KU News Release

KU helps host annual Kansas Latino Youth Leadership Institute

Francisco Lemus, director of the St. John's Mexican Fiesta, speaks to students attending the Kansas Latino Youth Leadership Institute. From left: Claudia Ramirez and Alicia Perkin of Garden City, Alejandra Ornelas, Janeth Vasquez and Susana Hernandez of Liberal and Shitae Patel, Claudia Segouia and Jessica Solis of Garden City.

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas was a co-sponsoring host for the League of United Latin American Citizens’ annual Kansas Latino Youth Leadership Institute. The summit took place June 13-15 in Lawrence and Topeka and attracted more than 25 students and advisers from Garden City, Kismet, Liberal, Satanta and Topeka.

Student delegates were juniors and seniors in high school, recent graduates or those in post-secondary educational programs planning to transfer to four-year colleges or universities. Speakers and program events focused on leadership, educational initiatives and resources, support services, area cultural activities, community activism, employment opportunities and state and local government.

KU sponsored the conference with the Kansas Department of Corrections, United Methodist Mexican-American Ministries of Liberal, Garden City Chamber of Commerce and the Garden City LULAC council.

Elias Garcia of Topeka, director of diversity recruitment for the Kansas Department of Corrections, was conference coordinator. Formerly executive director of the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission, Garcia is also LULAC Kansas state director for policy and advocacy. Martha Perkins, Garden City LULAC council president and director of the Fort Hays State University Higher Education Center in Garden City, was regional trip coordinator. Others accompanying the students were Manuel Gomez, Garden City, mentor; Rosa Don Martinez, Satanta, chaperone; and Lourdes Trevizo, Liberal, chaperone.

Participants stayed in Ellsworth residence hall and had meals at Mrs. E’s banquet room during the three-day event. Among KU faculty, staff and students assisting with the institute were student members of KU’s chapter of the Hispanic American Leadership Organization. Liliana Merubia, senior assistant to Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Lariviere, coordinated events at KU.

Activities began the afternoon of June 13 in Topeka when Kansas Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson and Paul Feleciano, chair of the Kansas Parole Board, met with the delegates. Participants spent June 14 in Lawrence, where most program events were held in the Burge Union. Sessions resumed in Topeka on June 15, when the group visited the state Capitol for programs on employment and Latino advocacy and later toured Washburn University. Speakers on June 15 included George Vega, director of the Kansas Division of Personnel Services; Jan Clausing, director of human resources for the Kansas Department of Corrections; and Nancy Ochoa, who spoke about immigration marches.

During the full day of programs at KU on June 14, Steve Ramirez, equal opportunity specialist in the Department of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity, welcomed the group to the morning session. Bill Self, men’s basketball coach, spoke informally during lunch. KU speakers in the afternoon and evening included Lee Furbeck, associate director of the Office of Admissions and Scholarships; Jose Trujillo, student financial aid counselor; Santos Núñez, program director of the Multicultural Resource Center; Juan Izaguirre, assistant director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and HALO adviser; and Ruben Flores, assistant professor of American studies.

Steve Cisneros, executive director of the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission, and Russell Jennings, commissioner of the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority, also gave talks during the day.

In addition, Lawrence Latino Coalition members who addressed the group at KU were Leonard Ortiz, a member of the USD 497-Lawrence Board of Education, and Francisco Lemus, director of the St. John’s Mexican Fiesta, now in its 26th year and scheduled for June 22-23 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lawrence.

LULAC is the nation’s oldest Hispanic and Latino political advocacy organization. It was founded in 1929 and now is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Through its 700-plus community-based programs, LULAC works to improve the educational attainment, economic conditions, health and civil rights for all Hispanic nationality groups. Area LULAC councils are located in Garden City, Salina and Topeka, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo. For more information, visit the LULAC Web site.

Student delegates who attended the institute are listed below.

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