Manny Sanchez

Second annual Latino education conference
scheduled June 20 at NIU-Naperville

by Melanie Magara

When Manny Sanchez came to NIU as a freshman in 1967, he was the first member of his family to attend college. At that time, Sanchez was also one of just a handful of Latino students at NIU, and he quickly looked for ways to “fit in” with the Caucasian majority here.

Now serving his second term as chair of the NIU Board of Trustees, Sanchez has made a personal crusade of changing the statistics that still reveal a disproportionately small number of successful Latino college graduates.

“Everything I am, and everything I’ve been able to accomplish, I attribute to my college education,” says Sanchez, owner and founder of the nation’s largest minority-owned law firm. “I want that potential to be available to all students.”

To that end, Sanchez has spearheaded an annual conference to study Latino educational issues and identify new approaches for Illinois educators. Last year’s inaugural event drew a standing-room-only crowd that included K-12 and college administrators, teachers, counselors, state legislators and a host of social service agencies.

This year’s event, slated for 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 20, will again be held at NIU-Naperville, 1120 East Diehl Road in Naperville.

Featured speakers include:

• Louis Tornatzky, vice president of research, Tomas River Policy Institute
• Roberto Suro, director, Pew Hispanic Center
• Consul General Carlos Manuel Sada Solana, Mexican Consulate, Chicago
• Sylvia Puente, director, Metropolitan Chicago Initiative at the Institute for Latino Studies, Notre Dame University

Census figures show that Latinos are the fastest-growing population in Illinois, accounting for 89 percent of the population growth in metropolitan Chicago, NIU’s service region. However, just 10 percent of Latinos are enrolled at a four-year college or university, and their graduation rates continue to lag behind those of other ethnic groups.

Last year’s Latino policy conference addressed gaps in research that might be camouflaging some of the real issues. This year’s event focuses on the results of new studies and ideas for changes in Illinois policy that will enhance educational opportunities for Latino youth.

Some topics to be addressed include the role of parents and family in the
educational expectations and performance of Latino youth; high school preparation and curriculum choices; barriers to higher education faced by Latino youth, and best practice models from Illinois schools.

Anyone interested in attending the conference may register online at www.niu.edu/latinoinstitute, or by calling NIU Outreach Services at 753-0277.

6-9-03