Annual conference to address Latino leadership

"Future Leadership Lies in You" will be the theme of this year's fourth annual Indiana Latino Collegiate Leadership Conference.\nThe event will be held March 1 for Latino and non-Latino students, faculty and professionals to learn about issues facing Latino college students, and is organized by the Latinos Unidos club and the Latino Cultural Center (La Casa). Participants will spend the day meeting new faces, listening to experienced professionals and attending informative workshops.\n"This conference is one of the most energy-filled conferences that I have experienced since coming to work on the Bloomington campus," Charlie Nelms, IU vice president for student development and diversity, said in a press release. "I wish we could bottle the energy and enthusiasm and share it with others."\nLa Casa Director Lillian Casillas said the conference's goal is to assist in preparing Indiana's Latino college students to become well-rounded leaders. \n"Celebrating the distinctiveness of Latino scholarship and leadership, the conference fosters and encourages development through lecture, panels and discussions," said Casillas.\nThe event will begin with breakfast at La Casa, before students head to Woodburn Hall to listen to keynote almunus speaker Judge Jesse Villalpando.\nVillalpando earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at IU before going on to serve for eight consecutive terms as a member of the Indiana State House of Representatives. He now presides as the Lake County Superior Court Judge and has continued to give back to IU's Latino community.\n"I think by having Judge Villalpando here, it will really inspire students to dream about a professional leadership position such as he has earned," said senior student chairman and Latinos Unidos member Edward Vargas.\nVargas was influential in organizing the first leadership conference over three years ago, building off a similar conference his Texas high school offered and turning it into a collegiate event.\n"Compared to three years ago, we now have a database and the event is more institutionalized," Vargas said. "As a senior, I would like to come back (in future years) and see the event become even more institutionalized with funding from Union Board and taking place at the (Indiana Memorial) Union with food in the Tudor Room, (featuring) bands and bigger keynote figures."\nRegistration continues until Feb. 21 with a fee of $5 to cover breakfast and lunch held at La Casa. For more information call 855-0174.