OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Legislative Latino Caucus hosted its inaugural Oklahoma Latino Youth Leadership Summit on Nov. 8. The event brought 110 young people together through engaging workshops, expert speakers, and peer-led discussions. 

The students explored leadership and professional development, community advocacy, and public service, all with an Oklahoma focus. 70 high school juniors and seniors from Guymon, Ada, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and other towns across the state joined 40 college-age mentors, and the members of the Latino Caucus at the state capitol on Saturday. 

“The simple truth is that these kids belong here,” said Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman. “Our caucus is dedicated to investing in youth development and empowerment, and we were proud to provide this opportunity. It was striking to meet such an outstanding group of young people who are passionate about Oklahoma's future.”

The Chairman of the Latino Caucus says he is feeling gratitude for the success of the event and those who contributed.

“More than anything, we want to say thank you. To all of the staff and volunteers who showed up to help with the summit, and for the generous support of our sponsors,” said Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City. “We could not have accomplished such a successful event without them!”

The summit was non-partisan and featured breakout sessions on civic engagement, campaign basics, public service, college and career readiness, and the power of intentional leadership. Attendees were able to connect with mentors, universities, community organizations, industry experts, and elected officials. 

"This event gave me great optimism for the future,” said Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, D-Oklahoma City. “Seeing young leaders engaging on themes of service and leadership reminded me of the impact we can have on others, especially the next generation. The Latino community is, and will continue to be, the fastest growing demographic in Oklahoma. As the community continues to grow in population, I hope that our elected representatives will reflect the makeup of our state. By starting this opportunity, we hope to ensure that young people see themselves involved in every role of public service."

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