Episode Details

Anthony Godfrey:
Welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. They are role models making a big difference at Copper Hills High School and in the community. We're talking about students in the Latinos in Action program. On this episode of the Supercast, we visit a Latinos in action class and talk to some amazing students who take great pride in who they are, where they're going in education and the good they do for others on a daily basis. We're here with Ms. Oda at Copper Hills High School, the advisor of Latinos in Action. And you have a couple of classes as well. Tell us a little bit about Latinos in Action for those who don't know what it is.

Ms. Oda:
All right. It's a class as well as a club primarily for Latino students, but we allow anyone to join if they're interested. And we focus on education, leadership, service, and culture. So as a class, we will learn about cultures from the Latino communities we'll learn about each other. Usually this year is that's the case cause of COVID, but normally we go and tutor at neighboring elementary schools and they are paired with other elementary students and help them with their reading skills and sometimes their math skills. And so that's actually one of their favorite parts of being part of LIA is being able to interact with the younger students and kind of be those roles

Anthony Godfrey:
Or a lot of activities at the school, but also outreach to the community. Tell me a little bit about that.

Ms. Oda:
Yeah. I mean, being part of the class is more than just showing up to class. There's a lot expected of them to participate in other socials that we may have in service projects and fundraisers. So yeah, some of them are within the school, but also just to help the community in general.

Anthony Godfrey:
And some folks might think that this is just something unique to Copper Hills, but the Latinos in Action is highly organized at the state level. In fact, I was supposed to pre-COVID attend a conference and an event for students and for the advisors. Explain the organization and really what it's about.

Ms. Oda:
Yeah. It actually is a really big program and now reaches outside of Utah. It's also in other states such as Florida, California. I'm not exactly sure all of them, but there are quite a few now, and it's had a really positive effect on students. They're really able to embrace their Latino culture and be proud of it. But also gain confidence in themselves academically and their skills. And so they're able to help them gain confidence to join other parts that of school culture that they may not have joined previously.

Anthony Godfrey:
So by being part of Latinos in Action, it may be a launchpad to be involved in a lot of other things at school and to connect in other ways.

Ms. Oda:
A lot of my students especially my officers who show leadership and LIA have re branched out and become really great strong students in other subjects as well.

Anthony Godfrey:
How many members do you have.

Ms. Oda:
Between the two classes we may have around 70. And we also have more students that are part of the club, so maybe they couldn't fit it in their schedule and so they may attend the socials and other activities.

Anthony Godfrey:
Just talking with some of the students. They definitely live up to the name, Latinos in Action. They don't sit around and plan and thin