The Chicano Latino High School Leadership Program Bridges Leadership, Connection, and Creative Expression
The Chicano Latino High School Leadership Program brought together 20 Latine high school students from El Colegio High School and the Latinos Unidos program of the White Bear Lake Area School District to collaborate and learn. This Liberal Arts Engagement Hub residency features a partnership between the Department of Chicano & Latino Studies (CLS) and NewPrensa, a leading Twin Cities media outlet focusing on BIPOC and immigrant communities.
"I need to see our stories represented in media. And not only that, but to see our stories represented authentically and accurately in media. And so I wanted to give these kids the opportunity, to not only reflect on their environments and themselves, but to be able to express their true story."
Isabella Silva-Biotti, Editor and Writer, NewPrensa; Lead Communications Specialist, NewPublica
The CLS High School Leadership Certificate Program centered on individual, family, and community identities as a source of strength and resilience. Through mentorship, creative expression, and public media, students developed academic writing skills, fostered personal growth, and explored their cultural identity. At the end of the program, students chose a medium for expression which was shared through a special edition newsletter and magazine, Culturica, showcasing their grounding in identity, cultural pride, and personal expression of individual and community agency.
Students also had the opportunity to connect with Latine leaders in Minnesota, and access college resources. By exploring themes of gender, sexuality, solidarity, and more, the program aims to connect students with local and diverse communities, developing and strengthening their understanding of the power of working together. This program fosters not only self-discovery but also leadership skills and a deeper connection to the community.
The Liberal Arts Engagement Hub
The Chicano Latino Studies High School Leadership Program was one eight residencies for the 2024-25 academic year. The Liberal Arts Engagement Hub seeks to facilitate reciprocal and trusting partnerships between humanistic scholars in the arts, humanities, and social sciences and the community to respond to important social challenges.
This video was created by Peyton Thao, an undergraduate student in CLA. This story was edited by Cass Bryant, an undergraduate student in CLA.
