Hi Lupe! I am a CPS Teacher at the Cook County Jail. I am also a resident of Humboldt Park and a huge fan. The following is a letter I am passing along for a student...Please Help!

Dear Lupe,

I am writing you this letter from the Cook County Department of Corrections. I have been here for 2 years awaiting trial for a very serious offense. One positive thing that came out of this mess is that I have been able to attend a Chicago Public High School while locked up. On Wednesday, June 10, 2009 I will graduate and receive my diploma from Consuella B. York Alternative High School.

My classmates and I would like to invite you to join us at our graduation. We are huge fans of your music, but it is more than just that. We need you to talk to us. We need your advice. We believe that you are a good role model and that your motivational words will provide us with necessary intellectual stimulation. Hearing from someone on the outside will teach us strength, power, and survival skills, while giving us a momentary escape from our current reality.

By helping us celebrate our graduation, you will be making an immeasurable impact on our lives. We are spending our teenage years living in a cell, often treated without respect, but have still managed to graduate from high school. This is a reason to celebrate.

Sincerely,

Marcellus French