Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2^nd ANNUAL LATINO EDUCATION CONFERENCE

“PARENTS ARE POWERFUL: MANOS QUE TRABAJAN”

(Worcester, MA – April 16, 2003)   Author, Esmeralda Santiago, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2^nd Annual Latino Education Conference “Parents are Powerful: Manos Que Trabajan” to be held from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2003 at Worcester State College.

This conference, sponsored by the Latino Education Institute, home of the Worcester Working Coalition for Latino Students at Worcester State College, will bring together parents, students, educators, community activists, religious leaders, organized labor groups, appointed and elected officials, and business leaders to foster academic success for children.  There will be welcoming remarks by WSC President Janelle C. Ashley, the Honorable Judge Luis Perez and Congressman James P. McGovern, the keynote address, four workshops (see enclosed), a luncheon and awards ceremony.   Mr. Jorge Quiroga, reporter with WCBV TV, will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Esmeralda Santiago, the oldest of eleven children, came to the U.S. from Puerto Rico when she was thirteen.  She attended New York City’s Performing Arts High School, majoring in drama and dance.  After eight years of part-time study at community colleges, she transferred to Harvard University with a full scholarship.  She studied film production, graduating magna cum laude.  Her writing career evolved from her work as a producer/writer of documentary and educational films.  Her work has appeared in national newspapers including the New York Times and the Boston Globe, and on mass market magazines like House & Garden, Metropolitan Home, and Good Housekeeping.  She is the author of Almost a Woman and When I was Puerto Rican.

The mission and goals of the Latino Education Institute, home of the Worcester Working Coalition for Latino Students at Worcester State College, are to improve the educational achievement of Latino students at the K-12 levels with a demonstrated benchmark of higher levels of success in schooling as evidenced by reduced dropout rates, increased parental involvement and increased  high school graduation rates and hire levels of Latino college bound students.

###