Helping Hispanic Students Prepare to Lead in Business
The ways corporate philanthropy can extend to schools are numerous and can include grants, volunteers/mentors and product donations. Organizations, like Donors Choose help make it easy for anyone to support teachers directly.
Latino Role Models Wanted
Good role models are also important. Espinosa gave the example of how a local graduate, who was bound for Wesleyan University (Espinosas alma mater) spoke to Brentwoods fifth-graders at a promotion ceremony. The student came from a background that was similar to many of the elementary schools students experiences. The high-achieving student did not speak English until he went to school.
After his speech, several parents spoke to Espinosa and said they wanted to talk to the student and his family about how they were able to support him. I was surprised. I thought the kids would be interested but it was the parents as well who thought, this is really possible.
In my community, there are people who have been successful and are going to top-rate colleges. Being those role models and coming into schools and talking to students and their parents is something I would like to see more of. Especially examples of people who are Latino coming into schools, she concludes.
Part one:
One Latinas Campaign to Turn Around a School
