OHIO LATINO YOUTH CONVENE TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
Toledo, OH— An estimated 7,513, 231 Latino Youth ages 15-24 live in the US according to the US Census. In Ohio, Latino Youth ages 15-24 make up 19% of the Hispanic population, approximately 42,105 of Ohio’s population. Yet, too many times are young Latinos portrayed in our local media in a negative light. Rarely is there a positive story in the print, radio or televised media the stories of Latino youth making a positive impact on their community.
For the first time in Ohio, Latino and non-Latino youth and youth serving organizations have united on a statewide and Midwest Regional effort to change that image. Together, we will develop a plan to impact Ohio’s and Midwest major cities with initiatives led by young people to bring change to our communities.
NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., will partner with its Affiliates- Adelante, The Latino Resource Center (Toledo), El Centro de Servicios Socials, Inc. (Lorain), and the Ohio Hispanic Coalition (Columbus), and others including the Greater Toledo Urban League, The University of Toledo Office of Latino Initiatives and The Latino Student Union, League of United Latin American Citizens “ LULAC” (Cincinnati), Esperanza (Cleveland)- to convene over 100 youth leaders at its Líderes: Learning to Lead, Learning to Change Congreso in Toledo, Ohio on Saturday, December 19th at the University of Toledo’s Student Union Auditorium at 10:00 a.m.
The Líderes: Learning to Lead, Leading to Change Congreso held in Toledo, is part of a series of mini-youth conferences that will be held at different sites around the country. Comprised of student leaders from the Midwest, Líderes participants will learn how to identify issues affecting their community and how to constructively and effectively address these needs. The Congreso will feature a variety of workshops that focus on issues such as immigration, education, and workforce development.
“The workshops and activities designed for LíderesCongresos will equip, inspire, and empower participants to develop a youth-led agenda for positive change in their own communities and throughout the United States,” said Berenice Bonilla, NCLR Líderes Coordinator.
Registration begins at 9:00 am, and the conference will be held from 10 am – 5 pm. Guest appearances by Andrew Z from Kiss FM for Latino RealTalk from 12:15 to 1:00 PM; Ruben Castilla Herrera from LatinoLeaderSHIFT Initiative, Leon Mason from Senator’s Sherrod Brown’s Office and many others. Click here for registration forms.
For a complete list of Líderes: Learning to Lead, Leading to Change Congreso workshops and activities in your city, please contact Greg Hickman (Lorain, OH) at 440-277-8235 or at ghickman@lorainelcentro.org; Jesus Ovalle (Columbus, OH) of the Ohio Hispanic Coalition at (614)840-9934 or jesus@ohiohispaniccoalition.org, Adreanna Rivera (Toledo, OH) of Adelante at 419-244-8440 or andreanna.rivera@adelantelrc.org
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About Líderes
NCLR’s Líderes Initiative is a national program created to advance opportunities for Latino youth that will elevate their influence as leaders in the United States. Through a national network of high school and college students, as well as young professionals, Líderes identifies, supports, and develops new leadership in the Latino community. Líderes programs and activities that take place throughout the year are sponsored by Allstate Insurance Company, Best Buy Children’s Foundation, MetLife Foundation, Sodexo Incorporated, and the Sprint Foundation.
About Adelante
Adelante’s mission is to serve and empower individuals and families through education, health, economic and social services. In collaboration with business and community organizations, Adelante strives to improve the quality of life for Latinos and Toledo residents by: providing early childhood, secondary and adult educational programs; facilitating access to prevention, health and social services for all ages; promoting and providing economic empowerment and wealth building programs; providing youth development services and program; and promoting and providing Latino cultural enrichment events.
About El Centro de Servicios Sociales
El Centro is a Hispanic-Latino non-profit advocacy organization whose mission is to enhance the socio-economic status of the greater Lorain County community by providing essential social, educational, cultural and community development services.
About The Ohio Hispanic Coalition
The Ohio Hispanic Coalition is an independent organization providing free services to Latinos in Central Ohio. The mission of the Ohio Hispanic Coalition is to improve the well being and quality of life of all Latinos through advocacy, education, training and access to quality services.
CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION FORMS |
