ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE DURING 2010
By Hilbert Morales
El Observador
El Observador's accomplishment during the past year 2009 has been to continue to perform its community information distributions service during a very severe economic recession. Among many adjustments, one achievement was to launch our Web site (www.el-observador.com), which has been receiving more than 700,000 hits per month. A second web site (www.LatinoLifeOnline.com) is now a work in progress. In addition, our editor Rosario Vital delivers news and commentary on the radio.
The information newsgathering and distribution system of this community and the nation is responding to many changes and developments in information technology. In collaboration with San Jose State University's Journalism and Mass Communication Department, we have continued to provide internships to Hispanic individuals who need the 'hands-on' experience provided. All these communications specialists have graduated from SJSU with their four-year degrees.
EO also sponsored two soccer leagues as a community outreach effort. Tournament trophies were provided and awarded to the tournament winners. This sport needs to become very involved in providing physical activity and sportsmanship training to more of our youth. We ask that more businesses step up with their sponsorships, which will be coupled with promotions of their professions and businesses. Our community needs to learn to work together, play together, and look out for each other's safety. Involvement with sports teaches one fair play rules and good sportsmanship.
Lifetime relationships are initiated which invariably help our families and community.
You need to know that EO's community involvement includes reporting on the activities of the many community-based organizations that exist. One observation made by Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley's CEO Ron Gonzales is the need to identify, train and include of Hispanics youth into the ranks of our community's leadership circles. "Too many times I am 'the one' Hispanic attending a high level meeting. I look about and realize that I am the only one there. And, I do not see any younger Hispanic leaders at those meetings of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group whose membership are 300+ local corporations."
A concern of the local captains of industry is the development of the future labor force needed in Silicon Valley. It is not possible to have full employment here without a labor force that is capable of being trained and developed. At every meeting of local corporate executives this challenge receives attention. A conclusion often reached is that our public school systems do not adequately prepare youth for employment in local industry.
The major challenge to be faced directly during 2010 New Year is that of finding a way to improve awareness of opportunities coupled with economic reality. Hispanic youth must be encouraged to prepare for the challenges to be faced in the future. These changes must begin with Hispanic parents who are justly proud when their child earned a high school diploma. That achievement goal is too low. From the beginning, Hispanic parents must guide their children to become fully prepared to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and the biomedical sciences. School officials must focus on ensuring that every child learns the basics in reading, writing, and math in addition to communication and social skills needed for teamwork. The current metric, which is based on 'how many of our students go to college', is a distraction to the real objective of primary and secondary education. The correct objective is to learn the skills that enable 'learning for life from life.' Parents, especially the mother, are the ones who begin training their child in relationship skills, communications (language), and logic skills, which include ethics, morals, religious, historical and cultural norms.
If our children are to be able to earn a living here, close to home, then their parents, civic officials, and corporate interests need to encourage and enable their preparation for the jobs that will continue to be available here.
The very important 2010 New Year's challenge to our community, especially the Hispanics and others, is to become involved, supportive and engaged in addressing this major issue: How do we address the training of local youth to become the local labor force needed by local industry? There is a need to get beyond the distractions of gang violence and vandalism, police miss-use of force, and many special interest issues. There is need to focus on this really important challenge: Let's train our youth for their futures.