Thank you Joaquin Arambula and your team:

We want to thank Dr. Arambula and his team for recognizing Malachi's tremendous work. You all treated us very well. The experience was amazing. We hope to see you all again soon.  

Thank you all for your support:

We want to thank everyone who attended and called in to the board meeting on July 26, 2022, and everyone who has helped us along the way. We made a strong showing despite not getting what we wanted. FYI- Malachi Suarez Elementary got only 5 less votes than Central Elementary on the survey.

Survey Results - Renaming James K Polk Elementary_305924s513zypyyn5xnbk2rdbyqc4s.pdf

Articles, proposed school logo, earlier articles, and mission:

Read the article about Central Unified's response to my proposal. (By Vic Bedoian- Community Alliance https://fresnoalliance.com/fourth-grade-student-with-a-history-lesson-confronts-school-district/

Read the articles: about Central Unified's response to my proposal. (By Bill Berkowitz- TheDailyKOS) https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/9/23/2053977/-Fourth-Grader-at-Fresno-s-Polk-Elementary-Educates-School-District-Calls-for-Name-Change


Central Unified in Fresno CA considers renaming schools _ The Fresno Bee.pdf
Fresno CA students criticize Central Unified renaming debate _ The Fresno Bee.pdf
Central Unified in Fresno must honor school renaming effort _ The Fresno Bee.pdf
11-9 3A 2 Fresno lists change names,mascots.pdf
10-28 4A Cen Unified review school names mascots.pdf
9-21 Bee 2A.pdf

Proposed School Logo

More Articles from the beginning of the project

Read the first article about my project. (By Kiera Kaiser- The kNOw Youth Media https://theknowfresno.org/04/21/2021/4th-grader-from-polk-elementary-demands-that-his-school-be-renamed/

Read the article about my presentation to the board and their unwillingness to vote. https://theknowfresno.org/07/30/2021/polk-elementary-the-next-step-in-one-students-battle-to-rename-his-school/

Mission of the project

James K. Polk does not represent the ideals of our school district. He used Manifest Destiny, the idea that some people are superior and more deserving based on the color of their skin, to wage an unjust war and steal land from Mexicans and Indigenous. He also owned slaves and opposed abolition.  Having my school named after  Polk makes me feel unwelcome and disgusted. There are plenty of honorable people of color who have done great things for our community who should be honored instead. Central Unified should do what is right and stop celebrating a person who is not a role model for our community. Central Unified's student body is 85% students of color. It is time to celebrate a person of color by naming my school after someone like Maria Moreno who was the first woman farm laborer to be hired as a union organizer. When we see people like us being celebrated, it makes us feel like we can accomplish great things. We  should change the mascot to the axolotls, an amphibian known for its ability to regenerate body parts. This encourages us to seek continuous growth, promotes healing, and will help raise awareness about their endangered status. 

Questions?

Email:  renamepolkelementary@gmail.com to get more information on the project