Sacramento Topics

Miracle Washington, Jordan Wright and Sarwieh Tarpeh, from left, take gym class at Fortune School, which is in its first year of operation in a shopping center on Stockton Boulevard. “A lot of people have the mentality that low-income kids can’t learn,” says Phuong Tran, a kindergarten teacher at the school. “They have proved they can.”

Fong Tran sits with his mother, Hoa Tran, center, and his sister, Vivi Tran, at his mother's home in Sacramento. In his poetry, he praises her strength and the sacrifices she made as a single parent.

Fong Tran reads one of his poems to students Friday at the United Iu-Mien Youth Conference at UC Davis. Fong uses poetry slams as a platform to encourage students to embrace their backgrounds and cultural differences. "If we don't validate each other, we will lose our history," he says. "Call me Father Fong. If you're having fun, say 'Word!' "

Tony Tran of Elk Grove shows his support for the Kings at a recent Sacramento City Council meeting. A March 6 council vote is planned on a way to finance a new arena.