STATEWIDE SUMMIT TO ADDRESS LATINO EDUCATION & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

The Julian Samora Research Institute and Michigan Alianza Latina para Mejoramiento y Avance (MI-ALMA) will convene 150 Michigan Hispanic Leaders and professionals on December 9th at the MSU Kellogg Center for what is coined as the first-ever summit on Latino Education and Civic Engagement in Michigan.

The event, sponsored by AT&T Michigan, will cast several Statewide Leaders to include:
Dr. Michael Radke, Director of Field Services at the Michigan Department of Education and
Marissa Zamudio, Diversity Specialist from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC).

Additionally, Arnold Fege of the Public Education Network of Washington D.C., Kyle Caldwell of
Michigan Nonprofit Association and Art Reyes III of Michigan Voices will address how Civic Engagement can be an effective tool for outreach –particularly on addressing education.
The summit will be an important opportunity for Latino leaders to identify, prioritize and
begin work around education and civic engagement challenges facing the Latino community throughout our state.

According to Zamudio of ECIC, a third of Hispanic Children in Michigan live in low-income
with 50 percent of children under the age of five are at or below 200% of poverty. Additionally, racial and ethnic disparities in educational achievement in Michigan are among the worst in the country, with African American and Hispanic youth more than twice as likely as white
youths to drop out of school.

The event, which showcase the top two issues, are part of nine indicators identified by
Statewide Hispanic leaders and professionals from prior summits facilitated by Dr. Ruben Martinez, Director of the JRSI at MSU and coordinated by a core of Latino volunteer leaders who have launched MI-ALMA, a newly statewide non-profit organization.

The goal and outcome of the summit will enable MI-ALMA to coordinate efforts with existing
Latino affinity groups throughout the State, regarding the welfare and well being of Latinos in the State of Michigan and help close the gaps between community needs and resources by partnering with community assets and crating alliances for improved institutional research and resources for future opportunities.

“We are excited and thrilled to have AT&T Michigan sponsor the Latino Summit on Education and Civic Engagement,” said Rick Garcia, one of the trustees of MI-ALMA. “Because of their on-going commitment to education and new technologies to enhance learning not only in local communities they serve, but throughout the country.”

To learn more about the outcome of the summit and the upcoming events activities surrounding
the summit, visit the website, http://www.mi-alma.web.officelive.com/ or email mialma.rrg@gmail.com.