Group calls on students to be active citizens

While some people hope for justice as our nation’s soldiers cross the globe into hostile territory, others fight the injustice that occurs right here in America. On November 18, members from the League of Latin American Citizens participated in the Crossing Borders and Building Bridges program, urging students to be active and organized in their desire for change. During the presentation, Michael Orosco, the state director of young adult services for LULAC, asked students the meaning of commitment. As students responded in various ways, he commented accordingly. When one person said, “Sacrifice,” he approached her and mused about her response. Later, he pointed out how his reaction had affected the participants and made them agree with her. “This is personal interaction,” he said. “Any time you speak you are an instrument of change, either positive or negative.” The hour-long presentation focused on the LULAC organization, its goals, its role in the community and its need for committed supporters. Other speakers were Ramon Flores, President of the Yuba-Sutter council; Frank Salmon, district director; and Angelo Montalvo of the Travis Air Force Base council. In a brief introductory film, students learned that LULAC grew in its formative years with the aid of Latin-America veterans from World War II. Having distinguished themselves in combat, these veterans came home to face the same injustices they thought they had been fighting to abolish. Despite being decorated war heroes, their own compatriots still treated them like foreigners. However, having learned the power of organization through their experiences overseas, these veterans helped transform LULAC into a powerful political force devoted to fighting against the unjust treatment of Latinos. According to the LULAC representatives, the need for change still exists today. Orosco said that Latinos are fifty percent more likely to drop out of high school than non-Hispanics and injured Latino males are fifty percent less likely to be given pain medication. Much of this, he said, is because people believe Latinos are drug-users and criminals based on racial stereotypes. “The color of your skin will determine the treatment that you receive,” Orosco said. “That’s the reality.” Orosco added that racial stereotypes have carried on in the workplace as well. “Because of past hiring practices, the loss of income in Latino communities is in the billions,” he said. Yet the LULAC representatives appealed for the audience to create change by participating in their organization. With 115,000 members nationwide, Orosco claimed that the power of numbers could be effective in close elections. However, Salmon said the focus has to be on a community level where administrative concerns do not blur the issues. For example, Montalvo worked with the Outreach program in Travis, feeding the hungry and providing clothes and Christmas gifts for children over the winter, and Flores said that GraceSource, the Yuba Community Collaborative for Healthy Children, is seeking help to curb the high rate of child abuse in Yuba County. According to the film, this grass-roots approach is a fundamental part of LULAC’s success. Youth members not only participate in improving their communities, but also gain from scholarships and other benefits. The members can play a role in controlling how scholarships are awarded, Orosco said, and learn leadership skills from involvement. The promise of a multicultural system is also part of LULAC’s appeal. After the presentation, Montalvo said, “Diversity is what makes us unique, and it’s a key for LULAC.”