On Saturday, November 8, the Bécalos students took part in a walking tour of the Embarcadero in San Francisco. Highlights of the trip included a visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Fountain at Yerba Buena Gardens as well as a stop at AT&T Park, the home field of our own World Champions, the San Francisco Giants! Students were able to walk through the memorial and read quotes and view pictures from the Civil Rights Movement, then engage in a discussion about the impact of Martin Luther King, Jr. on history and how American perspectives have changed throughout the past several decades. The students were very interested in the symbolism behind the fountain, stressing the importance of water as renewal and revitalization for the future.
Many students were fortunate enough to attend the Giants Victory Parade at Civic Center Plaza on October 31. This year’s celebration offered a culturally unique San Francisco experience as the parade date happened to fall on Halloween. While the students enjoyed the events of the day, a special stop to AT&T Park was an anticipated treat for many of them. Entering the ballpark for an up close and personal experience to witness the home field of the Giants was definitely a memorable outing. The students had the field to themselves as they took pictures in the Fan Lot and even played a miniature game of baseball. Students were encouraged to show their best baseball swing in front of the statue of Willie Mays at the entrance of the park. A wonderful day of celebration and learning was had by all.
For more information on the Bécalos Program, please contact Pcyeta Stroud at stroudp@smccd.edu.
Article and photos by Alessandra Zanassi
