Ernesto Nieto facts for kids

Ernesto Nieto, born on October 6, 1940, is the person who started the National Hispanic Institute. He has been its President since it began in 1979.

He was born in Houston, Texas. He went to Jefferson Davis High School. Later, he went to the University of Houston with a scholarship for sports. He then moved to Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. In 1964, he earned a degree in Education, focusing on special education. After studying more at the University of Houston, he worked in different leadership roles for the government.

In 1979, Mr. Nieto left his government job. He wanted to create a special place to train young Latino leaders. For 36 years, under his guidance, the National Hispanic Institute has worked with over 120 colleges and universities. They have helped more than 70,000 talented young people from all over the country. Besides leading the National Hispanic Institute, Mr. Nieto is also on the Board of Trustees for Southwestern University. In 2001, he wrote a book called Third Reality: Crafting a 21st Century Latino Agenda.

Awards and Special Honors

Ernesto Nieto has received many awards for his work. The El Paso, Texas City Council gave him the Eagle Leadership Award. Southwestern University honored him with the Meritorious Service Award. He also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas.

Both Southwestern University and Jefferson Davis High School have named him a "Distinguished Alumnus." This means he is a very successful former student. He also received the Citation of Merit Award for Community Service from Southwestern University. The National Association for College Admissions Counseling gave him the Human Relations Award.

Books and Articles by Ernesto Nieto

Ernesto Nieto has written a lot about the future leadership needs of the Latino community. He writes for the NHI about this topic. His two most well-known works are his book and an article.

About Third Reality: Crafting a 21st Century Latino Agenda

In his book, Third Reality: Crafting a 21st Century Latino Agenda, Ernesto Nieto shares the challenges he faced. He talks about the difficult times when he was first creating the National Hispanic Institute (NHI). The NHI officially started in 1979. However, Nieto believes its true beginning was between 1903 (when his father was born) and 1940 (when he was born).

He explains in his book that Third Reality is a way to thank his parents. He admits that their advice when he was young in Houston was right. He says that many young Latinos growing up back then thought more education made them smarter. But he learned that this was not always true. The National Hispanic Institute shows the lessons his parents taught him. These lessons became clear to him later in life.

Each chapter tells how Ernesto and his wife, Gloria de Leon, had to rethink their beliefs. They did this to create the NHI we know today. They went from a struggling new non-profit group to a well-known organization. It grew from helping 90 high school students a year to over 4,000 high school and college students annually.

The last chapter of the book talks about seeing your community as a great resource. He calls this idea the "Third Reality." He shares his personal journey to change his way of thinking. This change helped him plan the main ideas for the National Hispanic Institute. These ideas help shape the Latino community.

Understanding In the Midst of a Latino Leadership Crisis

In this article, Nieto explains that strong communities need many skilled leaders. These leaders are important for the future of everyone. He argues that in Latino communities in the U.S., there are not enough of these leaders. This shortage is happening at a time when modern society needs many different kinds of talented people to succeed.

Media Appearances

Mr. Nieto has been featured in many newspapers and TV shows across the country. These include The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Houston Chronicle. He has also appeared on ABC "World News Tonight," Austin Community College Spotlight, Univision, and Telemundo.

Other Community Work

Nieto continues to be involved in the community. He works as a consultant for colleges and universities. He advises them on how to reach out to and enroll Latino students. He is also the founder of Third Reality Publications.