Local group wins approval to bring after-school program, youth leadership development and parent involvement curriculum to improve academic performance

Representative Geraldo Alicea (D-Charlton) helped launch the first Massachusetts chapter of a nationally acclaimed education organization at a Southbridge town hall event this past Tuesday, October 6, 2009. The chapter, incorporated as ASPIRA of Massachusetts, is dedicated to raising awareness, advocating for, and pursuing effective strategies to build youth leadership and improve academic achievement for all students, particularly Latino youth.

Representative Alicea, who helped advocate for the acquisition of the ASPIRA chapter in Massachusetts and is an affiliate board member of the new chapter, spoke at the launch event, praising the initiative as a “much-needed boost to further our commitment to educational excellence.” He said he appreciated the tireless efforts of educators to improve academic outcomes and achievement, but recognized that “partnership with a community-based group that will supplement and reinforce lessons learned in school and develop leadership skills in our youth, is critical to reversing poor educational outcomes.” Senator Moore, who also commended the group, agreed that it had promising potential to reach Latino and all youths. 

ASPIRA of MA grew out of a grassroots organization which formed in 2006 to help address poor educational outcomes in Southbridge. The organization, known as Citizens for Latino Educational Excellence (CLEE), was concerned about emerging statistics that reflected growing achievement gaps, and sought to raise awareness, increase parental involvement and promote educational reforms in Southbridge, especially for Latino students, who lag behind their peers. In order to build sustainable infrastructure necessary to continue its mission, CLEE applied for and won approval to become an ASPIRA affiliate, a long-standing, nationally known organization committed to the same mission. 

The ASPIRA Association, which began in 1961, is the only national Hispanic organization dedicated exclusively to developing the educational and leadership capacity of Hispanic youth. ASPIRA has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for its mathematics and science academy, recently won a 1.65 million Wal-Mart Foundation grant to expand its programs, and was designated as an “Exemplary Program” by President Obama’s Initiative on Race. 

In line with the national model, the new ASPIRA of Massachusetts affiliate will be dedicated to promoting the development of the Massachusetts Latino community through advocacy and the education and leadership development of its youth. 

“Through our new ASPIRA affiliation, we will be able to continue our efforts to promote educational excellence and fairness here in Massachusetts,” said Representative Alicea. “This new chapter will help us to expand our outreach efforts and incorporate a more comprehensive approach to ensuring that ALL students have a chance to reach their highest potential.”