1,300+ Youth to Participate in Latinos in Action Conference at WSU
OGDEN, Utah — More than 1,300 junior high and high school students will learn about resources and opportunities to pursue higher education during the Latinos in Action (LIA) Youth Leadership Conference, March 6 at Weber State University’s Val A. Browning Center.
The conference will bring together students from 22 schools throughout northern Utah for a day of workshops, cultural activities and leadership training. This year’s theme, “I can, We will,” aims to encourage LIA students to strive for their personal best, contributing to the success of the group as a whole.
LIA is a leadership course offered at more than 160 schools across the country. Its goal is to ensure all participants are college- and career-ready. LIA serves almost 6,000 students each year. Of those students, 98 percent graduate from high school and 85 percent enroll in college.
“We are honored to host the LIA conference this year as it provides participating students with knowledge and skills to become successful college students,” said Enrique Romo, WSU’s Access and Diversity executive director. “It allows students to connect the dots and understand what higher education is about. Through this conference, WSU and LIA work toward our mutual commitment to achieving educational excellence and providing post-secondary opportunities for our college-bound Latino students.”
The conference will feature two keynote speakers. Joaquin Zihuatanejo, an award-winning poet and teacher, will speak to students at 9:25 a.m. in the Browning Center. Zihuatanejo won the Individual World Poetry Slam competition in 2008 and the World Cup of Poetry Slam the following year. He has also appeared on the HBO series “Def Poetry,” which featured performances by rising poets.
Jeffrey Allen Mendez, an entrepreneur and sales expert, will deliver the afternoon keynote speech at 2:10 p.m. in the Browning Center. Mendez sits on the board of multiple non-profit and independent organizations that deal with health, sustainability and immigration issues. He’s also responsible for a direct sales force of 3,000 representatives spread throughout the entire country.
“Our goal is to help our students reach their educational goals and become leaders in their communities,” said Burton Rojas, LIA’s director of development. “The conference provides students the opportunity to feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves, a principle referenced in our theme ‘I Can, We Will.’ We are excited to have them learn from and be inspired by keynote speakers, workshop presenters and our LIA Chapter students.”
For more information about LIA, visit latinosinaction.org.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Rachel Badali, Office of Marketing & Communications
801-626-7295 • rachelbadali@weber.edu- Contact:
Burton Rojas, Latinos in Action director of development
310-383-2723 • burton@latinosinaction.orgEnrique Romo, WSU Access and Diversity executive director
801-626-6132 • enriqueromo@weber.edu