[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   LATINO YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2003

  Ms. LINDA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, on May 9th and 10th of 
this year, the Latino Youth Leadership Institute (LYLI) will hold its 
2nd Annual Latino Youth Leadership Conference and Awards Dinner.
  The initial inspiration to establish LYLI came out of the 
participation of students, young professionals and community leaders in 
the annual United States Hispanic Leadership Conference (USHLC). In the 
spring of 1999, after receiving information about the USHLC, a small 
group of community leaders made a commitment to send a delegation from 
Orange County to the conference in Chicago. The group succeeded in 
raising enough money to send the largest delegation from the furthest 
location to the USHLC. More importantly, they have continued to send a 
delegation of students each year.
  Early in 2001, a group of USHLC Alumni began a series of meetings to 
explore the possibility of organizing a youth leadership conference in 
2002 and to discuss the feasibility of establishing a nonprofit 
organization. LYLI was created to pursue its mission of increasing 
civic participation, promoting higher education, and cultivating a new 
generation of leaders to meet today's challenges and tomorrow's 
expectations. LYLI was formally incorporated as a 501 (C) 3 
organization in December of 2001. The establishment of LYLI evolved 
gradually over a three-year period of time and would not have occurred 
without the perseverance of numerous volunteers and the support of 
elected officials, corporations, government entities, labor unions, and 
other community organizations.
  The year 2002 was a historic one for LYLI. After years of thinking, 
planning, and meeting, LYLI organized its very first Latino Youth 
Leadership Conference and Awards Dinner. Over 1,000 high school and 
college students attended the Latino Youth Rally and Job Fair. As a 
result of this conference, some of the students volunteered and 
registered over 700 new voters. This year over 2,000 high school and 
college students from throughout Southern California are expected to 
participate in the Latino Youth Leadership Conference.
  Although LYLI's success can be attributed to many contributors, 
supporters, and volunteers, two individuals deserve special recognition 
for their willingness to involve themselves completely in the creation, 
growth, and development of the Latino Youth Leadership Institute. As 
CoFounders of LYLI, President Ignacio ``Nash'' Orozco and Vice-
President Bob Martinez have worked passionately and tirelessly to build 
an organization that would be able to motivate, inspire and train a new 
generation of Latino youth to realize their full potential as leaders.
  Because of the commitment and dedication demonstrated by Mr. Orozco 
and Mr. Martinez, thousands of Latino Youth have already benefited from 
the work of LYLI, and thousands more are likely to be part of LYLI's 
most promising future. I salute the determination of both Mr. Orozco 
and Mr. Martinez to stay the course and oversee the transformation of 
their vision of what could be to having a real, living, functioning 
organization capable of shaping the dreams and aspirations of our 
nation's youth.

                          ____________________