HispanicBusiness

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) said its Ready to Lead college readiness program will hold a workshop at UC Merced Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Working with CHCI alumni, more than 200 San Joaquin Valley area students will be trained in college planning, financing a college education and leadership development, according to a news release.

The goal of Ready to Lead is to help Hispanic high school students enter post-secondary education by motivating them to complete high school, empowering them to serve and lead in their communities and instilling a belief that a college education is achievable, the news release said. It added that only one in 10 Hispanics graduate from college.

Rep. Jim Costa will provide welcome remarks. PG&E will present career opportunities at the company and share its recruitment efforts with the students. The financial services session will be presented by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Dorothy Leland, chancellor of UC Merced, will attend, as will Esther Aguilera, CHCI president and CEO, and Raul Magdaleno, CHCI alumnus and motivational speaker.

With the support of PG&E, AT&T Foundation, USA Funds, State Farm Insurance Cos., and Bank of America, Ready to Lead allows Hispanic high school students to attend college. The program involves one-day workshops across the country in the most heavily populated Hispanic urban areas and culminates with a Washington, D.C., two-day workshop during CHCI's Public Policy Conference each September. --Sun-Star staff

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