The Latino Youth Leadership Conference was developed through the Education Committee of the Latin Chamber of Commerce 15 years ago to increase the number of Hispanic students attending college while increasing their leadership skills and decreasing the high high school drop out rate.
It used to be a three-day conference and by students’ demand, is now a six-day conference held at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, College of Southern Nevada and Nevada State College Campuses. Students spend the night at the University dorms to have a better feel for College Life.
The Goals
Empower youth with ethical leadership skills
Encourage youth to pursue and complete higher education
Emphasize cultural, community and family values
Encourage youth to develop and serve in community projects
The History
The LYLC committee is in the process of developing its 15th Conference. In 1993 the committee was comprised of only adults. In 1999, the planning committee was comprised of 5 active youth and four adults. Now, the planning committee is comprised of over 25 youth with very little direction from 4 advisors and 6 adult volunteers. In addition, the youth have developed a very strong Latino Youth Leadership Alumni, which is lead by youth, with the assistance of 2 adult advisors.
The LYLC Alumni
In the past three (3) years, over 360 students have applied. Due to jobs, summer school, or vacations, over 50% ofthe students who apply, cannot make it to the conference, but they try again the following year. Between 48 and 58 new students have participated in the conference every year since 1999. All students who graduate from the LYLC are eligible to become members of the LYLC Alumni where they can stay connected throughout the year by attending monthly meetings, volunteering on committees and becoming involved in community activities.
The Alumni keeps members informed of upcoming workshops, scholarships, other leadership training, philanthropic activities cultural events, and much more. The students are encouraged to network throughout the year and to be a resource to friends and family
The Peer Facilitators
At least ten (10) students, who graduated from the previous conference and have been actively involved in Alumni activities, are recruited to become Junior Peer Facilitators for next year’s conference. Another 10 to 12 Alumni, who have facilitated one or two LYLC conferences, become Senior Peer Facilitators and help guide the Junior Peer Facilitators. In addition, 6 of our current Young Adult Facilitators were LYLC participants prior to 1998, volunteered as Junior and Peer facilitators and are now attending the University. Adult Advisors have been involved in the planning of the conference and are graduates from a University System. Thus, the Junior and
Senior Peer Facilitators, the Young Adult Facilitators and the Adult Advisors all serve as strong role models for the new class of 50 participants and easily relate to them due to their closeness in age.
All facilitators go through 21 hours of very intense facilitator training. The facilitators are trained to ensure the flow of the subject matter being presented over six long days and evenings which includes:
Understanding oneself and our families
The importance of Journaling and Writing
Becoming a Servant Leader
Understanding the Democratic Process
Developing Strong Communication Skills
Issues affecting the community and how
they affect you and your family
Cultural Understanding of All People
Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Alcohol and Drug Use and Abuse
Resolving Conflicts, Violence Prevention
Reducing all types of Prejudice
Becoming College Bound - Pursuing Careers
Voter Registration and the Political Process
Developing a Positive Image
Student and Community Resources
available to you
Developing and Presenting Community
Issues through Theatrical Skits.
The Community Activities
After the youth attend the six-day conference, they connect and are eager to get involved. Soon after the conference, the Alumni Directors invite them to their first meeting. Because of their learning at LYLC, they now know the importance of “giving back” not only to community, but also to their families and neighbors. The LYLC alumni volunteers have increased from 6 in 1998 to over 40 in 2008.
Volunteers now contribute more than 1600 hours of service in projects such as reading to children, collecting and donating thousands of books to schools, taking part in the Hispanic Heritage Parade creating “floats” depicting Youth Achievement, requesting donations and working towards beautifying the NALA daycare center by painting over graffiti and creating colorful and positive murals in the children’s playground area, volunteering for children’s groups such as the Hispanic Art Museum to serve as positive role models for younger children, speaking to students about staying healthy – not drinking alcohol and/or getting involved in drugs, developing theatrical skits and presenting them to families, managing the website, and volunteering countless hours planning for the following conference. Due to approximately 40 students continuing to be involved in activities throughout the year, they have become a resource for their younger siblings, their parents, their neighbors and friends.
The LYLC and LYLA Outcome
LYLC Alumni carry the important message and strong values of staying in school, preventing teen pregnancy, preventing violence, increasing community involvement through volunteerism, keeping a healthy lifestyle away from alcohol and drugs, and continuing to develop their leadership skills; thus, the impact of LYLC has been trickling down to youth and adults changing attitudes and behaviors and increasing the positive image of hundreds of Latino Youth as caring, respectable, viable and important members of society.
