CECILIA MILANES
Portrait of a Volunteer
Cecilia Milanes is associate professor of English at the University of Central Florida, where she specializes in Latino/a Literature, Ethnic American Literature, Women’s Studies, and Writing. Her service to NCTE and to the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) includes co-chairing the Latino Caucus and, since 1994, editing Capirotada, the Caucus newsletter. She also has been a member of committees and commissions, including the Committee for the Status of People of Color in NCTE, program planning for the Rainbow Strand, and the NCTE College Section Nominating Committee, among others.
What is your volunteer involvement with NCTE?
Most of my service/volunteer involvement with NCTE has been focused on serving the needs of students and teachers of color.
What keeps you motivated to volunteer?
I believe that the organization cares about students of color and can be attentive to teachers of color when given enough provocation ; ) I believe that through active involvement in NCTE and CCCC change can come and the status of teachers of color can be better highlighted. I believe that when members of color are actively involved, we can transform the organization, little by little, and sometimes in big ways.
Can you describe a current volunteer role you have with the Council; what does it entail?
I have been co-chair of the NCTE Latino Caucus for over ten years now. My responsibilities include running the Caucus business meeting at CCCC conferences, producing/publishing and distributing a Caucus newsletter (Capirotada) twice a year, keeping up a database of Caucus membership, monitoring the Caucus listserv, updating the Caucus Web page, helping to coordinate sessions, programming, and such that the Caucus may sponsor at either the NCTE convention or at CCCC, and many other activities, but especially mentoring.
What satisfactions do you derive from volunteering?
Making a difference, highlighting students and scholars of color, networking with all the marvelous folks at the conference, encouraging new and upcoming scholars, and learning about the good work that so many dedicated teachers are doing.
How has your affiliation with NCTE and volunteering improved your professional development and your career?
It was impressive to the university promotion and tenure committee that I had so much national service while being so “young” in the profession. My service put me into contact with many people who later offered publication or presentation opportunities which led to publications that helped earn me tenure and promotion.
Why would you recommend volunteering to another NCTE member?
Absolutely! Especially if it is something that is important to you.
What do you find most useful from among NCTE’s professional development offerings of books, journals, conventions, programs, services, etc.?
I have gained a great deal of knowledge and resources from many aspects of the organization—through books, journals, conventions/conferences, workshops, even through my committee service.
How has being part of NCTE's educational community improved your abilities as an educator?
I am brought up to speed in current research in my fields by attending conferences and subscribing to the journals.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If anyone has an interest in becoming an active part of the organization through service, don't be shy. Go to a Caucus meeting and articulate your interest; volunteer for a committee. Be so bold as to offer to take the lead on an initiative within any group on any particular issue/concern that is important to you. Every teacher in America is stretched to the limits and it amazes me that so many of us still feel compelled to volunteer to serve; I believe it is because we know that to make a difference, we have to be a part of the difference.
For more information about volunteerism at NCTE, visit http://www.ncte.org/about/over/vol
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