LULAC Youths Hit Capitol Hill On Day 3 Of Emerge Latino Conference
Nation’s Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Takes Vital Latino Issues to Congress
Washington, DC - A delegation of young Latino leaders took their concerns and questions to Capitol Hill Thursday to meet with elected leaders and their legislative staffs. The group of more than 80 Emerge participants and other LULAC members held discussions to raise awareness and seek action from elected leaders on the critical issues facing our community.
“This is truly a transformative experience for our new generation of Latino men and women advocates, some of whom are still in high school but already influencers in their home communities,” says Sindy Benavides, National Chief Executive Officer. “The response from members of Congress is equally significant because hearing passionate firsthand personal stories from young constituents on the environment, immigration, education, healthcare and similar concerns often puts a human face to an issue and can shift their views and votes,” she adds.
The sixth annual Emerge Latino Conference is part of the 2020 State of Latino America Summit, a week-long program created by LULAC to highlight the top concerns confronting Latinos in the United States and Puerto Rico. Also, to expose Latino youths to important issues and decision-makers in an intensive series of leadership development sessions. The visits to Congress are an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned.
“One of the matters we presented was the issue called advance parole for DACA recipients. These are people who are needing to travel outside the country for humanitarian reasons or work permits, job opportunities, training or to study abroad,” says Laura Muñoz, a student who traveled from Miami, Florida and was part of a student delegation that visited the office of U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR). “This experience helped me to learn about the challenges our community faces in other regions. I will be better prepared to make sure that everybody’s included and helps to make me more thoughtful and nuanced in my discussions on issues of the day,” added Muñoz
About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/