Speakers Series presents "How Young Adults Can Move Forward to Challenge the Status Quo"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series and the Organization of Latin American Students at UIS presents “How Young Adults Can Move Forward to Challenge the Status Quo”. The discussion will be led by motivational speaker Andres Lara also known as “The Cuban Guy”.

WHEN: Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: Hispanics, Latinos, and all immigrants to this country are those who were dissatisfied with the status quo in their homeland and were willing to do something about it. Leaving everything behind to start a new life with nothing says a lot about their commitment, determination, and motivation to excel. One example is Andres Lara. At age 16 Andres escaped from Cuba and arrived in America not knowing a word of English. Without his parents and without any money he was homeless and lived on the street. By age 24, Andres was an honors graduate of Montclair State University, the author of several international-selling books, and a nationally known speaker.

In this talk, and in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Andres Lara will tell his story. Using his experiences in both Cuba and the United States, Lara will discuss the broad social issues individuals – especially immigrants - face based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors and how such barriers can be overcome to achieve personal success and social change.

For a list of other ECCE Speakers Series events and more information, visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries. All events are free and open to the public.