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AT&T SPONSORS FIRST ANNUAL SUMMIT ON LATINO EDUCATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Lansing, MI, Dec. 8, 2011 — AT&T announced today that it is sponsoring the first annual Summit on Latino Education and Civic Engagement, being convened tomorrow in Lansing by the Julian Samora Research Institute and Michigan Alianza Latina para Mejoramiento y Avance (MI-ALMA). The event will present Latino leaders an opportunity to identify, prioritize and begin work around education and civic engagement challenges facing Michigan’s Latino community.
WHEN: Friday, December 9, 2011, 8:00 a.m.
WHERE: Kellogg Center, 55 S. Harrison Road, Lansing
WHO: AT&T
MI-ALMA representatives
Rep. Harvey Santana
Dr. Michael Radke, Michigan Department of Education
Arnold Fege, Public Education Network of Washington, D.C.
Latino community leaders and more
CONTACT: Jon Peterson, 586-469-9945
“We are excited and thrilled to have AT&T Michigan sponsor the Latino Summit on Education and Civic Engagement,” said Rick Garcia, one of the trustees of MI-ALMA. “Because of their on-going commitment to education and new technologies to enhance learning not only in local communities they serve, but throughout the country.”
According to Zamudio of ECIC, a third of Hispanic Children in Michigan live in low-income with 50 percent of children under the age of five are at or below 200% of poverty. Additionally, racial and ethnic disparities in educational achievement in Michigan are among the worst in the country, with African American and Hispanic youth more than twice as likely as white youths to drop out of school.
“AT&T’s sponsorship of this important event provides a great resource to move Michigan’s Latino community forward,” said state Rep. Harvey Santana (D-Detroit). “Standing together and discussing critical issues like education and civic engagement is a great step as we work to reinvent Michigan.”
The event, which showcase the top two issues, are part of nine indicators identified by Statewide Hispanic leaders and professionals from prior summits facilitated by Dr. Ruben Martinez, Director of the JRSI at MSU and coordinated by a core of Latino volunteer leaders who have launched MI-ALMA, a newly statewide non-profit organization.
The goal and outcome of the summit will enable MI-ALMA to coordinate efforts with existing Latino affinity groups throughout the State, regarding the welfare and well being of Latinos in the State of Michigan and help close the gaps between community needs and resources by partnering with community assets and crating alliances for improved institutional research and resources for future opportunities.
AT&T Michigan President Jim Murray concluded: “AT&T shares the communities commitment to Latino education and civic engagement. This week’s summit will provide a tremendous local resource to better connect local residents and we are proud to support efforts to expand educational opportunities across the state.”
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About Philanthropy at AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives andworking with other organizations,AT&T has a long history of supporting projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2010, more than $148.2 million was contributed through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs.
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