Plugged In: Positive Development Strategies for Disconnected Latino Youth
Â Latino youth are one of the fastest-growing segments of the population in the U.S., poised to fill the workforce gap as millions of baby boomers retire over the next decade. Yet, achieving economic mobility remains out of reach for as much as 42% of Latino youth who face numerous barriers to academic and career success and are dropping out of high school at persistently high rates
NCLR profiles a pilot program of the NCLR Escalera Program: Taking Steps to Success, which addresses the obstacles faced by young Hispanics who are disconnected from school and work. This pilot is operated by three NCLR Affiliates, AltaMed Health Services Corporation in Los Angeles, American YouthWorks in Austin, and HELP â€“ New Mexico, Inc. in rural New Mexico. The report finds that across the three sites, the following core competencies are central to the success of disconnected youth: reconnection, foundational skills, leadership and personal development, educational attainment, workforce readiness skills, and career exploration. Basedon these findings, NCLR offers lessons and recommendations for policymakers, funders, and program administrators serving this population.National Council of La Raza (2010)
Advancing American Economic Competitiveness
through Latino Immigrant Worker Success
Â Â Work is an asset, not a barrier, to gaining an education, according to the report's findings. The workplace presents a tremendous opportunity for increasing access to postsecondary education and training, especially for working Latino adults.
Regardless of the current economic woes, the workforce in 2014 will be strongly defined by two factors: the departure of large numbers of "baby boomersâ€ť and the rapid growth of the Hispanic workforce. These legal immigrants need greater postsecondary opportunities in order to fill expected gaps in industry sectors related to infrastructure and green manufacturing.
Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (2011)
Excelencia in Education
National Council for Workforce Education