The last census screamed loud and clear that Latin@s are the largest and fastest growing minority group in the U.S. However we have the lowest education attainment levels. Que que? It’s now time to take concrete steps to change this.
Last weekend I had the privilege of going back to mi Tierra bella de Quisqueya where half of my heart lives no matter where I am in the globe. I went to prepare our Sustainable Development Project (and will dedicate an entire post to that very soon). However the main focus in the entire island is also education. They’re demanding the current goverment to devote 4% of the national budget to education (vs. the current 1.5%). It is obvious that all Latino(a)s are concerned with the education our kids are receiving. It is also evident that we are ready to take control of the situation. No longer will we passively expect solutions from above. Now las mamas, los papas, los maestros y maestras, los profesionales are finally feeling that sense of urgency and taking action.
The Latino2 conference will be our first scream for action. We will open the conversation about STEM, about diversity in the workplace, about mobile. All in the context of education and our futuro. This futuro (based on the numbers revealed by the census) is the American future. Are you ready to win the future NOW? I am!
One concrete step you can take is to become aware of the situation by reading the reports released by the White House.
Another step is to help us showcase real role models in the area of technology who have taken a leadership role through their blog and start-up. All these nominees make it a point to share knowledge and to serve their community. You can now vote for the nominees for LATISM Tech Awards. Here are our Tech Heroes:
Best Latino Startup 2011
LeaAnna Hernandez, Founder, App Developer of MyMic
Klout – Joe Fernandez, CEO & Co-Founder of Klout.com
John Leguizamo, Urbano TV
Jesse Luna – CEO & Founder Jesse Luna
Best Latino in Technology 2011 (People’s Choice)
Matt Gallizzi , CEO, NoTixTech
Eduardo Gonzales Loumiet, Uber Operations
LeaAnna Hernandez, Founder, App Developer of MyMic
Ariel Coro, founder of @tutecnologia
Klout - Joe Fernandez, CEO & Co-Founder of Klout.com
John Leguizamo & David Chitel, Founders of Urbano TV
Jesse Luna – CEO & Founder Jesse Luna
Dean Soto, President, Pro Sulum, LLC
Tony Vargas, Online Banking Manager, First National Bank of Olathe
Don’t Delay. Vote Now! Latino2 Tech Awards Finalists – Winners will be announced during LATISM’s Latino2 Conference at the Computer History Museum in Silicon Valley on June 11, 2011.
