El Concilio Student Leadership Conference

On March 5, 2002 was the first annual conference of El Concilio at Arizona State University. This group serves as a representative umbrella group for twelve chicano/hispano/latino organizations of ASU. Its mission is to represent student interests, needs and welfare within the University community. It strives to promote: 1) Latino recruitment and retention at ASU, 2) awareness of Latino culture, 3) empowerment and leadership, 4) unity between chicano/hispano/latino students, faculty and staff.

As part of the agenda was the presentation of Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr., president of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute talking about the Latino Leadership and Education Issues (National Perspective). Also, Dr. Josué Gonzalez, professor at ASU and director of Engaging Latino Communities for Education (ENLACE) talked about Latino Educational Issues (Local Perspective). Moreover there were some other activities, expositions of the different associations at ASU, workshops, and free lunch!

It was great for me to be part of this first annual meeting, I met people from the different organizations at ASU whom are trying to support Latino students in different areas (academically, professionally and economically). As a Latina, it was great to know this organizations exist and that they are doing a wonderful job.