Youth Leadership

Youth leadership Initiative (YLI)

The pressing needs of Puerto Rican/Latino students require ongoing, consistent and responsive support. Recognizing the importance of student leadership development, NPRC created the Youth Leadership Initiative. NPRC has developed strong relationships with students nationwide and constantly works to expand and strengthen connections with and between students. NPRC uses communications methods proven to reach students, including individual and small group meetings, telephone conferences, and e-mail. These communications keep students updated on upcoming events, while regular surveys help NPRC assess student needs and concerns.

The Youth leadership Initiative (YLI) organizes a national network of young student leaders that actively participate in training seminars, annual meetings and technical assistance programs. It provides students with strategies and services that encourage their participation in the advocacy process and helps to develop their leadership skills.

The College to Career Program provides Latino college students with the unique opportunity to meet with high-level corporate executives from Fortune 500 corporations, who introduce them to the concept of corporate culture and provides them with leadership development to prepare them for different career opportunities in the corporate sector.

Mission:

• Improve personal, professional and creative problem solving skills
• Build self awareness, confidence, communication skills and effective personal leadership styles
• Increase awareness of the unique approaches and abilities of Latino leaders
• Promote opportunities for learning new ways of handling diversity and ethnic issues
• Provide a corporate perspective that increases the understanding of the complex challenges facing the Latino community now and into the future

C2C was first implemented in partnership with Lehman College (Bronx, N.Y.) in late 2005 and was launched in 2006 with 35 students graduating as the founding members. Since then, NPRC has expanded the program to New Jersey City University (Jersey City, N.J.) and Rutger's University's and the New Jersey State Dept. of Community Affairs' Latino Leaders Fellowship program (Trenton, N.J.). Since the program's launch, we are proud to have trained more than 100 students on corporate leadership.