News from the David J. Ruiz corner…
1. New Opportunities, Events, Other (from NCLR Newsletter)
2. NCLR News Release
3. NCLR News Release
4. NCLR News Release
5. NCLR News Release
6. NCLR News Release
7. Articles
8. Institute for Responsible Citizenship Summer Internships
9. The PEN Writers’ Fund
10. NAMES Project Foundation/AIDS Memorial Quilt
11. Tips for creating a concise resume (Monster.com)
12. Fastweb’s free scholarship search
1. New Opportunities
Volunteer at 2007 NCLR Captial Awards Gala
http://www.nclr.org/section/events/capital_awards/volunteer
The Captial One Youth Service Fund Grants (projects in metro DC area)
Deadline: Jan 26, 2007
http://lideres.nclr.org/opportunities/detail/2709.html
2007 Annual LatCrit Student Scholar Program
Deadline: Jan 26, 2007
http://lideres.nclr.org/opportunities/detail/2646.html
Upcoming Events
National Conference on Civic Engagement (NCCE)
http://lideres.nclr.org/events/detail/2738.html
Oklahoma City University’s Latino Youth Leadership Conference
http://lideres.nclr.org/events/detail/2663.html
2007 NCLR Lideres Summit
http://lideres.nclr.org/events/l_deres_summit_/
http://www.nclr.org/section/events/conference/
Other
NCLR’s new social network
We're excited to invite you to join NCLR's new social network on Change.org!
Change.org is a new community platform that creates a web of social networks for over 1 million nonprofit organizations and their supporters. NCLR has been invited to be a part of Change.org's exclusive release and we want you to be the first to join and help build our community before the site is available to the wider public.
Change.org enables you to:
Connect - connect to people who care about the same issues and see others in your social network who support NCLR.
Share - post and discuss news stories and ideas related to NCLR and share videos, photos, and personal stories.
Take Action - magnify NCLR's impact by organizing volunteer events, rallies, and meet-ups or by joining social fundraising communities.
Click here to join NCLR's community. We look forward to seeing you on the site!
To learn more about Change.org, click here.
NCLR National Advocacy Day
March 7-8, 2007
http://lideres.nclr.org/events/2007_advocacy_day/
2. NCLR News Release
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY LEGISLATION
Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of legislation to reduce college loan interest rates, the "College Student Relief Act of 2007."
"Poll after poll shows that Latinos value education, but the price of attending our nation's postsecondary institutions is among several obstacles Hispanic children face in achieving their dream of attending college and fully contributing to society," stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. "Reducing student loan interest rates is an important first step in opening the doors to higher education for millions of Latinos."
Latinos compose 18% of the total college-age population. However, they constitute a small proportion of undergraduate students in U.S. postsecondary institutions; only 10.4% of all 2002 undergraduate students were Hispanic. For many low-income Latino students, the most significant barrier to attending college is cost.
"We hope that H.R. 5 is the first step toward increasing college access for Latinos and other low-income communities," continued Murguía. "Renewing the Higher Education Act, passage of the "American Dream Act," and increased funding for Hispanic-serving education programs would ensure that more Latino students are in a position to take advantage of the reduction in student loan rates contained in H.R. 5."
###
3. NCLR News Release
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION; CALLS FOR MORE INVESTMENTS IN HISPANIC WORKERS
Washington, DC - The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of legislation to increase the federal minimum wage, the "Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007."
"Hispanics are among the hardest-working Americans. Unfortunately, Hispanic workers are three times as likely as their White counterparts to be working full-time yet still living in poverty," stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. "A minimum wage increase to $7.25 an hour would improve the economic conditions of more than 1.3 million Latino workers and give them a better chance to provide for their families."
Today there are nearly 21 million Latinos in the workforce. In addition, Hispanics maintain the highest labor force participation rate among their peers, with nearly seven in ten employable Latinos in the labor force. However, many Latino workers are unable to climb the economic ladder because of their low skill and education levels.
"Increasing the minimum wage is a good first step," continued Murguía. "But we must invest more in workers, including the nation's Latino workforce. Congress has the opportunity do so by renewing the Workforce Investment Act."
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is the federal law providing funding for enhancing the skills of the American labor force. NCLR supports WIA proposals that increase access to job training services, focus on improving English literacy and skills of limited-English-proficient adults, and support the work of community-based organizations.
"Now is the time to make smart investments in the nation's workforce," concluded Murguía. "We are certain that investing in Latino workers will pay enormous dividends for the nation's economy as a whole."
###
4. NCLR News Release
NCLR WELCOMES REINTRODUCTION OF "AGJOBS" LEGISLATION AND URGES SWIFT PASSAGE
Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., praised the reintroduction today of the "Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act" ("AgJOBS") by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Larry Craig (R-ID), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA) and Chris Cannon (R-UT).
"NCLR's ability to advance the status of farmworkers is at the heart of what we do. For many years farmworker advocates and growers were at an impasse, each arguing for policies to benefit their side of the debate. We congratulate the sponsors of 'AgJOBS' who had the courage to move beyond the stalemate and advance legislation that can benefit everyone," stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
"AgJOBS" enjoys broad bipartisan support in both Houses, and it passed the Senate last May as part of a comprehensive immigration reform bill. "AgJOBS" would give many agricultural workers in this country who lack authorized immigration status the chance to become legal immigrants, ensuring a stable labor supply for agricultural employers.
"NCLR firmly believes that this is the year that 'AgJOBS' will become law, benefiting thousands of farmworkers," continued Murguía. "The 2006 elections demonstrated that Latinos are mobilized and focused on fair immigration policies, and will hold their representatives accountable for their actions."
###
5. NCLR News Release
HISPANIC ACHIEVEMENT LAGGING BEHIND IN U.S. PUBLIC SCHOOLS
On NCLB Anniversary, NCLR Issues Report and New Information Resource on Latino Students
Washington, DC - Marking the fifth anniversary of passage of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) - the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S. - today released a statistical brief that portrays the U.S. educational system as an obstacle course from preschool through college for the growing population of Latino students. Hispanic Education in the United States identifies the key barriers facing Hispanic students, who continue to have the lowest levels of educational achievement of any ethnic group. The report notes, for example, that less than half of Hispanic males complete high school.
"The No Child Left Behind Act offers great promise for ensuring the success of all students, and there has been progress. But until Hispanic students have greater access to strong educational programs and equal access to resources, we will likely continue to see such disheartening data about Latino students," said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
In addition to the release of the statistical brief, NCLR also launched a new webpage today which serves as a comprehensive information resource on NCLB and Latinos. The webpage - www.nclr.org/nclb - contains links to publications, data sources, analyses, partner organizations, and other resources. In particular, it provides an important source of information on English language learner (ELL) students in the U.S. public school system.
Report highlights include:
Latinos are a significant proportion of the United States student population. Latino students enrolled in prekindergarten through 12th grade in U.S. public schools and institutions of higher education represented 17% of total student enrollment in 2005.
The number of ELL students enrolled in U.S. schools has increased substantially in the past decade. This student population increased by 56% between the 1994-1995 and 2004-2005 school years. Nearly 80% of ELL students are Hispanic native Spanish-speakers.
Hispanics are significantly less likely to complete high school than their White peers. In particular, only 43% of Black and 48% of Hispanic male students graduate from high school compared to 71% of White males. Further, foreign-born Hispanics account for more than 25% of all students who drop out of school in the U.S.
Schools serving Hispanic and other minority students offer fewer rigorous academic courses. According to a study by Achieve, Inc., 74% of minority girls want to enroll in advanced courses, but only 45% of their schools offer these courses. Similarly, although two-thirds of minority boys are interested in taking advanced mathematics courses, fewer than half attend schools that offer these courses.
Hispanics age 25 and older are less likely than Blacks and Whites to receive a bachelor's degree. In 2005, just 12% of Hispanics age 25 years and older had received a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to nearly 18% of Blacks and more than 30% of comparable Whites.
"The barriers that keep young Latinos from succeeding in school today diminish everyone's hopes for a society that is educated, productive, and financially secure. No one wins when we neglect nearly 20% of our nation's students. As we mark the fifth anniversary of the No Child Left Behind Act and work on renewing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act this year, we urge Congress to fulfill the considerable promise of NCLB and help close the large gaps that remain in our children's education," concluded Murguía.
For more information or a copy of the NCLR report, Hispanic Education in the United States, please call Melissa Lazarín at (202) 785-1670 or visit http://www.nclr.org/.
###
6. NCLR News Release
LATINO ORGANIZATIONS RESPOND TO GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER'S 2007 HEALTH CARE REFORM PLAN
SACRAMENTO – Four of California's leading Latino organizations, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC), Latino Issues Forum (LIF), Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), today called on Governor Schwarzenegger to ensure that the 2007 health care reform plan provides access to high-quality health care to all communities without placing an undue burden on working families.
In California, 20% of the overall population is uninsured, and the vast majority of the uninsured are working families. Despite their high participation rates in the state's workforce, Latinos still face tremendous obstacles in accessing affordable health insurance, including cost, language, and access to job-based coverage. Such barriers would require Latinos to forego basic necessities such as food and housing in order to pay for even the most basic health coverage.
As outlined by the Governor today, the plan places too much of the burden on individuals and families. Without a system that requires equal and shared responsibility from providers, businesses, health plans, and consumers, working families will be forced to carry the lion's share of costs.
The Governor's proposal is an important first step in providing the basic framework for building a comprehensive health care plan for the state of California. If that plan truly serves all communities and has a system of real cost-sharing, California can serve as an example to the nation of how a state can provide comprehensive, quality and affordable health care to all its residents.
###
7. Articles
National Latino Organizations Express Concern About Recent Immigration Raids
http://lideres.nclr.org/articles/detail/2735.html
How Latinos Use College Web Sites
http://lideres.nclr.org/articles/detail/2698.html
8. Institute for Responsible Citizenship Summer Internships
Deadline: Feb 1, 2007
http://www.i4rc.org/
9. The PEN Writers’ Fund
An emergency fund for professional—published or produced—writers in acute, emergency financial crisis. Depending on the situation, the Fund gives grants of up to $2,000. The maximum amount is given only under especially dire circumstances and when monies are available. The PEN Fund for Writers and Editors with HIV/AIDS, administered under the PEN Writers’ Fund, gives grants of up to $2,000 to professional writers and editors who face serious financial difficulties because of HIV or AIDS-related illness. The Writers’ Fund does not exist for research purposes, to enable the completion of writing projects, or to fund publications or organizations. The Writers’ Fund is for writers whose primary professional occupation is writing. Self-published authors or those published by vanity presses are not eligible. Next deadline March 16, 2007. http://www.pen.org/page.php/prmID/251.
10. NAMES Project Foundation/AIDS Memorial Quilt
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/online/Aids/index.html
11. Tips for creating a concise resume (Monster.com)
http://resume.monster.com/articles/concise/?WT.mc_n=MNL000283
12. Fastweb’s free scholarship search
http://www.fastweb.com/fastweb/register/start?ref=mon4fw-5f--
1. New Opportunities, Events, Other (from NCLR Newsletter)
2. NCLR News Release
3. NCLR News Release
4. NCLR News Release
5. NCLR News Release
6. NCLR News Release
7. Articles
8. Institute for Responsible Citizenship Summer Internships
9. The PEN Writers’ Fund
10. NAMES Project Foundation/AIDS Memorial Quilt
11. Tips for creating a concise resume (Monster.com)
12. Fastweb’s free scholarship search
1. New Opportunities
Volunteer at 2007 NCLR Captial Awards Gala
http://www.nclr.org/section/events/capital_awards/volunteer
The Captial One Youth Service Fund Grants (projects in metro DC area)
Deadline: Jan 26, 2007
http://lideres.nclr.org/opportunities/detail/2709.html
2007 Annual LatCrit Student Scholar Program
Deadline: Jan 26, 2007
http://lideres.nclr.org/opportunities/detail/2646.html
Upcoming Events
National Conference on Civic Engagement (NCCE)
http://lideres.nclr.org/events/detail/2738.html
Oklahoma City University’s Latino Youth Leadership Conference
http://lideres.nclr.org/events/detail/2663.html
2007 NCLR Lideres Summit
http://lideres.nclr.org/events/l_deres_summit_/
http://www.nclr.org/section/events/conference/
Other
NCLR’s new social network
We're excited to invite you to join NCLR's new social network on Change.org!
Change.org is a new community platform that creates a web of social networks for over 1 million nonprofit organizations and their supporters. NCLR has been invited to be a part of Change.org's exclusive release and we want you to be the first to join and help build our community before the site is available to the wider public.
Change.org enables you to:
Connect - connect to people who care about the same issues and see others in your social network who support NCLR.
Share - post and discuss news stories and ideas related to NCLR and share videos, photos, and personal stories.
Take Action - magnify NCLR's impact by organizing volunteer events, rallies, and meet-ups or by joining social fundraising communities.
Click here to join NCLR's community. We look forward to seeing you on the site!
To learn more about Change.org, click here.
NCLR National Advocacy Day
March 7-8, 2007
http://lideres.nclr.org/events/2007_advocacy_day/
2. NCLR News Release
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY LEGISLATION
Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of legislation to reduce college loan interest rates, the "College Student Relief Act of 2007."
"Poll after poll shows that Latinos value education, but the price of attending our nation's postsecondary institutions is among several obstacles Hispanic children face in achieving their dream of attending college and fully contributing to society," stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. "Reducing student loan interest rates is an important first step in opening the doors to higher education for millions of Latinos."
Latinos compose 18% of the total college-age population. However, they constitute a small proportion of undergraduate students in U.S. postsecondary institutions; only 10.4% of all 2002 undergraduate students were Hispanic. For many low-income Latino students, the most significant barrier to attending college is cost.
"We hope that H.R. 5 is the first step toward increasing college access for Latinos and other low-income communities," continued Murguía. "Renewing the Higher Education Act, passage of the "American Dream Act," and increased funding for Hispanic-serving education programs would ensure that more Latino students are in a position to take advantage of the reduction in student loan rates contained in H.R. 5."
###
3. NCLR News Release
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION; CALLS FOR MORE INVESTMENTS IN HISPANIC WORKERS
Washington, DC - The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of legislation to increase the federal minimum wage, the "Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007."
"Hispanics are among the hardest-working Americans. Unfortunately, Hispanic workers are three times as likely as their White counterparts to be working full-time yet still living in poverty," stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. "A minimum wage increase to $7.25 an hour would improve the economic conditions of more than 1.3 million Latino workers and give them a better chance to provide for their families."
Today there are nearly 21 million Latinos in the workforce. In addition, Hispanics maintain the highest labor force participation rate among their peers, with nearly seven in ten employable Latinos in the labor force. However, many Latino workers are unable to climb the economic ladder because of their low skill and education levels.
"Increasing the minimum wage is a good first step," continued Murguía. "But we must invest more in workers, including the nation's Latino workforce. Congress has the opportunity do so by renewing the Workforce Investment Act."
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is the federal law providing funding for enhancing the skills of the American labor force. NCLR supports WIA proposals that increase access to job training services, focus on improving English literacy and skills of limited-English-proficient adults, and support the work of community-based organizations.
"Now is the time to make smart investments in the nation's workforce," concluded Murguía. "We are certain that investing in Latino workers will pay enormous dividends for the nation's economy as a whole."
###
4. NCLR News Release
NCLR WELCOMES REINTRODUCTION OF "AGJOBS" LEGISLATION AND URGES SWIFT PASSAGE
Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., praised the reintroduction today of the "Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act" ("AgJOBS") by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Larry Craig (R-ID), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA) and Chris Cannon (R-UT).
"NCLR's ability to advance the status of farmworkers is at the heart of what we do. For many years farmworker advocates and growers were at an impasse, each arguing for policies to benefit their side of the debate. We congratulate the sponsors of 'AgJOBS' who had the courage to move beyond the stalemate and advance legislation that can benefit everyone," stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
"AgJOBS" enjoys broad bipartisan support in both Houses, and it passed the Senate last May as part of a comprehensive immigration reform bill. "AgJOBS" would give many agricultural workers in this country who lack authorized immigration status the chance to become legal immigrants, ensuring a stable labor supply for agricultural employers.
"NCLR firmly believes that this is the year that 'AgJOBS' will become law, benefiting thousands of farmworkers," continued Murguía. "The 2006 elections demonstrated that Latinos are mobilized and focused on fair immigration policies, and will hold their representatives accountable for their actions."
###
5. NCLR News Release
HISPANIC ACHIEVEMENT LAGGING BEHIND IN U.S. PUBLIC SCHOOLS
On NCLB Anniversary, NCLR Issues Report and New Information Resource on Latino Students
Washington, DC - Marking the fifth anniversary of passage of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) - the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S. - today released a statistical brief that portrays the U.S. educational system as an obstacle course from preschool through college for the growing population of Latino students. Hispanic Education in the United States identifies the key barriers facing Hispanic students, who continue to have the lowest levels of educational achievement of any ethnic group. The report notes, for example, that less than half of Hispanic males complete high school.
"The No Child Left Behind Act offers great promise for ensuring the success of all students, and there has been progress. But until Hispanic students have greater access to strong educational programs and equal access to resources, we will likely continue to see such disheartening data about Latino students," said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
In addition to the release of the statistical brief, NCLR also launched a new webpage today which serves as a comprehensive information resource on NCLB and Latinos. The webpage - www.nclr.org/nclb - contains links to publications, data sources, analyses, partner organizations, and other resources. In particular, it provides an important source of information on English language learner (ELL) students in the U.S. public school system.
Report highlights include:
Latinos are a significant proportion of the United States student population. Latino students enrolled in prekindergarten through 12th grade in U.S. public schools and institutions of higher education represented 17% of total student enrollment in 2005.
The number of ELL students enrolled in U.S. schools has increased substantially in the past decade. This student population increased by 56% between the 1994-1995 and 2004-2005 school years. Nearly 80% of ELL students are Hispanic native Spanish-speakers.
Hispanics are significantly less likely to complete high school than their White peers. In particular, only 43% of Black and 48% of Hispanic male students graduate from high school compared to 71% of White males. Further, foreign-born Hispanics account for more than 25% of all students who drop out of school in the U.S.
Schools serving Hispanic and other minority students offer fewer rigorous academic courses. According to a study by Achieve, Inc., 74% of minority girls want to enroll in advanced courses, but only 45% of their schools offer these courses. Similarly, although two-thirds of minority boys are interested in taking advanced mathematics courses, fewer than half attend schools that offer these courses.
Hispanics age 25 and older are less likely than Blacks and Whites to receive a bachelor's degree. In 2005, just 12% of Hispanics age 25 years and older had received a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to nearly 18% of Blacks and more than 30% of comparable Whites.
"The barriers that keep young Latinos from succeeding in school today diminish everyone's hopes for a society that is educated, productive, and financially secure. No one wins when we neglect nearly 20% of our nation's students. As we mark the fifth anniversary of the No Child Left Behind Act and work on renewing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act this year, we urge Congress to fulfill the considerable promise of NCLB and help close the large gaps that remain in our children's education," concluded Murguía.
For more information or a copy of the NCLR report, Hispanic Education in the United States, please call Melissa Lazarín at (202) 785-1670 or visit http://www.nclr.org/.
###
6. NCLR News Release
LATINO ORGANIZATIONS RESPOND TO GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER'S 2007 HEALTH CARE REFORM PLAN
SACRAMENTO – Four of California's leading Latino organizations, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC), Latino Issues Forum (LIF), Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), today called on Governor Schwarzenegger to ensure that the 2007 health care reform plan provides access to high-quality health care to all communities without placing an undue burden on working families.
In California, 20% of the overall population is uninsured, and the vast majority of the uninsured are working families. Despite their high participation rates in the state's workforce, Latinos still face tremendous obstacles in accessing affordable health insurance, including cost, language, and access to job-based coverage. Such barriers would require Latinos to forego basic necessities such as food and housing in order to pay for even the most basic health coverage.
As outlined by the Governor today, the plan places too much of the burden on individuals and families. Without a system that requires equal and shared responsibility from providers, businesses, health plans, and consumers, working families will be forced to carry the lion's share of costs.
The Governor's proposal is an important first step in providing the basic framework for building a comprehensive health care plan for the state of California. If that plan truly serves all communities and has a system of real cost-sharing, California can serve as an example to the nation of how a state can provide comprehensive, quality and affordable health care to all its residents.
###
7. Articles
National Latino Organizations Express Concern About Recent Immigration Raids
http://lideres.nclr.org/articles/detail/2735.html
How Latinos Use College Web Sites
http://lideres.nclr.org/articles/detail/2698.html
8. Institute for Responsible Citizenship Summer Internships
Deadline: Feb 1, 2007
http://www.i4rc.org/
9. The PEN Writers’ Fund
An emergency fund for professional—published or produced—writers in acute, emergency financial crisis. Depending on the situation, the Fund gives grants of up to $2,000. The maximum amount is given only under especially dire circumstances and when monies are available. The PEN Fund for Writers and Editors with HIV/AIDS, administered under the PEN Writers’ Fund, gives grants of up to $2,000 to professional writers and editors who face serious financial difficulties because of HIV or AIDS-related illness. The Writers’ Fund does not exist for research purposes, to enable the completion of writing projects, or to fund publications or organizations. The Writers’ Fund is for writers whose primary professional occupation is writing. Self-published authors or those published by vanity presses are not eligible. Next deadline March 16, 2007. http://www.pen.org/page.php/prmID/251.
10. NAMES Project Foundation/AIDS Memorial Quilt
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/online/Aids/index.html
11. Tips for creating a concise resume (Monster.com)
http://resume.monster.com/articles/concise/?WT.mc_n=MNL000283
12. Fastweb’s free scholarship search
http://www.fastweb.com/fastweb/register/start?ref=mon4fw-5f--
posted by David J. Ruiz | 10:15:00 PM
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