Preparing the Next Generation of Latino Leaders

 

The Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership held its second annual Latino Leaders Initiative June 2011 with support from The Hispanic National Bar Fundation and others.

It is estimated that the Latino community will double in size over the next 40 years and will comprise more than 30% of the United States population by 2050. To help develop a cadre of next generation leaders from and for this community, the Center for Public Leadership (CPL) at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) has established the Latino Leadership Initiative (LLI), which hosted its first class of young leaders in June, 2010.

The Initiative has been made possible by a generous donation of seed funding by Entravision Communications Corporation, and by Entravision's Chairman and CEO, Walter Ulloa. CPL is grateful to Mr. Ulloa for his visionary leadership in supporting the initial phase of the Initiative.

 





2011 Latino Leadership Institute Students

 

Program Participants

The LLI annually serves up to 50 of the nation's most promising undergraduates with demonstrated interest in serving the Latino community. Our mission is to recruit participants whose academic achievement is best complemented by an intensive, week-long leadership development program at the Harvard Kennedy School. The following are quotes from 2011 participants:

 

 

"Overall, this program has taught me about myself, my family and the importance of giving back to my community. I now see the world with a different and much wiser perspective."

 

 

"The LLI program truly gave me the tools to be a great leader and to grow personally. I was blessed with this opportunity and now I will make sure to share this ability with my community."

 

Program Objectives

  • To enhance the leadership capacity and understanding of a cadre of students committed to serving the Latino community;
  • To help participants form a strong and durable bond among themselves and with other leaders; and
  • To inspire participants to view their own possibilities for leadership and professional achievement as limitless.
The LLI features classroom sessions on a range of leadership development topics, including self-awareness and core competencies such as public speaking, decision making and negotiation. In addition, the young leaders have an opportunity to network and build a community among themselves, and to interact with a range of leaders from the nonprofit, business, and government sectors. LLI participants are also responsible for creating personal leadership action plans and team based community service projects designed to enrich their local communities and help them utilize their new leadership skill sets.
 
 

From L to R: Noelia Rodriquez, Director of the IOP Forum at the Harvard Kennedy School. Alexandra Martinez, Assistant Dean of Admissions at the Harvard Kennedy School. Amanda Fernandez, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at Teach for America. Mayda Prego, Senior Counsel, Chevron, introducing the Panel--Jenna Rodriquez, 2011 LLI Student from UC Merced in CA

 

Mayda Prego with Texas A&M International University in Laredo LLI Students

 

For more information about the Latino Leadership Institute (LLI) visit www.centerforpublicleadership.org/index.php.