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Background About UnidosUS
Education Programs
Equitable Education Access
UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through its unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels. For more than 50 years, UnidosUS has united communities and different groups that seek common ground through collaboration and share a desire to make our community stronger. For more information on UnidosUS, visit www.unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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Background About UnidosUS Thank you for your interest in advancing educational equity for Latinos. UnidosUS's education programs focus on Early Childhood Education (ECE), the K-16 continuum (known collectively as the Líderes programs), parent and community engagement, and leadership development fellowships aimed at college students as well as school leaders. At UnidosUS, the Education portfolio of programs is rooted in culturally and linguistically responsive practices that validate students’ lived experiences, provide robust academic support and address the whole student. The whole-student approach centers on the intersections of health, early childhood, and K-12 education spaces to promote better learning while creating an impact into adulthood with increased
Education Programs
Equitable Education Access
emotional intelligence, college- and career-readiness, and economic security. This multi-faceted approach to education is undergirded by UnidosUS’s legacy of work in civil rights and racial justice. As you review our programs and consider your investment priorities, please consider the following: • Latinos will become the largest racial/ethnic group by 2050. It is also important to note that a large share of the Latino population is under 18 years of age. The projected growth of this segment of the Latino population aligns with the target age group of UnidosUS youth leadership development programs.
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Background About UnidosUS
Education Programs
• Given our increasing demographic numbers across the country, “Latinos will play a role in shaping, our country’s future political, social, and economical landscape” (Latino Financial Access and Inclusion in California, NCLR, 2013).
continue to experience widening achievement gaps when compared to their White and Asian peers. In addition, the college completion rate for Latino students (with an average enrollment of six years in college) is at 50%.
• According to a study by Nielsen (2012), “the future U.S. economy will depend on Hispanics by virtue of demographic change and the social and cultural shifts expected to accompany their continued growth.” This is corroborated by The Statistics Portal (2017) which projects that the buying power for Latinos will increase to 1.7 trillion U.S. dollars by this year (2020).
• When controlling for educational attainment, lifetime earnings for Latinos still lag behind those of Whites: Latinos with bachelor’s degrees earn 21% less over their lifetime than their White peers. There are also ethnic disparities in wealth accumulation: of those who attended college, Whites have a median wealth that is 3.9 times higher than the wealth of their Latino peers (UnidosUS, It Made the Sacrifices Worth It, 2018).
• Graduation and college enrollment rates for Latino students have increased over time and across the country. Despite these gains, Latino students
Equitable Education Access teacher population is Latino, and Latinos only represent 4% of Boards of Education and 2% of executive teams in education organizations; thus, it is imperative to strengthen the leadership pipeline of culturally competent leaders of color (Latinos in Education, 2020).
• While 25% of the student population nationwide, is comprised of Latino students, only 8% of the Continued on next page
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Background About UnidosUS • The promise and potential of the Latino community is challenged by persistent challenges that require immediate attention and wide support. The most recent challenge is the COVID-19 pandemic that has exacerbated inequities and widened achievement and opportunity gaps, disproportionally impacting Latino students and English learners (ELs). • The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the structural and institutional inequities that have historically disadvantaged Latino students in the public school system. Since the crisis began, some 124,000 public schools have closed, leaving 55.1 million students across the country attempting to homeschool and learn online, or out of the education system entirely.
Education Programs • McKinsey & Company (2020) created statistical models to estimate the potential impact of school closures on learning. Models revealed that “learning loss will probably be greatest among low-income, Black, and Hispanic students. Lower-income students are less likely to have access to high-quality remote learning or to a conducive learning environment, such as a quiet space with minimal distractions, devices they do not need to share, high-speed internet, and parental academic supervision.”
Equitable Education Access or changed their education plans, including delaying enrollment, reducing courses, or switching institutions. The nationally representative survey found that Latinos (32%) were particularly likely to have canceled or delayed their plans — double the rate of White Americans (16%) followed by Black (24%) and Asian Americans (21%).
• According to Inside Higher Ed (June 2020), the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on the education plans of people of color, with half of Latinos and about 40% of Black and Asian Americans canceling or otherwise changing their plans […] Over all, 35% of Americans have canceled Continued on next page
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Background About UnidosUS • Target population of the Education programs include: Early childhood education Latino youth pursuing K-12 education English learners Low-income students
Education Programs
Equitable Education Access
Your investment in the UnidosUS Education programs will reach students, school leaders, and parents across a spectrum of communities, equip them with knowledge, skills, and self-confidence, and provide support systems and new opportunities that will enable them to defy the odds, reach their fullest potential, and help build a stronger America.
Immigrant students First-generation college students Young professionals Spanish-dominant parents Seasoned education leaders
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Background About UnidosUS
Education Programs
Equitable Education Access
Education has been called the greatest civil rights issue of our time because access to a quality education can create opportunities such as access to higher education, socio-economic mobility, job stability, and improved quality of life. According to the Pew Research Center (2016), “The issue of education is an important one for Hispanics. Roughly eight-inten (83%) cited education as very important to their vote in the 2016 election, ranking it alongside the economy, health care and terrorism as a top issue.” UnidosUS strongly believes that education is the greatest equalizer of society. As such, we seek partnerships with like-minded and mission-aligned partners that can help enhance and expand our work in critical areas with the goal of fulfilling our mission of building a stronger America by creating opportunities for Latinos.
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Education Programs Early Childhood Education
K-16 Education
Líderes Programs
Educación Completa
Padres Comprometidos
Ed-Connect
Select a program below to learn more about the work we are doing. • Early Childhood Education • K-16 programs • Leadership Development • Educación Completa (Whole-Student Approach) • Padres Comprometidos • Data and Research
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Education Programs Early Childhood Education
K-16 Education
Líderes Programs
About UnidosUS
Education Programs
The Achievement Gap
The UnidosUS Early Childhood Education (ECE) curriculum engages Latino families with children (birth through age five) with the latest research findings on early learning and development and their roles in promoting school readiness for their children. This evidence-based model addresses the following topics: • How Latino parents can support their children’s school readiness in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways, based on family routines and culturally familiar parenting practices. • The importance of daily parent-child interactions and supports for children’s language development as key to long-term reading and academic success. • The importance of developing a child’s home language proficiency. • Engaging families on the development of early literacy skills through play.
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Education Programs K-16 Education
Líderes Programs The Líderes continuum of programs is guided by a vision: “To reimagine and shape the future of Latinx youth in the United States by enhancing their visibility, voice, talents, stories, and opportunities.” To properly execute this vision, UnidosUS has established Líderes [Leaders] programs that are research- and evidenced-based. Authentic engagement of youth is encouraged across the Líderes pipeline with curricular modules that emphasize enhanced academic performance, youth voice, advocacy, collegeand career-readiness, and civic/community engagement. With a national reach and serving Latino communities from across the spectrum (well-established to newly emerging communities), the Líderes programs fill a programmatic gap for Latino-serving institutions by providing a tailored and culturally competent approach to student support, services, and curricula.
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Educación Completa The Líderes programs are culturally and linguistically relevant and focus on four priority areas. These programmatic areas address pressing needs in our students’ academic skill sets and target academic fields and industries with an underrepresentation of Latinos. The priority areas also provide adequate support for Latino academic success in K-12 and postsecondary institutions. At the postsecondary level, first-generation college students are encouraged and supported as they navigate systems of higher education so they can complete their coursework and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in a timely manner.
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Education Programs K-16 Education
Líderes Programs In summary, the Líderes pipeline consists of a portfolio of youth programs that: • Emphasize youth voice, advocacy, and academic engagement. • Incorporate a variety of activities from advocacy, recreation, academic achievement, creative performance, service learning, and leadership training. • Prepare students for college, career, and civic life.
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Educación Completa These programs are firmly grounded in the following: • An asset-based perspective and approach to Latino youth. • Culturally and linguistically relevant practices and curricula. • Evidenced-based programs informed by literature and best practices in the field of youth leadership development.
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Leadership Development Programs Líderes Programs
Educación Completa
Padres Comprometidos
Cultura, Aprendizaje, Servicio, Acción (CASA)
Entre Mujeres
Men of Action
CASA works to develop culturally aware youth leaders who serve as agents of change to address issues that impact their communities. Through active engagement and service learning, students develop complex critical thinking, reflective, and soft skills while preparing students for college and postsecondary opportunities.
Entre Mujeres empowers Latina high school students to recognize their personal worth, to strengthen their leadership abilities and self-confidence, and to leverage their cultural assets to serve as agents of change in the Latino community and beyond.
A positive masculinity program designed for Latino high school students, Men of Action convenes personalized circles of young men and provides students with the tools and supports needed to build solidarity, raise social consciousness, and initiate a healing process.
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Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Líderes Programs
Children Investigating Science with Parents and Afterschool (CHISPA) CHISPA is a STEM afterschool program that engages students in elementary school and their parents. CHISPA represents a national network of science museums and afterschool programs affiliated with UnidosUS, working together to build communities and increase the engagement of Latino children and their families with science and local science resources.
Educación Completa
Padres Comprometidos
CASA Code
STEAM for All
The CASA Code Program—works to introduce young leaders to computer science and coding, while developing students’ abilities to serve as agents of change in their own communities. Through CASA Code, students develop coding skills and explore how they can impact their communities through technology.
STEAM for All introduces ninth and 10th grade students to the physics of sound and material science. In addition, students explore the evolution of Latin music, diversity in classical music, and STEAM careers in the music industry. The curriculum encourages inquiry-based learning and tinkering to promote innovative thinking. Through this structured, yet experiential approach, students further develop their creative abilities and their science, technology, engineering, art, and math skills.
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College and Career-Readiness Líderes Programs
Educación Completa
Padres Comprometidos
Early Escalera: Pasos Adelante
Escalera: Taking Steps to Success
Early Escalera opens an early pipeline of leadership development, self-awareness, and college- and career-readiness for ninth and 10th graders across the country. The program provides students with opportunities, resources, and support they may not otherwise receive by implementing its personal development and college- and career-readiness curriculum with a national network of community-based organizations and charter schools.
Escalera improves educational and career outcomes for Latinos by increasing the Latino high school graduation rate, postsecondary enrollment, and completion rates. The program aligns with UnidosUS’s goals to eliminate barriers to employment and economic mobility while increasing the capacity of UnidosUS Affiliates to provide effective workforce development, education, and leadership services for Latino youth.
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Postsecondary Líderes Programs
Educación Completa
Padres Comprometidos
Avanzando Through College
Avanzando Fellowship Program
The Avanzando Through College program supports predominantly first-generation, Latino students in their first and second years of college by providing them with the tools, knowledge, and support necessary to successfully navigate the higher education system with the goal of graduating with a bachelor’s degree within six years.
The Avanzando Fellowship Program is geared to college juniors and seniors who are passionate about making meaningful change in their campus community and beyond. This fellowship will develop a cohort of civically, socially and educationally engaged college students to act as levers of change in their respective campuses and communities.
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Fellowships Líderes Programs
Educación Completa
Padres Comprometidos
The Education portfolio of programs also includes fellowship opportunities to promote leadership development amongst school leaders. These include the following fellowships:
The National Institute for Latino School Leaders (NILSL) fellowship infuses the voice of school leaders who work with and on behalf of Latino students, dual language, and ELs, into the education policy arena. NILSL Fellows provide insights, elevate best practices, and inform policies that directly relate to or impact youth in K-12 education.
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The National Institute for Latino School Leaders (NILSL)-California is a state-specific fellowship experience that infuses the voice of school leaders who work with and on behalf of Latino students, dual language, and ELs, into the education policy arena. In California, this fellowship will focus on the implementation of the English Learner Roadmap and policies needed to actualize this statewide policy.
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Whole-Student Centered Approach Educación Completa
Educación COMPLETA goes beyond academics to holistically meet all the needs of the whole student so they can thrive. At its core, a whole-student approach aims to recognize and support all aspects of a student’s life that impact their well-being and learning success. An Educación COMPLETA centers the intersections of health, early childhood, and K-12 education spaces to promote better learning while creating impact into adulthood with increased emotional intelligence, jobs, and economic security. Working with both UnidosUS Affiliates and partners, the goal is to develop the Core Qualities and toolkit for whole student learning that leverages the cultural and linguistic strengths of Latinx
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Padres Comprometidos
Ed-Connect
children and their families and directly address the key challenges they face in navigating the school system. The Core Qualities and accompanying toolkit will be piloted and shared within the UnidosUS Affiliate Network and with external partners through peer exchanges, webinars, and public-facing communications activities. In addition, we know that the educational attainment of Latino students can be enhanced and improved when parent and community engagement is intentional and meaningful. UnidosUS has more than a decade of experience supporting family engagement in schools through its signature parent-engagement program known as Padres Comprometidos (PC).
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Padres Comprometidos Padres Comprometidos
Ed-Connect
Early Childhood Education
The PC program builds the ability of Latino parents to acquire the skills they need to effectively engage with schools and play a leading role in preparing their children for college. The core program was founded on the UnidosUS Guiding Principles for Engaging Latino Parents, and addresses language and culture as assets upon which skills, confidence, and ultimately, empowerment are built. PC has also demonstrated to be effective when community-based organizations partner with local schools to implement the program, since program facilitators are often an integral part of the community and a constant and trusted source for both parents and schools.
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Program Data Approach Ed-Connect
Early Childhood Education
The Education data team, known as Ed-Connect, takes a multifaceted, collaborative, and iterative approach to data and evaluation. The team measures, communicates, and improves program performance, quality, and impact using various strategies. Data is collected at multiple levels to contextualize findings, identify program needs, assess program fidelity, and provide support and technical assistance. Quantitative and qualitative information is collected at the individual and programmatic levels from sources that provide a range of perspectives
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K-16 Education
and insights. By working with the Líderes K-16 program managers, the data team aims to benchmark progress, track outcomes, and improve on program delivery in a timely fashion by collecting data at several time points, beginning when UnidosUS Affiliates apply for funding, throughout the program, and after programs end. We look forward to our partnership and joint efforts in investing in students’ opportunities and ensuring access to high quality education programs.
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Staff Members Education Team
EDUCATION Líderes Team
Collectively, the Education team brings decades of experience to the UnidosUS’s Education programs. The team’s professional experience and diverse skill set have been leveraged to develop young leaders, scale quality youth programs, and change the Latino narrative as well as youth outcomes. Team Members (Select a name to view profile) • Feliza I. Ortiz-Licon
• Jose Rodriguez
• Maria Moser
• Leticia Hart
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Ed-Connect Team Feliza I. Ortiz-Licon, Ed.D. Principal of Educations Programs Dr. Feliza Ortiz-Licon has invested more than 20 years in the field of education in various capacities including teaching, program development, and policymaking. Feliza joined the UnidosUS Education Program Team in 2007. In her current capacity, she oversees the data and research team, family and community engagement work, K-16 education programs, and leadership fellowships implemented with college students and school leaders.
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Staff Members Education Team
EDUCATION Líderes Team
Collectively, the Education team brings decades of experience to the UnidosUS’s Education programs. The team’s professional experience and diverse skill set have been leveraged to develop young leaders, scale quality youth programs, and change the Latino narrative as well as youth outcomes.
Ed-Connect Team Maria Moser Senior Director Maria Moser is Senior Director of Teaching and Learning at UnidosUS, where she has been part of the Education team since 2007. She currently leads a team responsible for data, impact evaluation, action research, and curriculum development for Education programs.
Team Members (Select a name to view profile) • Feliza I. Ortiz-Licon
• Jose Rodriguez
• Maria Moser
• Leticia Hart
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Staff Members Education Team
EDUCATION Líderes Team
Collectively, the Education team brings decades of experience to the UnidosUS’s Education programs. The team’s professional experience and diverse skill set have been leveraged to develop young leaders, scale quality youth programs, and change the Latino narrative as well as youth outcomes.
Ed-Connect Team Jose Rodriguez Director Jose Rodriguez oversees UnidosUS’s signature parent engagement program Padres Comprometidos. The Padres Comprometidos program has served families across 18 states at 40 Affiliate sites, reaching more than 2,000 parents every year.
Team Members (Select a name to view profile) • Feliza I. Ortiz-Licon
• Jose Rodriguez
• Maria Moser
• Leticia Hart
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Staff Members Education Team
EDUCATION Líderes Team
Collectively, the Education team brings decades of experience to the UnidosUS’s Education programs. The team’s professional experience and diverse skill set have been leveraged to develop young leaders, scale quality youth programs, and change the Latino narrative as well as youth outcomes. Team Members (Select a name to view profile) • Feliza I. Ortiz-Licon
• Jose Rodriguez
• Maria Moser
• Leticia Hart
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Ed-Connect Team Leticia Hart, M.Ed. Associate Director Education Programs Leticia Hart brings 17 years of experience in higher education to her role as Associate Director for Education Programs. In this role, Leticia oversees UnidosUS’s K-16 programs under the following areas: youth leadership development, STEM, college- and careerreadiness, and postsecondary education.
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Staff Members Education Team
Líderes Team
Collectively, the Education team brings decades of experience to the UnidosUS’s Education programs. The team’s professional experience and diverse skill set have been leveraged to develop young leaders, scale quality youth programs, and change the Latino narrative as well as youth outcomes. Team Members (Select a name to view profile) • Amparo K. Díaz
• Ulysses Urquizo
• Washington Navarrete
• Cindy Zavala
Ed-Connect Team Amparo K. Díaz, M.A. Program Manager Prior to joining the Líderes Team as Escalera Manager in November 2018, Amparo Díaz served as a social research assistant and a high school teacher in south central Texas. Currently, Amparo co-manages the UnidosUS college- and career-readiness education programs, Escalera and Early Escalera, and leads the planning and execution of Escalera instructor trainings and program curriculum updates, including the development of STEM curricular components.
• Shante’ Stokes
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Staff Members Education Team
Líderes Team
Collectively, the Education team brings decades of experience to the UnidosUS’s Education programs. The team’s professional experience and diverse skill set have been leveraged to develop young leaders, scale quality youth programs, and change the Latino narrative as well as youth outcomes. Team Members (Select a name to view profile) • Amparo K. Díaz
• Ulysses Urquizo
• Washington Navarrete
• Cindy Zavala
Ed-Connect Team Washington Navarrete Program Manager Washington Navarrete (he/him/his) serves as the Education Leadership Program Manager for UnidosUS. In this role, he leads the NILSL and Avanzando Fellowship programs that support college students, educators, and administrators in developing and advocating for policy solutions that advance education equity and outcomes for Latinx students and their families.
• Shante’ Stokes
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Staff Members Education Team
Líderes Team
Collectively, the Education team brings decades of experience to the UnidosUS’s Education programs. The team’s professional experience and diverse skill set have been leveraged to develop young leaders, scale quality youth programs, and change the Latino narrative as well as youth outcomes. Team Members (Select a name to view profile) • Amparo K. Díaz
• Ulysses Urquizo
• Washington Navarrete
• Cindy Zavala
Ed-Connect Team Shante’ Stokes Program Manager Shante' Stokes has more than 10 years of experience managing STEM programs, ranging from robotics, green engineering, architecture, and coding. Throughout her educational and professional career, she has established and sustained quality STEM programs for underrepresented students in many settings.
• Shante’ Stokes
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Staff Members Education Team
Líderes Team
Collectively, the Education team brings decades of experience to the UnidosUS’s Education programs. The team’s professional experience and diverse skill set have been leveraged to develop young leaders, scale quality youth programs, and change the Latino narrative as well as youth outcomes. Team Members (Select a name to view profile) • Amparo K. Díaz
• Ulysses Urquizo
• Washington Navarrete
• Cindy Zavala
Ed-Connect Team Ulysses Urquizo, MPA Program Manager Ulysses Urquizo currently co-manages the UnidosUS college- and career-readiness education programs, Escalera and Early Escalera in the Líderes portfolio, and leads the planning and execution of the annual UnidosUS Leadership and STEM Youth summits. Ulysses brings more than 10 years of experience in public and nonprofit program management and development in secondary education.
• Shante’ Stokes
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Staff Members Education Team
Líderes Team
Collectively, the Education team brings decades of experience to the UnidosUS’s Education programs. The team’s professional experience and diverse skill set have been leveraged to develop young leaders, scale quality youth programs, and change the Latino narrative as well as youth outcomes. Team Members (Select a name to view profile) • Amparo K. Díaz
• Ulysses Urquizo
• Washington Navarrete
• Cindy Zavala
Ed-Connect Team Cindy Zavala Program Manager Cindy Zavala currently assists in the program monitoring and implementation of UnidosUS’s Entre Mujeres and CASA programs. Cindy has grown in UnidosUS from a Líderes workshop presenter, intern, and Youth Advisory Council member to Education Program Coordinator. Prior to joining UnidosUS, Cindy worked at the American University’s Center for Community Engagement & Service.
• Shante’ Stokes
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Staff Members Education Team
ED-CONNECT Líderes Team
Collectively, the Education team brings decades of experience to the UnidosUS’s Education programs. The team’s professional experience and diverse skill set have been leveraged to develop young leaders, scale quality youth programs, and change the Latino narrative as well as youth outcomes.
Ed-Connect Team Hiram Cortez Data Systems Coordinator Hiram Cortez is the Data Systems Coordinator with the Education team at UnidosUS. In this role he interacts with team members to efficiently collect, analyze, and synthesize program-level and student-level data, employing various data management platforms.
Team Members (Select a name to view profile) • Hiram Cortez • Elise Hernandez • Ingrid T. Colón
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Staff Members Education Team
ED-CONNECT Líderes Team
Collectively, the Education team brings decades of experience to the UnidosUS’s Education programs. The team’s professional experience and diverse skill set have been leveraged to develop young leaders, scale quality youth programs, and change the Latino narrative as well as youth outcomes. Team Members (Select a name to view profile) • Hiram Cortez • Elise Hernandez • Ingrid T. Colón
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Ed-Connect Team Elise Hernandez, PhD, MSW, MS Data and Impact Manager Dr. Elise Hernandez is the Data and Impact Manager with the Education team at UnidosUS. Using a life course perspective, she employs quantitative and qualitative methods to design and test interventions, improve program quality, and measure impact. Her experience spans several areas including participatory research with marginalized communities, social isolation interventions, grants and program management, therapeutic storytelling techniques with older adults facing memory loss, senior housing, and secondary data analysis of social networks among older Latinxs.
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Staff Members Education Team
ED-CONNECT Líderes Team
Collectively, the Education team brings decades of experience to the UnidosUS’s Education programs. The team’s professional experience and diverse skill set have been leveraged to develop young leaders, scale quality youth programs, and change the Latino narrative as well as youth outcomes. Team Members (Select a name to view profile) • Hiram Cortez • Elise Hernandez • Ingrid T. Colón
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Ed-Connect Team Ingrid T. Colón, Ed.D. Program Manager As a proud immigrant from El Salvador and a language learner herself, Dr. Ingrid Colón's research focuses on the experiences of recently arrived immigrant families and their children in public schools, emergent bilingual learners, culturally and linguistically responsive and sustaining practices, and dual language education. As the Education Research Program Manager at UnidosUS, she investigates best whole student learning practices that leverage Latinx students and their families’ identities and home languages to better serve them across the country.
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WE ARE UNIDOS US HEADQUARTERS
SUPPORT CORPORATIONS
Raul Yzaguirre Building 1126 16th Street NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036
Raza Development Fund Phoenix, AZ
REGIONAL OFFICES California Regional Office—Los Angeles Far West Regional Office—Phoenix Midwest Regional Office—Chicago Northeast Regional Office—New York City Texas Regional Office—San Antonio Florida Regional Office—Miami
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