The Gastón Institute Puts Latino Public Policy on the Agenda

By Kim Trauceniek

The Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development held its second statewide Latino public policy conference, “The State of Latino Massachusetts: From Analysis to Strategy,” on April 26 in Lowell, MA. Over 500 community activists, politicians, students, and researchers, including UMass Boston Chancellor Gora and Commissioner Richard Driscoll of the Massachusetts Department of Education, participated in the event. The goals of the conference were to analyze issues vital to the Latino community and to increase Latino political activism.

“By investing in education and social services, we can all make a difference,” says Lorna Rivera, assistant professor in the College of Public and Community Service and research associate for the Gastón Institute. “Latinos are the largest minority group in the state and we continue to experience disproportionate and severe social and economic disadvantages.”

“This year’s conference revisits the recommendations made in the Latino Agenda developed at our first statewide conference in 2000,” says Rivera. Some of the topics addressed were health, housing, education, and political representation.

A televised Town Hall Meeting addressed the future of bilingual education and other controversial issues, such as the MCAS. One major area of concern is the bilingual education bill sponsored by Californian businessman Ron Unz. “We need to inform the Latino community about the consequences of this bill and come up with alternatives so that there are choices, ”said Unz

Community leaders such as Claudia Chuber of Salem’s City Council and Carlos Martinez of the United Way facilitated conference workshops. Participants examined case studies and discussed concrete action strategies for improving the conditions of Latinos in Massachusetts. The conference concluded with facilitated dialogue sessions discussing the ramifications of September 11 in addition to college recruitment and retainment issues.

The data collected at this year’s conference will assist the Hispanic Caucus in formulating specific bills and legislation for the upcoming election. Rivera says, “This is an important tool for ensuring that policy makers are held accountable and that the voices of the Latino community are heard.”

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