The Center for Latin@ Studies and the Latino Business and Economic Development Center seek to build bridges and provide opportunities
By Katelyn Crain
Communications Specialist
In 2012, university stakeholders sought to provide resources for the university’s Latino student population as it grew rapidly, in keeping with regional population trends, and created the Center for Latin@ Studies, aimed at providing a home-away-from-home for Ferris students from Latino backgrounds.
Five years on, and Ferris’ outreach to Latino communities has expanded significantly, as the university has connected with them more broadly throughout West Michigan in a series of initiatives in effort to create a more community-integrated experience for its Latino students.
Ferris’ Latino Business and Economic Development Center, located in Grand Rapids, provides leadership and community entrepreneurship development for Latino professionals who aim to contribute to the economic development of Latino communities in West Michigan.
“In general, the work of LBEDC and CLS has led to an enormously positive image of Ferris in the broader West Michigan community and clearly has positioned Ferris as a ‘member of the Hispanic community’ that can be trusted to invest in and develop the community,” said Tony Baker, Ferris’ director of Community Engagement.
Under Director Carlos Sanchez, the LBEDC, which also opened in 2012, has helped community leaders develop stronger cultural competency by combining a traditional leadership curriculum with one designed to better relate to Latino culture.
Latino Business and Economic Development Center Director Carlos Sanchez (left)and Director of Community Engagement Tony Baker (right) were honored April 19, 2017. Photos courtesy of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
The center has multiple initiatives, including the Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative and the Latino Talent Initiative, designed to prepare individuals to build economic opportunity in their communities. The Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative focuses on the development of lifestyle businesses in the Latino community, whereas the Latino Talent Initiative supports leadership and professional development, according to Sanchez.
“We went from hardly being known in the community to being one of the most important programs for the Latino community in West Michigan,” said Sanchez. “I believe it’s important for Ferris for the opportunity it presents in diversifying the institution’s student and faculty bodies. From the ‘business’ perspective, it’s an underserved market that very few institutions are intentionally seeking to serve; but, more important, the university has identified a need, developed a solution and is working on a sustainable delivery of it.”
Recently, the LBEDC was awarded grants totaling $40,000 from the City of Grand Rapids, the West Region of Chemical Bank and the Spectrum Health Community Relations to support the programs offered.
Additionally, Baker and Sanchez were honored April 19 at the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber Gala for their economic development efforts through their respective centers and the impact of those efforts throughout West Michigan. Baker received the chamber’s Building Bridges Award, and Sanchez received its Businessperson of the Year Award. Both Baker and Sanchez indicated that their visions for the future include engagement of additional West Michigan ethnic communities.
LBEDC Director Carlos Sanchez (left) looks on during a Latino Talent Initiative award ceremony on April 8, 2016.
“We want to be able to expand the Latino Talent Initiative to other racial and ethnic groups—under a different name, of course—and potentially develop a curriculum for international students,” said Sanchez. “As far as the Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, we would like to extend the program to other locations where the university has a presence.”
Baker noted that he plans increase community engagement efforts to support younger students in getting to college and preparing for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields.
“This is Ferris’ work. It fits completely with the vision that [Woodbridge N.] Ferris created—to connect higher-education aspirations to careers and ‘make the world better,’” said Baker. “Focusing on West Michigan allows a real and visible impact. This work can be expanded to other communities as well. We thus are not just competing in the higher education landscape, but succeeding as a university, while making our communities better places to live and grow.”