Written by Marlene López Patton and Edgar Hernández Ortiz

Latino Network was founded in 1996 by community leaders who grew concerned about the lack of adequate resources to meet the needs of the growing Latino community. Over the years, we have evolved to become an organization that also encompasses a transformational program to uplift Latinx communities in Oregon’s Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties, as well as in the state’s central region. Our organization fosters empowerment through high quality education and community engagement opportunities, which include a statewide leadership program that influences public policy and develops community leaders.

A Clear Mission

Latino Network’s mission has always been to positively transform the lives of Latinx youth, families, and their communities. Our organization has thus created numerous programs that focus on supporting youth through education. Latino Network believes building a strong foundation is crucial in a young child’s life and that early learning is vital for creating a brighter future. Our Early Childhood Education Program supports parents as their child’s first teacher and prepares children, from birth to age five, for success in school and life.

Our Education Access Programs provide culturally specific programming for Latinx students and families through Conexiones (7th and 8th grades), Early Escalera (9th and 10th grades), Escalera (11th and 12th grades), and Colegio de Padres (family engagement for families with youth in middle or high school). Our school-based programs are designed to support youth and families by bolstering academic, social and emotional development, and preparing them for their postsecondary education after high school. We are aware of the struggles our youth and communities face on a daily basis. Our programs are developed to assist youth struggling in school, especially students of color and English Language Learners, who often do not feel sustained by the mainstream system. For these youth who are still in school but are at risk of dropping out, timely interventions are crucial to preventing higher dropout rates. In these programs, students receive case management from a bilingual mentor who works closely with them and their families to successfully navigate the educational system. We offer after-school programming focusing on culture and identity, academic success, social emotional learning, and college and career readiness.

All these programs build on one another to promote growth. By working collaboratively with students and parents, we help students graduate from high school and promote college and career readiness. Our programs understand that genuine collaboration is not a box that’s checked—it’s a needle that’s threaded in order to weave together all the individuals and systems that impact a child over their lifespan, while also integrating culturally appropriate services throughout.

This is why our programs have such an impact and create lasting change.

In order to support students after high school, we have created the Paso a Paso Scholarship, which assists students in our Escalera Program with the cost of college. This scholarship – the only one we offer at this moment – is open to any student who is part of the Escalera Program, regardless of their immigration status in the US.

Also, our Educational Access Program has added a program aimed at college students in their freshman year. Part of it begins in the summer of their senior year. It is an eight-week Bridge Program that offers students case management from a bilingual mentor and provides a closer look at the student's needs to be better prepared for college. Students attend workshops dealing with different aspects of campus life, such as financial aid, registration, and mental health. Current students said they’ve enjoyed engaging with our mentor and have benefited from our case management. Meeting in person allowed them to ask questions to their mentor and our guest speakers during our workshops. They also appreciated having Latinx speakers and presenters and the support provided, for example, to complete their financial aid forms, and registering for class.

Conclusion

At Latino Network, our goal is to offer our youth and their families support, coaching, and technical assistance to successfully navigate the US educational system. We mentor students and families in person and virtually to make sure they are ready to face the numerous issues and topics that will present themselves at all levels in their academic path. And we will continue to work in this direction untiringly. •

Authors’ Bios:

Marlene López Patton currently serves as a Program Manager with Latino Network in the Educational Access Program department. Marlene holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in communications from WOU and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from PSU.

Edgar Hernández Ortiz is the Bridge Coordinator for Latino Network. He spent his last 3 years working within the organization as a Youth Engagement Specialist at McDaniel High School and Parkrose Middle School working within the school site providing direct services to students and families.