The Kent School District, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Urban Enterprise Institute are putting their B.E.S.T. foot forward this winter with an event designed to help business better engage with the community to build the workforce of the next generation.
Called Business and Education Striving to the Top, the event’s goal is focus on how better to engage parents in minority communities and to reinforce the importance of creating an environment in which education is important.
“Seventy percent of learning is done before they’re 6 years old,” said Michael Sotelo, president of the King County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, located in Seattle.
Sotelo said part of the goal was to get the communities of color to take more responsibility in the education of their children. Sotelo, 53, said growing up as a Mexican in East Los Angeles he remembers there was more of an attitude of entitlement in his community and “that doesn’t work,” the results of which can be seen in higher dropout rates and higher teen-pregnancy rates among the Latino populations.
“Our negatives are still growing,” he said. “The only way to fix this is through our own community.”
With that in mind, Sotelo said he hopes to teach parents to “be more involved.”
For example, Sotelo said he hopes to stress that not only do children need to learn English, but parents as well. Sotelo added the home has to work if the students are going to achieve at school.
“It’s very difficult for these children to strive,” he said.
Sotelo said the BEST event is design to inform the community and businesses on ways to further engage the Latino population. It is also the hope that businesses will see the impact of engaging the community in early-childhood education issues.
Sotelo explained Kent was selected for the meeting because of the city’s diversity.
“Kent has a large Latino population,” he said.
Sotelo said Kent also was chosen for the meeting because of Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas, the new head of Kent schools and a Latino himself. On top of that, Sotelo said he liked the way Vargas handled himself during this past fall’s teacher strike, including the decision to bring in mediators early as an attempt to get kids back to school more quickly.
Vargas is scheduled to speak at the event. He was not available for comment prior to deadline.
Also participating in the B.E.S.T. event is the Urban Enterprise Center, the multicultural arm of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
According to Vice President of Communications Christina Donegan, the Center works with smaller chambers to help create further connections between business and the community, including the Hispanic Chamber, and also supports early childhood education.
“The King County Hispanic Chamber has been a strong supporter of that effort,” she said, adding “It’s such a key to success.”
Donegan said the Center views education as workforce development and fundamental to making sure this area can continue to compete in a global economy.
“It’s such a key to a strong economy,” she said.
The B.E.S.T. launch event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 10 at the Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 S.E. 256th St. Cost is $30 in advance, or $50 at the door. Scheduled speakers include Kent Schools Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas, Washington State Assistant Superintendent of Student Achievement Erin Jones, Federal Way School Board President Tony Moore, Trise Moore, director of the Federal Way Schools Family and Community Partnership Office and King County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Michael Sotelo. For more information visit www.kingcountyhispanicchamber.com.
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