Latino education to be topic of forum
The community is invited to a forum Wednesday focusing on Latino education and how it relates to the economic future of Arizona.
Parents, educators, business leaders and other community members are invited to attend a presentation of a recent report by Morrison Institute for Public Policy, titled “Dropped? Latino Education and Arizona's Economic Future.” The report in its entirety is available for download at MorrisonInstitute.asu.edu and will also be distributed in hard-copy publication at the event.
The forum will be held in the Kofa High School auditorium, 3100 S. Avenue A, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. after an informational reception at 5:30 p.m.
Sponsors are the Morrison Institute, which uses nonpartisan research and public outreach to improve the state's quality of life; and Arizona Latino Research Enterprise (ALRE), a nonpartisan advocacy group and nonprofit that focuses on education.
After the presentation, a panel discussion will be followed by an opportunity for community dialogue. Speakers and panelists include Dr. David Daugherty, director of research, Morrison Institute; John Fisher, executive director, Stand for Children; James Sheldahl, associate superintendent, Yuma Union High School District; and Joseph Garcia, director of Morrison Institute Latino Public Policy Center.
“The discussion regarding Arizona's crisis-level Latino educational achievement gap is increasing around the state,” said Garcia, “as more and more individuals and communities are beginning to understand that we can no longer separate Latino issues from Arizona issues because they are one and the same — especially when talking about the future.”
The Yuma presentation is the first in a statewide tour over the next six months. ALRE chairman James Garcia said that at the end of the tour, they plan to issue a white paper about information gathered from Arizona communities as to how to fix the issue.
Contact mario@medandassociates.com to RSVP or for more information.
Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSSarahWomer or on Twitter at @YSSarahWomer.
