Club Latino is a nonprofit student organization that promotes education among our Latino Community. Over the years Club Latino has grown to be the largest club in Rogue Community College. It began in 1999 with approximately 5 members. Club Latino is well known for promoting education to the Hispanic community through its main event called Educación, Un Mundo de Oportunidades (EMO [Education, a World of Opportunities]), followed by other events called Educación Para Todos (EPT [Education For Everybody]), Educación Para Padres (EPP [Education For Parents]).
Many organizations and community members have helped make these events possible. The Anna May Family and the Laz Ayala Foundations have made generous donations. Also, the active participation in the organization and the carrying out of these events has been possible thanks to enthusiastic people from Providence Hospital, Jackson County School District representatives such as ESL teachers, Hispanic personnel from the Medford Police Department and the Oregon Employment Department, cultural Diversity task Force, RCC Office of Diversity, and the TRIO Rogue Educational Opportunity Programs among others. Throughout the year Club Latino also carries out fundraising drives like dances and car washes to help with the funding in keeping Club Latino alive and running.
Club Latino is committed to our community and our activities go beyond promoting education. Club Latino has been the helping hands in North West Seasonal Farm Workers by assisting them with such events as Halloween Parties, food drives and canvassing. Club Latino has aided Southern Oregon University’s Latino Student Union (LSU) with the Vagina Monologues and Providence Hospital’s events directed to the Latino community.
Many Club Latino members have been and are currently involved in other programs that also promote education such as RCC’s Oregon Leadership Institute (OLI), Kids Unlimited, Listo program, Academia Latina, and Hispanic Academic Outreach (HAO). Club Latino members are also encouraged to improve their leadership abilities, effective communication skills, education of other minority groups, and training on running groups, clubs and offices by attending In-State conferences. Club Latino also focuses on promoting cultural activities such as Día de los Muertos and Cinco de Mayo.
Aside from promoting education Club Latino also enjoys many other fun activities to enhance camaraderie among its members. We have done end-of-the-year trips to San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, and Portland. We also admire our Rogue Valley surroundings by enjoying outdoor activities such as river rafting, hiking, and barbeques to name a few.
If you are interested in improving your community and your leadership abilities in a fun and rewarding way, do not hesitate to seek additional information online or attend one of our weekly meetings to see if Club Latino is right for you. If you are unable to become a Club Latino member, you can still make a difference by being a volunteer at one of our main events. Please contact us for additional helpful information.
“The future depends on what we do in the present” – Mahatma Gandhi
