Art Rodriguez, acclaimed San Jose author whose books have chronicled the joys and sorrows of his youth in East San Jose, will speak in the Redwood Room at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 13. Teens, age 12 and older, and adults are invited to hear Mr. Rodriguez share his experiences about his difficult teenage years that were marked by street fights, struggles in school and incarceration in California Youth Authority institutions. You'll learn how he overcame his early obstacles to become a successful businessman and author.
East Side Dreams, by Art Rodriguez, was named one of the "200 Best Teenage Books in the United States" by the New York Public Library System. This book describes the happy times he spent as a child in East San Jose, as well as his later life in street gangs and prison. His dreams of a better life gave him comfort during the nights he spent locked in a dormitory with other young inmates:
"Some nights were crazy. When the lights went off and everything was quiet, some guys fixed up their beds as if they were sleeping in them. They would get on the floor and crawl all the way to the back corner. Once there, they would play cards or just whisper. When the guard made his rounds every hour or two, the inmates hid under the beds until the guard passed. They were never caught, but they had some close calls. I never played this game. I always thought there was enough time during the day to play cards and talk. Nights were for sleeping. I would close my eyes and dream, drifting to summers back home."Come and listen to Art Jimenez. He'll discuss his eventful life with honesty and candor. Reservations are recommended. Please call 615-2916 or visit the Youth Services Desk.
posted by jtb
