Dr. John Y. Fernandez is a retired teacher, independent scholar, and community activist. Influenced early in issues of educational equity, Dr. Fernandez participated in the historic 1968 East Los Angeles student walkouts as a senior at Abraham Lincoln High School. That experience motivated him to go on to college and become a public-school teacher. Dr. Fernandez holds over 35 honors and distinctions, including bilingual bicultural certification in history and social science and special education. He has conducted workshops to K-12 teachers, university professors, and graduate students on media literacy and culturally relevant and responsive teaching.