Articles

For the complete Congreso recap, photos and resources go to http://lideres.nclr.org/events/l_deres_congreso/nclr_gwu_congreso_recap_page_/.

Being involved with this year’s Líderes Congreso was an amazing part of my internship at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR). I am new to the Washington, DC area and this experience opened many doors that would otherwise have been closed. The Congreso introduced me to students from all over the U.S. as well as to professionals that care about youth and work to help them achieve success. The Congreso allotted enough time for us to carry on meaningful and educational discussions. This event was a great opportunity to network and make valuable connections to use in the future. The speakers were also very powerful; with their passion and eloquence, they truly educated and inspired the audience.

This was the first time I heard Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO, speak. I will never forget how I felt when she urged the audience to get involved with the Wave of Hope Campaign. The student poet Elizabeth Acevedo, Vice President of the Organization of Latino American Students (OLAS) at George Washington University, gave a bone-chilling performance during lunch that also left the audience in awe. These are just two examples of a variety of amazing speakers that presented throughout the day. Not only did we hear these people speak, but also, we were able to converse with them at lunch and during break times. It was the perfect chance to ask questions or ask for advice; after all, this event was created to facilitate interactions between students and the leaders who can inspire them to bring change to their communities.

As an NCLR intern, I had the privilege of leading a workshop on student involvement with OLAS, NCLR’s Congreso cohost. I truly enjoyed working with OLAS, as they are a motivated and admirable group that is very active on their campus. During my workshop, we provided an overview of our ¡DALE! (Día de Avance Latino y Enseñanza) Tool Kits. We also discussed the problems that students face at their schools and brainstormed solutions that would help increase the impact of their message. It was great to see the university students interact with the high school students and show them that they actually have a lot in common. In addition, we started to build relationships that will hopefully evolve into mentorships that will help guide the high school students as they enter the university level. This can be a pretty stressful transition, so having someone to offer support could mean the difference between success and failure.

Overall, I think the Congreso had a strong, positive impact on participants. I obtained knowledge about the issues currently affecting the Latino community and gained skills to begin creating change. I also met people that will undoubtedly continue to inspire me during my stay in Washington and beyond. I hope to attend the upcoming Líderes Summit in San Diego and will make every effort to bring students from my university to next year’s Congreso to share in what I believe is a very worthwhile experience.

Beverly Haro-Perez
NCLR Líderes Intern 2008