What Is LULAC Academy?
Hosting 350 students aged 18 to 25, the Academy will offer a series of workshops alongside the convention's plenary sessions. This unique opportunity enables participants to delve into critical topics such as health, technology, education, politics, and business. Led by industry experts, these workshops will provide valuable insights and experiences that underscore the significance of Latinos and Latino identity in addressing persistent challenges and fostering innovative solutions.
Applications for Academy 2025 are open now!
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
5:00 - 6:00 pm
LULAC Academy Orientation: Why Young Latina and Latino Voices Matter
The LULAC Academy is a cornerstone of our movement because it invests in the force of the future—young leaders ready to step up. The Latino experience has always been rooted in fearlessness: the bold decision to leave one’s homeland in search of something better, and the courage to build it. For many Chicanos, this also means reclaiming a heritage long silenced—reviving culture, identity, and pride after generations of erasure. That fearless spirit lives in the next generation, and it’s what will unlock solutions to the persistent challenges facing our communities and so many others. This session will feature key leaders in LULAC who are deeply committed to that mission.
Room: 103 B&C
Thursday, August 7, 2025
9:00 - 9:45 am
ACADEMY - Opening Session
The LULAC Academy Opening Session launches the educational track for emerging Latino leaders by grounding participants in the deeper “why” behind their journey. Before diving into policy, strategy, and skill-building, we reflect on what it means to lead as a Latino changemaker today. With powerful remarks from distinguished speakers, the session celebrates Latino excellence and underscores LULAC’s commitment to education, mentorship, and leadership development. Through real stories and a collective call to action, this session sets the tone for the Academy experience—reminding us that leadership isn’t a title, it’s a choice.
Room: 104
10:00 - 10:45 am
FINANCIAL PLANNING 101: Your Path to Financial Freedom
This session is dedicated to helping young adults take control of their financial futures, led by financial experts who understand the unique challenges faced by underserved communities. In Latino and other underserved communities, financial education is often overlooked, making it harder to break the cycle of financial struggle. Learning the foundational tools of managing credit, saving, budgeting will put you on the path to long-term financial security. By arming ourselves with this knowledge early on, we set the stage for a brighter financial future.
Room: 104
11:00 - 11:45 am
Uprooted: Migration and the Climate Crisis
This session dives into a growing reality: climate-related disasters are fueling migration across the Americas—and Latino migrant communities, especially farmworkers, are on the front lines. From hurricanes and droughts uprooting families to rising temperatures worsening already harsh working conditions, the pressures forcing people to move—and the challenges they face once here—are intensifying. Participants will unpack the connection between natural disasters, migration, and labor conditions. Practice how to communicate these issues in a way that drives awareness and change. Through peer discussion and real-world scenarios, attendees will leave with sharpened advocacy skills and deeper understanding of how to uplift migrant voices.
Room: 104
2:00 - 2:45 pm
TECH - Latino Voices in an AI-Driven World: Tools, Power, and Possibilities
This session is built for Latino students ready to lead in an AI-driven world. We’ll break down the basics—What is predictive AI? Generative AI? Agentic AI? AGI?—and why these technologies matter for your future. You'll learn how to harness AI tools to boost your education, creativity, and career potential, while also understanding the risks that come with them. More than just tech talk, this session centers your experience and shows how your perspective as a Latino student is a competitive advantage in a field hungry for diverse voices. We’ll close with a Q&A so you can ask the real questions and leave with real tools.
Room: 104
3:00 - 3:45 pm
MEDIA - Reclaiming Our Narrative: Reflecting Latino Realities in Traditional and Social Media
This session is critical for Latinos and underserved communities, where often the value of diverse experiences and backgrounds can be overlooked in the job market. It’s about turning the skills you’ve gained from overcoming challenges, balancing multiple responsibilities, and navigating unique life experiences into tangible job advantages.
Room: 104
4:00 - 4:45 pm
STRATEGIC ADVOCACY: Turning Struggles into Strength: How to Strategically Advocate for Change
This session is all about strengthening youth advocacy—especially among Latino youth—to make it more powerful, visible, and effective in the face of the urgent challenges of the past few months. From attacks on immigrant rights to the widening health and wealth gaps, our communities are under pressure that demands bold civic action. Yet too often, that action is misdirected, unnoticed, or ineffective—not because the passion isn't there, but because the tools and strategies are missing. This session aims to fix that. Facilitators will train participants on how to effectively engage administrators and legal authorities, amplify their voices through media, and transform lived experience into strategic influence that creates real impact. The session will also focus on how to advocate in professional spaces that may not always be inclined toward advocacy, ensuring that participants can create change even in challenging environments.