Our Mission

The mission of the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals is to enhance the integration and cooperation among the Hispanic professionals of North Carolina and concerned individuals and organizations to promote the education of Hispanic students at all levels.

The North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals (NCSHP) was founded to further the work of, to improve the effectiveness of, and to enhance the public understanding of and appreciation for Hispanic professionals in North Carolina.

The NCSHP has made a major commitment to build its infrastructure to meet the demands of our growing Hispanic community with respect to its dedicated mission.

Our Purpose

The primary purposes, for which the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals has been organized, are educational, namely:

To enhance the integration and cooperation among Hispanic professionals and concerned individuals in promoting the education of Hispanic students in North Carolina.
To cooperate with other individuals, enterprises, organizations and other groups whose purposes include the promotion of education among Hispanic students, and the public understanding of the achievements of Hispanic professionals in North Carolina.
To sponsor multiple outreach educational programs benefiting Hispanic students at the elementary, middle school, high school, community college, and university levels.
To cooperate with educational authorities in the development, implementation, and improvement of educational and training programs designed to interact directly with Hispanic students at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels.
To act as a liaison between Hispanic students, their families, and educational and non-educational organizations which award scholarships to low-income students of high academic potential.
To support local, regional, state, and federal authorities in the resolution of educational issues affecting Hispanic students.
To gather, write, edit, publish and disseminate materials related to the above purposes in the aforementioned fields.
To develop, produce, and distribute materials including films, tapes, and printed material designed to enhance the participation of Hispanic professionals in promoting community college and university level education as a realistic and achievable goal among Hispanic youths.
To organize, promote, and coordinate local and regional conferences designed to promote the purposes herein mentioned.
To award educational scholarships to graduates of North Carolina high schools or to students that have earned the equivalent of a high school diploma who are of Latino or Hispanic background.
To do and perform all things usual and customary to organizations of this nature, including affiliation, and/or cooperation with other local, state, regional, and national organizations of like character and purpose.

Our Intent

Acknowledging the under representation of Hispanic youths in higher education, and seeing the need for role models, it is the intent of the NCSHP to develop and secure educational opportunities and financial support to improve Hispanic youth's success and school performance.

Our Society is committed to doing the best it can to nurture our youth and provide resources to Hispanic students and their families, so that they can succeed in education.

The NCSHP will try a variety of ways to sponsor multiple outreach educational programs benefiting Hispanic youths and to generate enthusiasm among their parents for the hard work that is necessary to succeed academically.

President's Message

Dear Amigos and Members:

It is an honor and a privilege for me to welcome you to the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals (NCSHP) website, and to invite you to join us in our mission of "Promoting Education among Hispanic Youth" in North Carolina. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the NCSHP's members, sponsors, teachers, school administrators, and friends of the Society for their great support in our endeavors since the foundation of our society in 1999.

The NCSHP is proud to celebrate in the year 2007 its 8th anniversary as a professional society dedicated to developing partnerships and embracing all "people of good will" to promote the education of Hispanic students at all levels.

Founded in February 1999, the NCSHP has already achieved impressive results in a short period of time such as:

Sponsored first ever NC Hispanic Educational Summit (3/2000) to encourage Hispanic students to stay in school, earn good grades and continue with their education. To date more than 2,500 Hispanic students have attended the annual Summits.
Developed and implemented first ever, statewide Stay in School campaign "Your Life, Your Future, Your Destiny... Is Now... Stay In School" to remind Hispanic students and their parents of the need to finish high school and pursue a technical or higher education to achieve success in life. Reached more than 21,000 Hispanic youth and their parents.
Secured Governor's Proclamation of Latino Stay In School Campaign Month.
Developed "You Do Make a Difference?", a self-esteem program in which selected professionals serve as motivational speakers to give guidance, inspiration and encouragement to Hispanic youth, both in English and Spanish, to stay in school, excel and continue in higher education.
Established the North Carolina Hispanic College Fund, an educational fund to benefit Hispanic students in North Carolina providing educational scholarship to Hispanic/Latino graduates of NC high schools.

Building on these successes, the NCSHP program of work for 2007-2008 includes commitments to:

Conduct the 8th annual NC Hispanic Educational Summit (03/30/2007).
Continue the Stay in School multi-media campaign twice annually and expand the program by adding statewide sessions for Parents and a conference for Educators
Expand the Inspirational Speaker Program.
Expand the Mentor-Tutor Program, providing one-on-one role models for Hispanic youth to help them navigate the acculturation process, support individual growth through social and cultural enrichment and provide tutoring assistance to foster academic success.
Continue with NCSHP's NC Hispanic College Fund.
Initiate professional and student chapter development and outreach, extending our mission statewide.

In addition to offering these educational outreach programs, The NCSHP serves as an advocate for Hispanic students across the state. The NCSHP acts as a liaison between Hispanic students, their families and educational and non-educational organizations, support local, regional, and state authorities in resolution of education issues affecting Hispanic students, cooperate with educational authorities in developing, implementing and improving educational programs for Hispanic youth, and represent the interests of Hispanic students in key organizations, task forces, and advisory committees at the county and state level.

We hope that we can count in the near future with your support to our educational activities.

The NCSHP will continue to strive to do its best in establishing strong and long-term partnerships with individuals, corporations, and institutions at the state and national level for the benefit of the education and well being of Hispanic children in North Carolina.

The more we educate our Hispanic children and youth the better the future will be for future generations of Hispanics in North Carolina and our contribution to our State will be even greater.

Our youth need us, please join us in our journey, to promote the education of Hispanic youth in North Carolina!

Sincerely,

Marco A. Zárate
President