Youth Leadership Conference at Pikes Peak Community College

Ralph Juarroz held up a newspaper article about the dropout statistics of high school aged Hispanic youth in Colorado, and shouted, "What are you going to do about it?" Mr. Juarroz, a retired principal, challenged approximately 120 students on Saturday, October 19th, to be leaders of their own lives, to overcome obstacles of circumstance and society, and to discover their own truths in life.

The students were attending a day-long Youth Leadership Conference at Pikes Peak Community College, hosted by the Latino Unity Council, a non-profit organization striving to improve career and higher education opportunities for Latino youth.

The students were also challenged by Chief Deputy Attorney Christine Arguello to achieve their most cherished dreams by working hard every day and making the right life choices. Mrs. Arguello shared with the students that, she always believed that she would be successful in life, even though many people expected her to fail. She told the students that the negative comments she sometimes had to hear only inspired her to work harder at proving she could succeed. And succeed she did, when she became the first Latina from Colorado to be admitted to the Harvard University School of Law.

In addition to motivational speakers, the students attending the conference were given the opportunity to explore the PPCC campus, hear presentations about four-year colleges and scholarship opportunities, as well as vocational and technical programs. Members of the Colorado Spring Fire Department, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, and the AFA Cadet Program talked to the kids about career opportunities, and recruiters from all local military organizations shared information about military careers.

Cultural awareness activities were conducted by Suavamente Dance and by Latin Quarters.

PPCC, the Gill Foundation, El Pomar Foundation, Intel Corp., Lockheed Martin, Adelphia, Inc., Harrison School District #2 and The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Colorado Springs graciously provided major funding for the conference.

The students, who came from Denver, Pueblo, and all Colorado Springs school districts, were welcomed to the conference by Mr. Joseph Garcia, President of Pikes Peak Community College, and by Vice-Mayor Lionel Rivera, who signed a proclamation commemorating the day.

[ Back ]