Currently Browsing: Youth

Haiti On My Mind

Posted by drjorge in Community, Uncategorized, YouthJan 17th, 2010 | No Comments
Last week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti has had me glued to the internet.  The images have been haunting and I am struck by the magnitude of such an event…in such a poor country.  Current reports put the death toll at over 20,000 (sadly rising) with an estimated 300,000 people living on the street.  I have been incredibly impressed with the outpouring of support from around the world.  Millions of dollars have been raised through the simple act of sending a text message.  Indeed, today’s instant communication venues through email, text messages, tweets and blogs facilitate an unprecedented...
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The Pathway to Latino Success

Posted by drjorge in Community, Education, Keynote Address, Uncategorized, YouthNov 4th, 2009 | 2 Comments
When Elba Aranda-Suh, Executive Director of the National Latino Education Institute (NLEI) honored me with an invitation to be the Keynote Speaker for the NLEI graduation, she gave me a great theme for the address.  A Pathway to Latino Success is the title she offered. For more than a week before the presentation, I pondered the title.  What is Latino Success or African-American Success or any specific group’s success as compared to just general success?  As I thought about my own path to success, I recall the challenges of poverty, violence, addiction, barriers to health and education that...
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Los Medanos College, CA and Washington State

Posted by drjorge in Community, Fifth Sun, Keynote Address, Uncategorized, YouthMar 24th, 2009 | No Comments
Presentation at Los Medanos College, Pittsburg, California ☼Hard to believe that it has been almost ten years since I decided to move from Chicago to California searching for myself and for a deeper awareness of my own existence. Back then, as a young psychologist, I felt the unmistakable call to search for what it means to dream in this fertile land of possibilities. I hungered for closeness and understanding of the silent and strong men in my family, particularly my father and grandfather. In search of a connection to them and their experience, I followed their footsteps all the way...
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Education and Coming Home

Posted by drjorge in Culture, Education, Keynote Address, Uncategorized, YouthMar 8th, 2009 | No Comments
Education and Coming Home: ☼On Friday, Feburary 27th, I presented a workshop for Kane County Teachers at Mercy Hospital in Aurora Illinois. I want to express my sincere gratitude to Jerry Murphy and the Kane County Department of Mental Health for coordinating the event. The focus of the workshop was to provide some recommendations to teachers and school social workers when working with youth of color. Presenting to this distinguished group of professionals was an incredible experience in many ways. But the most dramatic reason why this experience was particularly powerful, occurred to...
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