The Latino Policy Institute

The Latino Policy Institute A proposal to the Rhode Island Foundation and the Board of Directors of Progreso Latino, The Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy (CHisPA) August 21st, 2000

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Introduction Various initiatives have been under active discussion at CHisPA and Progreso Latino in response to the need for a greater institutional involvement in the development of information about the Latino community that will influence policy makers. A search for the particular niche which policy institute could fill in service to local government, business and nonprofit service delivery organizations, has focused on the development of community leaders capable of breaking down barriers and changing perceptions in their own backyards. In addition to providing valuable community learning experiences and applied research opportunities for members of the Latino community, the idea of establishing a public policy institute committed to empowering Latino stakeholders to actually implement change has taken hold at the Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy during the last year. Specifically, a Latino Policy Institute that fully engages the interests and energies of community-based organizations and their representatives in the identification of research topics and resulting policy recommendations is proposed here. Additionally, the further commitment to empower community participants with the requisite skills to effectively advocate and implement change in government and private solutions to Latino problems. The following narrative describes the core philosophy behind the Latino Policy Institute, the operating strategy and budget implications of this initiative, and finally, an underwriting profile which identifies the unique community participation objectives served by this undertaking.

Philosophy The Latino Policy Institute will be a freestanding, policy research organization which will be destined to attain a reputation as the Rhode Island's "premier Latino think tank." Through its strong capacity to conduct primary and secondary data analysis, The Latino Policy Institute will be uniquely position to fill the void in information that exists among policymakers and political leaders regarding the complexities that characterize the Latino population--e.g. It’s heterogeneous composition, its bilingualism, and its diverse nativity. The Latino Policy Institute will analyze issues of concern to Latinos, acts as a liaison to the RI Legislature, the U. S. Congress and federal agencies, conducts seminars and studies on topical issues, presents testimony to local governments and develops working relationships with other advocacy groups. The institute will prepare reports on issues that have an impact upon the social, economic and political well being of Latinos in Rhode Island and the mainland United States. It also will conduct analysis on public policies and legislative proposals in order to empower Progreso Latino and CHisPA's constituency to participate in the formulation of public policies.

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The core philosophy which infuses the Latino Policy Institute model, therefore, is to create a decision-making environment characterized by a constant give-and-take between researchers and community stakeholders. This means providing equal footing to the institute and community-based participants from the identification of research priorities through the interpretation of research results and the eventual implementation of specific policy recommendations. In this way the work of the institute will remain strategic to the interests of the community and the Institute will be fully engaged in and stimulated by the analysis and resolution of contemporary Latino problems. The mission of the Latino Policy Institute is strategic and qualitatively different from that of other public policy institutes in that the research is primarily a vehicle for community organizations and their representatives to gain a better understanding of and practical skills to effect change in their own environment. Accordingly, the specific outcomes that will distinguish the Latino Policy Institute include the following: (1) Community-driven issues control the research agenda as a result of continuous community outreach and carefully designed community participation procedures that characterize all the Institute's activities; (2) Community Organizations become policy setters by sitting on the main decisionmaking board that determines research topics and translates research results into formal policy recommendations; and (3) Community residents become skilled advocates by being included in Institute-based research teams and special field implementation units created to act on the Institute's policy recommendations. To ensure that these community participants outcomes are realized, the Institute will follow clear policies governing, in respective order: regular community feedback utilizing the capacity of the institute ant its partners; the provision of nonprofit management training and legitimate policy-making opportunities in the conduct of the affairs of the Institute; and the transfer of knowledge and skills associated with undertaking applied research and advocating for policy change in local and state government arenas. Furthermore, an objective evaluation of the community participation elements of the Institute's activities will be incorporated into the annual auditing process to verify both its mission performance and the fiscal integrity of this unique institution.

Operations The Latino Policy Institute will follow convention in as much as it will focus on the pressing Latino policy issues of the day and it will draw upon the expertise of the Institute and its interdisciplinary resource capacity to employ standard applied research techniques to better understand and recommend relevant public policy solutions. To this end, representatives of Latino studies and technical research disciplines will play a vital role in providing structure and rigor to the process of framing appropriate research questions and ensuring that sound research technique is maintained.

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Less conventional will be the delegation of the authority for establishing the relative problem- solving context and setting research agenda priorities within that context Rather than providing the perspective on which Latino problems are most pressing and to what end research results should be directed based on its own self-interest, the Institute will conscientiously yield this discretion to the "native intelligence" of community-based service delivery organizations and their representatives~ In other words, the Institute will provide the essential form to the vital content identified by community stakeholders. The job of fostering a decision-making environment characterized by a true give-and-take between Institute-based researchers and community stakeholders will largely be in the hands of the Institute's professional staff. While formal structures such as membership on the Institute's governing board and participation on its research teams and its field implementation units will provide the opportunity for community empowerment, the long term goal of ensuring the actual transfer of policy know-how and effective advocacy skills will require much more attention. Beyond the conduct of research, the constant monitoring and mentoring of the quality of community participation and the performance of individual participants will be the principle responsibility of the Institute's staff and the litmus test by which the success of the Latino Policy Institute is ultimately judged. The Latino Policy Institute’s Director and its Board of Directors will manage the overall task of assessing the progress and the training needs of community participants. The daily responsibility for recruiting and maintaining quality community participation will be in the hands of a special Deputy Director for Community Outreach working in concert with an Institute-based Deputy Director of Research. Another factor that will add to the Institute's unique traits will be its affiliation with the University of Rhode Island, and Brown University. Through these affiliations, The Latino Policy Institute will have access to a network of nationally recognized scholars who carry out an array of research projects under the direction of Institute leadership.

The budget The budget requirement to operate the Latino Policy Institute is estimated at $250,000 in Yr. 1, $300,000 in Yr.2, and $400,000 in Yr.3. This includes salaries and benefits for a full time Director and Deputy Director of Community Outreach, Deputy Director of Research, nominal stipends for research team leaders, and an overhead allowance (15%) which assumes an in-kind contribution of office space from CHisPA and Progreso Latino but full responsibility for maintaining a separate nonprofit status, expenses for equipment and supplies, and an important consideration for hiring outside vendors to conduct community capacity building for the Institute. Although the Latino Policy Institute will have a separate legal status, its governance structure will be designed to ensure fiscal accountability to Progreso Latino and the Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy and their representation on the Institute's Board of Directors.

Underwriting Profile The cause for more effective community participation in resolving contemporary Latino problems has its roots in the grass roots political activism of the 60's and 70's, and is now 5

manifest in the form of a variety of community-based organizations and initiatives intended to enable Latino residents to resolve their own problems. Although federal revenue sharing (i.e. Community Renewal and Community Development Block Grants) and New Deal style social programs (i.e. The War on Poverty) have preached the gospel of individual and community self-reliance, in practice, the administration of these vital resources has too frequently failed to provide meaningful community participation and policy-making opportunities, and as a result, true community-based problem solving is the exception rather than the rule. This failure to fully engage the residents of distressed Latino communities in the struggle to revive our Latino economies has been tacitly recognized by a number of national philanthropic organizations and foundations, who have begun to target their giving to achieve a better understanding of ways to identify and measure effective community participation techniques, and thereby to increase our success with community-based problem solving. It is to this high purpose that the Latino Policy Institute is dedicated as well. The policy institute proposed here is committed to reaching out to the community to identify research topics relevant to the interests of its residents, to providing specific community organizations and representatives with legitimate authority to decide what to do with the findings of this research, and to the transfer of practical skills to implement the resulting policy recommendations. In this way, the Latino Policy Institute will practice what it preaches. It will not only offer genuine participatory decision-making training and experience, but it will also provide a laboratory for further understanding and innovation in community-based problems solving. The unique mission of the Latino Policy Institute will certainly be of interest to the national philanthropic organizations and foundations that are on the cutting edge of community participation and Latino problem-solving research. It will also be of great interest to federal, state, and local government agencies charged with the administration of revenues and grants intended to empower the residents of Latino communities and to help rebuild their neighborhoods. And finally, it should be of growing interest to the Providence-based corporate community in its search for charitable investment opportunities to foster future civic leaders that will take responsibility for solving the seemingly intransigent problems of today that will nevertheless predict the health of our communities tomorrow.

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Center for Hispanic Policy and Research Institute The Latino Policy Institute will be a freestanding, policy research organization which will be destined to attain a reputation as the Rhode Island's "premier Latino think tank." Through its strong capacity to conduct primary and secondary data analysis, The Latino Policy Institute will be uniquely position to fill the void in information that exists among policymakers and political leaders regarding the complexities that characterize the Latino population--e.g. its heterogeneous composition, its bilingualism, and its diverse nativity. The Latino Policy Institute will analyze issues of concern to Latinos, acts as a liaison to the RI Legislature, the U. S. Congress and federal agencies, conducts seminars and studies on topical issues, presents testimony to local governments and develops working relationships with other advocacy groups. The institute will prepare reports on issues that have an impact upon the social, economic and political well-being of Latinos in Rhode Island and the mainland United States. It also will conduct analysis on public policies and legislative proposals in order to empower Progreso Latino and CHisPA's constituency to participate in the formulation of public policies. The Latino Policy Institute critical strengths will be survey research--ranging from questionnaire and sample frame development, to survey interviewing--which allows The Latino Policy Institute will be to gauge the attitudes held by diverse Latino populations vis a vis salient policy issues. Another factor that adds to the Institute's unique traits will be its affiliation with the University of Rhode Island, and Brown University. Through these affiliations, The Latino Policy Institute will have access to a network of nationally recognized scholars who carry out an array of research projects under the direction of The Latino Policy Institute leadership.

Potential Research Themes Economic Well Being Global Integration One of the most distinctive features of globalization is the blurring of traditional boundaries that have defined nations and states and the relations between them. As immigration and the transnational links within the Americas increase, the foreign-born component of America's Latino population gains significance. CHPRI's ambitious research agenda explores the ways in which Latinos are responding to the new global phenomena. Globalization has a particularly strong effect on foreign-born Latinos, since it transforms not only their communities in the United States, but redefines their relationship with their countries of origin. As part of its research in this area, CHPRI will

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examine the significant role Latinos play worldwide as their numbers grow and the Americas become increasingly interdependent. Today's economy is a dynamic field characterized by globalization, expansion, and technological dependence. In an attempt to understand the effect that current economic trends are having on the Latino community, CHPRI's projects will focus on shifts in the work force, poverty and underclass issues, entrepreneurship and economic development.

Economic Development Latino-owned firms are growing at phenomenal rates and represent a significant source of employment and wealth creation across the country. Consider that the number of Latinoowned businesses has doubled in size in the last 15 years; a clear indication of the existence of a large and growing base of entrepreneurial talent within the Latino community. As these enterprises reach a critical mass, it will be increasingly vital to evaluate their sources of success so that policymakers and industry leaders can create strategies to cultivate their continued growth. CHPRI's approach to examining the economic viability of the Latino community will be focused on determining the needs of businesses for certain skills and employee commitment, and the types of abilities and perspectives presently found among residents of Latino Latino communities. In this regard, the Institute will examine the characteristics of the Latino workforce that positively contributed to the financial growth of select firms, as well as conduct an in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Latino-owned businesses nationwide as documented but the U.S. Census Bureau. The progress and future well-being of the Latino community largely depends on the successful development of a strong and dynamic economic base. CHPRI's economic research initiatives, combined with its analysis of the evolving global economy, will serve to foster entrepreneurship, employment development and economic opportunities for Latinos worldwide. Access to Education Aside from the intrinsic value of knowledge, education is often viewed as the strongest route to economic well being. Our competitive global marketplace relies on education as the means to uncharted opportunities. One constantly finds a need for adapting to an evolving information-based society. For Latinos, a significant segment of America’s labor force in the 21st century, the hope of a quality education may be thwarted by structural, economic, and social obstacles. The Institute’s dedication to improving Latino educational opportunities focuses on the examination of barriers to academic achievement as well as the identification of policies and programs that afford educational excellence.

Access to Quality Education In their tenacious search for a quality education, Latino students may find themselves with fewer role models in the school or in an academic environment not maximizing

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educational achievement. The Institute will address efforts to identify both the subtle and obvious barriers Latino students, parents, and educators may encounter at school. Some of the issues that may be examine by the Institute include school nutrition programs in low-income minority school districts, bilingual education, access to postsecondary education, the role of education and economic success, educational civil rights issues, the use of SAT’s in college admittance, teacher preparation and recruitment, parental participation, state educational ballot initiatives, and the equitable use of advanced placement courses in college admittance. Many of these studies incorporated national, state, and local issues. By focusing on access, equity, and excellence, the Institute elevates the quality of education for all students, especially Latino students, providing them with the tools necessary for personal and professional success.

Teacher Development and Recruitment A subject of continuing Institute research is the examination of efforts to recruit and develop Latino teachers. The positive influences of Latino teachers in the classroom have been widely documented and are demonstrated by student improvements on standardized test scores and decreased dropout rates. Interestingly, the percentage of Latino student enrollment far exceeds the percentage of Latino teachers at every level – city, state, and national. One option offered as a means to diversify the nation’s classrooms is the use of alternative teacher certification programs, an accelerated district internship for obtaining teaching credentials. This is also seen as a viable alternative to emergency permitting teachers to meet the burgeoning student enrollment currently experienced in many parts of the country. Alternative certification has sparked debate on the qualifications of the teacher it produces and has become a focal point of Institute research. Lauded as a means to bring more Latinos, minorities, and subject matter specialists into the teaching profession, the Institute continues to evaluate the effectiveness of the alternative teacher certification movement.

Political & Social Issues The increasing presence of Latinos in the demographic make-up of the United States signals dramatic changes in both social and political climates, making this phenomena an important area of study. CHPRI is striving to pioneer this field through objective research focusing on the challenges facing Latinos in the search for integration.

Political and Civic Engagement As the political climate reshapes, the Latino population is showing a renewed commitment to demonstrating its political strength. The remarkable growth of the population and the significance of the Latino electorate has undergone intense scrutiny and become the subject of fiery debate across the nation. Policymakers and the public

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alike have voiced their need for a better understanding of the Latino community and the significance and actuality of the Latino vote. CHPRI seeks to fill this void by conducting in-depth analyses of Latino voting trends in an effort to bring clarity to Latino perceptions and experiences in the electoral process. Work of this nature enables CHPRI to give voice to the Latino community and allows elected officials and civic leaders the opportunity to focus their efforts on those issues that most concern their constituencies.

Social Integration The Latino community is a complex, diverse body that often cannot be defined in traditional terms. Knowing this, CHPRI strives to take innovative approaches to research that will address a wide range of topics including affirmative action, crime and welfare policies and examines their potential impacts on the social environment, subcultures and dynamics of the Latino population. While attempting to address the challenges presented by the social incorporation of Latinos into American society, CHPRI bears in mind the important role of immigration in the Latino community. According to the 1992 Census Bureau, 35 percent of all Latinos, and 40 percent of all Latino adults were foreign-born. Given that immigrants represent such a large component of the Latino community, policymakers need a precise understanding of the characteristics of both populations to formulate sound public policies and programs that effectively address the problems encountered by Latinos. To this end, CHPRI's social research is broad based, providing essential information on the effects of policy decisions, changing demographics and the progress of the integration of Latinos across the nation.

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