Hispanic leadership conference provides real-world perspective for CWU students

Every college student has at least one moment they can look back on as being pivotal in their professional development.

For 11 current Central Washington University students, and dozens more before them, that defining moment was the February 16-19 United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) National Conference in Chicago.

USHLI is regarded as the nation's premier cross-generational leadership event for young, aspiring Latinx leaders. And, based on the reaction of this year's CWU cohort, the conference didn't disappoint.

"Everyone there, from teachers to advisors to CEOs, just had such a positive feel and they really made us feel welcome," said Noel Trujillo-Garcia, a junior studying physical education and school health. "No one there was trying to show off, but they made clear that they had to work really hard to get to where they are. It was very empowering to see how far they have come."

Junior psychology major Litzy Figueroa also walked away from the USHLI conference with an overwhelming feeling of optimism after hearing first-hand the success stories of so many self-made Hispanic professionals.

"Everyone was very humble and relatable, and you could really see where they were coming from," she said. "They really made you feel comfortable, and they inspired confidence in us that we can accomplish the same things as they have. I left there feeling like, 'This can be my story, too. I can do this.'"

Trujillo-Garcia and Figueroa were joined by seniors Jasmine James, Giselle Hernandez-Zafra, Katya Jasmin Soto, Citlali Gonzalez Arroyo, and Luis Reyes; juniors Miguel Gomez, Melissa Lopez-Barbosa, and Priscilla Suarez; and freshman Alexa Silva. The students, who were selected after an application process last fall, were accompanied by CWU Human Resources Partner Verónica Gómez Vilchis, Associate Director of Admissions Andrés Moreno, and Interim Vice President of Student Engagement and Success, Dr. Lucha Ortega.

CWU covered all of the expenses for the four-day trip, with contributions from Student Engagement and Success, Office of the Provost, and University Advancement. (Read more about the students' individual experiences in a separate CWU news article.)

The USHLI national conference was held in-person for the first time in more than two years, restoring the energy, vitality, and fiery spirit that has characterized the conference since its inception in 1982. The theme of this year's event was "Acelerando el progreso Latino"-which translates to "Accelerating Latino progress"-in honor of the strength and power of Latino resiliency in the face of the pandemic.

Gomez, a junior accounting major from Yakima, said the USHLI conference was a truly memorable experience for him and his CWU classmates, who hail from a range of academic pursuits, including elementary education, economics, public health, psychology, mathematics, and cybersecurity.

"Being selected for the USHLI conference was such an amazing honor," he said. "I had so many takeaways from the conference. However, the most important message was given by Ambassador Gaddi H. Vasquez, seconds before receiving the Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. National Hispanic Hero Award."

Gomez said he was particularly inspired by Vazquez's overarching message when he stated: "I was honored to present a piece of the Berlin Wall to Cesar Chavez, a man that knew about breaking down walls and liberating people to realize their hopes, dreams, and aspirations."

"The quote can be interpreted in many different ways, but to me, the passage means that Hispanics are making an impact in the U.S., and we will be the future leaders of this country," Gomez said. "Every speaker at the conference went from being a nobody to becoming someone important to Latinas and Latinos. Now, the objective is to bring more people of color to the university community, and make a statement that people of color can be successful."

The mission of USHLI is to fulfill the promises and principles of democracy by promoting education and leadership development, empowering Latinos and minoritized communities through civic engagement and research, and by maximizing participation in the electoral process.

Over the past 41 years, the organization has empowered underrepresented groups through leadership development, civic engagement, and research. Most notably, USHLI has trained more than a million present and future leaders, awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships and internships, and registered 2.3 million voters.

"A lot of the people we met struggled to get where they are today, and now that they've reached the highest level, they want to share their experiences with the leaders of tomorrow," said Figueroa, who grew up in Mabton in the lower Yakima Valley. "They made us realize that we have the power to do the things they have done, which is a pretty amazing feeling for someone like me who comes from a small town."

Similarly, Trujillo-Garcia appreciated the honesty and humility exhibited by the conference attendees. He and his classmates left Chicago with a feeling that they can accomplish whatever they set their minds to.

"The biggest thing for me was having so many opportunities to connect with people, both from CWU and around the country," said Trujillo-Garcia, an Auburn native. "It was so great to speak to so many people individually, and share stories about where we've been and where we are going. This experience had a huge impact on me, and I feel like it's going to continue."