Institute for Latino Community Practice

Latino Community Practice initiatives have been gaining momentum at the University of Saint Joseph for over a decade. In July 2012, the Institute for Latino Community Practice (ILCP) was founded in the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. The Institute carries out its mission in this three-pronged approach:

1. Providing academic programs which meet the needs of bilingual Latino professionals and prepare all students to service Latino communities. These include academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate level, as well as continuing education and professional development opportunities.
    
2. Engaging in and promoting scholarship highlighting the lived experiences of Latinos in the U.S. This includes engaging in research and creating spaces in which Latino-focused research is shared.
    
3. Building community - within, across, and outside of the university community.

Mission:  To facilitate access to and completion of higher education for Latinos which leads to their full participation as economic, political and thoughtful leaders in the state of Connecticut.

Vision:  To engage and support Latino communities in Connecticut by preparing leaders across the educational pipeline and life course.

Values/Guiding Principles:

 As the institute carries out the mission and goals, it will seek to:

• Involve individuals who are dedicated to culturally relevant practice with and within Latino communities and who exhibit a life-long commitment to the goals of Latino Community Practice
• Promote mentorship as an important growth mechanism
• Commit to reciprocal and mutually beneficial research for both participants and researchers and the Latino communities involved
• Expand the image of Latinos from one of a deficient “high-needs community” to one that reflects the expertise, cultural wealth, and beauty of the Latino community
• Demonstrate the bridges that develop when the expertise of academic and local communities are combined in working toward mutual goals.

We promote these tenets through university courses, major events, conferences, seminars, lectures, workshops, performances, programs, and other activities. This builds upon signature events such as the Caritas Conference, Noche Latina, the reception for students in Latino Community Practice, and the Adelante Circle of Support.
 

By developing skills, expanding knowledge, promoting scholarship, and strengthening community, the Institute is true to the mission and honors the values of the Sisters of Mercy and the University of Saint Joseph.