This content was published: April 27, 2005. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Grant to strengthen services to Latinos at PCC
Photos and story by James Hill
ROCK CREEK CAMPUS – Portland Community College has received a grant to strengthen educational services for Hispanics. The Latino Family Service Coalition of Washington County awarded the college $1,450 to strengthen the Oregon Leadership Institute (OLI) at the Rock Creek Campus, 17705 N.W. Springville Rd. OLI, a cooperative program of PCC and the Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement (OCHA), provides important assistance and support to Latino high school students to help them stay in school, develop leadership skills, and learn about college and career opportunities. "PCC is committed to assisting Latino youth to experience high school success and continue on to college," said Mara Silvera, international student advisor. "This support is critical as nationally, 40 percent of Hispanics over the age of 25 have not graduated from high school, compared to 16 percent of non-Hispanic whites." Twelve percent of PCC students are Latino, including approximately 2,000 Latino students enrolled in Rock Creek Campus programs. Since OLI was implemented at PCC in 1999, 350 Latino high school students have completed the program. Of the Washington County high school seniors participating in OLI, an estimated 75 percent have graduated from high school and gone on to college. For more information on this grant, contact Silvera at 503-614-7279.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »