SAN JOSE, CA – Latinx students and families who are considering a college-bound future for their child can get inspired and empowered at the upcoming Advancing Latinx Achievement and Success (ALAS) Conference, "College is my future." The free bilingual half-day conference on Saturday, March 23 at the Event Center at San José State University is designed to promote a college-going culture for local Latinx families.
According to the 2018 Silicon Valley Latino Report Card published by the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, only one in three Latinx high school graduates complete the coursework necessary to attend a state college or university, non-Latinx students perform at a rate of two out of three. Only one in five Latinx in Silicon Valley possess a bachelors, graduate, or professional degree, compared to half for the rest Silicon Valley.
The ALAS Conference, "College is my future" was developed by community organizations to help Latinx students and their families navigate the college-going journey. The event is organized by Silicon Valley Education Foundation and Santa Clara County Superintendents Association. It is hosted by San José State University and sponsored by Santa Clara County Office of Education. Additional partners are Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, UC Berkeley Center for Educational Partnerships, San Jose Cal-SOAP, and CommUniverCity. The objective is to increase the number of Latinx college graduates in the community.
Students in grades five through 12 and their families are invited to attend this free event which will feature a keynote panel of local Latinx leaders who share strategies for the college application process, financial options, how to prepare students for college, the importance of college and how families can support their children through their journey. Sessions are available in Spanish and English.
This event will feature a keynote panel moderated by Damian Trujillo (NBC Bay Area) and panelists: Sergio Jimenez, (San Jose City Councilor), Beatriz Medina Pratt (Facebook); Ana Dapelo-Garcia (Lean In Latinas & Stanford Health Care) and Jose L. Manzo, Superintendent, Oak Grove School District. Other notable guests and speakers include Dr. Mary A. Papazian, President of San José State University, Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools, and Ron Gonzales, President and CEO of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley and former Mayor of the City of San José,
WHEN: ALAS Conference "College is my Future."
WHEN: 7:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23
WHERE: San José State University Event Center, 290 S 7th St, San Jose, CA 95112
For further information or to register, please email: alas@svefoundation.org.
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional, business, and technology services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. The County Office of Education directly serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The SCCOE also provides academic and fiscal oversight and monitoring to districts in addition to the 21 Santa Clara County Board of Education authorized charter schools.
About the Silicon Valley Education Foundation
Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) is the largest educational nonprofit in Silicon Valley. We are guided by the belief that all students are capable of pursuing higher education and boosting their future economic mobility regardless of their background. SVEF has an established legacy of providing proven STEM programs and being profoundly committed to empowering students to graduate high school career and college ready. For more information, visit www.svef.com
