Parents: the Latino secret weapon in education

Written By Jen M.D. Matos

When I was a little girl, my mother looked me straight in the eye and said “Jennifer, you’re going to school until you have gray hair!” I remember thinking “Wow. I am going to be old—at least 40 years old by the time I completed school.

This decree from my mother was one early indicator that mom deeply valued education. However, mom didn’t just say she valued education, she showed me. Every night, before she started her 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at the hospital, she would check my homework for neatness and completion and perform a “surprise inspection” of my book bag. If I didn’t finish a math problem, that problem would greet me at breakfast.
When the nuns at school sent home letters to parents asking permission to “paddle” us if we got out of hand, my mom signed up right away. Was she trying to kill me? At the time, I thought that this woman must want me dead. After doing some research for my graduate program, I learned that my mother, like so many other Puerto Rican mothers, was determined to provide me with the best education possible.

In her article, What Happens if Juan Cannot Read, Maitri Pamo offered the bleak statistics on Latinos in education. On May 13, I became a different kind of statistic—I earned my doctorate. What I learned from my dissertation research on Latino parents offered me a counter narrative to what is said about Latino parents, Latinos, and education. While the dominant story in this country is that we, Latinos, don’t value education, the opposite is true. “Successful” Latino students credit parental involvement for their academic success citing strategies like checking homework, checking book bags (Antrop-González et al., 2005), and teaching the importance of respeto (Reese et al., 1995).

Latino parental involvement may not be all about cupcake sales and PTA meetings because Latino parental involvement looks differently than it does for some White parents (Ascher, 1988). Since the Latino voice is silenced and marginalized in this country, and since our culture is stereotyped but not deeply understood, what Latinos offer as parental involvement is rendered invisible. The construct of parental involvement was intended for White, middle to upper-class parents (Berger, 1991). However, if you noticed, Latinos don’t identify as White, and the over 90-year old construction of parental involvement needs to be updated.

Parental involvement is an antiquated construction that needs to be revamped. The number of Latinos is vastly increasing in the United States. Teachers, schools and administrators can prepare for the influx of Latino students by incorporating the advice of some experts—Latino parents, themselves.

This article was first seen on beinglatino.wordpress.com & used with permission of the author.
If you would like to contact Jen or have additional questions, she can be reached at jdmatos@socialjusticeatwork.org.

Sources

Antrop-Gonzalez, R., Velez, W., & Garrett, T. (2005). Donde estan los estudiantes Puertorriquenos/os exitosos? [Where are the academically successful Puerto Rican students?]: Success factors of high-achieving Puerto Rican high school students. Journal of Latinos & Education, 4(2), 77-94.

Ascher, C. (1988). Improving the school-home connection for poor and minority urban students. Urban Review, 20(2), 109-123.

Berger, E. H. (1991). Parent involvement: Yesterday and today. The Elementary School Journal, 91(3), 209-219.

Reese, L., Balzano, S. Gallimore, R., & Goldenberg, C. (1995). The concept of educación: Latino family values and American schooling. International Journal of Educational Research, 23, 57-81.

Getting the most out of Twitter at professional conferences

While most of us use Twitter primarily as a social media tool, it is also an excellent tool for professional development (please check out @BreakDrink’s Twitter guide for student affairs professionals for a comprehensive how-to, including how to set up your own account). With conference season well under way for many of us, and NASPA about a month away, this is a good time to discuss how to use Twitter at conferences.

The first step is to begin following your professional organizations on Twitter if you’re not doing so already (ahem, @NASPAtweets). Note that several organizations host separate Twitter accounts for the organization itself and for their annual conferences, so check to see if this is the case (NASPA does not). If you plan to attend The Placement Exchange, I strongly suggest following their account at @TPEcanserv. Begin following these separate accounts right around conference time. Chances are that the individual updating the account will provide you with the most up-to-date information on happenings at the conference.

Consider setting up text notifications for the conference/organization account, especially if you do not anticipate logging onto Twitter or if you do not have a smart phone (you are not alone). This will ensure that if there is a last-minute room change or session cancellation for example, you will know about it immediately.

Sometimes, organizations will tweet about secret events or giveaways only available to Twitter followers. I remember receiving a tweet about free t-shirts and bouncy balls from @HigherEdJobs at last year’s TPE. Look out tweet-ups (Twitter-talk for a meet-up or meet-and-greet) at the conference. Attending tweet-ups is a great way to connect and network with other tech-savvy professionals and of course, to find new followers.

Finally, make note of hashtags that are created especially for that particular conference (#naspa11 is the 2011 NASPA Annual Conference hashtag). Save that hashtag as a search item on your Twitter app, or create a separate stream for the hashtag if possible to do so on your particular app (available on HootSuite, for example). Monitoring the conference hashtag will let you see what public users are saying about the conference. Most importantly, contribute to the conversation and use the hashtag when applicable (here is a warning from @StacyLOliver about hashtag abuse).

Do you have any other tips to share? Feel free to comment below. Remember to follow us at @tweetinglavoz. See you at NASPA 2011!

La Nueva Profesional Latina: Taking my first steps

Written By Yaileimy 'Jamie' Rodriguez
Syracuse University

About two years ago I attended my first NASPA conference where I began to connect with the Latino/a Knowledge Community and now have been given the opportunity to share with you my experience as a new professional in the field.

Born in Panama, I moved to the states at age five. After living in New York City until I turned 13, a big move was made to Homestead, Florida located south of Miami.
In April 2010 I was offered the Residence Director position at Syracuse University in the Office of Residence Life.

As my family and I drove the 1,408 miles from Miami, to Syracuse, NY, I recalled a conversation I had with a friend two years ago. I kept telling her, “ I just want to know.”
What was I so curious about? While my friends graduated from undergrad at Florida International University and went on to their first ‘real world’ job, I was starting my graduate assistantship and still unclear of when my ‘real word’ life would begin. It felt as if my life would be on a stand still for the next two years.

Here I am a recent graduate of the College Student Affairs program at Nova Southeastern University where I worked as the Graduate Assistant of Housing, and I now know where my ‘real world’ job will be and more or less where I want to head as a student affairs professional. Luckily, I was able to get over the feeling of having my life on pause and instead look around to see the opportunities I was being given while doing my grad work.

In those two years I was provided the opportunity to develop true knowledge and foundational skills that I know will come in handy as I begin my first full time position. Therefore, my first advice to share with others who are fresh out of undergrad and starting their grad work in student affairs is, “ there is no rush.”

With this in mind, as I start training for my new position- I wonder what seasoned professionals wish they knew as they started their first full time position in student affairs. Any advice?

The LKC NEEDS your perspective!

The DEADLINE for the 2011 NASPA program proposals is quickly approaching. September 3^rd in fact. The Latin@ Knowledge community (LKC) Sponsored Programs Committee is calling for presentations that bring awareness to current issues in higher education as they affect Latin@s as well as the greater community. Your voice is needed as we think about the future of NASPA & Latin@s in higher education. Many of you have excellent ideas for presentations and we don’t want them to go unheard! If you have the slightest question about submitting a proposal on Latin@ issues contact me (LKC Chair for Sponsored Programs) at aparicia@seattleu.edu. I look forward to seeing your program proposals and for those of you who have yet to present at NASPA I encourage you to take this challenge and next step in your professional career.

Program proposal facts:

• The LKC can approve three programs for sponsorship, which means your proposal can be evaluated by our community directly and has a very strong chance of being accepted by the overall NASPA program proposal committee.
• This is a great resume booster! Even if not accepted, writing a program proposal is an excellent point of professional development. Check out the guidelines here: http://www.naspa.org/conf/cfp/default.cfm
• We need diverse program proposals. We welcome programs that highlight intersections of identity: race, class, sexual orientation, religion, gender, etc. With inclusion comes awareness and change!
• Program proposals can be: panels, research based, experiential, and etc. (be innovated!)
• If you have questions about submitting a program proposal or want it to be anonymously reviewed with feedback before you submit it to NASPA, contact Adam-Jon Aparicio at aparicia@seattleu.edu 206.269.6306

More on Purdue's Humanigration Program

You read about the Humanigration program at Purdue University in the June issue of La Voz. Christa Wessels talks a bit more with Maricela Alvarado, director of the University's Latino Cultural Center (LCC) and discusses the program's impact.

Christa Wessels: As I understand, the Latino Cultural Center has been taking students on the Humanigration trip with Borderlinks for three years now. What has been the greater impact on the Purdue community following the students attending this program?

Maricela Alvarado: As the director, I am privileged to see students grow on almost a daily basis so the trip is something that has really transformed students’ way of thinking, their identity, and leadership. A few of the Humanigration students are currently involved with the issues related to undocumented students attending higher education and being able to have a path to U.S. Residency. Their activism is contagious and thus other students seem inspired to learn more so student organizations have had movie screenings, speakers, and information tables set up in the student union to get the word out.

C.W: How does this fit into the bigger picture of undocumented students and their struggles and the DREAM Act?

M.A: I think we are beginning to see some of the fruits of our labor from the Humanigration trip because students seem to be more concerned with what their peers and their families are going through in regards to immigration laws. As students, some have the privilege of being a resident or citizen and those students are realizing that they have peers that do not have the day to day privileges that they sometimes take for granted. They are more conscious of the world outside of themselves and understand that they have to have a voice to affect change. Their leadership thus develops through their own initiatives and passion which I believe is something they need to do to transform their own leadership skills through action. In March, students have held several movie screenings, had speakers, and are traveling to Washington DC in support of the DREAM Act. What is wonderful about this is that most of this was initiated and planned out by the students themselves.

According to Maricela: "The title Humanigration was made up to reflect the experience students will have on the trip, by connecting human aspects to the legal (or illegal) aspects of immigration. The students will learn a great deal through first hand experiences such as an overnight stay with families in Nogales who live in Colonias, which is squatted land due to people migrating north to either cross the border or work at the maquiladoras (factories) and settle in the border town of Nogales. We will also visit maquiladoras which increased in numbers along the border when the 1994 NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) legislation was enacted. Many of the maquiladoras are U.S. owned/managed companies. All of the students are required to read "The Devil's Highway" by Luis Urrea, prior to the trip. This book is now used as part of the training for Border Patrol because it is an inside true account of what many people know as the Yuma 14, a group of migrants crossing the treacherous Sonoran desert, which is where the Humanigration participants will travel to. "

According to Alvarado, participants were also scheduled to meet with Mexican border security officials (Grupo Beta) and ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement) officials on the U.S. side. They were also scheduled to "attend court proceedings regarding Arizona's "Operation Streamline" which is a faster deportation process through the courts." Alvarado also said the group would meet with Mike Wilson, "arepresentative of the Tohono O'Dom reservation to talk about the immigration issues that affect reservation land and people. We'll also be able to do a short desert walk to have a better idea of what people experience walking in the desert while they cross the border."

Alvarado says budget cuts have forced the university to limit participation to five students this past spring, down from an average of 11 in past years. The program, now in its third year, will be expanded into a class next spring (2011) in the Latin American and Latino Studies Department.

For more information on the Humanigration program, visit the Purdue University LCC website.

Nuestro Comprade Nos Comparte: Thoughts on the 2010 NASPA Conference

I was very excited when I learned that Chicago would host the NASPA 2010 Conference. Given that I currently work at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL), I felt extra motivation to make this conference the best NASPA conference yet! I wasn’t disappointed. I looked forward to Mi Familia visiting from all over the country and I felt honored to have many esteemed, bright individuals in my “home”, many of whom I consider mentors. And that is exactly what NASPA and the Latino/a Knowledge Community provides me with each year...a time to reconnect with familia and an opportunity to expand on it. Each year I continue to grow personally and professionally from the many interactions during sessions, lunches, social events and even the quick “hello” between sessions. Conversations within the Latino Male Summit and the women in the Cathy Acevedo Comadres Circle are always a breath of fresh air and a great reminder of the positive work being done in our respective communities. This is also a time to reflect on many of the issues we face and the individuals that still need professionals like us to be their voices. To those of you reading this, Gracias for the work you do for our communities! I look forward to seeing and meeting you in Philadelphia!

- Christian Yañez is Director of Hispanic/Latino Student Affairs at Northwestern University.

NASPA Board Votes to Honor Contract for 2012 NASPA Annual Conference in Phoenix

Message from NASPA President Elizabeth Griego

In its meeting by conference call on June 18, the NASPA Board of Directors voted to honor its contractual commitments to host the 2012 NASPA Annual Conference in Phoenix, and to use the conference program "as an opportunity to address AZ SB 1070 and issues of immigration, social justice, and human dignity."

Background and Information

In making its decision about whether to hold its national conference in Phoenix in 2012 in light of passage of Arizona Senate Bill 1070, the Board of Directors considered a statement submitted by the Latino/a Knowledge Community, as well as comments from many others. In preparation for the Board meeting and vote, NASPA Board members and staff conducted research and corresponded and talked with many NASPA members, education leaders, other association leaders, NASPA's regional and divisional advisory boards, members of Arizona's Region VI Executive Board, and leaders in NASPA's knowledge communities. The wealth of information reviewed and consulted by the entire Board revealed the range of information and opinions put forward to inform the decision about the 2012 conference location.

In reviewing the possibilities, NASPA attorneys were consulted about any possible legal basis for canceling the contracts. Upon review, the attorneys were of the opinion that NASPA would not escape significant liability if we were to cancel. As of this date, the exposure to cancel hotel contracts is $850,000, a significant financial decision for the Association to make. Also, given the financial penalty that would have to be paid to the hotels in Arizona, the impact of an economic boycott - one of the chief reasons given for supporting the cancellation of the contract - would be negated.

The Board was very much in accord with the thinking of the Latino/a KC statement regarding the negative repercussions of SB 1070. It acknowledged that Arizona's political history has been a concern to NASPA members for some time, including the 1990 failure to establish Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a holiday (approved two years later), last year's revocation of health benefits for domestic partners of state employees, and, most recently, banning the teaching of ethnic studies in Arizona public schools. Last year, in response to the decision about health benefits for domestic partners, NASPA chose not to hold its assessment and retention conference in Arizona.

The accompanying personal statement, written by NASPA President-elect Dr. Patricia Telles-Irvin, was read at the Board of Directors conference call and provides further explanation of the stance ultimately taken by the Board.

Next steps

The Board is grateful for the extensive communication extended by the membership around this issue. Following my May 2010 article in the NASPA Forum, I received almost 300 e-mails in response to my views on SB 1070. We acknowledge and honor the passion and commitment of many of our members who stand in fervent opposition to SB 1070. We also acknowledge that there are other NASPA members who favor this legislation and have written in support of it. We respect the right of everyone to hold their informed opinion, and we intend to provide protected and respectful opportunity for ongoing dialogue, beginning with the website blog, continuing with a pre-conference session for the NASPA 2011 conference in Philadelphia, and including attention in the program for the 2012 conference.

In the 2012 conference, we will plan opportunities to meet and work with community leaders, and, if we can get them, state legislators, so that we can understand and perhaps impact one of our country's most pressing issues: immigration reform. We foresee an exciting opportunity in the Phoenix conference to extend the learning for all of us. And finally, we respect the right of persons to boycott Arizona and not attend the 2012 conference in protest of SB 1070, especially those who may not feel safe in the state given this legislation.

Now we need your help. We welcome your reactions to the Board's action and to this letter. Express yourself on the NASPA website. If you would like to work on the pre-conference session on immigration reform for the 2011 conference, we would welcome your ideas and creative energy. Please e-mail Kaaryn Sanon to discuss our plans and find out how you can contribute. Also, if you would like to be involved in reacting to and organizing against SB 1070 with other NASPA members, or if you would like to join in efforts to respond to other states considering similar legislation that could result in discrimination or profiling, please e-mail Kaaryn Sanon. If you would like to communicate your views with your regional vice president or the NASPA Board or the Executive Committee, you may find our e-mail addresses on the board page of the NASPA website.

Thanks to all who wrote with views on this important issue, and special thanks to those willing to become involved.

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Personal Statement of Dr. Patricia Telles-Irvin, NASPA President-elect

NASPA is an organization with members representing more than 1,400 institutions of higher education. As such, NASPA members hold a broad range of perspectives. Consequently, NASPA cannot represent any single political viewpoint. However, we must recognize there are serious societal issues that warrant serious consideration and debate. The Arizona laws regarding undocumented immigrants, ethnic studies and potential birth rights that have recently been brought to our attention raise very serious issues of immigration and economic policy, justice, opportunities, access, fairness, and the role of immigrants in the development and maintenance of American society, among other issues. There have also been laws in this state that have impacted the GLBT community with last year's revocation of health benefits for domestic partners of state employees.

While I personally disagree strongly with these laws, I also understand that my personal views cannot reflect an organizational view for an association with a membership as diverse as NASPA's. It is clear to me, however, that if NASPA is to have its meeting in Arizona, we cannot pretend that the controversies over these laws and the many issues they raise do not exist. As student affairs leaders within institutions of higher education, we need to face these controversies head-on and in a manner that is appropriate for an organization uplifting the values of the student affairs profession. Our institutions impact the minds and souls of students who will lead this country one day. The future of this country depends on them to make good decisions that are honest, thoughtful, and just. Silence is not an option on issues as important and complicated as these.

I want to share with you my personal experience as someone born in the southwest and of Mexican descent. I understand the challenges of the borders and the plight of these immigrants. I also understand that the issues are complicated. In my experience living in my hometown of El Paso, Texas, many undocumented immigrants are encouraged to take jobs other Americans are not willing to assume. Many work hard and contribute to the economy by purchasing goods, keeping prices down, and keeping producers, farmers, and ranchers in business. Among those who cross the border, there are individuals (a small minority, I would say) that have a criminal intent. Unfortunately, in my hometown it appears that the drug cartel has moved to the border town of Juarez, Mexico, and there are killings occurring almost daily. I recall when these two cities worked collaboratively and going across the border either way was safer. There was an appreciation for both cultures by the citizens living in this bicultural region. I do not blame those who are concerned now for their safety. However, the majority of the immigrants are coming out of desperation. One depiction of one such painful, tragic, and true journey immigrants took to find work and to improve the lives of their families can be found in a great book we had our first-year students read last year, The Devil's Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea.

Solutions need to be found, however, I do not think the United States can resolve all these issues alone. There has to be a partnership with other countries; and it is my hope that it happens soon. For most of his career, my father has been a servant leader. He has served this country all his life with great honor and loyalty, and through this he taught me to face any challenge worth facing head-on and with conviction. In 1957, he was elected the first Hispanic mayor of a major city in this country; in 1961, he was the first appointed U.S. ambassador of Hispanic descent; and he was the first Hispanic to serve as a colonel in the Air Force. He also accepted a presidential appointment to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Washington, D.C., as one of five commissioners in the early 1970s. In these various roles, he never shied away from trying to correct injustice. He also taught me to love this country; and part of loving this country was contributing to realistic, honest, and humanitarian solutions.

So, as an educational organization that stands for justice, inclusion, and access to education, as well as analyzing and solving the great challenges of our times, we must make a statement by going together and being very purposely present in Arizona with programs that will educate, enhance the dialogue, and reach a greater understanding on issues of immigration, justice, and human dignity.

Our presence is needed. That being said, I ask for the support of the NASPA membership in embracing an approach that deals directly with these laws regarding undocumented immigrants and the concerns of the GLBT community. With that, I would then find myself able to proudly represent NASPA as its president at the 2012 conference in Arizona.