Author and formerly homeless teen to deliver uplifting message to high school students
Indiana University Northwest is hosting author, entrepreneur, and higher education activist Roy Juarez Jr. on March 26, 2021, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., for a motivational seminar about why students should never let go of their dreams. The virtual event is free and open to all high school students. The conversation will focus on the importance of pursuing a college degree with an emphasis on themes for Latinx and African American students.
IU Northwest was recently designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education. It is the only public comprehensive institution of higher education in the state of Indiana with this designation. The most diverse of all IU campuses, IU Northwest’s student body is 26 percent Hispanic and 19 percent African American.
Encouraging young people to stay focused on the future
Author of “Homeless by Choice: A Memoir of Love, Hate, and Forgiveness,” and founder of the human development company IMPACTtruth, Inc., Juarez has delivered his message of hope to more than a million students, parents, and educators in 48 states and seven countries. He has garnered national media attention from outlets such as CNN, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and numerous local and online publications.
Juarez was born on the south side of San Antonio, Texas, where he faced dangerous situations and life-threatening obstacles. At the age of 14, due to domestic violence, Juarez became a high school drop-out and one of the hundreds of homeless youth on the city streets. With only a duffle bag of personal items he called home, Juarez moved from house to house to survive. However, thanks to the mentors and educators who noticed the invisible student along the way, Juarez graduated from high school in 2000 and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Hardin-Simmons University in 2009.
His compelling story and mission to motivate young people have led to partnerships with the U.S. ARMY, Ford Motor Company Fund, and the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute among others.
How to participate
The event will take place on the Zoom video communications platform. Registration is required. To register, visit https://s.visitdays.com/iun/ci/yktbsrzeet. The event is sponsored by the IU Northwest Office of Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs (ODEMA). To learn more email nwode@iun.edu or call 219-980-6596.
