The celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month would not be complete without a nod to this group of very important Hispanic artists, athletes, politicians, activists and professionals. Their efforts over the years have helped raise the consciousness of a nation and the world about the contributions of Hispanics and the challenges Hispanics have faced as they are woven into the American tapestry of tradition and values. They are truly Hispanics you want to know.
The political importance of securing an ethnic voting bloc has played and will continue to play an important role in our political electoral history. Very few Americans understand the current Hispanic-changing demographic trends, its implications, political importance and their electoral votes. This vote not only became a political weapon in 2012, but in 2016, the Hispanic vote will dictate who will become the future leader of the free world. The 2016 Presidential election has slowly but surely developed into a debate on the politics of immigration reform and the courting of Hispanic electoral votes. Never in American electoral history has an ethnic group become such an important part of the American electoral process that the future American president will be determined by its electorate. Despite this importance, central to the debates is comprehensive immigration reform, the politics of race and the political impact of the new Americans or those we often refer to as undocumented immigrants.
An overwhelming majority of Americans continue to believe that having a certificate or degree beyond high school is important to our success as a nation and as individuals. But, according to results from a recent Gallup-Lumina Foundation Poll on Higher Education, Hispanics and African-Americans believe most strongly in the power of postsecondary education to help deliver good jobs and a better quality of life. In addition, Hispanics are more optimistic than other groups that this type of education is available and affordable to all.
I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I just never realized that my true passion would lie in serving my Latino community. As I sit on the brink of a new career, PhD in hand, constantly looking for ways to make education more equitable for Latinos, I find it necessary to reflect on how I’ve come to be here today. As an undergraduate student in teacher education, I soon discovered that I not only wanted to be an educator, but I wanted to serve a specific population of students – Latino students – that I felt were being mistreated by an education system that did not value our unique needs and contributions. I became that idealistic teacher who would make a difference for Latino students everywhere!
When studies are conducted about what professions will be in high demand in the future, health care tops most lists. It makes sense that Hispanic health care workers would be a significant part of that demand, but until now no empirical evidence existed that measured Hispanic health care needs of the present and future. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken a closer look at how to provide medical services to a burgeoning Latino population. The schools on our top 25 list conferring the most healthcare related degrees to Hispanics are important to fulfilling the health care needs to this growing demographic. Here is the CDC’s summary of their report.
San Antonio, Chicago, and Los Angeles all come to mind when one thinks of large Hispanic populations. Greenville, South Carolina - not so much. But as it turns out, Greenville has a significant Hispanic population that has grown considerably since the last census.
Facing off with mega entrepreneur Donald Trump in the television show The Celebrity Apprentice didn’t much faze Nely Galán. Dubbed the “Tropical Tycoon” by The New York Times Magazine, she was a self-made media mogul herself, earning her first six figures before she was 30 years old. As owner and president of Galán Entertainment, she had already been quite successful as a television producer of more than 600 different types of shows in English and Spanish, including the acclaimed The Swan.
Washington, DC--LATISM, a national leading organization of Latinos in Tech Innovation and Social Media, will be returning to DC for their 7th annual convention, which is to be held at the JW Marriott October 28 to 30, 2015. LATISM members, along with tech innovators, corporate leaders, policy experts, investors, and elected officials, will convene to showcase the contributions of the Latino community to technology, innovation, and economic growth. In addition, the conference will address the challenges and opportunities that we face as a nation with the continued shortage of STEM workers and a growing Hispanic population not equipped to fill the jobs of the next century. Latinos are projected to account for 75% of the growth in the nation’s labor force by 2020, therefore, Latinos are the country’s untapped resource to contribute to the next generation of innovators.
Latino college success does not begin at the entrance to the college campus. “Every educational experience from early childhood to high school and into the workforce influences the potential for success,” says Sarita Brown, president of Excelencia in Education which recently released its 2015 factbook on Latino student educational achievement. The factbook offers a national snapshot of Latino participation in all stages of education, from early childhood programs to doctoral studies. As Brown states, the factbook provides a comprehensive analysis of all aspects of Latino learning because it is necessary to “look critically at the entire educational pipeline.”
Much of her childhood was spent in the fields, picking onions, sugar beets, and broom corn, all while maintaining strong grades despite her migrant family’s itinerant life. Today, because of her experience, Dr. Socorro Herrera knows how to make a difference for all those who, like her, have lived a unique cultural experience that often goes overlooked in today’s educational setting.
That quote comes from a colleague of Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, president ad interim of The University of Texas-Pan American and founding provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, who recently received the prestigious Alfredo G. de los Santos Jr. Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award at the annual American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) conference.
In his 2015 State of the Union speech, President Obama proposed introducing free community college tuition for all interested and qualified students nationwide. A recent report from the Pew Research Center noted that this plan could exert major impact on Latino students and could spark increased enrollment.
Fear can overtake undocumented college students faced with the daunting tasks of applying for admission or financial aid. Not wanting to make waves, they don’t know where to go for help without putting themselves or their families at risk. At the same time, university staff might not know how to help those who are undocumented because they are not aware of resources. Referring them to other departments makes students feel they are getting the run-around. After so many referrals and no definitive guidance, they can give up. Between needs and reality, undocumented students can fall through the cracks of the higher education system.
"All In," a campaign from the College Board to encourage Latino students to enroll in AP courses, is in high gear. The campaign was developed after an analysis of most recent data showed thousands of Latino students who have demonstrated the potential to do well in AP courses are not enrolling in them — even when their schools offer those courses.
Dr. Alan Dettlaff knew he wanted to work with children as long as he could remember. He contemplated majoring in education and then special education but knew deep down they were not the right choice. He left his home in Chicago and came to Texas for a change of pace. One night, he watched a reporter on the news who went on a ride-along with a case worker for Child Protective Services. Her story struck a chord, and he knew the path he needed to take.
