“This generation of students has the potential to have success without limitations, the challenge is getting them to recognize and believe it” said Richard Castaniero, teacher at Santa Paula High School. “We want to train students to feel comfortable taking risks, being reflective, and focus on what they want as well as what they have to offer their community.”
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Santa Paula High School, Renaissance High School, Future Leaders of America, Santa Paula Latino Town Hall, Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation, CAUSE and other community partners sponsored the second annual leadership conference Photo by Leticia Austin, SPUSD, PIO |
Some 100 students take
part in leadership conference
April 15, 2015
Santa Paula News
Close to 100 students attended a recent two-day leadership conference at Santa Paula High School.
Santa Paula High School, Renaissance High School, Future Leaders of America, Santa Paula Latino Town Hall, Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation, CAUSE and other community partners sponsored the second annual conference last week. The conference goal was to empower youth with soft skills, public speaking, team building, goal setting and a strong cultural identity as well as to encourage them to pursue higher education. Joe Mendoza, Lead Worksite Organizer for SEIU and former City Councilwoman Laura Espinoza, as well as other elected officials were amongst some of the inspirational speakers.
“This conference is part of a larger Youth Empowerment Initiative strategy to enhance and build the leadership of our youth. We want to build a community that provides opportunities for everyone. This methodology is based on three principles: (1) young people are the leaders of our future and the future is now; (2) all young people deserve opportunities to reach their full potential as contributors to society; and (3) a small investment at a crucial developmental stage can make a huge difference in a young person’s life course”, said Dr. Gabino Aguirre, former President of Santa Paula Latino Town Hall. He added, “This Youth Leadership Conference helps prepare students to participate in California’s – economic, social and political development,”
