Donate to Three Years of Fear
Help us raise $45,000 to support this artistic collaboration on the topic of mental health.
The freshman year at CAST Schools is a year of self-discovery. For the past four years we have partnered with author, Lorenzo Gomez III, to perform an adaptation of his book for all entering ninth graders. Tafolla Toro: Three Years of Fear, is targeted to young people grappling with issues of fear, anxiety, community violence, and more. The book – set at Tafolla Middle School on San Antonio’s Westside – features a series of stories, with letters to the author’s younger self. These letters offer new perspectives and ideas based on the wisdom of hindsight.
This year, the Charline McCombs Empire Theater is opening its doors to allow us to invite the community to the big stage in downtown San Antonio. We’ll be performing three shows, one for all incoming 9th graders across our six CAST Schools in 4 school districts, one for the community, and a VIP fundraising event.
Premiere for CAST 9th Grade Students
VIP Performance
Family and Community Performance
Lorenzo Gomez wants to dispel that notion for good. In his new book, Tafolla Toro, he reaches back in time to share stories of his turbulent, traumatic, and often violent middle school years in one of San Antonio’s most crime-riddled neighborhoods. He opens up to reveal the fear, anxiety, and hopelessness he felt as a teenager and how those forces shaped his life until he began taking steps as an adult to improve his mental health.
The great lie of our society is that mental health and mental illness are the same.”
Alternating between shocking stories from his youth and letters written to his 12-year-old self, Lorenzo shows young people how to retake the battle of their minds by dealing with what is true and dismantling the lies that lead to self-deception. In Lorenzo’s journey, readers will see someone who understands what they feel, knows what they’re going through, and is standing up to tell them: Decide today that you are worthy.
The Three Years of Fear Curriculum Guide is intended for educators to incorporate the play and the book into your existing curriculum in a way that you see works naturally and meaningfully.
Click HereHelp us raise $45,000 to support this artistic collaboration on the topic of mental health.
Copyright © 2021 CAST Schools
The Centers for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) Network is a tax-exempt organization as described in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service code. CAST Schools are partnership schools with a focus on STEM careers, project based learning and work-based learning. Key partners include public school districts, higher education institutions, and local employers from target industries.