FOCUS ON CAREERS : Latino Professionals Help Others Get Start
Latinos are underrepresented in the ranks of professionals from lawyers to doctors to engineers. For example, the number of Latino attorneys has been growing, but they still make up less than 5% of the state’s total, although Latinos make up nearly 25% of the state’s population.
In an effort to address this disparity, organizations of Latino professionals engage in various counseling and internship programs to help young men and women enter the professions. Many also offer scholarships.
Here are some of the Latino groups that sponsor educational and career counseling programs:
Business
Latin Business Assn., 5400 E. Olympic Blvd., Suite 308, Los Angeles, CA 90022; (213) 721-4000; involved in business development, education, scholarships and advocacy.
Corrections
Chicano Correctional Workers Assn., P.O. Box 1433, Gonzales, CA 93926; (408) 675-3551; sponsors an annual training conference; provides scholarships and information about opportunities in corrections.
Latino Peace Officers Assn., Los Angeles Metro Chapter, P.O. Box 127, Alhambra, CA 91802; (818) 570-5168; recruitment activities, tutoring and scholarships.
Education
Assn. of Mexican American Educators, P.O. Box 1155, Pico Rivera, CA 90660; (213) 868-7921; state youth leadership conference and educational workshops; professional development activities; Dia del Maestro, a statewide teacher recognition; and scholarships.
Engineering
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, 5400 E. Olympic Blvd., Suite 225, Los Angeles, CA 90022; (213) 725-3970; promotes engineering and science through its professional and student chapters; provides scholarships and educational grants; holds career development workshops and business development seminars.
Journalism
California Chicano News Media Assn.; School of Journalism, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1695; (213) 743-7158; offers high school journalism workshops, scholarships and job referral phone line.
National Assn. of Hispanic Journalists; National Press Building, Suite 634, Washington, D.C. 20045; (202) 783-6228; offers conferences, scholarships, awards and job referrals.
Public Relations
Hispanic Public Relations Assn. 5400 E. Olympic Blvd., Suite 250, Los Angeles, CA 90022; (213) 726-7690; conducts workshops and seminars and provides scholarships.
Law
Mexican-American Bar Assn., Los Angeles County, P.O. Box 86192, Los Angeles, CA 90086-0192; (213) 380-1702; offers meetings, seminars, community service and speakers bureau.
Latino Lawyers Committee, P.O. Box 712252, Los Angeles, CA 90071-7252; (213) 974-1852; helps high school and college law students; sponsors speaker series and mentor program.
Medical
National Assn. of Hispanic Nurses, L.A. chapter; 2014 Johnston St., Los Angeles, CA 90031, (213) 221-7156; offers scholarships and nursing educational programs.
California Hispanic-American Medical Assn., 1020 S. Arroyo Parkway, Suite 200, Pasadena, CA 91105; (818) 799-5456; organizes educational meetings and conferences, conducts panels on medical careers and awards scholarships.
Chicanos for Creative Medicine, East Los Angeles College; 1301 Brooklyn Ave., Monterey Park, CA 91754; (213) 265-8764; student organization provides support for those at East Los Angeles College preparing for pre-med and health service careers; alumni members help raise funds for scholarships; related chapters at other colleges and universities.