The Latinos CAN is a statewide initiative that strives to eliminate the educational attainment gap for Latino students in Iowa. We work in partnership with various statewide agencies and organizations to create systems change which will aid Latino students in earning a postsecondary education.
How the Latinos CAN may help
Latinos CAN Educational Guide for New Iowans in English and Spanish - Guia Educacional para Residentes Nuevos en Iowa
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The work of Latinos Can is supported in large part by Iowa College Aid grant funds. Iowa College Aid provides funding, training, and technical assistance to develop LCANs around the State of Iowa.
Latinos CAN began thanks to the work of Sonia Reyes of the Office of Latino Affairs and David Ford of Iowa AEA PREP (Postsecondary Readiness & Equity Partnership). The two came together to review data regarding the postsecondary education gap for Latinos in the state of Iowa. What they found was that the postsecondary attainment rate for Iowa’s Latino and Hispanic populations is the lowest among all demographic subgroups, nearly 30% lower than all Iowa residents in both high school diploma and postsecondary credential attainment (Metrics That Matter, 2017). They called on community leaders from across the state to address this issue.
Community leaders were gathered and began meeting in November of 2018. There they identified systemic and cultural barriers in K-12 and post-secondary institutions across the state. The group was invited to apply for Iowa College Aid’s LCAN Grant. The grant was received and the group, now named Latinos CAN (College Access Network), began to organize. A coordinator was hired.
First Latino Postsecondary Education Task Force:
Latinos CAN Logo Contest:
A contest was held for Iowa students to design the Latinos CAN logo. Congratulations to the winner: Yuchan Wong from Kirwood Community College.
- Metrics that Matter 2019, Future Ready Iowa
- Latinos in Iowa 2019, Iowa Data Center and the Office of Latino Affairs
- Al Éxito Mental Health Study: Experiences of Latinx Youth in Iowa, Al Éxito
If you are interested in being part of this working network, please contact Sonia.Reyes@iowa.gov