Colorado LDZ unites students from U.S. and Dominican Republic

For 26 years, the National Hispanic Institute has held its Colorado LDZ at Colorado State University in Fort Collins — one of the longest-standing relationships between NHI and a host school. Students from across the United States and the Dominican Republic convened in Fort Collins from June 21-28 to continue the tradition at the university most recently named NHI’s University of the Year.

Lia Carpio — Education Director of the Colorado program and a longtime NHI coordinator — said, “This year’s Colorado program was truly wonderful. LDZ always challenges participants to view their community and their place in it from an asset point of view, rather than a deficit perspective. As part of that this year, we also asked them to particularly consider what inclusive leadership would look like in the future — when they’re running a business, serving on school boards or city councils, as mayors or governors (or legislators),or even just raising their families and being active in their communities. They really took that challenge to heart! This group of participants was extremely cohesive and collaborative, and it influenced the entire program in a way that encouraged and uplifted the entire delegation. It was such a powerful, positive experience, I can’t fully articulate how extraordinarily proud they made me and the entire staff.”

Top office holders at the 2015 Colorado LDZ included:

Governor
Elias Van Loo
Greeley Central High School
Greeley, Colorado

Lt. Governor
Alejandra Ruiz-Aguirre
Fort Collins High School
Fort Collins, Colorado

Speaker of the House
Fernando Chavez-Arroyo
Adams City High School
Commerce City, Colorado

Chief Justice
Edgar Olivares
Southwest High School
Pharr, TX

Kyle Crespin, of Lamar High School (Lamar, Colorado) won the Rich Castro Visionary Leadership Award, an annual award specific to the Colorado LDZ, named for the respected state legislator and civil rights activist.