Spring Break
Organizations advocate Hispanic rights
Lindsey Pruitt
Issue date: 3/14/08 Section: News
"We will always support our Greek partners in their great efforts of helping to defeat a disease, or cleaning a highway, but as members of Phi Iota, we also believe it is our civic duty to voice the needs of our community directly to our elected officials at a time of glaring disparity in the Hispanic community," he said.
For Rafael Arciga, LULAC president and founding member of Phi Iota, the trip was his third time visiting the capital and second time to go to NCLR National Advocacy Day.
"Last October, along with Alejandro Aviles, we attended the first ever Latino Youth Summit sponsored by the United States Senate," Arciga said. "There, during our visit, senators pointed out that civic involvement is a duty and that every member of the community should participate.
"As president of LULAC, League of United Latin American Citizens, I wanted to get as much involvement of the members as possible in order for us to voice the concerns and needs of our community here in Northwest Arkansas in issues that matter not only at a local level but also at the national," he said.
Both LULAC and Phi Iota strive to bring together and create understanding among the different cultures that make up our community, Arciga said.
"As president of Phi Iota Alpha, I have recognized the importance of education for the Hispanic community," Diaz said.
Phi Iota was charged with promoting higher education in a coalition with other community-based organizations throughout Northwest Arkansas. Having traveled from Monnett, Mo., and Rogers, Ark., Diaz saw hundreds of families during the presentations disenchanted with the future they thought they couldn't attain, he said.
"Latinos are a great part of this country. Unfortunately, there is a lot of negative information about Latinos in this country, and we need to change that," Manjarrez said.
The great majority of Latinos come to the U.S. to work hard so that they can obtain a better quality of life, but that is not what is portrayed by the media, Manjarrez said.
For Rafael Arciga, LULAC president and founding member of Phi Iota, the trip was his third time visiting the capital and second time to go to NCLR National Advocacy Day.
"Last October, along with Alejandro Aviles, we attended the first ever Latino Youth Summit sponsored by the United States Senate," Arciga said. "There, during our visit, senators pointed out that civic involvement is a duty and that every member of the community should participate.
"As president of LULAC, League of United Latin American Citizens, I wanted to get as much involvement of the members as possible in order for us to voice the concerns and needs of our community here in Northwest Arkansas in issues that matter not only at a local level but also at the national," he said.
Both LULAC and Phi Iota strive to bring together and create understanding among the different cultures that make up our community, Arciga said.
"As president of Phi Iota Alpha, I have recognized the importance of education for the Hispanic community," Diaz said.
Phi Iota was charged with promoting higher education in a coalition with other community-based organizations throughout Northwest Arkansas. Having traveled from Monnett, Mo., and Rogers, Ark., Diaz saw hundreds of families during the presentations disenchanted with the future they thought they couldn't attain, he said.
"Latinos are a great part of this country. Unfortunately, there is a lot of negative information about Latinos in this country, and we need to change that," Manjarrez said.
The great majority of Latinos come to the U.S. to work hard so that they can obtain a better quality of life, but that is not what is portrayed by the media, Manjarrez said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Sonia Gutierrez
posted 3/14/08 @ 10:34 AM CST
It is wonderful to know that our hispanic college students are getting involved in politics, forming new social and networking organizations, and becoming visibile in the community. (Continued…)
Donald larussi
posted 3/14/08 @ 4:15 PM CST
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It was a bit of a surprise this morning to see so many white anti Mexican strategists meet at a Bozeman, Montana coffee shop to not just figure out ways to end illegal immigration. (Continued…)
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