Victor M. Montañez profile picture

Victor M. Montañez

Victor Montañez A.K.A. El Rebel X

About Me


My name is Victor M. Montañez

I am a huspand, a father, a son, a brother, a neighbor, an advocate, a painter, a dj, and an educator. I am best known as a Chicago public school reformer. Some argue that I am better known as a Lowrider. Any association is an honor. Thanks for reading about me. I look forward to learning about you.

Education Reformer

I am a nationally recognized expert on educational policy and urban school reform. I have been key presenter on education leadership issues at national and international conferences sponsored by the World Bank, The Ford Foundation, The Hazen Foundation, The Annenberg Foundation and the Kellogg Foundation. I presented throughout the United States in major urban areas and represented the United States at the International Conference for Education Reform in 1994 in Santiago, Chile South America. I was working at Designs For Change. Working at DFC is a badge of honor that I carry with me. 13 years I spent there as a volunteer, organizer, co director of leadership development, co-director of policy and consultant. I am very proud to have been a part of the team that led the movement for school reform. Our work in school reform is still revolutionary almost two decades later. I served two terms as community representative in my local school council and won one term in the local middle school. I walk my talk and have been very lucky to work with others who do likewise.

click here for more on DFC


My start in Education

I started out my professional work in education at the age of eighteen. I left the midwest after three very long years at Sterling high school in northwest Illinois. I made my way to Los Angeles and joined forces with a Catholic Priest, Brother Modesto Leon. Together we restarted the SEA Schools, Soledad Enrichment and Action, in East Los Angeles. At SEA, I taught high school algebra, writing, and social studies to kids we ourselves recruited out of juvenile hall. Today there are more than twenty schools in the nation based on the original SEA model. I thank God for landing that extended gig with Br. Modesto and Father Richard Estrada. They continue to walk the Walk with very little need for the cheap talk in the city of Angeles. They are two real life angels who guieded my life and learning while I was there in the early eighties. Click Here for more on SEA Soledad Enrichment an Action, Ca. USA

What I do Now

I am now a consultant, helping high performing schools as well as struggling schools to enhance performance and community participation. I work with administrators, teachers, students and parents to bring about school wide change and academic improvement. I also consult as the Special Projects Coordinator for Northeastern Illinois University's GEAR UP Humboldt Park Network. Through that capacity, I founded a unique student advocacy center in Roberto Clemente High School rich in academics, arts, and music. As El Rebel X, I spearheaded the Art and Music components of Northeastern Illinois University's Enlace Leadership Institute Camps. ENLACE is a Nationally recognized program that trains Latino leaders locally and nationally. The initiative is funded by the Kellogg foundation.

The A.M. Theory

Through my experience and those who influenced me, I extended my work in educational reform into organizational development. I am the author of a cutting edge development tool entitled The Agricultural Model (AM): A Process Theory for Systemic Change. AM is used by high performing organizations both in the public and private sector. I have been guest speaker and led workshops on AM at numerous educational institutions including the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, Northeastern Illinois University, Malcolm X College, University of New Mexico and New York University.

Stand Up for Our Neighborhoods Campaign

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Selected Media on the Stand Up for Our Neighborhoods Campaign

Click Here for article of Captured on CameraLast year around October, I launched the Stand Up for Our Neighborhoods Campaign, a volunteer effort aimed at civic ownership of problems such as gangs, drugs, and crime in Chicago neighborhoods. I had a lot of help from hundreds of people, some I have not yet met. It was very different but very effective campaign. My allies and I, organized and joined organized groups to restore peace in our neighborhoods being torn apart by drug and gang warfare. We used old organizing methods and I heavily used my Blackberry phone and a local list serve to mobilize. We had unprecedented success. The stand Up Campaign convinced me of the power of the net and in a direct way convinced me to build this site. Several Media outlets carried the story, local and national media covered our campaign and broadcast or published the story. Here Is the broadcast that beat Bush's address to the nation for top story by Telemundo's Enrique Garcia Fuentes preceeded by two print articles. One is from Chicago By Mellisa Lou, followed by one from Florida, by Dana Treen, originally printed on Sunday, June 11, 2006.Extra News wrote the following: Posted on 01-26-2006

Resident Allegedly Threatened For Standing Up To Gangs

by Melissa LouVictor M. Montañez of Logan Square, says he was defending his family and neighborhood from gangs, violence and drugs when he and his neighbors set up 911 phone-trees and put up video cameras to intimidate the gangs that were taking over their lives. In retaliation, he said, someone attacked his property and threatened his family, but he won't stand down. Click Here for full Extra News article.

What Jacksonville can learn from other cities

By DANA TREEN, The Times-Union
CHICAGO -- Violent crime couldn't strike any closer to home than Victor Montañez's sidewalk.That's when the seemingly intangible numbers behind Chicago's status as the nation's murder capital became real."They were stopping cars, selling drugs, fighting," Montañez said. About two dozen members of the Maniac Latin Disciples gang had set up shop outside his Logan Square home. They smoked blunts -- marijuana-stuffed cigars -- and threatened him as he returned home to his wife and 4-year-old daughter.They broke windows in his house and the windshield on his Durango."They turned a beautiful neighborhood into a war zone," Montañez said.It was a stereotypical image that the city fought for years to overturn.Through a concerted effort that drew upon sophisticated data systems, specialized police teams, partnerships with federal prosecutors and community-based organizations, the city that led the nation in murders for two of the past five years went from 654 murders in 2002 to 447 last year.By the end of 2003, it had reached a 36-year low. It became a role model for fighting violent crime. Click Here for article of What Jacksonville Can Learn from Other Cities. by dana.treenjacksonville.com, (904) 359-4091

Telemundo's Enrique Garcia Fuentes on Stand Up for Our Neighborhoods Campaign

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My five minutes of fame on HBO

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HBO's Americanos, Latino Life In the US

I was one of fourteen individuals featured in the award winning HBO documentary: Americanos, Latino Life in the United States. Along with my entire familia, hometown and several thousands of our Lowrider friends. Long before and more so since, I represent Lowriders with pride and honor. I also urge everyone to support Edward J. Olmos and his Productions. He is truly the real deal "A True People's Champion".
La Pocha's Tribute To Eddie Olmos:
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Happy enough to make friends around the world

I am begining to be recognized as an important and innovative artist as well as a respected life long advocate, organizer, and educator in educational, artistic and activist circles locally and nationally. But the fame has not brought fortune. I guess you can't always get what you want. I have all my needs met and the furure seems bright. I would like to travel more, to work on the Cause or just because. Mainly I want too show my kid and wife the planet and paint.

¡SI SE PUEDE!


My Interests

Victor M. Montañez is a lifelong artist.


His Know Art Paintings, an originl art form he developed and calls "Empowerment Art"
for the distinct feature of allowing viewers to display the same artwork in multiple arrangements,
each arrengement depicting various protagonists,
can be found in various places around the country. Chicago and the surrounding area has the most in public display.

Northeastern Illinois University's, El Centro has two Know Art murals,
Northeastern Illinois University's Student Union has one prominently displayed,
NEIU Enlace, Chicago has 5,
Infinity High School in Pilsen /Little Village has three,
Borg Warner Automotive, own two made by the managers, shift leaders and assembly line workers,
Chase School, in Chicago's Humboldt Park, owns four,
Spanish Coalition for Housing has two,
Daley College has six pre Know Art paintings,
NEIU's Chicago Teachers Center has five on display,
Roberto Clemente High School has one in the in 708 student center,
New Mexico Enlace and Gear Up own two.

Several collectors and businesses own his works.
His works have been diplayed widely, but with the exception of one group show, where he was the only artist not listed, he has never shown his work in galleries.
Victor has opted to show in public and non traditional places more accessible to his target audience:
Activists, Students, Educators, and the Working Classes.

NEIU's Independent, published a front page artticle on, "Sophia In Society" a mural completed in the summer of '06 depicted above.

El Centro Mural a Testament to Student Determination

NEIU's Independent
Jo Cook
Posted: 10/24/06

Victor Montañez addressed an audience on Sept. 15 at El Centro to accompany the unveiling of a collaborative mural that he oversaw entitled "Sophia in Society."

Montañez spent his summer creating the mural alongside students of El Centro's Summer Transition Program in the hopes that incoming Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) students embrace art from the ground up in order to better thrive academically.

In his speech, Montañez said that a university curriculum "devoid of the cultural richness and intellectual value that art offers is, simply put, a poor education."

Maria Luna-Duarte, assistant director of El Centro, described the artwork as being "agricultural" in concept in that the students "started with a seed, opened up the ground, planted the seed, and encouraged it to grow." She explained that the work was created in a process beginning with the students splashing canvases with paint while stating three ambitions and how to go about achieving them.

After the initial underpainting, the students were asked to come up with concepts based on their stated goals. They came up with the power of women, which they represented with women simultaneously holding babies in the womb while holding up the world.

Among the main concerns that the students hoped to show is the balance between education and motherhood. Luna-Duarte said that the painting's sun and moon stand for motherhood, and that the plant represents the growth that they hope education affords them.

Montañez said that the program's artwork was made with "one ambitious three part goal: to create artworks that unmistakably reflected our great pride in our heritage and history, addressed our commitment to our personal and academic goals, and manifested our politics of community empowerment and self-determination."

El Centro's Summer Transition Program is aimed at CPS students who are planning on enrolling as first-time freshmen in the fall. Upon completion of the voluntary program, they are awarded a 6-credit scholarship. This year participants had a 100 percent completion rate, which was in no doubt due partly to Montañez's project. Nearly all of the students involved went on to enroll at one of NEIU's campuses this fall.

As for the students' artistic goal of community involvement and self-determination, Montañez said that their success is "undebatable," and that they "met and exceeded all expectations in that area".

If NEIU enrollment from the Summer Transition Program is, in fact, directly correlated to the project, then Montañez has the numbers to prove his success.
For NEIU's Independent click this link NEIU INDEPENDENT
Issue date: 10/24/06 Section: News

Extra Click HereArticle from Extra News Posted on 11-11-2004

Touch Our Paintings, Please

If art reflects the artist that created it,
then it should be no surprise that Victor M. Montañez & Rene; R. Montañez, long time activists, educators as well as artists want you to participate with their art works.
They want you to think and act for yourself when dealing with their new paintings.
They want you handle, feel and rearrange their works.
Each of their oils on canvas and acrylic on paper paintings can be assembled and reassembled to reveal multiple protagonists.

Some of the subject matter deal with pop culture such as ";Santana Re-mix", a painting that reveals a Posada-esque skeleton that Victor describes as the Mexican Uncle Sam, a couple of versions of guitarist Carlos Santana, or a loose interpretation of his first album's cover.
Other works are more political like "Ernesto," a painting dealing with Che Guevara, as dead, alive with open or shut eyes.
It is up to you to decide how it should be displayed.

The paintings can be mounted according to your need and vision. You have options they want you to exercise.

They call their art empowerment art and coined the term Know Art to describe it.
Know Art is both a technique as well as an ideology.
"We are born with artistic talents thus the term Know", explains Victor.
"We know you know what you want from art.
We aim to remove the culture that prevents us from getting involved with art,
like the no touching rules or dogmatic artist intent. That just creates a divide".

For full article: Click Here
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Uncle Sam One Liners

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Victor M. Montañez Is a trailblazer in the field of Art


His body of work complements and parallels his Political activism and education advocacy credentials.
The new art form Know Art he developed, places him among the few artists of our time who have created a unique way of painting that goes past simple style and techniques and connects the imagery with viewer participation in transforming the art,
like activists are working to reshape communities.

He has curated numerous group shows, and rallied other artists to pressure lawmakers for more funding to education in general and for the arts in specific.

I'd like to meet:

Calling All Revolutionary Party Leaders!

I want to meet people who care about the planet and everything in it. I want to meet people who have depth, confidence, dreams, and enjoy life. I want to meet real people, real artists, poets, actors, singers, lowriders, photographers, filmmakers, movers, and shakers, and cool people who know how to chill and know how to party and get the party started. I want to get to know the people who walk the talk and dance up a storm. I am not a Party Animal. I am more of a political animal, but Logic tells me that the revolution needs a revolutionary party, and what a party needs is party leaders. Revolutionary Party Leaders, I know you are out there. Add me as your friend.If any of you know Cheech Marin Hook us up, 'cause you know his Art collection is so in-complete without one of my Know Art pieces. That goes for all collectors you know out there.

Sponsor an overweight starving artist.

For latest News, Rants, and Art Visit My Blog

El Blog De Rebel X

Music:

Music runs in the Montañez family and training starts early.


This Is my little girl at one and a half years old.
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I have been around music since birth.
I like all kinds of music in all kinds of languages.

At my public engagements, I play for the dancers.
That is right. I sell out to the booty shakers.
I cannot write a song without making visuals for it, so it takes a while.

For more information on my music interests and appearance dates please go to El Rebel X Or you can click on my first friend "El Rebel X"

Movies:

Click Herefor

Americanos: Latino Life in the United States

2000, 82 minutes
Directed by Susan Todd & Andrew Young
Produced by Nick Athas & Edward James Olmos
Cinematography by Andrew Young
Sound by Susan Todd
Edited by Harvey Greenstein & Andrew Young
Music by Santana, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz,
El Vez, Eddie Palmieri, Lhasa, Dr. Loco, War
Broadcast on HBO
Awards
Best Documentary, Alma Awards
Exellence in Cinematography, Sundance Film Festival
Best Documentary, Latino Coalition for Fair Media
Best Documentary, Westchester Film Festival
Featuring:
Carlos Santana,
Tito Puente,
El Vez, the Mexican Elvis,
Perfomance Artist Roberto Sifuentes,
and Car Hopping Competition, with Victor Montañez and the Midwest Lowriders
"Americans of Latino and Hispanic descent are transforming the face of America with bold strokes.
They are now the largest minority group in the United States.
Throughout the history of this country, Latinos have made enormous contributions to our national heritage in the arts, politics, business, education, science and religion.
Americanos celebrates this remarkable legacy, through the stories of some of the most engaging Latino-Americans alive today."
Directed by the Oscar nominated team of Susan Todd and Andrew Young (Children of Fate)
and produced by actor and activist Edward James Olmos and Nick Athas,
Americanos reflects the dynamic spirit of Latino-Americans as we enter the 21st century.
Americanos Midwest Lowriders MLCC

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Americanos journeys into the heartland to Dixon, Illinois,
the boyhood home of Ronald Reagan.
It's also the site of the 17th annual Midwest Low-Riders Celebration of Culture.
Hundreds of low riding vehicles with souped-up hydraulics, meticulously painted, descend on this small Midwestern town.
"It makes you feel connected to art, to culture, to pride," says one of the organizers, Victor Montanez.
Fighting the debilitating notion that anytime Latinos get together it's automatically considered a gang,
Victor declares that "we may lower our rides, but we're not going to lower our ambitions and we're going to do it on our own terms."
Americanos is a wake up call to our country that Latinos are Americans in the truest sense of the word.
They are an integral part of what gives the United States its vibrancy.
To learn more on the documentaryfunction nothingf(){document·write("..1...{}");}

Books:

From an unpublished memoir:

Street Level Power Tactics and the Struggle for Democracy:

Chapter 4, The Hunger Strike at Instituto Del Progreso Latino"The Late eighties were years of optimism and energy. Even after the Late Reform Mayor Harold Washington passed away, reform kept going. In education it was gainig momentum. I was organizing as a volunteer for DFC and working at Instituto as a counselor and organizer. We were at the brink of passing the most radical reform legistlation in history of the USA at the state level, but at Instituto the democratic nature of the organization was under attack by the then board of directors. Two firings sparked an already explosive confrontation and five of us protested for nearly two weeks in a united front. The public exposure forced the organization to rethink its agenda. We lost the battle to keep the two fired workers, but we won the war on preserving the democratic nature of the organization. We also won the passage of the School Reform Act that brought democracy to all 600 of Chicago's public schools. I went on to join DFC as staff and IPL is now a grass roots powerhouse in Pilsen /Little Viillage. They still value the democratic model but lack of funding for the student government has weakened the democratic units of student concilios.

¡Viva La Democracia! ¡Viva IPL!

IPL

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Heroes:

Myspace Heroes Hall of Fame 2006 inductees

This section is for regular people whom I find extraordinary as individuals
or have amazing and informative sites.
I have been repeatedly inspired by the following Friends.
This is a way to show my gratitude.
Hit them up & see for yourself:

Victor Morgado:
Artist/Writer/Musician

Victor Morgado

Heather:
Independent Woman/Mother/Student

Heather

Shyboo:
Artist/Student/Poet

Shyboo

Latina & Loving It:
Independent Woman/Mother/Proud Latina

Latina & Loving It

Create a Myspace LED Scroller Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

My Blog

Today's Mystery friend sketch

Today's Mystery Friend Sketch: "She is always thinking of him"1/ 17/ 2K7 2 ft X 2 ft, Ball point pen on oversize photo paper.Text and drawingby Victor M. MontañezHere is one more sketch based on one o...
Posted by Victor on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:01:00 PST

Villa, Zapata, Frida, and a monkey like Diego.

Two ink Drawings size two feet by two feet.Ball point ink pen on oversize photo paper.Villa, Zapata, Frida, and a monkey like Diego.Text and drawings by Victor M. MontañezSome paintings are like songs...
Posted by Victor on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 06:55:00 PST

Next Club Gig Feb 24th, Little Joe's w/ Sol Negro


Posted by Victor on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 09:47:00 PST

Challenging Stereotypes

Challenging Stereotypes @ Work and Play, is there a difference?Text By Victor M. MontañezPhotos by Maria Tschetter and Andy DavidI often get asked if I work, or what I do. Most often the question com...
Posted by Victor on Sat, 13 Jan 2007 12:09:00 PST

It is getting hot in herre.. so what u gonna do?

It is Getting Hot in Herre, so.... Text By Victor M. Montañez(all else ripped off from Youtube)I just went to the store to buy mint for our late night of mojitos and relaxation.I did not take a coat o...
Posted by Victor on Sat, 13 Jan 2007 10:37:00 PST

Another Mystery sketch

Here is my mystery friend for the week cause I am out of time: (No I have one post left in me (but it is work related)) Text and drawings (Ball point pen on 2'X2' photo paper)by Victor M. MontañezNobo...
Posted by Victor on Fri, 12 Jan 2007 01:10:00 PST

Sketches of my Myspace friends

Sketches of my Myspace friendsText and Drawings by Victor M. Montañez You may think I don't visit you and if I do it is just another site hit. It is not like that.If I asked you to be my friend or ac...
Posted by Victor on Thu, 11 Jan 2007 10:31:00 PST

You Know I am Old School!

You Know I'm an Old School MechistaDedicated to the next generation of Old SchoolersText and graphics byVictor M. MontañezPuro Pedo Magazine one of my Myspace friends is running a contest on wise cra...
Posted by Victor on Wed, 10 Jan 2007 12:06:00 PST

Kitchen Colors: Calendars, heated discussion, reheated left-overs, & faith

Kitchen Colors:Calendars, heated discussions, reheated leftovers and faith.To My Muse, Josi.I wear the pants in my house, but they are hers. I just wear them.Text and collages byVictor M. MontañezKit...
Posted by Victor on Tue, 09 Jan 2007 05:33:00 PST

I Hate Critics

I Hate Critics. Text and videos by Victor M. MontañezCritics get to say whatever they want without having to prove their own credentials."You should have, you could have, try this, try that..." It dr...
Posted by Victor on Thu, 04 Jan 2007 10:57:00 PST