Nathalie Agudelo

President

I am interested in becoming part of the Alliance of Latino and Latin American Students given that my career goal is to work empowering Latinos in the United States. As an immigrant, I understand the importance of strengthening the community to get their voices heard and serving in the ALAS board will allow me to put in practice the leadership and organizational skills I will need to accomplish my career goal. Participating in ALAS Board will be complementary to my classes at Wagner since I will be responsible for coordinating meetings and activities for the group. In addition, I will be working on developing programs in collaboration with other Wagner organizations which will help me to put in practice skills I have learned in class such as: negotiation skills.

My goals for ALAS is to continue the progress Nilbia and the other members of the board have been working on. Last year, ALAS had a conference about the Dream Act which was informative and raise awareness on the situation faced by undocumented students. If I get elected, I would want to have a continuation conference on the Dream Act given that some states are trying to pass the legislation as a state law.

I want to continue the focus ALAS has kept on issues that affect Latinos in the United States as well as issues that affect countries in Latin America. In addition, I would like for ALAS to be a medium through which all Wagner students disregarding their ethnicity learn about political innovations in Latin America.

The expectations I have for ALAS are to continue growing as a student organization and continue working in conjunction with other student organizations at Wagner. I want for ALAS to provide conferences and meetings that meet the expectations, needs and interests of students. If I become elected, my first step would be to create a survey to obtain information about topics of interest for students in Wagner (Latinos and non-Latinos). After I obtain the information I would discuss with the other board members to select what activities are feasible based on the topics and start planning. In addition, I will work on maintaining and strengthening the relationship ALAS has with other organizations through support and collaboration on different type of activities. Given that ALAS is an organization committed to providing information on Latin American Countries, one of my priorities will be to create a strong relationship with the International Public Service Organization (IPSA) since they have a strong mission and is correlated to the mission of ALAS (raising awareness of international public services issues). I will also foster relationships with other organizations since the mission of ALAS is related to the mission of other Wagner organizations such as education, health, criminal justice etc.

Laine Rolong

President

Originally from Colombia I deeply care about the issues that have affected my country and its neighbors. The problems that have perplexed the developing of our Latin societies and have delayed the economic growth. In addition, I have been in United States for 12 years and I have seen the need for more exposure of knowledge, resources and information to our immigrants like myself. My experience in the field has been working with microfinance in USA and this work has given me the opportunity to learn more about what is happening in Latin America and what is currently affecting Latinos in United States. I am very fortunate to be part of the NYU Wagner students and I would like to take the privilege and opportunity of being part of the ALAS board.

With the position of the President of the Board I intend to bring to the club the following:

· Continuity of the work done by previous members on supporting events with issues such as immigration, human rights, policy and culture. It is critical that we continue bringing awareness to the students and faculty of the role that WE as Latinos play and the different contributions we bring to our society.

· Bring new topics to the table that affect different countries in Latin America and Latinos in USA that recommend solutions to current issues. As our countries develop and the Latino population grow, currently at 50.05 million in USA, new issues and opportunities will furnish and it is our responsibility to communicate those in our club.

· Reinforce partnerships with other clubs, faculty, and key organizations beyond NYU Wagner and outside New York University. Only by working together and supporting each others' goal we will succeed. Each club, faculty and organizations has different perspective that can contribute to ALAS growth.

· Increase membership and activities that support ALAS beliefs and values. Our word and work need to be out to bring new people in, cultivate future leadership that supports and brings continuity and development to ALAS.

· I will be honor representing the club understanding that this is not a work done by one person but a board and a team that strongly believe that each voice count, each activity should have an impact and each step is a significant milestone to get us to accomplish one main common goal.

Thanks!

Chirlie Felix

Vice-President

I would like to be considered for the position of ALAS Vice-President. As a Latina woman who’s lived in New York City El Barrio neighborhood but who was born in Dominican Republic, I feel that I can bring a unique and diverse experience to the new board. I have deep research and field experience in the field of diversity and education both in the United States and in Latin America (please see my resume) and would be both an academic as well as professional resource to all ALAS members.

I have a vision of ALAS for 2011-2012 where its members could participate in service learning and cultural activities related to Latino and Latin American culture in NYC and allow Wagner and NYU students to interact more closely with the surrounding community.

I would also like to see ALAS members further engage other Latino student/ advocacy groups around the city, including LASA in Columbia University, etc. and perhaps host a large spring event dedicated to addressing some of the most pressing concerns of our community like violence against youth, educational concern or the environment.

I thank you for your time and consideration and look forward to hearing from you regarding my candidacy.

Christian Gonzalez Rivera

Vice-President

I am writing to declare my candidacy for the position of vice president of ALAS. Among the various positions available, I feel that the role of VP would be the best fit for me, given my plans for involvement with ALAS in the future.

I am very interested in working with the board and membership on designing events that highlight the experiences and contributions of Latinos to the urban space, both los de aqui and los de alla. Often in our studies we focus on the negative experiences of people of color--poverty, social strife, discrimination, and struggle. All of these things are part of our stories, but we have many more stories of cultural richness, family ties, success, and pathbreaking that have moved our communities forward. To the extent that we have shaped urban space and informed culture, customs, and knowledge in the United States and in other countries, so should ALAS be working to create a platform through which these experiences can be integrated into a universal story about the urban experience.

The description of the vice president's position is strongly focused on planning, organizing, and evaluating events, so I feel it would be the best platform for me to work with the board and membership on realizing these goals for ALAS and Wagner as a whole.

I have plenty of prior experience in leadership of student organizations. During my undergraduate years at Columbia I was president of the Columbia Queer Alliance, an advocacy and social student group for LGBT students. I had come into a group that had experienced substantial lack of membership, and that had dwindling resources. Through my efforts and those of the board I led, we held very popular recurring cultural and social events, established revenue streams large enough to make us self-sufficient, and even secured an newly-renovated LGBT lounge area that now serves as a safe space and legacy for the LGBT community at Columbia.

As with many of us in ALAS, my upbringing in Latino neighborhoods has a strong impact on the way I view urban and social dynamics. I am committed to sharing these stories with others, and feel that the position of vice president of ALAS is the ideal place from which to do so.

Guadalupe Ortiz

Vice-President

My passion has always been education in all its forms. As a student in high school, I quickly became involved with community organizations designed to provide services to the low-income students that didn't receive any attention in our local high schools. For me, the goal was clear. The diversity in my high school advanced classes was nonexistent, and college was only a little better. I wanted to see more diversity in places of higher learning since I believe that education and the life experiences that come with being educated will be important tools to improve our communities and promote our culture.

I came to Wagner to further explore my interests and to learn how to make a larger impact in my community. One of the reasons why I am interested in becoming a part of ALAS is to meet like-minded people who share the same interest in community growth and empowerment. An important goal I have for ALAS is to make it a more prominent group at Wagner since I feel that the presence of Latin American students is definitely absent at most Wagner events. Finally, I am very excited to learn about my fellow ALAS members’ backgrounds, interests, goals and experiences and look forward new friendships.

Lorena Guadiana

Secretary

Lorena is a West Coast transplant and from Guanajuato, Mexico. She attended UCLA for her undergrad education where her studies and personal experiences encouraged her development as a social justice advocate. She considers herself a Chicana and an immigrant whose personal growth has also been shaped by unjust policies that have not allowed her to visit her home country in years. She recognizes the importance of continuing to leverage communities of color and for this reason she has organized for immigration and policy reform, education access, farm workers’ rights, and participated in creating community gardens. As the current ALAS board member, Lorena has organized events around the DREAM Act both at NYU and Columbia University; along with an upcoming event featuring a Latina Urban Planning Professor and an LGBTQ event focusing on international challenges. Lorena has presented at the 2011 RISE Conference, Social Work in an Era of Change in Harlem. Lorena is currently working at NYU’s Opportunity Programs Office supporting undergraduate low-income students of color enrolled in the university.

Lorena is a firm believer of collectives and their ability to transform communities. Her goals are to continue to collectively push for engaging and promising platforms that will uplift the Latino voice. In what ways can ALAS move to the next level this next academic year?

Lorena is an avid outdoor adventurer and a lover of the fine arts. She wants to be able to improve her Portuguese language skills and live in Brazil.

Aleise Barnett

Events Coordinator

I am committed to advancing NYU students’ exploration of social, political and cultural issues pertaining to Latino and Latin American communities and excited to announce my candidacy to serve in the Events Chair position for ALAS. My main professional interests include impact evaluation and program development. Prior to coming to Wagner I worked as an independent impact evaluation consultant with the National Council of La Raza and will be continuing similar work this summer at the Instituto Mexicano de Investigación de Famlia y Población (IMIFAP) in Mexico City. My academic interests include education policy in Latin America, particularly in Brazil and Cuba, as well as immigration and urban education in the US, which stems from my time serving as a NYC Teaching Fellow in Washington Heights and the South Bronx. After completing my time at Wagner, I hope to work for an NGO working in partnership with Latin American grassroots organizations.

When attending the showing of the Bogotá Change documentary ALAS co-sponsored earlier this year, I was particularly struck by the effective and creative approaches to social policymaking chronicled in the film which represented a stark contrast to most media impressions of the Latin American region. I hope to collaborate with other ALAS members to organize and promote similar events which broaden public conceptions, offering opportunities to gain an informed perspective and engender constructive dialogue among the Wagner and greater NYU community. I would also look forward to strategically partnering with other student groups on campus to strengthen ALAS's network and advance the exploration of issues which cross-cut a variety of disciplines. Additionally, I would like to enhance ALAS’s web presence so that students may benefit from and add to the ongoing conversation in an expanded forum. I believe my attention to detail, strong organizational, interpersonal and leadership skills would enable me to serve well in the capacity of Events Chair. Thank you very much for your consideration.

Ruben Hoyos

Events Coordinator

My name is Ruben Hoyos and I am running for Event Chair for ALAS for another year because I truly believe in the mission of the organization. I am very passionate about issues that affect Latinos both domestic and international and event planning is a crucial part of that. I believe that my experience as Event Chair during the past year were reasons why we had successful events. All too often Board members are replaced every year without any clear direction. I believe that having a current Board Member run for next year would help focus the mission of our organization to greater heights.

I spearheaded interactions between other Wagner groups, strengthening relationships between ALAS and Wagner at-large. More specifically, I have engaged more Urban Planning students by holding events that relate to urban planning and the Latino community with our Bogota Transmilenio event with UPSA, with Stonewall Policy Alliance, and the upcoming tutoring project--not to mention the great food that has been provided at our events. As an event chair, I will continue to promote and reinforce our commitment to discussing policy issues that relate with Latinos and Latin America to the Wagner Community. Integration between ALAS and other Wagner student groups have been a great benefit to us and for the Wagner community and having an incumbent Event Chair would streamline that process. So vote for me.

Natalie Barragan

Treasurer

I am currently a part-time student in the Health Policy and Management Department completing a specialization in Health Policy Analysis with an expected graduation date of May 2013. My hope for the next two years is to continue to be involved in student activities that promote diversity and understanding among people from various cultures.

Issues that affect Latinos and Latin Americans have been a driving force throughout my life. As the daughter of Latin American parents I have been exposed to issues that are unique and often unheard of in the United States. Serving as a translator for relatives as a child and teen greatly influenced the person I have become and the field of work I have chosen.

As an undergraduate I felt strongly about minority representation at the university I attended specifically because I was often the only Latina in my classes. I decided to apply and eventually became a board member of the Admissions Student Diversity Board at Boston University. Through this experience I was able to recruit students from diverse backgrounds to attend the university. I witnessed how my reaching out to potential students and their parents eased worries about university life for Latino students.

It is that same passion and dedication that I wish to bring to the board of ALAS. As a board member I would work to maintain and strengthen the visibility of the Latino community at Wagner. I would like to bring issues to light that affect Latinos both in the United States and abroad, such as immigration and violence in Latin American countries. I would also like to talk about how the private and public sectors are working to strengthen Latin American society through education, economic and policy reform. Creating an alumni network for students to reach out and hear about real world experiences of Latinos and Latin Americans in the field of Public Service is also a goal that I would like ALAS to accomplish.

I hope that you would consider my nomination for Treasurer of ALAS for the 2011-2012 academic year. I believe in a strong Latino presence and I hope I can have the opportunity to maintain that presence through events and the continued presence of ALAS at Wagner.

Joshua Dulle

Treasurer

I am very interested in learning more about the culture, politics, and social aspects of Latin America and feel that direct involvement as an ALAS Board member would provide a great chance to learn about these topics from other informed individuals. I would like to be a part of ensuring that workshops and other events regarding Latin America are provided at Wagner/ NYU. I like the sense of community I feel at ALAS meetings and feel it is valuable to perpetuate that throughout Wagner and other NYU Colleges. I feel ALAS can play a valuable role providing both educational/informational opportunities as well as social opportunities. In light of this, I am asking your consideration for the position of treasurer. Of my many volunteer service experiences, I will recount service with two organizations that I feel illustrates my qualifications for this position.

At the University of Illinois, in my undergrad, I was a member of the student run and university registered student organization International Impact. In the spring semester, 2007, I was one of two site-facilitators (leaders) of the volunteer group to Guatemala. In this role I organized a team, held weekly group meetings, and facilitated our travel to and from Guatemala. I also joined the organization treasurer during an informational meeting with the University Student Organization Office’s treasurer and learned how to file for our travel reimbursements. I aided her in filling out paperwork and organizing records to ensure that all volunteers who traveled abroad would receive their reimbursement.

I have also been an active volunteer with a non-profit that helps individuals suffering from substance abuse. Over 8 years I held many titles at different levels in their tiered structure (tiered in order to reach a broad geography). Of importance to this application is my two years as the area treasurer. This role required that I attend monthly business meetings and provide a monthly written budget report showing our income, expenditures, and subcommittee reserves. I completed two annual audits of the account, corroborating expenditure and deposit records and providing budget suggestions for the upcoming year. I was one of four signatures on the checking account and often communicated with our bank. I collected monthly donations, made deposits, and paid monthly bills such as the phone bill, printing reimbursements to our secretary, and rent. Prior to this role, I was the treasurer of two groups for several months, roles which necessitated similar responsibilities as those listed above.

Thank you for your consideration. It would be a privilege to serve ALAS as a Board member. Feel free to ask any follow up questions.