National Geographic

Ceremonial dancingis part of the Anahua-calmecac InternationalUniversity Preparatory’sgraduation-day cele-bration in downtownLos Angeles. The K-12public charter schoolemphasizes knowledgeof indigenous culture.Students learn Nahuatl(Aztec) in addition toEnglish and Spanish.As part of their mathlessons, they studya traditional compu-tation system callednepohualtzintzin.NEXT PHOTOPhilanthropistsRebecca (center) andRichard Zapanta (left),a surgeon, foundedLos Compadres, acharity that supportsChildren’s HospitalLos Angeles. Each yearthey fund events forvery ill patients, oftencoming-of-age partiessuch as quinceañeras,which commemoratea girl’s 15th birthday.94 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC