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Frequently Asked Questions:
When was La Raza founded?
In
the summer of 2004, Craig de Mariana Aleman, a student at the University of
Delaware, recognized the need for a Latino Student Union, an organization
that would unite the community under one banner, represent Latinos on
campus, and work to promote leadership development and advance minority affairs, not just Latino
affairs. Together with Guillermo Febres and Melody
Casagrande, The Campus Alliance de La Raza was born.
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Is La Raza affiliated with any
other organization?
The CALR is formally affiliated with the National
Council de La Raza (http://www.nclr.org),
the nation's largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. We are
a part of their Lideres Network, yet maintain our independence.
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Do I
need to be Latino in order to be a member?
Absolutely
Not!! La Raza welcomes ANY
student into its organization, regardless of race, creed, color, gender, age,
religion, national origin, veteran, handicap status, or sexual orientation.
We welcome diversity,
because we feel that it will contribute to the success of our
organization.
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What
Exactly Is "The Latino Agenda" ?
The CALR aims to strengthen and enhance the Latino community by supporting non-partisan
efforts to:
- Reduce poverty and
discrimination in Latino communities
- Increase life
opportunities for under-represented populations, especially for
Hispanics, within the United States
- Empower the Latino
community, primarily through the establishment and strengthening of
community institutions such as community based non-profit
organizations
- Improve the Latino
community's public image in the United States
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How Do I Become A Member?
To become a member of La Raza, you simply have to
embrace our mission - the commitment to the upward mobility of under-served
and under-represented populations. There are no forms to fill out, no
dues to pay, and no set number of meetings that you must attend.
We are here to add value to each other and our
communities. We accomplish this
through advocacy in the pursuit of the Latino agenda and the intellectual
and social development of our members.
We assist our members in their struggles to reach their
academic potential, enhancing their appeal to prospective employers while
illuminating paths to advanced degrees.
As a new member of La Raza, we encourage you to make it
to our Meetings, listed above, in order to get to know our current board
and take your place in our warm-united community. If you have a scheduling conflict, please
consider joining
our mailing list in order to stay up-to-date with all the
great things we have planned.
Es La Verdad - En La Union Esta La Fuerza!!
Isn't
There Already A Latino Organization On Campus?
Yes. HOLA, a well-respected and influential organization here on
campus, Promotes Awareness of Hispanic issues, provides a Comfortable
Social Environment for students, is responsible for an important Culture
Exchange on campus, and actively involves its members in Scholastic
Endeavors. Many members of HOLA will also be involved with the
Campus Alliance de La Raza, and a CALR delegate will be appointed to
represent the organization at weekly HOLA meetings.
The Campus Alliance de La Raza embraces HOLA as a sister organization,
and appreciates its contribution to the University of Delaware
Community. Our organization does not place a strong emphasis on
culture exchange, but we support HOLA and other organizations that
do. Instead, we promote Political Activism, and provide
avenues for the acquisition of the appropriate tools necessary to bring
about social change. Our members will Network nationally with
organizations affiliated with the NCLR, as well as with civil rights
organizations in the African American community, such as the NAACP and the
Urban League. .
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What
does La Raza have to offer me?
As members of the CALR, you will be exposed to the Civil
Rights/Advocacy communities on local and national levels.
Conferences: La Raza
members travel to National Conventions such as:
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The National Council de La Raza Annual
Conferences,
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NCLR's Regional Congresos,
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NCLR’s Lideres Youth Leadership Summits,
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NAACP National Conventions,
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Urban League's Annual Conferences,
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Various state and local conferences and
conventions
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The CALR presenting
at the NCLR Annual Conference
Other benefits
include:
- Securing Internships
- Acquiring Financial
Aid
- Obtaining Summer
Research Assistantships
- Preparing for
Graduate/Professional School
- Developing
Relationships with Faculty and Staff
- Authoring/Publishing
Web Sites & Web Pages
- Producing and
Enhancing Resumes
- The Altruistic
Rewards Of Improving The Latino Community
- The Opportunity To
Travel To Conventions and Conferences Across the Country
- Free La Raza
Business Cards
- The Opportunity To Act
As A CALR Delegate To Other Organizations on Campus
- Leadership
Experience
- Networking at the
University of Delaware and Throughout the United States
- Members Will Receive
Political Training, Such As How To Effectively Organize and Manage
Political Campaigns and Voter Registration Drives
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What are my responsibilities as
a member?
- Participate in and
support NCLR's advocacy efforts and initiatives where appropriate.
- Are willing to
acknowledge the possibility of attending at least one conference
during your undergraduate experience.
- Conduct yourself
within the general guidelines of legal and ethical organizational
behavior.
- Support the NCLR's
core principles, including:
- Reducing Poverty
and discrimination and increasing life opportunities for Latinos in
the United States
- Empowering the
Latino community, primarily through the establishment and
strengthening of community institutions such as community based
non-profit organizations.
- Improving the
Latino community's public image in the United States
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