Perris, Calif. Latinos Get Informed on Issues Affecting Their Community

Yesterday evening NCLR and our Affiliate in California, TODEC Legal Center, hosted a Latino Issues Forum at their offices in Perris, Calif. The forum focused on criminal justice issues impacting the state, common core, driver’s license for undocumented residents, and labor rights. Two of our Civic Engagement Strategists, Pedro Silva and Danny Montes also gave presentations on these issues and the impact the policies have in the Latino community. Here are some of the highlights of the event.

Congressman Mike Takano (D-Calif.) gave inspiring opening remarks regarding the fight for immigration reform after the election and congratulated Mirella on becoming a citizen.

.@RepMarkTakano welcomes new Latino citizens in Perris, Calif.: “My grandfather’s dream is your dream. I care for you in my heart.”

— NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

Also in attendance last night was Mirella Flores, a local community member who had just came from her citizenship ceremony earlier that day!

Meet brand new citizen Mirella Flores and tonight’s guest, @RepMarkTakano. Congrats, Mirella! pic.twitter.com/v0ynl68gNI — NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

Following Rep. Takano’s remarks and a short presentation from the Department of Labor, Silva and Montes took to the mic to give their presentations.

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Pedro Silva, @silvapa2006, NCLR Civic Engagement Strategist, now speaking on the #commoncore.

— NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

By 2020, 68% of all jobs/opportunities in California will require some college level. — NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

@silvapa2006: Currently, 6 in 10 Latinos in Calif. have a high school diploma.

— NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

@silvapa2006: Only 1 in 10 Latinos in Calif. have a bachelor’s degree. — NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

.@silvapa2006: As of 2010, new academic standards in English and Math for students K-12 were adopted.

— NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

Silva: As parents, we should make sure these standards are upheld. #commoncore #LatinoEdu — NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

 

Silva: Ask teachers how they plan to implement these #commoncore standards in order to benefit their child. — NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

Silva: These #commoncore standards are a catalyst for change-creating equal education for Latinos. #LatinoEdu — NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

Following Silva, Danny Montes gave a presentation on the school-to-prison pipeline that affects so many of California’s Latino youth.

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Now speaking, Danny Montes, @dannyoso, NCLR Civic Engagement Strategist

— NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

Montes: In July ‘13, 1/5 people in CA prisons were in for a nonviolent offense=$1.79B/yr in taxpayer expense #SchoolsNotPrisons — NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

Montes: 1/4 adults in Calif. prisons suffers from mental illness. Now 3 times more people with mental illness in jails than in hospitals

— NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

Montes: In the past 30 years, Calif. has built 22 prisons and only 1 school for its University of California system #SchoolsNotPrisons — NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

Montes: Calif. spending per prisoner ($62,396) has increased nearly 3X faster than per K-12 student ($9,194).

— NCLR (@NCLR) October 31, 2014

Check out other photos from last night’s event:

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There is alot at stake for Latinos in this election, so be sure to get out there and vote! Make sure you have a plan in place, too. Get started here and remember to vote on November 4!