Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Behold 1500 Latinos! A Special Article
written by Courtney Groszhans for Ben Ruiz
A fact that connects all Americans: at some point their families were foreigners and encountered xenophobia from fellow Americans. Ask yourself, what hardships did my ancestors face when they first settled here? The new wave of immigrants are predominately from Latin countries, according to the US Census over half of foreign-born immigrants in the United States are Latino, thus the need for a community wide effort to ensure the need for a more educated tomorrow, enter BeHold 1500 Latinos!
Behold 1500 Latinos! is a city wide initiative to help a minimum of 1500 Latinos obtain college degrees by the year 2020 in Louisville. This is a part of the 55,000 Degrees Initiative in Jefferson County. Behold 1500 Latinos is seeking funds to guarantee the success of Latinos in Jefferson County. This grass roots effort is compiled of hardworking individuals, all of the leaders are successful Latinos professionals, helping Latino students find their own path to college. Behold would support and introduce new programs into the Louisville community promising the success of Latino students and promoting the importance of obtaining a college degree.
One of the goals of Behold 1500 Latinos! is to create a college-going atmosphere within the Latino community. As you know, children of immigrants in the United States face challenges their American born counterparts do not. Initiatives such as Behold are progressive as they are addressing a recurring problem in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), “Hispanic students lag [behind white students] by the same amount today as they did in 1990, which means that the achievement gap between Hispanic and white students has been largely unchanged for the past two decades,” (Time, 2011). These disparities have been explained as a ‘language barrier’ as 4 million Latino-Americans first language is not English. However, the difference is Latinos may no longer be a minority here in the United States, as they have the fastest growing population. States such as Arizona have taken an alternate approach in their dealings with Latino immigrants, but Louisville has been recognized as a city of compassion and has chosen to embrace diversity. Contributing to this idea, we have innovative ideas and compassionate people willing to help a community of immigrants achieve their own American dream of going to college and becoming a magnate in their community.
Funding could contribute to already existing programs that successfully impact Latino students in Jefferson County. Two such programs are La Camara@Wesley House and Adelante Hispanic Achievers, Inc. Adelante serves 80 Latino students, helping them socially, personally, and educationally. In Adelante’s eighth year of programming, the average GPA of their Latino students who have been in the program over three years is a 3.4 (a B+ average). By supporting an already existing program, this would expand the outreach of Adelante to greatly impact more Latino students.
Embracing the Latino community here in Louisville would not only cement the idea that Louisville is a city of compassion, but Louisville would be a prime example of how we as Americans should be embracing diversity in our community. By supporting Latino students, we are investing in our own future. By 2020, Latinos are estimated to represent over half of the American population. What better way to ensure success than invest in Latino students and ensure their likelihood of obtaining a degree and contributing back to society?
By 2020 Louisville could see 1500 Latinos with a college degree and be compassionate members of society. They would in turn be role models to the younger generation of Latinos that yes it is possible to be successful in America. By 2025, 1500 will easily turn into 3,000 Latinos with a college degree and so on. The hardest part is starting this process and showing people that it is possible and it will happen. The leaders of this initiative will not stop until these goals are met and will not stop working when they are. Funding is an investment in someone’s future and in Louisville’s future as well.
The organizers of Behold 1500! Latinos are accepting volunteers who would like to discuss this initiative and the future possibilities of collaboration. Please contact Ben Ruiz at 589-3224 or ben@adhawks.com
Monday, May 7, 2012
We Latinos are very lucky!
We are very lucky to be standing here united.
In the state that is called a commonwealth with its own state motto of “United we stand, divided we fall.”
It’s our motto as Hispanics and Latinos. After all, in Spanish, one of our most popular chants is: “Unidos—no podemos ser vencidos.” (United—we can not be conquered).
We are very lucky to have politicians like Steven Riggs, Reginald Meeks, Gerald Neal, Crit Luallen, Steve Beshear and John Yarmuth who, all along with others, helped us repeal the bill that mirrored Arizona’s SB 1070—which is now, unfortunately, gaining popularity with similar legislation in other states like Alabama and Georgia.
We are lucky to be living in Louisville with Mayor Greg Fischer who promised us Hispanic and Latinos that there would be no racial profiling within the city—a city that now has an immigrant population of more than 50% and represents over 80 countries.
And now, we are very lucky to be part of the 55,000 Degrees initiative because higher education is the most common denominator for people of all colors: brown, black, red, yellow and white!
Today, we Hispanic Latinos stand united in Jefferson County and surrounding areas including southern Indiana to support our own part of the the 55,000 Degrees initiative we have named “Behold 1500 Latinos!”
Through the Mayor’s Office for Globalization and one of its first International Councils, named “The Magnificent 7” we have called upon all of our local networks of Hispanic Latino organizations and other organizations that support us to help us organize a voluntary collaboration in order for “Behold 1500 Latinos!” will begin to assist Kentucky Hispanic Latinos in overcoming the barriers that hinder postsecondary participation and success and set Kentucky on track for college attainment and completion. The aim is to help 1,500 Latinos in Jefferson County attain college degrees or credentials by 2020 as part of Jefferson County’s 55,000 Degrees Initiative.
In our meeting on May 9, 2012 at the UFCW 227 Union Hall Headquarters, we are presenting this agenda for “Behold 1500 Latinos!”:
- Dr. Antonio Perez will explain the “Behold 1500 Latinos!” plan and how the personal counseling will work eventually through a system of volunteers at various community centers.
- Volunteers will be recruited for future tutoring, mentoring, counseling and training.
- FIVE main collaborative groups will be identified in their respective category:
1). Community Centers (like Wesley House, Churches, etc.) where training classes can be held.
2). Collaborating organizations (such as the Greater Louisville’s 55,000 Degrees Educational Commitment, the Kentucky Latino Educational Alliance, La Camara, Hispanic Latino Coalition, the Hispanic Latino Business Council, etc.) who will use their web sites as portals for the information and ongoing communication about “Behold 1500 Latinos!” progress.
3). Social services organizations (groups such as Adelante Hispanic Achievers, Catholic Health Charities, etc.) who will provide direct services to youth and their families.
4). Educational Institutions (groups such as U of L and the Latin American & Latino Studies Club, JCTCS, Bellarmine University, etc.) that will also have resources for ongoing information/training/counseling.
5). Philanthropic organizations/corporations (organizations with foundations, etc.) that will invite grant proposals by Behold 1500 Latinos.
Our main objective is to create a real collaboration between all these five groups and to recruit a “Behold 1500 Latinos!” representative at each of the groups that can keep the lines of communication open as one or another group makes significant progress. Once the first funding is obtained for communication materials and training programs (these will start in the fall and will take place at centers designated by Adelante Hispanic Achievers, La Camara @ Wesley House) then all collaborating organizations can take an active role in the “Behold 1500 Latinos!” initiative through:
1. Grassroots outreach efforts for families and Hispanic Latino youth;
2. Student support through Hispanic Latino outreach coordinators;
3. Financial aid application support and financial literacy training;
4. Career counseling and employment support;
5. Peer mentoring;
6. Two-year to four-year transfer and articulation support; and
7. "Latino Student Success" training for mentors and facilitators.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
”BEHOLD 1500 LATINOS!”
”BEHOLD 1500 LATINOS!” INITIATIVE
FOR COLLEGE COMPLETION: 2020
55,000Degrees, a partnership formed to support the Greater Louisville EducationalCommitment, was formed in 2010 with leaders in education, business, governmentand civic life who are committed to increase the percentage of our workforcewith college diplomas to 50 percent over a 10-year period. 55,000 Degrees isgrateful for support from both individuals and foundations, including the JamesGraham Brown Foundation, the C.E&S. Foundation, The Community Foundation ofLouisville, the Humana Foundation, the JPMorgan Chase Foundation andBrown-Forman.
Theprojected outcomes for Behold 1500 Latinos! are to assist Kentucky HispanicLatinos in overcoming the barriers that hinder postsecondary participation andsuccess and set Kentucky on track for college attainment and completion. Theaim is to help 1,500 Latinos in Jefferson County attain college degrees orcredentials by 2020 as part of Jefferson County’s 55,000 Degrees Initiative.
Strategies of the Behold 1500 Latinos! initiative include:
1.Grassroots outreach efforts for families and Hispanic Latino youth;
2.Student support through Hispanic Latino outreach coordinators;
3.Financial aid application support and financial literacy training;
4.Career counseling and employment support;
5.Peer mentoring;
6.Two-year to four-year transfer and articulation support; and
Representatives from the following 53 organizations (listed below) in and around Jefferson County will be invited to a collaboration meeting of Jefferson County’s “Behold 1500 Latinos” in May, 2012 (meeting time, date and place TBD):
Sunday, February 5, 2012
The Magnificent7
Magnificent7 founding members:
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Si se puede!
Looking back…
Now that we’re in the much anticipated election year of 2012, we Latinos living in and around Louisville, Kentucky can look back at what has happened to us in our recent past that has affected our community, so that we might be better prepared to face our present and what’s more—our future.
What’s happened to our leaders?
Leadership in our community and those that have championed our cause who have stood up for justice, diversity and compassion for Latinos and people of color in general have systematically disappeared. And, by and large, they have not been replaced.
Here are some examples of what I am talking about:
Joe Reagan.
As CEO of the Greater Louisville Inc. Metro Chamber of Commerce, Joe made it possible for Latino businesses to become a strong affiliate of the chamber when we helped form the Hispanic Latino Business Council in 2006. Now he’s in St. Louis where there are many more Latinos he can help, but who will replace him here? And, will they be as inclusive as Joe?
Marilyn Cordova and Francisco Abril.
Still pictured on www.greaterlouisville.com/hlbc (the Hispanic Latino Business Council’s web site) as our young Latino leaders who helped both myself and Adam Ruiz (the HLBC co-founders) organize the HLBC executive committee—yet now have gone on to other cities—where are the young Latino leaders who will replace Marilyn and Francisco?
Adam Ruiz.
Adam started out at the Centro Latino in Shelbyville, Kentucky and then went on to become the Chief of Staff at Citizens Union Bank. He is not only one of the co-founders of the HLBC but he also created “Nuestro Banco” (our area’s first and only bank dedicated exclusively to the Latino population right her on Preston Highway). Now Nuestro Banco is closed and Adam is no longer with Citizens Union Bank. After setting milestone after milestone in our Latino community, we don’t know what happened and where Adam is today.
Margarita Green and Xiomara Bussio.
Our most recent hosts of the popular “Yo Soy Louisville” Spanish TV Program on CW TV. Margarita left town and the show is running its re-runs while Xiomara has started her own Bistro Cafe: ZiaLaLa in Middletown, Kentucky. Margarita had been with the longstanding Spanish publication, Hoy En Las Americas in Shelbyville, Kentucky.
The Spanish Media.
Spanish media that has ceased to exist include: Hoy En Las Americas, Amigos in Louisville TV Program, LaBuena Radio, La Preferida Radio and La Caliente Radio as well as Latinos Monthly Magazine.
Notable champions of diversity that have been “let go” recently are:
Debbie Mettling, Director of Diversity (DiverseWorks) at MSD.
Ron Green, Director of Diversity at the Louisville Water Company.
Deborah Smith, Diversity Director at Jewish Hospital.
Nichelle Anthony, Director of Diversity for the Kentucky Lottery.
Antia Fields, Diversity Director for Horseshoe Casino.
On a broader scale, we lost some heavyweight champions for diversity since 2001:
Reverend Vernon Robertson.
Father Tom Smith.
Reverend Louis Coleman.
Lenny Lyles.
These were leaders who championed our cause for many years and established programs that helped us minorities. They are all gone and have not been replaced.
As I recall spending time with great champions like Coleman and Lyles I remember trying to teach both of them the little Spanish saying that more than ever has a lot of meaning today—
Si se puede!
Ben Ruiz
Board Member, Adelante Hispanic Achievers
Co-Founder of GLI’s Hispanic Latino Business Council
Co-Founder of La Camara at Wesley House Community Services