HISPANIC FEDERATION HOSTS FIRST IN-PERSON EDUCATION SUMMIT SINCE 2019
For Immediate Release: October 19, 2023
Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
NATIONAL – On October 18, 2023, Hispanic Federation hosted its first in-person Hispanic Education Summit since 2019, bringing together top national policymakers, education leaders, students, and parents to discuss solutions to the biggest challenges facing Latinx children in their K-12 and postsecondary education. This was also the first HF Hispanic Education Summit held after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to prohibit the use of affirmative action in college admissions, which is expected to lead to a sharp drop in Latino college enrollment. The recommendations and insights shared at the Hispanic Education Summit will help shape programmatic and legislative strategies to push back on regressive policies, accelerate equity in education going forward, and expand educational opportunities for even more Latino students.
During panel discussions, speakers examined the potential impact of SCOTUS’ decision to overturn affirmative action as well as financing postsecondary education amid the student loan debt crisis, the importance of social and emotional learning in relation to educational achievement, data equity and more. A complete schedule, speaker list, and panel descriptions that took place can be found here. The summit was also co-sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“A strong education can completely transform the future of our students and our communities as a whole. That’s why the Hispanic Education Summit is so crucial. We're bringing together policy experts, nonprofit leaders, community members, and other decision-makers to tackle the toughest challenges in education while also empowering Latino students and their families. Together, we’re showing our students that they have our full backing, and that we will continue to work tirelessly to expand educational opportunities for our future leaders. I thank our panelist and partners for being a part of this year’s summit and look forward to working together on behalf of all students and families,” said Hispanic Federation President and CEO Frankie Miranda.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, students of color still face greater educational inequities that may be exacerbated due to the SCOTUS’ decision prohibiting the use of affirmative action in education. Additionally, a 2022 report found that Latinx children are still less likely to receive the type of instruction proven to be most effective in closing pandemic-created learning gaps, deepening pre-existing inequities. The recommendations and insights developed and shared at the Hispanic Education Summit will help shape programmatic and legislative strategies to accelerate equity in education going forward.
“Students need well-resourced public schools that foster collaboration between parents and educators, and lift up the strategies that work best, like a focus on literacy to create joyful, confident readers; community schools that center family engagement and wrap healthcare, career and language services around the school building; experiential learning that teaches practical skills and helps develop career pathways; and diverse, supported teachers and school staff who understand Black and Brown students’ lived experiences. All kids – particularly those from immigrant families – benefit far more from these scalable solutions than the smears and attacks on public education. Our public schools can be foundational steppingstones for access to knowledge and future economic success, but we must lean into these best practices to make them places where every family feels welcome, and every child feels seen and heard. Thanks to Hispanic Federation for putting together their Education Summit to help move these ideas forward,” said Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers.
“The Hispanic Education Summit provided a vital forum to discuss strategies that can ensure diversity in education, an effort that became more critical in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling ending race-based admissions,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, who addressed the ruling’s impact in his opening remarks on Wednesday. “We thank the Hispanic Federation for engaging policymakers and thought leaders in a concerted effort to help all students attain upward mobility through access to college.”
“When people are excluded from (or otherwise hidden in) datasets, their lived experiences are ignored and not factored into analyses or policy-making. Data disaggregation presents an opportunity for communities to make sure their stories are told and for the rich complexity of the communities which comprise our country to be recognized,” said Meeta Anand, Senior Director of Census and Data Equity, The Leadership Conference Education Fund, who participated in the panel discussion, Data Disaggregation as a Policy Tool. The panel explored how the experiences of Latinos are crucial in understanding community needs and information policies and initiatives.
Speakers included: Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers, Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor, City University of New York, Alberto Cardelle, President, SUNY Oneonta, Lola Brabham, President, Commission for Independent Colleges and Universities, Fernando Delgado, President, Lehman College, Daisy Cocco De Fillipis, President, Hostos Community College; Ingrid Renderos, MPA, Director BMCC/CUNY in The Heights; Lisandra Maria Ramos, MA, MFA, Special Assistant to the President, Administration & Initiatives, SUNY Old Westbury, Valerie P. Dent, Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Deputy for Student Success, SUNY, James F. Rodriguez, Coordinator, UFT College & Career Fairs, Maria Rodriguez, Outreach Coordinator, NYS Higher Education Services Corporation, Kim Nauer, Education Research Fellow, Center for New York City Affairs/Inside Schools, Dr. Melodie Baker, Policy Director, Just Equations, Marielys Divanne, Executive Director, Educators 4 Excellence, Carolyne Quintana, Deputy Chancellor of Teaching and Learning, NYC Public Schools, Vanessa Leung, Co-Executive Director of Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, Jorge Vasquez Jr., Partner, Vasquez | Segarra LLP, Rana Abdelhamid, Founder and Executive Director of Malikah, Meeta Anand, Senior Director of Census and Data Equity, The Leadership Conference Education Fund, Halley Potter, Fellow, The Century Foundation, Leticia Vasquez, Director of College Access Programs, The Double Discovery Center at Columbia University, Eleana Leiva, Director of Poverty Alleviation, We Are Not Afraid Resource Community Center, Eliana Godoy, Deputy Director Literacy Inc., Laura Walsh, Chief Program Officer, Literacy Inc., Albania Jimenez, Senior Director of Family & Community Mobilization, Literacy Inc.
A complete schedule, speaker list, and panel descriptions that took place can be found here.
About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized and immigrant Latinos. With programs in 40 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
