The National Hispana Leadership Institute just concluded the 2009 Latinas Learning to Lead program, graduating another 22 exceptional young Latina leaders.
The participants came to the program with diverse interests and backgrounds and an impressive caliber of leadership. For instance:
By the end of the week, the young participants were transformed by what they learned and energized by a new world of possibilities. “This program taught me a lot of new things about myself…” said Lucy Valenzuela, capturing the feelings of so many of her classmates.
“Simply put, LLL has liberated me. I can now embrace my attributes and grow from them,” said Elaine Aguasvivas. She currently interns at the U.S. Department of State and during the winter, she will intern with NHLI’s 2009 Executive Leadership Program Fellow, Inez Gonzalez, at the National Hispanic Media Coalition, whom she connected with through Latinas Learning to Lead. She also plans to apply to a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Fellowship, an opportunity she learned about while participating in the program’s session/panel on National Resources for College Students.
Valeria Lopez Salazar’s experience inspired her to write what she learned about herself in a leadership essay contest sponsored by Southwest Airlines, a long time NHLI supporter.
Click here to read her essay, which was among the winning entries.
Our young leaders returned home with a stronger desire to improve their communities. Committed to putting their newfound skills to the test, each participant will implement a leadership or volunteer project and mentor at least two younger Latinas.
For Aurora Guzman-Luna the impact of the project service session was such that she plans to not just mentor two young Latinas but to develop a comprehensive mentorship program in her Las Vegas community.
Jessica Fernandez wants to help diminish the number of teen pregnancies in her Chicago neighborhood. For her leadership project, she will educate gang members about their options and opportunities. Teen pregnancy is a major challenge in the Latino community. The American Journal of Epidemiology says that Latino youth in the United States experience elevated pregnancy rates compared to other ethnic groups. Adolescents' gang involvement has been associated with increased violence, substance use, and risky sexual behaviors.
Aida Nieto will use her newly developed organizing skills to galvanize her classmates’ and community’s support for the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM Act). The bipartisan legislation offers a path to higher education and legalization to young people who were brought to the United States as undocumented minors and who have grown up here, stayed in school, and kept out of trouble. Each year about 65,000 US-raised students who would benefit from the DREAM Act graduate from high school and lack a path to continue their education. “After the NHLI training, I now have the confidence and the tools to engage my community to make change happen. I will build a strong and passionate team to help me educate and reach out to everybody in the community,” said Aida. She plans to organize a week-long DREAM campaign in the fall.
Jelissa Suarez will document the impact of recent immigration raids in her South Carolina community. Last October, over 300 people were arrested at a chicken processing plant in Greenville. Jelissa wants to capture on film the impact raids have on a community as a whole, not just those legally affected.
Karina Castro wants to improve the quality of life for Latino youth and will educate other young people in her community about the importance of higher education. “This experience has truly made me grow as a human being. It gave me a sense of direction for my life that had been seeking for so many years. I discovered my passions and with courage in my heart, I will do whatever it takes to improve my Latino community,” said Karina.
NHLI said hasta pronto (see you soon) to the young leaders with heartfelt leadership speeches from Lori Montenegro, National Correspondent for Telemundo, Cristina Lopez, NHLI’s President, and Lisa Pino, 2008 Executive Leadership Program (ELP) alumna, during the program’s graduation.
To ensure LLL graduates receive the support and guidance they need, NHLI will pair them with mentors from the Executive Leadership Program. Mentorship is at the core of NHLI values. If you are interested in mentoring a young Latina, contact NHLI at 703-527-6007.
The life changing journey of these LLL would not have been possible without the sponsorship and support of: State Farm Insurance Companies, Wal-Mart, Southwest Airlines, Verizon, Exxon Mobil, Microsoft, McDonalds, and Nissan, as well as community partners: Campus Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress, Gallup Organization, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and Fleishman Hillard, and many individual supporters like you.
“Thank you for this opportunity. You have broadened my horizons and given me the tools to go out and serve my community and better my future,” said Valerie Villarruel.
If you would like to help provide leadership opportunities to young Latinas across the country
click here.
