Yonkers Partners In Education
Wendy R. Nadel, Executive Director
(914) 377-4882

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: January 14, 2010
For More Information Contact: Wendy Nadel
Email: wrnadel@ypie.org

Yonkers Partners in Education Offers College Prep Series for Spanish-speaking Families

Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE), with support from Westchester County, will offer a five-part series for Yonkers’ Spanish-speaking families, Coaching for College: A Program for Latino Parents. Of the 25,000 public school students in Yonkers, 51% are Hispanic and many live in homes where English is not their primary language. As Latino families approach the decision of applying to college for their children, they face uncertainty and misinformation regarding the process and the opportunities available to them. This program will inform and coach Latino parents on what they need to know as they navigate the complex college admissions process. The overview symposium and four workshops will run exclusively in Spanish.

“We are delighted to offer this information to Yonkers’ Spanish-speaking parents. They are at an extreme disadvantage because they do not have access to critical information that will enable their children to attend college and lead a more successful life. Our goal is to remove language and cultural misunderstanding as a barrier to college access,” said Wendy Nadel, Executive Director of Yonkers Partners in Education.

The Latino Parents series’ opening symposium will be held on January 21, 2009, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Yonkers Riverfront Library atrium and auditorium. Channel 47 anchor, Jorge Ramos will deliver the keynote speech about the importance of a college education. Additional speakers will include Edwin Quezada, Principal of Lincoln High School; Jose Flores, Vice President of Enrollment at Manhattanville College; and several Yonkers students and parents, who will discuss their own experiences. Subsequent workshops, to be held at churches and community centers throughout Yonkers, will address following: completing the application process; finding and securing financial aid; conquering gender and other cultural stereotypes; and helping middle school parents plan ahead.

YPIE Program Coordinator Bettina Weil noted the great need for the college prep series, the first of its kind in Westchester. “This program will help even the playing field for Yonkers students, many of whom are the first in their families to apply to college.”

To sign up for the free series, parents should call 914-219-7929. Four buses will transport parents to the library from different locations in Yonkers.

About YPIE: Yonkers Partners in Education is a public education fund that works in partnership with the public and private sectors to ensure that all students attending public school in Yonkers receive a high quality education that prepares them for work, college, and success in life.

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