The story of a migrant worker ...

I loved today's story which appeared in The Seattle Times--not a local story, but inspirational indeed.

A Mexican resident, Jose Hernández grew up with the California harvests. Seven days a week, when school was out. Hard work, relentless--and every evening at the end of the family's tough workday, his eyes would meet his dad's in the rearview mirror:

"Remember this feeling because if you guys don't do well in school, this is your future."

Apparently Jose took his dad's advice to heart, because he's blasting off with NASA this Tuesday. He earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in electrical engineering and since has been working toward this goal. In fact, all kids in this family finished not only high school--but college.

Salvador and Julia Hernández, both having completed just third-grade level, taught their children well. I think we'd all agree that education is part of what the American dream is all about, and every parent wants his/her kids to have all the opportunities in the world.

In high school, Jose witnessed the first Hispanic go into orbit and thought, "If he can do it, why not me?" And now he's helping young students achieve their potential in math, science, engineering and technology with the Reaching for the Stars foundation.

And, out of the seven astronauts taking flight this Tuesday, there will be another Mexican American, Danny Oliva, joining Jose on this dream. The first launch with two Hispanics, and the first launch with a bilingual Twittering astronaut! Follow him at http://twitter.com/astro(underscore)jose.

Take a read.

Pride in Making a Living, Working with Their Hands

There's a neat article in yesterday's Pacific Northwest magazine that details the work of a few local craftspeople entitled Honest Work: Mastering a Trade, Making a Good Living by Tyrone Beason.

The article shares the vocations of Louie Raffloer and Mary Gioia, blacksmith owners at Black Dog Forge, Javier Heras and Jose Rodriguez, upholsterers at A.W. Hoss and Son, Inc., and Chef Paul Fung who tirelessly hand-forms rice noodles at Hing Loon Chinese Restaurant.

The article reminds me not only of President Obama's reference to "the doers, the makers of things" in his inauguration speech, but also of a visit by Governor Gregoire to a local Hispanic Chamber breakfast about a year ago.

She said, in essence, that these vocations are a necessary and important part of what makes this society work, and that our push to get everyone into a four-year university just isn't every person's path. She encouraged us to re-think that idealogy and realize the significance of having tradespeople skilled and ready to work.

There's a special pride to working with one's hands, and it's not something all of us are cut out to do. But for those of us who are, trade school is a respectable path that produces skilled workers our economy needs.

If you're interested in reading more, check out the article online.

Tukwila School District Considered Most Diverse in U.S.!

If you have kids, and you live in Seattle, you probably already know this:

Whites are the minorities in many Seattle schools.

But this article in the (Tacoma) News Tribune really tells the story about our schools, their diversity, and some cool things some of the schools are doing to keep kids motivated to plan for higher ed.

Take a read!

Tonight on Ke Buena 6:30-7pm

Ke Buena (1210 AM) is airing a show this evening that will help Seattle-area Latinos better understand how to discuss their headaches with their doctors.

Considering that some people suffer headaches regularly--and most of us don't know how to express that pain to our doctors--this is an enlightening show that shares how different headaches can be, where the pain is coming from, and some tips on avoiding and alleviating them.

Tune in this evening, 6:30-7 to hear Host Gigi Basaure talk with Erica Eickoff, LMP and trained physical therapist.

This is a service brought by Community Health Plan in the interest of helping our Latino community better understand issues around health and safety, and helping improve the overall health of our community.

For more information about Community Health Plan, visit the organization's multilingual site.

Los del '68: Airs Friday, June 26 & Saturday, June 27

Here's an inspiring story about a group of Mexican-American kids from Yakima who enrolled in the UW. See how they overcome obstacles and ultimately impact their communities during this 30-minute special. It's a fabulous story airing in both Spanish (on V-Me) and in English (KCTS).

Check it out!

Latino Children: A Majority Are U.S.-Born Offspring of Immigrants

The times, they are a-changin' ...

The Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, released a report showing that Hispanics now make up more than one-in-five of all children in the U.S. - up from 9% in 1980 -- and as their numbers have grown, their demographic profile has changed.

Note that we're seeing something similar right here in the Puget Sound region--for example, in the Seattle School District it has been estimated that one in five enrolled students is Hispanic. So, while the Seattle-area Hispanic population density is at 8%, school-age Latinos make up 20% of the population.

More than half of the nation's 16 million Hispanic children are the U.S.-born children of at least one foreign-born parent, typically someone who came to this country in the immigration wave from Mexico, Central America and South America that began around 1980.

In summary, what we're seeing is that the children of these immigrants are more likely to speak English, finish high school, and be documented U.S. Citizens than their parents--note that fewer than one-in-ten of all Hispanic children are unauthorized immigrants.

The report, "Latino Children: A Majority Are U.S.-Born Offspring of Immigrants," is available at the Pew Hispanic Center's website.

Speaking of EDUCATION ... read what the Martinez Foundation is doing!

This just off the press - Edgar and Holli Martinez are sponsoring 15 - count 'em - 15 Masters in Teaching scholarships for students of color through the Martinez Foundation. They're helping students at three schools, University of Washington, Washington State University, and Seattle University--with 5 scholarships to be awarded for each university.

Read the story and learn about the first recipients! Congrats!

SAVE THE DATE: Scholarship Dinner and Auction

Help Latinos with a UW MBA Scholarship

Attend the
Ernest I. J. Aguilar Scholarship Dinner and Auction

WHEN: Saturday, July 18, 2009, 4:00 - 7:00pm
WHERE: Conibear Shellhouse - UW Campus (free parking) Directions & Map

Please join the Aguilar Scholarship Committee, the Latino Community, and the University of Washington for an evening of fine dining and spirited auctioning.

Let's celebrate the first endowed scholarship for Latino students in the MBA Program at the University of Washington and recognizing Latino MBA students at the UW Michael G. Foster School of Business. The scholarship endowment recognizes Ernest I.J. Aguilar, the founder of the Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and numerous other community and business organizations.

You can register at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/59287.

SPONSOR THE EVENT
The organizers offer various levels of event and media sponsorship opportunities; ask me for a sponsorship packet and learn more about how your company can support the success and advancement of Latino MBA students at the UW Michael G. Foster School of Business.

Or contact Jesse Robbins directly at jesselr@u.washington.edu or by calling 206-543-3681.

Seattle U welcomes newly admitted Latino students

Seattle University held a special reception last night welcoming Latino undergrads to the University. Students who had been accepted, some with their parents, attended to hear about current student experiences and how SU supports each student as they enter the University and find their path.

Victor Zamora of the school's admissions office put the event together and invited Latino faculty and other staff to share their roles, and to join in recognizing these students.

Victor read off some statistics that remind us that in the U.S., Hispanics lag behind non-Hispanic whites and every minority in terms of high school graduate and college entrance, and he applauded not only the students in attendance but their parents for encouraging them to achieve more than perhaps others in their family had before them.

Our own research shows that a whopping 39% of Puget Sound region Latinos have not finished high school, 37% have their high school diploma, and 16% have at least some college.

How does this compare to the national statistics? Considering that 32.5% of U.S. Hispanics (twice as many) have at least some college, we're lagging way behind. And this issue will be compounded when Latinos represent 30% of our entire country by 2025.

Victor mentioned that of all universities in the U.S., only 4% of the professors are Latino. This explains a lot, because students don't have the same encouragement or mentorship they might have if they enter a school with a professor that looks like them or speaks their language.

To download our free study on Hispanic Consumers in the Puget Sound Region (produced in conjunction with Seattle University), please visit our site.

Casa Latina has a new casa

CASA Latina has a new home - the social services agency previously located in Belltown for..ever is now in its new digs at 317 17th Avenue South in Seattle.

This organization has long been providing educational and employment services for our Latino immigrant community. See site for more on what they are doing for the community!

Hispanic MBAs - OPPORTUNITIES

The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) has a couple of exciting updates:

• The NSHMBA Scholarship Program awarded more than $1.4M in education assistance in 2008 and they're looking to reward Hispanic MBA students in 2009. Application deadline is April 30th. Register and apply online.
• Networking and Recruitment Events sponsored by our local sponsor companies, such as Microsoft, Starbucks, and Amazon
• The National NSHMBA Conference and Case Competitions to be held in Minneapolis, MN in 2009

For more information please visit the NSHMBA Seattle Chapter site or contact:

Anthony M. Garcia
National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA)
VP of Education, Seattle Chapter
415.515.6452

In case you missed Sunday's Seattle Times article on Latino Students

Last Sunday there was a front-page article in the Times on Latinos and education. Its basic premise was that the Washington Latinos in K-12 are increasing at a greater rate than non-Latinos--but that those numbers are not represented at the university level.

I was especially interested in this data:

In the two decades ending in 2007, the number of white, non-Hispanic K-12 students grew by 6 percent, while the number of Hispanic students soared by 372 percent. By 2030, Latinos are projected to become the first minority group in Washington to top 1 million residents.

So that's at the elementary/middle/high school levels. But at the university level, the average statewide K-12 Hispanic density of about 13% is more like 5% (UW), 5.5% (WSU), and 7.2% CWU. The article goes on to herald Eastern Washington University as a forward-looking university, partially due to its Latino leadership.

So...state colleges are doing more to inform local Latinos about their educational opportunities and hopefully also doing more to recruit Latino instructors. Latino students are further inspired when their professors are also Latino!

In related news: Read this article on Hispanic MPR for data regarding how U.S.-born Hispanics compare to immigrant Hispanics. It's not good news, and we need to react quickly.

College Goal Sunday Washington

An interesting title for a wonderful effort around financial aid for college!

This is a free workshop at Seattle Central Community College providing on-site professional assistance to students and families applying for financial aid for college. Volunteers speak several languages; parents with limited English are encouraged to attend with prospective students.

WHEN: Sunday, January 25, 2009, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway, Room 1110,
(Parking is available in the college garage at the corner of Harvard and Pine.)

COST: Free of charge and open to the public; no registration is required.

BACKGROUND: In one day, students and their families will learn how to get money for college. College Goal Sunday is a free program that helps students and their parents or guardians fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students and their families can attend College Goal Sunday at a variety of locations across Washington State in January and February.

Participants will be done by 4:00 p.m.; leaving with a goody bag, door prizes and most important “A Completed FAFSA for Fall 2009 Submitted Online!”

CONTACT:
For more details about College Goal Sunday Washington, the FAFSA, locations or what to bring, visit http://www.collegegoalsundaywa.org/ or call 888-758-2253.

For further information about the event at Seattle Central Community College, call Brigid McDevitt, Dean of Student Resources, at (206) 587-6314.

Beto Yarce officially joins Washington CASH

Our friend and colleague, Beto Yarce, has a terrific business based in Pike Place Market. Have you been to Cintli? Check it out sometime, downstairs from Rachel the Pig. We are frequent customers because his designs and selection are quite unique!

Well now Beto has become even more involved with an organization close to his heart: Washington CASH. By working with this organization Beto's helping others achieve their dreams of business ownership and success. Now he's been named Latino Community Based Business Trainer. Congratulations to Beto, and enhorabuena to the people he's going to help in this new post!

See the latest on Beto's new responsibilities with the organization at the Washington CASH website. Also, check out his artistry at Cintli or right in our own Market.

Seeking Hispanic MBAs in Banking/Finance

Hello - a reporter from Hispanic Career World, Lois Vidavre, is seeking MBAs working in Banking/Finance in companies of 3,000+.

Here's her query:
"As a writer for Hispanic Career World, I am looking to interview two Hispanics working in the banking/finance world for companieswith more than 3,000 employees and who have their MBAs. Themagazine can be viewed at www.eop.com. I will e-mail 12 questions asking the interviewee to share their own career journey. I can be reached via e-mail"

This is a great opportunity to share your success story and inspire others! If you fit the bill, email loismaevid@yahoo.com. If you know someone who might be interested, please share this post! Deadline is 3pm PST January 13.

More Ag News! (free farm ed!)

Another discovery today in the world of Washington State Agriculture: business resources for the Spanish-speaking farmer! The Washington State Department of Agriculture has produced a five-disc set of audio CDs - (10) 30-minute segments on business and financial planning, marketing, crop insurance, good farm practices, safe use of pesticides, food safety, alternative energy, and state and federal farm projects.

These were produced with assistance from Washington State University (previously known as Washington College of Agriculture, if I recall correctly!).

The set, called Risk Management Strategies for Farm Businesses: Information for Latino Farmers in Washington State, can be ordered FREE by contacting Patrice Barrentine at smallfarms@agr.wa.gov or by phone at (360) 902-2057. Also try Malaquias Flores, Latino outreach coordinator for the WSU Small Farms Project, at (866) 978-9165.

Bilingual Agriculture Education Program

OK - I just learned about a really cool program offered through Wenatchee Valley College. The Bilingual Agriculture Education Program offers a variety of courses for Spanish-speaking orchard employees, including an introduction to horticulture, advanced horitculture, IPM technician, farm management, and introduction of viticulture. Also offered are pesticide license and forklift certification workshops and other continued education.

About 700 students have gone through the program since it began 16 years ago!

What's more, Wenatchee Valley College has an agreement with Washington State University which enables students to put credits toward a Bachelor's degree. This is just a fantastic way for our state's Latinos to further their careers and their opportunities. Kudos to Wenatchee Valley College!

Education Alert!

copying & pasting this important opportunity:

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is providing a scholarship opportunity for "low income African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline area of interest. Continuing Gates Millennium Scholars may request funding for a graduate degree program in one of the following discipline areas: education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science."

https://nominations.gmsp.org/GMSP_App/

This is an on-going opportunity so if the January 12, 2009 deadline does not work for this year, this opportunity is likely to be repeated next year and it would appear from the description that disadvantaged students majoring in public health or science are preferred.

Seattle Central steps it up / El Rey Posadas event

What a terrific opportunity - now students can complete their GED in Spanish if they so choose, thanks to a new program at Seattle Central Community College!

Students enrolled in the GED classes will be required to enroll in ESL classes as well. English classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays (or in the mornings), and GED classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All classes run from 6:00p.m. – 8:20p.m. Classes cost $25 for the quarter (three months). For more information, visit the Basic & Transitional Studies office in Room 3122 or call us at 206-587-4180.

Help Seattle Central spread the word about this opportunity for more students to earn their GED and enjoy greater potential--for themselves, their careers, their families!

This Sunday 12-4 Seattle Central will be present at the Las Posadas event in White Center at Evolución (16th & Roxbury). Talk to them about this possibility! And enjoy our first annual El Rey Las Posadas--toys and games for all ages, live music, free food--what more could you want?

Gates Foundation gives $70M to Hispanic education effort

Just sharing this terrific news from the Puget Sound Business Journal today:

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said it will give nearly $70 million in grants to aid Hispanic education efforts concentrating in New York City, New Mexico and California.

The Seattle-based foundation said the goal is to double the number of low-income students who earn a degree by age 26, or an increase of about 250,000 graduates each year.

“Hispanics continue to grow as a proportion of the labor force, and yet they are not getting the postsecondary degrees that will prepare them to excel in the modern economy. With these new grants, organizations will be able to help more young people get through college,” said Gil Conchas, senior program officer with the Gates Foundation, in a statement.