Introduction
Today’s youth will be the leadership of the future. The future economic and political vitality of Colorado is dependent on full participation and meaningful contributions from all of our youth. The 22nd annual La Raza Youth Leadership Conference (herein referred to as Conference) provides an opportunity for Latino youth to engage in activities and interact with positive role models.
The mission of La Raza Youth Leadership Institute is “To empower Latino youth to achieve their educational and leadership potential and instill the desire to give back to the community”. In order to accomplish this mission, the conference has established the following goals:
Promote the importance of education, especially post-secondary education/training; Explore career opportunities; Increase self-esteem, self-confidence, and leadership skills; Foster positive relationships between and amongst the diverse populations that make up the Latino community; Develop a sense of community, reaffirming cultural identity and pride; Examine male and female responsibility issues;
Provide information strategies and techniques for parents, counselors and teachers to help achieve the mission of LRYLC, Inc.
History
In the fall of 1991, the La Raza Male Youth Leadership Conference was instituted through the impetus of Metropolitan State College of Denver (MSCD), a consortium of community-based organizations and representatives of other educational institutions. The other Auraria Higher Education institutions: Community College of Denver (CCD), the University of Colorado at Denver (UCD) and the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) have become integral partners with the conference. A myriad of important community based organizations have provided representatives to the Conference Board of Directors.
In its twenty-two year history, the Conference has positively impacted over 21,000 youth. Last year’s attendance was over 1000 participants.
Need
As Colorado moves into the 21st century, many Latino youth continue to have special needs. One could easily quote a plethora of statistical indicators related to income, education, access, and health care to clearly demonstrate that a significant percentage of Latino youth are in need of educational preparation.
Unfortunately, the public schools are locked in a chronic crisis mode of seeking to educate an ever-increasing Latino population while attempting to address difficult and perplexing societal problems. Many districts lack the strategies necessary to meet these issues. Current research shows a direct correlation between dropout rates, teen pregnancy, and contact with the criminal justice system.
An important goal of the Conference is to help Latino youth and school districts deal with some of the issues relating to violence, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, high dropout rates, educational achievement, and employment. These issues are at the forefront of today’s headlines and are having a devastating effect on the Latino communities, in particular on the youth. The importance of dealing with these issues should be a priority.
While serious problems are faced by Latino youth, many of them are excelling in school and are poised for future leadership. There is a great need to encourage and develop this potential leadership. Many of these students have recognized the importance of post-secondary education. Latino enrollment at local colleges and universities has increased. Although this is good, the message is still not reaching enough students. Unfortunately, due to inadequate resources and/or diminished expectations on the part of school personnel in middle schools and high schools, this success does not always occur. These high-achieving Latino youth need the support and direction that comes from interactions with positive Latino role models.
Evaluation
Evaluations are conducted at the end of each conference. The evaluations are used for developing the next conference program. The continued and increased participation of our youth and adults is a measure of the need and success of the annual La Raza Youth Leadership Conference.
Support
The Board of Directors is proud of the fact that one hundred percent (100%) of all funds raised are used for the implementation of the conference.
The LRYLC is continually seeking both short-and long-term sources/strategies for funding the conference. Numerous community, public and private organizations and fundraising events have provided the financial support for the previous eleven conferences. In addition to the higher education institution participants, other organizations which have been involved in a support role in the past include: City and County of Denver, City of Westminster, NEWSED, Educational Talent Search, Sun Microsystems, IMAGE de Denver, Interger Group, Union Bank and Trust ASAP, Piper Jaffray and The Hunt Alternatives Fund, Denver Public Schools, Colorado National Bank, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo Metropolitan State University, University of Colorado Denver, Regis, University of Denver, and Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado, among others. Over the twenty two years of the Conference’s existence, thousands of people have volunteered to serve on the steering committee, sub-committees, as workshop presenters and conference workers. Since 1998, numerous private individuals contributed $100 each in support of the conference via the Comadres y Compadres program. These community contributions clearly demonstrate that the La Raza Youth Leadership Conference enjoys multi-faceted support from the Denver community.
Comadres/Compadres is a Latino cultural tradition of commitment, mutual respect, friendship, and caring for children. This initiative will primarily target Latino professionals in an effort to solicit contributions of $25+ toward the expenses of the conference. Los Comadres y Compadres is a group of individuals with similar values who come together socially and work toward the success of the Conference.
We encourage you to join the family of supporters of the La Raza Youth Leadership Conference. Your generous support and sponsorship of the La Raza Youth Leadership Conference will be appreciated by the Latino youth it serves. All funding and program plans for the 22nd Annual La Raza Youth Leadership Conference will be completed by March 15, 2013.
Title Sponsor $10,000
Title Sponsor benefits will include:
- Corporate logo at conference podium
- Corporate banner featured on main stage the day of the conference (Sponsors to provide)
- Company thanked at opening ceremony, at lunch, and closing ceremony
- Corporate marketing information in all attendees’ registration packets
- Corporate marketing information at conference registration tables
- Company representative receives a plaque at event and presents the Youth Awards to winners
- Logo on ALL printed materials, including front of conference program
- Logo featured on organization’s website for one year
- One-page ad in front of conference program
- Sponsor appreciation in community newspapers
- Company give-aways to each youth at lunch (Sponsors to provide)
- Company logo featured on 1,500 t-shirts
- 10 tickets to annual fundraiser
Presenting Sponsor $7,500
Presenting Sponsor benefits will include:
- Logo on banner beneath podium
- Company thanked at opening ceremony and lunch
- Company representative receives a plaque at event
- Corporate marketing information in all attendees’ registration packets
- Company marketing package at conference registration tables
- Logo on all printed materials
- Logo featured on organization’s website for six weeks prior to conference and four weeks after conference
- Sponsor appreciation in community newspapers
- Half-page ads in front of program
- Company logo on 1,500 t-shirts
- 6 tickets to annual fundraiser
Associate Sponsor $5,000
Associate Sponsor benefits will include:
- Logo on banner beneath podium
- Company thanked at opening ceremony and lunch
- Company sponsor receives a certificate of recognition
- Company marketing information package at registration table
- Logo on all printed materials
- Sponsor appreciation in community newspapers
- Half-page ad in back of program
- Company logo on 1,500 t-shirts
- 5 tickets to annual fundraiser
Supporting Sponsor $2,500
Supporting Sponsor benefits will include:
- Company thanked at opening ceremony
- Sponsor appreciation in community newspapers
- Quarter-page ad in front of program
- Company logo on 1,500 t-shirts
- 4 tickets to annual fundraiser
Guardian Sponsor $1,000
Supporting Sponsor benefits will include:
- Organization thanked at opening ceremony.
- Quarter-page ad in the program (ad provided by sponsor)
- Organization logo on 1,500 t-shirts.
- 2 tickets to annual fundraiser.
Education Partner – Scholarships/In-kind
Educational Partner benefits will include:
- College/University thanked at opening ceremony
- Quarter-page ad in front of program
- College/University name on 1,500 t-shirts
- College/University representative announces scholarship winners the day of the conference.
Comadre y Compadre Less than $1,000
Comadre/Compadre benefits will include:
- Recognition in conference program
- Certificate of Sponsorship
- Conference t-shirt
- 1 ticket to annual fundraiser