NJCU Signs Historic MOU to Help Hispanic Communities

On Dec 6, 2023

New Jersey City University (NJCU) has become the first higher educational institution in New Jersey to enter into a formal collaboration agreement to partner with GLACO — Grupo Latinoamericano de Cónsules en New Jersey. GLACO is an alliance of 17 Latin American consulates that aim to collaborate when offering consular services as well as migratory, educational and health issues. The organization contributes towards the recognition of the Latino community in New Jersey, establishing dialogues with local institutions and government agencies.

The purpose of the MOU is to explore ways for NJCU to collaborate with the consulates, and thus will, strengthen both institutions’ commitment to serving Hispanic communities in New Jersey. The ceremony was held at the NJCU School of Business’s Skyline Room.

The MOU was signed by Andrés Acebo, Interim President NJCU and Roberto Ariel Valles Montes, Consul General of El Salvador in New Jersey and President of GLACO.

A key objective of the MOU will be to initiate higher education programs and services designed and promoted that will be tailored to the Latin American and Latino community in New Jersey to advance their educational attainment and career development. Furthermore, the MOU will establish partnerships between Latin America higher education institutions and NJCU faculty and staff to promote international education programs. NJCU and GLACO will also partner to jointly celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Latin American holidays through organized events and programs.

The Guarini Institute at NJCU is the facilitator for this agreement, as part of its mission of economic mobility for individuals and families.

NJCU Interim President ​​Andrés Acebo said: “With the signing of this memorandum of understanding, our university strengthens its commitment to serving the most socioeconomically diverse student population in the state.”

“This memorandum of understanding takes a step further in the rich relationship between NJCU and Latin America and the Latino community in New Jersey,” acknowledged Adrián Franco, Ph.D., the executive director of the Guarini Institute at NJCU. “It provides our university with a framework to better coordinate initiatives with 17 countries to advance the educational priorities and economic mobility of the Latin American and Latino families we serve. The agreement represents a clear continuation of the successful projects that the Guarini Institute has facilitated on behalf of NJCU with international partners.”

As President of GLACO, Consul General Ariel Valle understands that Latin American communities settled in the State of New Jersey share a common past and history, from which an active relationship and solidarity is born. Individuals from the countries represented by GLACO offer contributions to society ranging from art and culture to the economy and public services.

GLACO President Ariel Valle said: “By signing this memorandum of understanding we are taking concrete action on our commitment to address the challenges that communities of Latin American countries face in a similar way, which, because of their complexity, demand immediate attention and encourage the development of shared strategies for the achievement of common solutions within the framework of respect for human rights and international cooperation, based on dialogue, mutual understanding, shared responsibility and reciprocity.”

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