Five county students with the local League of United Latin American Citizens chapter had the chance to take part in an annual leadership seminar in the nation’s capital.
The LULAC National Educational Service Center Leadership Seminar was held Oct. 2 to Oct. 6 in Washington, D.C. It included an array of workshops, visits with leaders and visits to landmarks. The county youths qualified for the seminar – the local LULAC chapter has gone for the past 12 years – through an application process, said Mickie Luna, LULAC’s vice president of the far west region and a Hollister resident.
“It gets opened up to over 900 councils,” Luna said of the various chapters in the country. “You have to be in good standing in the community.”
One of the five local youths, Adriana Alfaro, 17 and a senior at San Benito High School, has been in good enough standing to earn a seat on the national youth board. Those board members held separate activities from the remainder of the seminar group through the week. She was particularly excited about the chance to talk with congress members. She called Congressman Jeff Denham, the Republican from Merced, the “greatest guy” with which she spoke. She pointed out how Denham told her he loves Mexican food.
“He doesn’t believe a bar between cultures should exist,” Alfaro said, adding that she is interested in such race issues. “Talking about all that with him was a great experience.”
Saul Robles, a 16-year-old junior from SBHS, was on the trip as well and said the experience allowed him to meet new people and talk about different LULAC councils.
Nancy Cortez, another 16-year-old junior from SBHS, pointed to the different cultures represented, mentioning her interest in Puerto Ricans and their salsa style of dancing displayed at a function dance.
