The National Latino Children’s Institute (NLCI), whose mission is to focus the nation’s attention on the contributions and challenges of young Latinos, recently met to elect its new leadership and develop their strategic priorities for the new term. The NLCI’s Institute is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to focus the nation’s attention on the contributions and challenges of young Latinos and to assist communities in finding solutions. NLCI collaborates with a broad range of partners to implement strategies to ensure that the voices of Latino children are heard.
María Rita Jaramillo, a national Latina leader and advocate for women and children was elected Chair of the Board of Directors. Jaramillo has a distinguished and diverse career in the public sector as well as an inspiring community service record. She is currently with the National Education Association and has held senior management positions in four federal agencies. Jaramillo formerly served in the Clinton White House and as Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Rubén Hinojosa. She has also held leadership positions in a number of community organizations including: Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Founding Class of the National Hispana Leadership Institute, Co-Chair of the Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy, National President of MANA and others.
The organization will focus on the following priorities:
Continue to be the lead advocacy organization in support of establishing April 30th as “El Día de los Niños…Celebrating Young Americans.” Since 1997, NLCI has worked with the U.S. Senate to annually pass the resolution. The day is celebrated in hundreds of schools and cities across the country. This year Latino children and youth are being encouraged to communicate to President Obama their hopes and dreams for their families and communities.
