Vanessa Ramirez, KIPP (281) 773-2475
Daniel Silva, NCLR
(312) 269-9250
Jackeline Stewart, NCLR (202) 785-1670

Mar 13, 2008

Houston, TX– The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today joined with partners – the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP), PepsiCo Foundation, and Shell Oil Company – to announce an initiative to help Latino students in Houston graduate from high school, prepare for college, and explore career opportunities. KIPP is the first Houston site for the NCLR Escalera Program: Taking Steps to Success, which is modeled after successful NCLR Escalera Programs throughout the country.

“Latinos are the least likely of all workers to have a college degree. The NCLR Escalera Program is a proven way of bringing together corporate and community partners to help more Hispanic youth succeed in college and in their careers,” said Sonia Pérez, NCLR Senior Vice President of Affiliate Member Services.

The Escalera Program in Houston has enrolled 20 Latino high school juniors from four local high schools: Milby, Reagan, Second Baptist, and KIPP Houston High School. They will have access to mentors, internship opportunities, tutoring, and assistance with exploring colleges and applying for admission and financial aid. The Escalera Program will continue working with these students during their first year of college.

“The partnership between Escalera and KIPP is a powerful one that will help more underserved students climb the mountain to and through college, which will enable them to enjoy the freedom to do in this world what they choose to do,” said KIPP cofounder Mike Feinberg.

The pilot for the NCLR Escalera Program was launched in 2002 in Los Angeles with support from PepsiCo Foundation and PepsiCo Inc. as a strategy to increase the number of Latino students who graduate from high school and to provide them with resources to pursue higher education and advanced professional careers. Since then, the Escalera Program has been implemented in New York, Chicago, Austin, and Kansas City, and with support from Shell Oil Company, Houston’s Latino youth now have a roadmap to success.

To date, the NCLR Escalera Program has served 181 Latino youth, with 96% graduating from high school and 94% enrolling in college. This compares to a recent study conducted by Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin, which shows that each year Texas public high schools lose at least 135,000 youth prior to graduation. Researchers found an overall graduation rate of only 33%.

"Shell is dedicated to providing opportunities in the communities where we work and live, and we are proud to sponsor the Escalera Program at KIPP Academy. We are hopeful that our support and the commitment of our employees as mentors will inspire and help to prepare these students for success beyond high school and college graduation," said Mr. John M. Esquivel, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer and Associate General Counsel, Shell Oil Company.

“One program where PepsiCo has grabbed the lead is Escalera, which addresses the steep dropout rates among Hispanic high school students. The program has earned kudos for its success in encouraging students to stay in school and continue on to college,” said David Gonzales, Vice President of Community Affairs, PepsiCo. “At PepsiCo, having a focus on diversity and inclusion is a basic value baked into our DNA,” he added.

For more information about the NCLR Escalera Program: Taking Steps to Success or about Latino participation in the workforce, contact Daniel Silva , Escalera Program Coordinator, or Jackeline Stewart , NCLR Media Relations Specialist, at (202) 785-1670.

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