What is ALPFA? – Master of Accounting Degrees

Founded in 1972 by Gilberto Vasquez, ALPFA is an organization that attempts to remedy the equality gap for Latino and Latina members of American society through education and opportunity. Among the many factors that contribute to inequality and marginalization of this ethnic community, access to functional employment that utilizes higher skill sets gathered through post-secondary education and the social opportunities that derive from a higher economic status are two of the most important to consider. In the article below, we’ll elaborate on the mission of the Association of Latino Professionals For America and explore the methods they use to achieve their goals.

What They Represent and Who They Serve

The Association of Latino Professionals For America supports students of the community who pursue degrees in any of the fields of business or finance. They believe that through positive fosterage and assistance, the need for leaders of the Latino community can be fulfilled. They work to assist thousands of students in finding the right career path, beginning with internship opportunities in the profession of their choice.

In essence, this addresses both the social barriers many individuals of the community have faced in the past, and provides access to careers with better incomes. That means that more Latinos and Latinas will have access to social mobility that has been previously denied to the community. One of the simplest and most passive forms of discrimination begins with restriction of access to education beyond the high school level. In the past, this has created a negative feedback loop. By rendering upper level jobs in finance or business inaccessible to the community, leaders of the Latino population were few and far between, which meant that most boys and girls had no positive role models of this type.

How They Help Rising Leaders Reach Their Goals

ALPFA grooms the rising stars of the business world and the Latino community by providing opportunities in which they can shine. They represent a social network of like-minded individuals at all levels of success, from those still in college to those who have been in the business world for many years. The organization is a strong proponent of social advocacy and equality, helping students to secure internships in which they learn the skills they’ll need for success from the most impeccable mentors.

Each of those mentors is a proven business leader, often from one of over 200 Fortune 1000 companies that have partnered with the organization. Annually, the association hosts more than 400 events across the nation through their chapter groups, providing networking opportunities and avenues for social exchange to more than 72,000 individuals—both established Latino professionals and the next generation of economic leaders.

Currently, the association plans to expand its influence to every sector of the economy and provide the tools that the next generation of Latino leaders will need to represent America on the international stage. Their unprecedented program provides over 50,000 paid internship with their partner organizations, making student members desirable employment prospects upon graduation. They believe in helping young men and women of the Latino community to shine brightly, and showcase their integrity, initiative, and intelligence in action. ALPFA has come a long way from its beginnings in Los Angeles as the American Association of Hispanic Certified Public Accountants (AAHCPA), but their mission of advocacy and equality has only gained in strength.