Latino Youth Leadership Conference
Important Update:
The 2022 Latino Youth Leadership Conference has been canceled until further notice.
About Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity, Inc.
UNC Multicultural Greek Organization Webpage
More About the Conference
Inspired by Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc.-Kappa Chapter youth conference, the Latino Youth Leadership Conference was created in Greeley, CO by the César Chávez Cultural Center and the Upsilon Beta Chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc. at the University of Northern Colorado. Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity (SLB), is an organization that lives by its four pillars: Scholarship, Brotherhood, Community, Service, and Cultural Awareness. The members of SLB, believe in the immense power of higher education. However, not many of Latino males enroll at post-secondary institutions like a college or university. The increased percentage of Latino male student dropout rates in the last decade motivated the Upsilon Beta Chapter to establish a youth conference that would show students college is a possibility. The Latino Youth Leadership Conference (LYLC) started in the spring of 2002 to inspire students through an educational journey based on 4 workshops: Leadership, Education, Self-Esteem, and Cultural Awareness. Although the conference is focused on Latino students; all 8th grade students who are interested in coming are welcome.
The overall mission of LYLC is to culturally affirm the importance of an education.
Three objectives were created to uphold such purpose.
1. To motivate young students to excel through high school with a powerful message about the choices that will facilitate accessibility to better resources.
2. To give middle school students the opportunity to visit the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in hopes they will attend a higher educational institution.
3. To give UNC students an opportunity to positively influence their community while enhancing their college experience.
LYLC is a day long conference in which begins with a keynote speaker, and transitions into four workshops as the day progresses. UNC students are assigned groups of 8th grade students whom they will mentor throughout the day. This conference has served over 5,000 students to this day. Every year students go back home determined to attend a college, or four-year university and have the work ethic to do so.
Special Thanks
Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity, Inc.
Upsilon Beta Chapter
Adrian Costilla
Latino Youth Leadership Conference Director
Cost4999@bears.unco.edu
César Chávez Cultural Center
Joél Orozco Almeida
Associate Director
970-351-4306
chavezcenter@unco.edu
