December 8, 2010
______________ œ *** ^Ìortlanò (Observer
Page 5
Path to College for Migrant Families
Benefits include
free classes,
other support
Portland Community College will
start a High School Equivalency
Program on its Rock Creek Campus
in northwest Portland for migrant
and seasonal farm workers and mem­
bers of their immediate family.
Supported by a five year, $2.4
million grant from the U.S. Depart­
ment of Education's Office of Mi­
grant Education, the program will
help people obtain a GED, gain em­
ployment, enter post secondary
education or training or join the
military.
One hundred students per year
will be served by this grant. PCC is
hiring staff for the program and the
goal will be to start taking in stu­
dents for winter term. The focus will
be on Washington County, but stu­
dents could come from Yamhill
County, Clackamas and Hood River.
“There is a need for this program
in our area and I have been con­
tacted by many community agen­
cies in Washington County that are
absolutely thrilled that they will be
able to refer students to this pro­
gram." Said Karen Sanders, a PCC
division dean.
Portland Community college Rock Creek Dean o f Student Development Narce Rodriguez (left) and
New Directions Coordinator Alicia Gonzalez know how beneficial a high school equivalency program
can be for migrant families.
It’s another big win for PCC in has the fifth-largest migrant and
federal grant funding. In the last six seasonal farm worker population in
months PCC has earned more than the country and 25 percent live in
$ 13.5 million in money to help foster the Northwestern part of the state.
access and bolster education pro­ Latino student enrollment has in­
grams like this one.
creased by 20 percent compared to
According to the PCC Grants last year at PCC.
Office the high school equivalency
"The nice thing about HEP is that
program is needed because Oregon there is no upper age limit," Sanders
added. "So if there are individuals or
adults out there who never finished
high school and would like to do so,
they can enroll in this program and
continue their education."
Benefits to students include free
GED classes and testing fees,
books, supplies, bus passes and
cafeteria meals, plus reduced child
care. Individualized tutoring, GED
classes in Spanish, advising and
required electives are also part of
the program.
P o te n tia l stu d e n ts w ill go
through a rigorous application pro­
cess, which includes verification of
migrant status, orientation, testing
and personal interviews. Program
participants will take 12 credit hours
of GED classes as well as an elective
- often English as a Second Lan­
guage or College Survival.
Graduates of the HEP program
receive free PCC tuition, up to 12
credits, that must be used within a
year.
Narce Rodriguez, Rock Creek
Campus Dean of Student Develop­
ment, had two brothers who went
through the program where it exists
in other parts of the state. She said
it really helped them because of an
environment of inclusion.
"We have a waiting list for people
from this community who want their
GED and it's a matter opportunity
for them to have access to educa­
tion via PCC,” Rodriguez said. “Plus,
this helps meets the goal of our
board of directors to foster partner­
ships with community to meet ac­
cess to all and foster diversity within
the campus and college as a whole."
For program information, call 503-
614-7085.
Activists Consider ‘Tequila Party’
To push for
immigration
reform, other
causes
W ith the political powers that
the Republican and Dem ocratic
parties hold, many Latino voters
believe neither party has done
enough to represent and support
Hispanic com m unities.
A ccording to reports, som e
Latino activists are considering
form ing a Tequila Party, based on
the inspiration of the Tea Party to
represent the rising voting power
o f Hispanics in the United Sates
and to push for im m igration re­
form the D em ocrats have ne­
glected to succeed in.
Fernando Romero, president of
N evada's H ispanics in Politics
stated that the "Tequila Party" is
ju st an idea says "I don't know if
us," Romero said. "We would have w ith sav in g S e n a te M ajo rity L atin o s have becom e d is illu ­
to do som ething at that point to Leader Harry R eid’s re-election sioned with party politics. T heir
get ready for 2012."
this m onth. In Nevada, Latinos efforts haven’t led to the changes
H ispanics have proved to be a accounted for 15 percent o f vot­ in policy they would like to see.
powerful political force in Nevada ers in 2008 and a record 16 percent
Hispanic Republicans complain
and nationally. They were instru­ in this m onth’s midterm elections. that party officials court their vote
m en tal in e le c tin g P re sid e n t
D espite, or perhaps because but often advocate policies that
Barack Obam a and are credited of, their robust turnout, many m arginalize the com m unity.
The ICTC
Fernando Romero
it's going to happen, but there's
talk," he told the Las Vegas Sun.
If im m igration reform gets
pushed back again next year, the
creation of an independent Latino
party may come sooner rather than
later. "It would definitely induce
is an infant
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