FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
June 10, 2015 Camila Gallardo
cgallardo@nclr.org
(305) 215-4259
NCLR FORUM SPOTLIGHTS CALIFORNIA PROGRAMS
FOR YOUNG LATINOS
Comprehensive approach can address challenges and build on natural resilience of at-risk youth
LOS ANGELES—At a forum held today by NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and AltaMed Health Services, experts in education and social services discussed innovative programs in California that are helping at-risk Hispanic youth develop the experience, skills and road map they need for a successful, productive future. NCLR and AltaMed panelists were joined by young Latinos from the NCLR Líderes Avanzando program to share their perspectives on how a comprehensive, culturally appropriate approach to after-school and mentoring programs, internships, job training, and college counseling is strengthening the next generation of Latino citizens.
“Latino youth—like other youth of color—need to see that real opportunities exist and that society not only has a place for them, but also has a vested interest in their long-term well-being and success. The ability of Latinos to thrive is vital to the future of our nation, as they represent tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs, ,” said Dr. Patricia Foxen, Deputy Director of Research at NCLR. “It was striking to see in our research in Los Angeles how much mentoring and after-school programs can help young Latinos overcome difficult circumstances and build good lives for themselves.”
The research Foxen conducted for the NCLR study, “Resilient Latino Youth: In Their Own Words,” included Latinos in Los Angeles who had participated in AltaMed youth programs. The report shows how young, second-generation American Latinos who struggled with poverty, discrimination or disengagement became contributing members of society in spite of these obstacles. The programs that these young people credited with making a difference in their lives have the following attributes in common:
- They offer a comprehensive array of services that incorporate strong mental health and social-emotional expertise, adult guidance and mentoring, and safe communities.
- They are culturally sensitive, tapping into the strong sense of pride that young Latinos have in their bilingual, bicultural background, and taking into consideration the various styles of acculturation of parents and children in immigrant families.
- They are community based, with professional staff who are from or are familiar with the community, embrace input from families and offer parental engagement programs that address issues faced by immigrant families.
Members of NCLR’s Líderes Avanzando youth program discussed the workshops and other activities that support students through graduation, including summer internships while in college, exposure to various career paths and leadership experience in industries with low Hispanic representation such as financial services and banking. Another program, the NCLR Escalera Program, provides critical community-based interventions to youth and families living in poor immigrant neighborhoods. Through mentoring and other activities, Escalera promotes career exploration, skills and leadership development, personal development, academic support and overall well-being.
“Latinos, who now constitute the majority of residents under the age of 18 in California, are essential to our state’s future. Many are growing up in poor, marginalized neighborhoods, and the most effective way to prepare these young people for productive lives is through policies and programs that help them overcome the specific challenges they face. California is serving as an incubator for positive youth development that can stand as a model to the rest of the nation,” said Delia de la Vara, Vice President, California Region, NCLR. She pointed to policies that give young people a second chance, such as Proposition 47, a state ballot referendum approved by voters last November to reclassify nonserious, nonviolent property and drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.
As states throughout the nation consider ways to make their communities safer and help troubled youth in the juvenile justice system get a fresh start in life, programs with comprehensive services will emerge as leaders in the field. Many in California already are models of culturally sensitive efforts to build on the strengths of young Hispanics. NCLR’s recent report exploring this issue, “Resilient Latino Youth: In Their Own Words,” can be found at www.nclr.org.
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
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