as "the mother of all arts" ---as he described it, but as a way of reaching out to help his communities and people in Los Angeles and Oakland.

"I have a strong obligation to work with my people..be there to help them." Ezpinoza acknowledges the importance of an education, and the responsibility of those who are educated to create power through knowledge.

His recent works have focused on developing our notions of so-called ordinary spaces--fences, garages, thresholds. "Every night before I go to sleep I read poetry," Juan admits. He maintains firm to his dreams of keeping his "the fountain of youth" through his work. "By spreading words, and knowledge, you can help others out--you increase awareness for informing Latinos about our culture of community and togetherness, " he believes.

3rd General Meeting: Sweet Legacy

Although our turn-out in members was pretty low, the short conversation about Critical Regionalism based on the works of Luis Barragan generated thought and sparked creativity. Students' interpretations of the architecture in nexus to the landscape and people were all surprisingly different. Gerardo focused on the use of water in his candy garden, and Jessica emphasized the atmosphere of reflection created by the gardens. Overall, it was fun to get our hands dirty with our models--even if they were just made out of frosting and candy.