Thursday, May 23, 1996
Latinas Guiding Latinas aims to steer teenagers toward higher
educationBy Jennifer Louie
Daily Bruin Contributor
When three Latinas examined the typical role of women in their
culture, they made a commitment to change. Now, almost 10 years
later, they are reaping the benefits of their dedication.
When the three founders of Latinas Guiding Latinas (LGL)
considered how many Latinas tend to remain within the confines of
the household without advancing to higher education, they took the
initiative to alter the statistics.
In light of a 40 percent college dropout rate for Latinas, who
make up only two percent of all students in the University of
California system, the program aims to promote higher education for
these women, said Haydee Urita, the program co-director and a
second-year Latin American studies student.
The outreach matches each of about 130 students from Bell High
School, Belvedere Middle School and Kennedy Elementary School with
one of the program’s 25 mentors.
Members of the program explained that their goal is to expose
young Latinas to higher education by informing them about college
and easing some of the difficulties that come with the
transition.
"We want to let them know that there are Latinas in college and
that they have other options than just marriage," Urita said "We
want to make college a part of our culture. Many Latinas don’t
leave the house until they are married."
Volunteers said this tendency often makes it difficult for
parents of young Latinas to allow their daughters to go away to
college. To ease the concerns of parents, the program holds parent
conferences once a month on financial aid, entrance requirements
and the benefits of coming to college.
High school students mentored by the program explained that the
group’s outreach efforts make a difference on an individual
level.
"My mom wouldn’t let me stay after school for tutoring, but
(Latinas Guiding Latinas) explained to her that it was important
for me to stay and get help. Little things like that make a big
difference," said Lucia Solorio, a Bell High School sophomore.
Other Latinas said they could relate to the difficulties
stemming from parental uneasiness about college.
"I was always academically focused, but the most difficult thing
was getting someone to explain to my mom that it was OK to go to
college," said Veronica Pacheco, a third-year world arts and
cultures student.
Though Latinas Guiding Latinas focuses on informing the youths
about college, the program also emphasizes cultural awareness. The
group plans cultural activities that have included a mariachi
festival, the MEChA Raza Youth Conference, visits to UCLA and the
UCLA Pow-Wow.
"We want to show the girls that they can be part of the
traditional Mexican, Central American, or whatever Latino family
and still be a university graduate woman," explained Petra Galarza,
a program advisor and a sixth-year Spanish and Chicano/a studies
student.
Many youths in the program expressed that its cultural focus has
had a great impact on them.
"(LGL) helped me find out about my Chicanismo and to be proud of
it. I understand it more now. We have to understand it in order to
defend our culture and share about it to other people," said Lucy
Serrano, a Bell High School sophomore. "I would want my daughter to
to be in LGL to know about her descendency and who she is."
But the youths are not the only ones benefitting from the
program, said Virginia Torres, a co-founder of outreach and contact
for the program at Bell High School.
"LGL is helping UCLA students too. A lot is expected of them as
role models. They learn to set higher goals for themselves and it
encourages them to continue with these goals," Torres
explained.
Many Latina students said they support the efforts of the
outreach program to broaden the perspectives of younger
Latinas.
"A lot of my friends think their education ends after high
school. Latinas need to realize that they are just as capable of
taking the initiative to go to college," said Edith Sanchez, a
first-year sociology and Chicana/o studies student. "And if we
don’t look out for our own people, no one else is going to
care."
Some volunteers said the need for the program is increasing as a
result of recent changes in policies affecting education.
"Education is becoming more inaccessible with threats on
affirmative action, higher fees and cuts in financial aid," said
Karina Moreno, a co-director of the program and a fourth-year
communication studies/women’s studies student.
Other volunteers expressed similar concerns about the effect of
affirmative action policies on Latina matriculation.
"With attacks on affirmative action, we need to be making the
community more aware of its educational resources," Urita
explained.
To do this, the program introduces them to career opportunities
and provides professional women speakers at UCLA.
LGL’s directors agreed that proof of the program’s effectiveness
lies in the number of participants who have gone on to further
their education. In total, 10 of the mentored participants have
gone on to college, including five students who now attend
UCLA.
Mentors said they believe the program has been effective because
of its philosophy on selectivity.
"LGL doesn’t just target honors students, which is a tendency of
outreach programs," Galarza said.
However, Latinas Guiding Latinas does have certain criteria the
girls must meet. Though Torres said she would not turn any student
down as a participant, she is very careful in her selection
process.
"I make sure the girls at least fulfill the A-F requirements,
because they may have goals, but they need to be working to fulfill
these goals in order to prepare themselves for college," Torres
explained.
Though hard work and careful planning have strengthened the
organization, Galarza said she believes the group’s common outlook
has helped it to survive.
"Our group has a vision  we want our community to succeed
and rise above social barriers. That’s why LGL survives," Galarza
explained.