A migrant worker turned motivational speaker will give a presentation at Allan Hancock College on Nov. 7.
In order to inspire students to dream big, Raúl Lomelí, the co-founder and executive director of Saber es Poder—Knowledge is Power—will share his personal story on Hancock’s main campus in Santa Maria, room C-40, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. English as a second language (ESL) students from Hancock will share their educational journeys as well.
Lomelí worked in the fields of the San Joaquin Valley every summer from the age of 15 until his first year of college. In 2005, he founded Saber es Poder to encourage Spanish-speaking consumers to become more informed, confident, and active participants in their communities and society.
Before founding the organization, he served as president of the Latino Education Achievement Project, as a national spokesperson for the Sallie Mae Fund, as the press and public affairs attaché for the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, and as a student affairs officer for the University of California Office of the President.
The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recognized Lomelí with the National Corporate Advocate of the Year Award in 2007. In 2011, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund awarded him with its Corporate Responsibility Award.
For more information, contact Rosa Olmedo, non-credit ESL outreach coordinator, or Lucerito Salgado, credit ESL facilitator, at 922-6966, Ext. 3402.
This article appears in Oct 31 – Nov 6, 2013.