Mi Barrio comic book is reviewed in Publisher’s Weekly! “Clester’s art is more highly accomplished than is usually seen in true-life graphic adaptations, and while Renteria’s tendency to gloss over the details can leave his story feeling sketchy at times, it’s a work whose hard-won sense of hopefulness outweighs any hint of preachiness.”

Click here to read the full review!

“I learned to not let anyone tell me I can not do something. Remember that while you have a heart, we always have a chance, “Renteria said in his book. Mi Barrio, comic book version of Renteria, focuses on their concerns to the heart and capture the attention of young people at risk, which may be going through a similar situation to the author, who managed to escape problems such as gangs , drugs and alcohol.

Click here to read the full translated article!

A beautiful review of Mi Barrio posted today on the Feathered Quill. Reviewer Ellen Feld wrote that the book is “told in a down-to-earth, conversational style [with] a few lessons to impart to its young readership, but is not at all preachy…The black and white artwork is superb and meshes perfectly with the tale, a tale that will resonate with all young people who want to make something of themselves.”

Click here to read the full review!

Robert was quoted in a beautiful Reflejos article entitled Mentoring Minorities. Here’s an excerpt:

It was a mentoring relationship between Chaidez and a local published author, Robert J. Renteria, Jr., that proved key in leading him toward a college education. “I think that a lot of people talk the talk and not enough walk the walk. We need to be mentors of action. My role is to show these kids that we lead by example,” said Renteria…

Click here to read the entire article!

Check out the excellent review of From the Barrio to the Boardroom’s comic book adaptation, Mi Barrio, on www.TradeReadingOrder.com!

“Sometimes it takes a little push to get people moving, especially in a society where the average person doesn’t read a single book in a year, and releasing a story like this in comic form is an excellent idea.

It’s important that this book is straightforward and simple. Studies have shown that comics help encourage literacy among children. And literacy is a key factor in success in life, with direct correlation to income levels.”

Click here to read the entire review!

It is intriguing to consider that a child who displays aggressive and anti-social behavior may just be responding to the experience of not having enough to eat.  In fact, a 1998 study, reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics *, found that this might be the case.  The research showed that among a number of dysfunctional qualities demonstrated by low income children who are hungry, aggression and anxiety had the strongest degree of association with experiences of hunger.

The authors of the study suggest that health care providers treating low income children with psychosocial dysfunction should consider the possibility of food shortages within the home and include referrals to food pantries, meal programs and other food assistance programs as part of their interventions.

Does a full belly produce a calm demeanor?  Can the worry, discomfort and the fear of not being able to get enough to eat cause a child to strike out in frustration and helplessness?  Recent news reports state that 1 in 4 children in this country do not have enough to eat.  Don’t you agree that it is a crime for any growing child to be hungry?  The possibility that the simple act of keeping a child well-fed could improve his behavior and remove a catalyst for aggression and violence begs the question –  why aren’t we doing everything in our power to make sure that every child has enough to eat?

*Pediatrics, Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 1998; 101; e3.
(http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/101/1/e3)

Prepared by:  Marilyn Weisner, Executive Director, Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry,
659 S. River St., Aurora, IL 60506, Phone (630)897-2127
http://www.aurorafoodpantry.org/

Click here to read about Robert in Hoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSzGWDicme4

Click here to check it out! Mi Barrio Profiled in Conexion

Comic of man’s story will draw you in

By Andre Salles asalles@stmedianetwork.com Oct 10, 2010 06:31PM

All I ever really needed to know, I learned from reading comic books.

I was reading at a young age. My mom tells me I was devouring books by age 3, and I assume she means reading them, not eating them. It’s a habit I’ve kept up. Not only does my job require endless hours of reading, but I go through several books a month besides.

It’s safe to say the characters I encountered as a child influenced who I am today. And very few shaped me more than Spider-Man. Peter Parker was like me, unsure of himself and his place in the world, and his adventures taught me that with great power comes great responsibility. (It’s corny, but it’s true.) Heck, I even work for a newspaper now, just like Parker, although I can’t take pictures to save my life.

Click here to read the entire article!