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The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) and Trinity University recently hosted the LOFT (Latinos on Fast Track) National Leadership Institute (LLI) Summit in San Antonio, Texas. The summit brought together nearly 200 first-year college students from across the country, with a focus on leadership, community building, professional networking, social impact, culture, and a deep dive into various sectors.
The event aimed to connect young leaders from different backgrounds and provide them with guidance and inspiration in their educational and professional journeys. It was organized in an “open space” format, allowing the participants to take ownership of the discussions and share their priorities, vision, and resolutions of issues.
Juan Sepulveda, J.D., Ron Calgaard distinguished professor of practice in political science at Trinity University, HHF Board member, and co-founder of the LLI, emphasized the importance of connecting young leaders through education, workforce, and community in building social and professional capital.
The sectors covered in the summit included sustainability, education, engineering, entrepreneurship, finance and business, health, science, media entertainment, public service, social justice, and technology. The organization aimed to capture ideas, content, and data from the summit to develop a report that would serve as a set of youth-focused priorities, vision, and solutions for the U.S. Latino community.
Antonio Tijerino, co-founder of LLI and HHF, highlighted that the organization was simply facilitating the summit and counting on the LLI Fellows (students) to lead actionably on their own terms. Through the “Open Space” segment of the summit, the fellows identified specific issues and questions they wanted to explore and shared them with their colleagues. They created the agenda and placed it on a virtual grid for everyone to see.
The students also self-selected, presented ideas, and led open conversations about their topics in smaller group sessions. The organizers captured the resulting priorities, ideas, issues, and solutions as guidelines to support the vision of young leaders through an ongoing LOFT effort.
The LLI was launched in 2021, and last year, the LOFT LLI “Open Space” summit was hosted by the White House in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month. These events aim to provide young leaders with a macro vision of impact and inspiration and encourage them to take action in their schools and communities.
As LOFT Institute Fellows, the scholars will be tracked and connected throughout college and their careers, providing them with access to additional programs, industry-specific training, resources, mentors/mentees, and career paths, including internships and full-time programs.
The event was lauded for its ability to bring young leaders together and empower them to make a difference. The organization expressed gratitude to Trinity University, the volunteers, and corporate partners for believing in the youth and supporting their efforts to move the community and country forward.
Ultimately, the LOFT National Leadership Institute (LLI) Summit provided a platform for young leaders to collaborate, share ideas, and shape the future of the U.S. Latino community. With a focus on leadership, community building, and social impact, the event empowered participants to take ownership of their journeys and make a positive change in their respective fields.
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