FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 4, 2006 

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Partners with the National Equity Center (NEC) to Address 21st Century Civil Rights and Social Justice Disparities

Los Angles, CA – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) nominated Luis Quinonez, a HACU Student Ambassador, to participate in the National Equity Center’s (NEC) Summer Civil Rights and Social Justice Training Institute on the campus of the University of California at Los Angeles on July 2-29, 2006.

Students participated in a civil rights and social justice orientated curriculum designed to equip them with the necessary academic, research, leadership, and advocacy skills to serve as NEC Social Justice Ambassadors within their respective local communities.

Luis Quinonez graduated this May with his Associates degree from Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista, California.  He will be attending UCLA this fall and majoring in Political Science.  “It has been a wonderful and enriching experience here at NEC's Civil Rights and Social Justice Summer Training Institute,” said Luis.  “This experience was an eye opener to many issues that I wasn't aware of.  It made me reevaluate everything from the clothes I wear, the music I listen to, the things I watch on TV, the school I attend and to the system I live in.”

“HACU is proud of the NEC’s commitment to promoting diversity and democratic values.  We were honored they asked for our nomination,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.  “HACU’s Student Ambassadors represent some of the finest Hispanic students in higher education, and Luis’ educational background in Political Science made him a perfect match for this program.”

The Institutes curriculum includes several components: 1) The Historical Framework of Civil Rights and Social Justices, 2) Organizational and Moral Leadership Development, 3) Research and Policy Analysis, 4) Organizing and Advocacy Techniques, and 5) The Use of Technology as an Advocacy Tool.

The UCLA campus was host to one of two Summer Institutes coordinated by the NEC.  Howard University in Washington, D.C., hosted the other one.

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About NEC
The National Equity Center (NEC) is a non-partisan organization established to promote diversity and democratic values by cultivating, training, and empowering a generation of citizens with the leadership, academic, research, and advocacy skills necessary to eliminate existing local and national civil rights and social justice disparities.  For more information, visit http://www.nationalequitycenter.org/.