Silvia Jimenez-Hyre, Assistant to the Dean at Youngstown State University and an appointee to the Ohio Commission on Hispanic / Latino Affairs, and Myrna E. Villanueva, Special Assistant to the President of Tri-C, will address education issues as they relate to the Hispanic community.  Olga D. Gonzalez-Sanabrio, Director of the Engineering and Technical Services Directorate, NASA Glenn Research Center will moderate.

School-aged young people make up 37% of the national Hispanic population (compared to 27% of the non-Hispanic population).  Education is frequently cited by Hispanics as a top policy concern, and much attention has been given to the disparities in academic achievement between Hispanics and their Caucasian counterparts.  Nationally, Latinos have lower graduation rates-- state records show Cleveland schools at 40% -- lower achievement test scores, and lower levels of college completion.

But despite these seemingly daunting statistics, Hispanics are committed to education.  According to a survey by the Pew Hispanic Center/Kaiser Family Foundation, Latinos demonstrate an overarching faith in their local schools and appear to be eager to engage the educational system and take responsibility for ensuring their children's success.

Do we lose important opportunities by ignoring cultural differences and barriers, such as immigration, English-language abilities and lure of the job market?  How important is the family as a determinant in establishing educational priorities?  How can education help to produce the needed business and civic leaders of the future?  Join us.

Part of the Hispanic Initiatives Series.

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