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Our Tribe!
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We believe that a quality education is the single most important investment we can make in Latino communities. That’s why HF runs educational programs that support students and their families at every stage of the academic system, from early childhood education through college graduation. HF also carries out research and advocates to advance policies that help Latino and other underserved students obtain the tools, resources and opportunities they need to succeed academically and in life.
Our programs and advocacy work include:
The Pathways to Academic Excellence initiative is a seminar series that enables Latino parents to actively support their children’s education through early childhood and college prep activities.
This component helps parents understand the importance of educationally engaging their children early in life. Seminars instruct parents and caregivers on developmentally appropriate learning activities, art projects, and techniques such as storytelling which can be used at home to enhance their children’s literacy skills. Pathways Early Childhood creates a path to academic success for families by:
- Teaching parents/caregivers how to enhance their children’s literacy skills through language-building activities and exercises
- Providing resources such as books that promote reading and learning
- Instructing parents on how to work with their children and the school system to overcome social and academic challenges
- Tracking behavioral change in the family household through outcome evaluations
This component motivates Latino parents to get a head start in prepping their children for college. The program helps parents and students understand the advantages of a college education, the college admissions timeline, what colleges are looking for, and how to navigate the often complex application process. Pathways College Prep specifically educates parents on:
- The importance of advanced placement (AP) classes, extracurricular activities, and college entrance exams
- Developing relationships with school counselors
- The critical nature of the junior year
- Finding information on financial aid and scholarships
For more information, contact Perla Rodriguez, Education Programs Manager.
Hispanic Federation developed the CREAR Futuros (College Readiness, Achievement and Retention) program to address the fact that Latinos face persistent systemic barriers that prevent them from earning a college degree, resulting in the lowest college graduation level of any major racial/ethnic group in the U.S.
To address this crisis, HF works with higher education partners such as The City University of New York (CUNY) and private foundations and corporations to implement student retention and achievement models that increase the percentage of Latino students graduating from college.
CREAR Futuros is a “Community of Care” model program that is providing Latino college students with direct, place-based supports. The program is helping to boost Latino student GPA, retention, course completion, and graduation rates through the following supports:
- Peer-mentorship
- Leadership development
- Career mentorship
- Internship opportunities
- Connection to social services
This exciting national initiative is operating on 8 college campuses, across four states where the Hispanic Federation has an established presence, including New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Florida.
PARTICIPATING CAMPUSES:
New York
City University of New York (CUNY)
Borough of Manhattan Community College
John Jay College
LaGuardia Community College
Lehman College
NYC College of Technology
Florida
University of Central Florida
Connecticut
Naugatuck Valley Community College (Waterbury and Danbury campuses)
Rhode Island
Rhode Island College
For more information, contact Perla Rodriguez, Education Programs Manager.
The Latino Educational Advocacy Directors (LEAD) coalition consists of leading educational advocacy organizations committed to improving Latino academic outcomes and opportunities in New York State. Created by the Hispanic Federation, the coalition works to highlight and address the educational needs of Latino students in the following ways: identifying and supporting effective practice; public policy advocacy and research; and the advancement of a shared educational agenda.
For more information, contact Diana Cruz, Director of Education Policy.
LEAD Coalition from Hispanic Federation on Vimeo.
Each year, the Hispanic Federation hosts the largest community-wide gathering on Latino education in the Northeast region. The Hispanic Education Summit is an all-day conference which brings together community advocates, educators, students, parents and policymakers to advance best practices and needed reforms aimed at improving Latino educational achievement. The strategies and recommendations generated from the summit are compiled into a report and action agenda and guide our educational policymaking at the local, state and federal levels.
For more information, contact Diana Cruz, Director of Education Policy.
