Learning to Lead: My Experience at the Summer Leadership Institute

By Edgar Martinez, LAYC’s Communications Intern/Events Correspondent

I recently became a part of a special group of young adults who are dedicated to making a difference.

Through the newly launched Summer Leadership Institute, 25 low-income and minority youth will receive advocacy and public speaking training over the summer. The group of young people will set forth youth issues they want to address and will receive the tools needed to construct proactive campaigns for change.

The Summer Leadership Institute is collaboration between the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC), Columbia Height’s recently opened Best Buy; and the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (OLA).

Before I decided to join the program, I wasn’t really sure whether I really wanted to do. But I gave it a chance and honestly it’s a very interesting program. I really appreciate the opportunity they gave me to be a part of this youth movement.

During these past few weeks, I have attended several meetings where I have been introduced into the advocacy world. So far, this has been done through fun games and dialogue amongst ourselves. In the meetings, we have done several activities. In some of them we learn about other participants, in others we learn about ourselves.

I have learned that advocacy allows community members like you and I to make a difference in our communities and help fix problems that affects us all.

Most importantly, from what I have experienced thus far is that we have the unique opportunity to express ourselves and to elevate our voices on issues we care about.

One of the activities that we did was identifying problems that affects youth that we all thought needed to be addressed. Some of those issues were teen pregnancy, gang violence, drug prevention, youth employment, etc.

What I like about this group the most is that we are learning to work together as a team. Additionally, I and other participants are being introduced to media resources like blogs and learning how we can make a positive impact through them.

The staff is very dedicated to what they do. They motivate us to continue with the program so we could learn how to become great leaders within our communities.

My experience with the program has been astonishing. I have learned many skills that I could benefit from. Honestly, when I first started the program my expectations were low but after just a few weeks my mindset has changed.

I did not really think that I was going to dedicate myself to this but I really have taken a lot of interest into it.

After I complete the program, I will be more skillful and more open minded on the issues that the community is dealing with. Hopefully, that will enable I and the other youth to make a difference.

I’ll keep you up-to-date with what we do at the program through my weekly blogs.