CHCI Launches High School Latino Leaders in DC Program

PRESS RELEASE

Partnership with Close Up Foundation, State Farm, Provides Weeklong Leadership Experience for Twenty Students from Around the Nation


WASHINGTON, July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation's premiere Latino youth leadership development and educational organization, hosts the inaugural High School Latino Leaders in DC (HSLLDC) program on July 10-15, 2011. In partnership with the Close Up Foundation and State Farm Insurance, CHCI welcomes 20 low-income high school students from five cities across the country to the nation's capital to learn about how the federal government works, meet important leaders, visit historic sites and develop a deeper understanding of how they can affect positive change in their communities.

"We are very proud to include high school students in the Washington, D.C. experience that we have been providing to college students and college graduates for more than three decades," said Esther Aguilera, CHCI President & CEO. "These 20 talented Latino high school students are eager to learn more about government and policy, as well as prepare themselves to be the leaders of tomorrow."

The HSLLDC program is an extension of CHCI's intensive one-day Ready to Lead (R2L) college readiness program, held in cities throughout the country. All 20 student participants attended R2L in Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York or Phoenix during the 2010-11 academic year. The program combines the Close Up Foundation's civic education program and CHCI's proven leadership curriculum for Latino youth to expand CHCI's outreach to Latino high school students and increase its impact in the college readiness and leadership development arenas.

"Making sure that students from all backgrounds develop the skills and attitudes to become active and engaged citizens is an important to the health of our democracy," said Timothy Davis, President & CEO of the Close Up Foundation. "We are looking forward to an exciting week where the students will have the opportunity to discuss and debate policy issues, learn from their peers, and interact with Washington insiders."

"Our support of the High School Latino Leaders in D.C. Program reinforces State Farm's commitment to young people, their families and our community," said Steve Aguilar, Operations Vice President for State Farm Mid America Zone. "We know that access to leadership programs is a key factor for the success of Latino students."

About Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c) (3) organization, provides leadership development programs and educational services to students and young emerging leaders. The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic Members of Congress, nonprofit, union and corporate leaders. For more information call CHCI at (202) 543-1771, visit www.chci.org, or join us on Facebook, Twitter (chci) and LinkedIn.

About Close Up Foundation

The Close Up Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501 (c) (3) organization that helps young people become active and engaged citizens. Since 1971, more than 700,000 students and teachers from across the country have participated on its Washington-based civic education programs and used its classroom resources. For more information, visit www.CloseUp.org or contact Mia Charity at 703-706-3355 or mcharity@closeup.org.

SOURCE Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

CONTACT: Scott Gunderson Rosa, +1-202-548-5876, sgrosa@chci.org