Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez joined the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, the nation's preeminent Latino leadership organization, and nearly 60 other Latino elected officials from across the state for the NALEO California Statewide Policy Institute on Higher Education held from September 22-23, 2017, in Carlsbad, California.
With California being home to more than 15 million Latinos, the future of the country's economic prosperity is dependent on Latino students being able to earn a quality postsecondary degree that will enable them to continue to drive long-term economic growth for the state and the nation. The decisions being made today about how to best educate and prepare the largest population group in the state will result in long-lasting effects.
For the state to meet the needs of the 21st Century, it is important that Latino policymakers become familiar with innovative and successful policies at the postsecondary level that drive Latino success in education and in the labor market. To address topics related to this timely issue, NALEO Educational Fund brought together Mayor Gutierrez and other California community college trustees, local workforce development board members, municipal level officials, and school board members, from throughout California for a two-day convening.
Through the convening, Mayor Gutierrez had the opportunity to network with fellow colleagues and experts from throughout the state, receive timely information and exchange legislative policies and ideas around the most effective ways to address pressing postsecondary educational issues.
"This was a great opportunity to work to address the educational future of a population, which is vital to California's future," stated Mayor Gutierrez. "As a teacher and a Latino elected official I strive everyday to ensure that students in Moreno Valley receive the best education possible."
Topics addressed through the Institute curriculum included: financial aid, the economic importance of a college education, strategies for cultivating higher education leadership, developing regional alignments for a strong economy, and the future of the California workforce.
This Institute is part of the NALEO Education Leadership Initiative (NELI) which aims to provide Latino public servants with the enhanced capacity and governance skills they need to become effective advocates for their students, families, and communities from birth to college completion.
The event was made possible through the generous support of Title Sponsors, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and State Farm™. A full agenda is available at naleo.org.