Encouraging Leadership

Program Highlights

More than 600 working adults, 90% Latino, have graduated with Masters and Doctorate degrees from El Valor’s community-based university partnership
150 professionals seeking to take leadership positions and 40 main stream organizations seeking to diversify their board came together last March to listen to George Munoz at the Omni Hotel
120 working adults, 98% Latino, 2% African American, are currently enrolled in Masters in Business Administration, Masters in Social work, the last two years of a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership in partnership with area universities
The 8th MBA cohort started this past fall in partnership with National-Louis University with 14 Latino students, most of them holding full-time jobs.
Cohorts planned for 2012 include a Ph.D. in Community Psychology, Ed.D. in Early Childhood, a Masters in Early Childhood, a Masters in Business Administration, a preparation course for the Basic Skills and a CPA Review.

El Valor's university partnership programs address the increasing demand for qualified, culturally and linguistically skilled personnel for the fields of education, rehabilitation, health, business, and government.

El Valor has taken giant steps to develop the region’s workforce by offering degree programs to working adults who would otherwise be unable to pursue advanced education. In partnership with area universities, programs are offered on weekends and evenings, right at El Valor centers within the community. More than 600 people have graduated, and the community, as a whole, has benefited.

Programs for 2012 will include:

Doctorate in Community Psychology in partnership with National-Louis University

Masters in Business Administration in partnership with National-Louis University

Masters in Early Childhood in partnership with Concordia University

Doctorate in Early Childhood in partnership with Concordia University

Basic Skills Preparation Course in partnership with Concordia University

Current programs include:

Masters in Business Administration in partnership with National-Louis University

Masters in Social Work in partnership with Chicago State University

Doctorate in Educational Leadership in partnership with National-Louis University

Past programs and partnerships include:

Masters in Rehabilitation in partnership with Southern Illinois University

Masters in Educational Leadership with a Type 75 in partnership with Governors State University

Doctorate in Educational Leadership in partnership with Northern Illinois University

Masters in Speech Therapy in partnership with Governors State University

Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education in partnership with Kendall College

*What is a cohort? A cohort is when a group starts together and finishes together. The goal that the cohort members develop relationships with each other and help each other throughout the degree program.

LEADERSHIP CONNECTIONS

Latino Leadership Connections addresses the demand for diversified leadership in areas including education, business,government, policy, arts/culture, and advocacy. Leadership Connections links Latino leaders to organizations where they can effectively engage in decision making roles. It is important for Latinos to be a part of the decision making process that impacts the resources and services available to the community.

This project collaborates with other leadership programs and organizations in developing strategies for increasing Latino participation in all aspects of society. Leadership Connections offers opportunities for collegial networking among Latino professionals to support their organization’s work,foster professional growth, and promote community building. This project is an initiative of El Valor and is supported by the Chicago Community Trust.

“...align your time, treasure and talent to the leadership role or board membership you desire..." - Clare Muñana, Ancora Associates, Inc.

BOARDLINK PARTNERSHIP

The United States, our state of Illinois and our city of Chicago are becoming increasing diverse. The composition of the state of Illinois is changing. Note the following from the U.S. Census figures on Illinois.

People QuickFacts Illinois USA

· White persons, percent, 2010 (a) 71.5% 72.4%

· Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2010 (b) 15.8% 16.3%

· Black persons, percent, 2010 (a) 14.5% 12.6%

· Asian persons, percent, 2010 (a) 4.6% 4.8%

· Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2010 2.3% 2.9%

Unfortunately, these demographics have not transferred into the boardrooms. Board membership for Latinos averages 3% in the country and slightly less in the state of Illinois. It baffles the mind to understand how decisions impacting the lives of so many of our state’s residents are made without the input of the very people they will affect.

Convened by the Chicago Community Trust, El Valor has joined the Asian American Institute, The Chicago Urban League, Leadership Greater Chicago and Chicago United forBOARDLINK, an online referral source created by Chicago United in order to address this disparity.

BOARDLINK is a meeting place where candidates from diverse backgrounds connect through a double blind process. Non-profit organizations are able to browse candidates based on their passion, interests, skill sets, availability and experience. Candidates are able to be strategic in choosing non-profit boards on which one would like to serve. They can review organizations that fit their interests, needs, time and contribution requirements.

CLICK ON BOARDLINK TO LEARN HOW TO JOIN.

Fact:

The GMAC's Global MBA Survey of graduating MBA classes states that "Among US citizens who were asked their race/ethnicity, 84.7 percent are white (non-Hispanic). Asian Americans make up the next largest group at 6.7 percent, followed by Hispanics (4.5 percent) and blacks/African Americans (4.1 percent)."

25% of all births in the United States are to Latinos

There are 50M Latinos in the United States. By 2050 that number will be 132M or 30% of the population

82% of Latinos in the United States are a citizen or resident

In 2011, Hispanic spending power is estimated at $1.2 trillion a year according to the U.S. Census.

By 2010, Hispanic spending power is expected to represent 11% of the total spending power of the US population according to HispanTelligence

Latinos are not accessing the resources they need, e.g., Institutions for people with disabilities saving the state $3.7M

Of boards and commissions throughout the United States, only 3% are Latino; the same is true in the State of Illinois

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