Tulsa World: Steps to the future

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Steps to the future
Conference inspires Latina youth

Tulsa Police Officer Annette Williams talks about Internet safety at the annual Latina Youth Conference hosted by Tulsa Latina Business Women. SHERRY BROWN/Tulsa World

By SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer
Published: 11/5/2009 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 11/5/2009 4:12 AM

Blanca Guerrero, a Spanish teacher at Memorial High School, credits the annual Latina Youth Conference with encouraging girls at her school to pursue higher education.

For four years now, Guerrero has seen students who didn't think much about their future come back from the conference excited about school, she said.

"They want to go to college. They've had that glimpse of hope and this sparkle in their eyes," she said. "I'm so grateful for this."

The Latina Youth Conference for Hispanic high school girls started four years ago as a response to the dropout rate, said Deborah Easter, president of Tulsa Latina Business Women, which sponsors the program.

Wednesday's conference consisted of four workshops with guest speakers addressing issues such as self-esteem, Internet safety and education and training options at area colleges and career technology schools.

"We open their eyes," Easter said. "There are other options than dropping out."

About 200 girls attended the first year, and 300 girls attended the past two years, Easter said. This year, the program expanded into a second day — with a conference for high school boys Thursday.

"A lot of our businessmen stepped up and will be doing workshops," Easter said.

The workshops for the boys are similar to those for the girls and will address concerns such as making good choices and education opportunities after high school.

"They do have a higher dropout rate than the girls do," Easter

said.

Elizabeth Contreras, a 15-year-old student at Charles Page High School in Sand Springs, said she attended the conference to find out about the different possibilities for her future.

"I thought it was cool hearing all the speakers and their stories," Contreras said. "It helps you not feel embarrassed about your culture."

Morgan Morales Robinson, Miss Hispanic OU 2007 and the opening speaker, told the girls that knowing your culture actually helps fight stereotypes.

"When you know your history and know where you come from, it breaks down a lot of walls," Robinson said. "You don't have to be whatever people tell you to be."

Robinson also told the teenagers that she never spoke or heard Spanish in her house growing up because her grandfather never taught her father, fearing that it would be a disadvantage for him.

"My dad grew up that way. My dad wasn't allowed to speak Spanish, so I don't know Spanish," said 17-year-old Felisha Mendez, also a Charles Page student. "It wasn't just my grandfather. That happened a lot."

Easter said she hopes to have about 650 total students attend both conferences.

The event almost didn't happen this year.

The conferences were about to be canceled until Tulsa Technology Center offered to donate facilities at the Lemley Campus near 33rd Street and Memorial Drive.

QuikTrip and Wendy's also donated lunches for the conferences.

Guerrero was glad to hear that the conferences would still be offered this year.

"Coming here impacts decisions," she said. "I know they have a future. This is an opportunity here to see the possibilities."

Sara Plummer 581-8465
sara.plummer@tulsaworld.com By SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer

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g8r girl, (11/7/2009 12:36:14 PM)

Hey 1804fan - since when it is racism to help guide teens away from dropping out of high school and toward a successful future? If you read the article you'd notice that the conference "is a response to the drop out rate." So addressing an issue that teens struggle with and taking steps toward helping them is favoritism?! What twisted world you YOU live in?! You complain about all these special interest groups, have you taken the time to find out what they are about and what their mission/goals are about? You should at least give these Latina Business Women credit for taking the time to extend a helping hand to Tulsa's future. They have a sense of the culture these kids live in and the stereotypes they fight - at least they (Business Women) are taking an interest. That's a heck of a lot more than what you are doing!

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1804fan, Tulsa (11/6/2009 7:46:07 AM)

I am sick to death of the racism that is abounding in this country. Everywhere we turn we find hispanic festivals, latino heritage, hispanic chamber, latina groups and special benefits and considerations given to these people. Where is this racism going to end. It is sickening and wrong -- blatant racism. Either they are Americans or they aren't. They need to make up their minds and this favorotism needs to stop.

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