The Latinx Youth Leadership Conference is an annual event that celebrates Latinx culture and helps Latinx middle and high school students learn to share peace through leadership.  The primary goal of this event is to promote youth development, leadership, and positive cultural identity while enabling teens to see their role as peacemakers and learn individual actions to share with their families, schools, and neighborhoods. Participating youth have the opportunity to meet students from other schools while learning and having fun in cultural workshops, presentations and activities relevant to their lives. What makes this a one-of-a-kind event is that it is planned by and for Latinx youth; a team of high school students meet weekly for 8 months to plan and develop all conference elements.

Please contact Franklin Zumba at franklinz@oportunidad.org or Eloisa Echavez at eloisae@oportunidad.org or by calling 612-872-6165 if you would like more information about the event.

2023 Conference

On May 19, 2023, 260 students and 25 educators from various schools gathered at our Annual Latinx Youth Leadership Conference that took place at the Minneapolis Community & Technical College. This year’s event theme was: “Sin Años de Soledad: ¿Cómo lidiar con la Soledad y Vivir Sin Tristeza?” (Years Without Loneliness, How to Deal with Loneliness and Live Happily). This theme was chosen after conducting a survey on the six different schools La Oportunidad, Inc, currently conducts youth programming. Students were asked to pick one of the biggest issues affecting the Latino/Latinx community today, and by no surprise, many of the results showed that loneliness and sadness was among the biggest obstacles. Therefore, the Latinx Youth Committee, composed of 15 members, and la Oportunidad decided to focus on this theme. We needed to focus on how we may feel alone in our lives, and the barriers we need to overcome to continue to move forward.

The event offered twelve workshops, eleven designed specifically for students and one tailored for educators. All of these workshops were facilitated by Latino/Latinx professionals working for different organizations such as Esperanza United, St. Thomas School of Law, the City of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Department of Labor, Minneapolis Climate Action and other professionals and community leaders. These workshops played a crucial role in various domains, including education, professional development, personal growth, and skill enhancement. They offered a structured and interactive learning environment where Latino/Latinx students and educators actively engaged, collaborated, and acquired valuable knowledge and skills.

The conference also showcased two talented performer groups who captivated the audience with their vibrant acts: The first performer, Perro Solar, entertained the attendees with their lively music and energetic stage presence. Also, for the first time, we had a group called Grupo de Danzas Colombianas de Minnesota, which is a group native from Colombia, who performed traditional dances and rhythms from their country. Overall, their graceful and expressive performances left a lasting impression on the audience, further enhancing the overall experience.

The success of this year’s event was made possible due to the generous support of our sponsors: Mall of America, McDonald’s Corporation, UnitedHealth Group, Exchange Club of East Minneapolis, and special thank you to Trumanue Lindsey (Vice President of Equity & Inclusion) and Minneapolis College for allowing us to use their venue for the second year to host our conference. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our Latinx Youth Committee, who met since early January to plan every single logistic of this event. Their constant support on the planning and executing of the event enabled us to create a meaningful experience that resonated with the attendees. The “Sin Años de Soledad” event succeeded in fostering awareness, promoting cultural understanding, and facilitating dialogue on an important societal issue.

“Sin Años de Soledad” proved to be a remarkable annual event, addressing the important topic of loneliness and sadness in the Latino community. The event provided a platform for education, cultural celebration, engagement and empowerment.

Past conference topics have included:

2022: Adelante Seguimos (Together We Move Forward)
2021: Community Healing & Resiliency
2020: (The conference had to be cancelled due to the pandemic)
2019: Justicia y Sostenibilidad Ambiental (Environmental Justice & Sustainability)
2018: Cuídame, Cuídate ((Let’s Take Care of Each Other)
2017: El Pueblo Unido (The People United) – Theme: Social Action/Activism
2016: De Donde Vengo y Adonde Voy (Where I’m From and Where I’m Going)
2015: Express Your Identity
2014: Cultivating My Well-Being
2013: Traditions in Our Hearts, United We Thrive
2012: Growing Healthy Relationships Together
2011: Dancing with the “Sole”, Bailando con El Corazón
2010: Mind Opening Scenes: Artes Visuales
2008: Who am I? Finding Myself to Promote Peace
2007: Our History and Traditions: The Key to the Future
2006: Hip Hop: A Tool for Peace and Social Change
2005: Healthy Lifestyles
2004: An Intergenerational Dialog on Immigration