Key Takeaways:
* Nevada’s Latino Youth Leadership Conference is a weeklong event designed to cultivate future leaders among the Latino community.
* Invited speaker Gustavo Arellano has observed rise in the program’s influence during the last 15 years, producing successful alumni from state legislators to NASA engineers.
* Edgar Flores, a former attendee, is now a Democratic state senator, demonstrating the effectiveness of the program.
* Nearly 29% of Nevada’s population is Latino, showing the significance of their engagement in state and national politics.
* The underlying challenge for these young leaders is overcoming political apathy within the Latino community.
Unleashing Future Latino Leaders in Nevada
In 2007, Edgar Flores, an English major at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, invited a guest speaker to address the Latino Youth Leadership Conference, a weeklong retreat designed to empower Latino high school students. The speaker was Gustavo Arellano, who a little over a decade later would embark on a nearly 3,000-mile journey across the Southwest to explore Latino aspirations, fears, and dreams, with a return visit to Flores as one of his stops.
The Transformation of Edgar Flores
In the years following the initial conference, Flores’ professional growth was tremendous. From becoming a grad student, to passing the bar, establishing his own practice, and finally becoming a state Assembly member, Flores’s success has been substantial. At 38, Flores now represents the Democratic party as a state senator.
The Latino Youth Leadership Conference: Incubating Leaders
Over the past 15 years, the Latino Youth Leadership Conference has metamorphosed into a significant leadership impetus. Many attendees have gone on to become council members, state legislators, Congressional members, business owners, teachers, and even NASA engineers. This evolving platform, largely overlooked by the mainstream media, has had a marked impact on Latino life in the Southwest.
Power of Engagement in Politics
Speaking on a road trip to understand Latino perspectives in the current presidential election season, Flores discussed how leadership was more about individual qualities and less about external influences. Irene Cepeda, a Nevada State University project director and former Clark County Board of Education trustee, echoed these views, emphasizing that leadership involved confronting personal challenges and acknowledging privileges.
The Role of the Latino Youth Leadership Conference in Politics
The Latino Youth Leadership Conference, started by Nevada’s Latin Chamber of Commerce over three decades ago, aimed to increase Latino college attendance and to reduce the high school dropout rate. The program groups participants into ‘familias’, facilitating lifelong friendships and mutual support. Flores credits his success largely to the conference and the supportive network it provided.
Overcoming Apathy and Encouraging Participation in Latino Community
One of the primary challenges these aspiring Latino leaders face is political apathy within their community. The 2020 election saw merely 61% of Latino citizens nationwide register to vote, the lowest among any ethnic group. A recent survey revealed that nearly half of eligible Latino voters did not participate in the last three federal elections. Flores emphasizes the importance of individual perseverance and resilience in overcoming these challenges, equating it to the indefatigable spirit of a stumbling baby learning to walk.
Growth Signature in Nevada
Flores and Cepeda acknowledge the significant growth in the Latino population in Nevada – from 10% three decades ago to nearly 29% today. The Latino Youth Leadership Conference’s role, they insist, is to make these micro changes that help individuals navigate an imperfect world, thus making a significant difference in the larger spectrum.
Conclusion
From helping Latinos confront personal issues and break barriers to inspiring leadership and unity, the Latino Youth Leadership Conference in Nevada aims to change the political landscape by harnessing the power of its growing population. Their number one enemy, however, remains to be apathy, which they continue to battle with resilience and dedication.