People United for Educational Options (PUEDO) is Hispanic CREO’s Latino Civic Action Network (CAN) developed to organize national, state, and local civic and population-based organizations representing Latinos in the United States around Hispanic CREO’s mission to improve educational outcomes for Hispanic students and provide information and support on parental choice in education.

PUEDO’s mission is to advocate on behalf of Hispanic students to ensure equal access to educational opportunities, parental choice in education, and end disparities in educational outcomes for Hispanic students. PUEDO’s mission is accomplished through strategic alliance development and advocacy activities that allow for grassroots/grasstops community mobilization and activation on key policy issues affecting Hispanic students.

PUEDO has enlisted key partnerships with national Hispanic organizations such as the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the National Puerto Rican Coalition (NPRC), and the National Hispanic Chamber Leadership Academy. The objective of these partnerships is to formally work with these organizations on parental choice, educational attainment levels of Hispanic students, and the development of key programs.

LULAC has publically supported parental choice in education at a national level and also runs LNECS at a community level that give PUEDO a community forum to engage Latino students. Additionally, NPRC runs the College to Career Program that also allows PUEDO to directly access youth entering higher education. Working closely with the National Hispanic Chamber Leadership Academy, PUEDO ensures that students are prepared to enter the workforce and work closely with chambers of commerce to provide mentorship and entrepreneurial opportunities.

PUEDO is in the process of developing a network of 150 – 300 Hispanic parents and families that will work through LULAC councils as community liaisons in their geographic locations. Each parent liaison will be PUEDO’s communication link, bridging the information and aligning parents with our goals and objectives.

Additionally, PUEDO is working with NPRC to identify key Puerto Rican constituencies in the Northeast and Florida to advocate and influence key policymakers at the state and federal levels. PUEDO is working directly with NPRC as a member of the Executive Board of Directors.

PUEDO is also working closely with the chamber community and the leadership academy to develop and implement an entrepreneur program through the Hispanic Entrepreneurship Foundation. Hispanic youth will have the opportunity to identify career paths at an early age and ensure they stay motivated and focused through mentorships and intern opportunities. With the continued support of Hispanic CREO and other interested organizations, the PUEDO Civic Action Network will coordinate third-party alliance development and advocacy activities with national and state-based organizations so that policymakers and stakeholders continue to work with us to ensure Hispanic student outcomes and levels of education allow them the opportunity to become tomorrow’s leaders…..SI PUEDO!