Hollister
– Educators, elected officials and other community role models
will be focusing on Latino students this weekend at the 10th Annual
Latino Student Leadership Conference, a yearly event designed to
encourage students to stay in school and pursue their dreams.
Hollister – Educators, elected officials and other community role models will be focusing on Latino students this weekend at the 10th Annual Latino Student Leadership Conference, a yearly event designed to encourage students to stay in school and pursue their dreams.
“It’s all about education,” said Mickie Luna, president of the local League of United Latin American Citizens chapter. “It’s about letting them know that they can accomplish something with their life.”
The conference was born 10 years ago, when LULAC youth members were asked who their local role models and heroes were.
“The question they asked us was, ‘OK, but how are we actually going to talk with them? How are we going to know what they’re feeling so we’ll know when we get to where they’re at?'” Luna said.
That first year, 25 local residents identified by the youth club were invited to a special lunch, along with 50 students.
“We had 187 students show up,” Luna said. “That just showed what a real need there was in this community. And ever since then it’s grown.”
Today the conference, which costs roughly $14,000 for LULAC to put on, is part motivational seminar, part career fair and part pep rally. More than 300 students come to San Benito High School to meet with local professionals, participate in workshops and grab a free meal.
“It’s perfect exposure for Latino students, for any students, who are interested in a certain career field,” said Rachel Flores-Zepeda, a SBHS teacher who has been involved with the event for several years.
The conference begins at 9am with a light breakfast and career fair where students can pick up information and speak to representatives about different businesses and universities, followed by a general assembly featuring keynote speaker Jimmy Cabrera.
“This man is fantastic,” Luna said. “Every time he comes to Hollister audiences really enjoy him, and he told me that he’s going to be tackling gangs with this speech.”
After the assembly, students can choose to attend one of several workshops, each focused on a specific career field. Industry representatives will be on hand to discuss business development, education, firefighting, law enforcement, Latinos in the medical field and Latino radio.
“These workshops are really valuable because they let the kids speak with these professionals honestly,” Flores-Zepeda said. “They can ask how much they make, what they do and don’t like about the job, and what they have to do to get a career in the field.”
In the afternoon, parents, young men and young women are split up into three groups. Each group will discuss issues unique to their situation – for example, parents will focus on what they can do to ensure their children’s success. Afterwards students fill out conference evaluations and can participate in a raffle for prizes like books or a computer.
“We break them up because we want them to be honest – sometimes it can be hard to talk openly if your parents are in the room,” Luna said. “And there are some things young women will not discuss in front of boys.”
Luna says the event is one that LULAC is very proud of, and attributes its success to community support.
“People know that this is a good thing,” she said. “Since we started in the ’90s we have kids who have grown up and come back to work with the students. That makes this really special.”
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
