Hispanic Heritage Month highlights Latino issues
By Randi Johnson
Hispanics account for nearly nine percent of Minnesota and 25 percent of the Minnesota minority population. In celebration of these numbers, Metropolitan State University recently invited the Latino community to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by welcoming Latino service providers and professors to address an array of contemporary topics, as well as exhibit Latino art and culture.
Metropolitan State co-hosted the third annual summit of the MN Network of Latinos in Higher Education on Friday, Oct. 9, which addressed a broad range of topics affecting Chicanos and Latinos in higher education. Latinos across the state gathered to address the challenges and strategies of navigating their own educational survival, assess the state of 40 years of Chicano studies and discuss the intersection of race, ethnicity and sexuality in the University.
The University also hosted a panel discussion highlighting the challenges and perspectives of Latinos in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and a presentation outlining Latino topics and their effects on the United States. The guest speakers revealed that nationally, 39 percent of all Latinos, compared to 15 percent of all Americans, have less than a high school degree; 13 percent of Latinos, compared to 28 percent of Americans, have a college degree, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. Latinos are the youngest and least experienced demographic in the workforce, as well as the least educated. The Latino workforce is concentrated in low-skill occupations with lower median incomes, yet it is the fastest growing population. Latinos will account for 46 percent of the population growth between 2000 and 2020.
In order to truly celebrate Hispanic heritage, the guest speakers spoke of the need to educate both legal and undocumented immigrants. The estimated undocumented immigrant population in 2008 was 11.9 million. Of those, 25 percent are farm workers, according to the Pew Hispanic Center and the US Census Bureau. Undocumented immigrants have very little college or educational support, resulting in low Latino enrollment in universities nationwide. They also often aren’t aware of universities that accept them or scholarships that offer financial support. Ursula Moncada of Centro MN spoke of the available resources on the Minnesota Office of Higher Education Web Site, located at:http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/undocumented. This Web site offers helpful information on grants, scholarships, loans and several tuition policies on Minnesota colleges and universities.
Metropolitan State will conclude Hispanic Heritage Month on Nov. 4 with a Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in New Main and is inviting groups or individuals to create their own ofrendas, or altars, dedicated to the spirits of their deceased loved ones. For schedule or set-up instructions, contact the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Office (EOD) at (651) 793-1270.