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Meet the Bolívar Network Board

March 2021

Although so much in the world has changed since the last Bolívar Network newsletter was released December 2020, the Bolívar Network board continues to meet regularly to foster engagement across the alumni community and the students and leaders at UVA in a virtual capacity. We are proud to announce that we met our 2020 fundraising goal of $5,000 and are excited to share upcoming opportunities for engagement included throughout this quarter’s newsletter.

As part of this mission, we are looking to re-engage and reconnect with alumni as well as build out our professional networking, development, and mentoring arm of the Network. To kick things off, we invite you to follow the Bolívar Network LinkedIn Page and connect with one of our board members to join our Bolívar Network LinkedIn Group. We hope that this will become a space to share job and internship opportunities as well as career path mentoring.

Job Opportunities

  • Highlander Research and Education Center is searching for a gifted Development Specialist (Full-Time Salaried) to join their Development and Communications team’s work to mobilize resources for Highlander’s storied work and the movements we accompany. The Development Specialist will help maintain and develop constituent and donor relationships, track and document donor giving, and support and develop fundraising strategies through cross-team collaboration. The right candidate will be joining an expanding Development & Communications team during a critical period of steady organizational growth. Apply by March 30, 2021.
  • Highlander Research and Education Center is searching for a bilingual Spanish/English Human Resources Manager (“Coordinator of People and Organizational Culture”) who will partner with all Highlander staff to create a positive, professional, and equitable work environment. This role is responsible for leading Human Resources functions and duties at the organizational level with a social justice-minded and people-centered approach. This includes developing policies and practices, supporting hiring processes, stewarding employee engagement, coordinating necessary training and development, administering benefits, ensuring safety and compliance, and supporting performance management, leadership development, and learning across the team in a way that centers Highlander’s values. Apply by March 30, 2021.

Is your company hiring or do you have a job posting that you would like to include in our newsletters and social media? Email us at TheBolivarNetwork@gmail.com. 

We Want to Hear from You!

The Bolívar Network is working to strengthen UVA Hispanic/Latinx alumni engagement in ways that acknowledge our presence in the legacy of the University, celebrate our community, and inspire current students to succeed. Please take a few minutes to complete our survey as we work to gather information as to how to best serve the community and how you can be more involved with the Bolívar Network!

Alumni Spotlights

#AlumniSpotlight: Please join us in congratulating Patrick Riccards (CLAS ’95) on the launch of the Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement (DFI). The DFI is a national effort designed to improve the teaching and learning of history, using short, provocative videos to make history more interesting and relevant to today’s learners. The centerpiece of this work is his “Untold History” series, where they are developing videos about the people, events, and movements that are important to our nation’s development, but often aren’t included in history books. As part of this, Pat is committed to telling the stories of Latinos, particularly those who have been neglected in the textbooks. The video series can be found at https://untoldhistory.org

His nominee writes that “[Pat] is committed to ensuring that kids like his see themselves in their classrooms and in their instruction.” Since leaving UVA, Pat has spent his career focused on educational improvement, working to improve literacy, STEM, teacher education, and now history instruction.

Know a fellow UVA Latinx alumnus who has accomplished great things since graduation? Let us know via this form! Please submit one nomination per entry but feel free to submit more than one nomination! We’ll feature nominated alumni in upcoming newsletters and through our other channels.

Students on Grounds – Afro-Latinx Student Organization (ALSO):

The Bolívar Network seeks to amplify student leaders and initiatives. In this newsletter we would like to recognize the Afro-Latinx Student Organization (ALSO).  ALSO’s mission is to amplify the voices of Black Latinx people worldwide. Check out ways to get involved to help them ever satisfy said mission.

Fundraising Updates

Through the generosity of our alumni and community, we surpassed our $5,000 fundraising goal for 2020. Thank you for personal, matching, and monthly gifts! Our current goal is to fortify our first year scholarship fund and start to disburse those awards together with our long-standing book scholarship.  Please visit this link to support either of these scholarship efforts.

Scholarships Updates

After a successful scholarship season and a memorable Awards Brunch, we are working on streamlining our scholarship process to make it even more successful next year. More details to come in our Spring Newsletter, so stayed tuned!

Opportunities for Engagement

Latinx Leaders in Public Service Panel

The Bolívar Network invites you to the panel “Latinx Leaders In Public Service: A conversation with UVA Latinx Alumni.” The panel will be held on March 18 at 6pm EST. In collaboration with Bolívar Network and UVA’s Multicultural Student Center, Batten Latinx Network is looking to support our current UVA Latinx community by providing them a conversation with alumni making an impact in their community. Currently, Latinx students at UVA have a variety of interests and long-term career goals, but one thing is sure: they are looking to make lasting change for their communities. This will be a great opportunity for students looking to go into public service to learn more about the steps they can take to achieve their professional goals. It is our hope that students will also learn how to navigate predominantly white spaces and simultaneously embracing and leveraging their identity for public good. Join via this Zoom link.

Virtual Spring Blast 2021

This year, UVA’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions is combining Spring Blast and Spring Fling into Spring Fest. This will be a two-day virtual event on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11. The Bolívar Network is collaborating on their First Generation Alumni Panel. If you are a Hispanic/Latinx first-generation alumnus and are interested in participating on this panel, please email us at TheBolivarNetwork@gmail.com.

Congratulatory Calls for Newly-Admitted Students (March-April):

Since the pandemic will prevent admitted students from visiting UVA in person, the congratulatory calls are more important this year than ever before. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions Office aims to reach as many admitted students as possible. If interested in volunteering to make calls, sign up below, and dive right in! Scripts are provided and you’ll be able to input your feedback in real time. Sign up!

2021 Virtual Reunions

Save the Date: Saturday, June 12 at 11am (EST). Please join us during the UVA 2021 Virtual Reunions to learn more about the Bolívar Network and for an opportunity to meet and mingle with other Hispanic/Latinx Alumni. More information to follow. If you’re interested in participating in the planning and design process of this event, please email Karla Aguayo (aguayoke@gmail.com) or Claudia Bonilla (cmb3mq@virginia.edu).