LATINX

YOUTH CONFERENCE

From our Executive Director

Evelyn Esparza

The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan has the honor of continuing the legacy of the conference going forward by assuming leadership of the event and adding it to the Center’s programming. For the last two decades, the Latinx Youth Conference has sought to instill a passion for education in students by offering them:
• A glimpse into the college experience and other career pathways
• Coaching them on success strategies
• Affirmation of their Identity and sense of belonging
• Encouragement to envision future success now.
The goal of the conference is to cultivate an emotional and psychological worldview that
is bigger than the challenges these young people face.

The 2024 Latinx Youth Conference is a community‐led effort with more than one hundred volunteers that give time and talents to serve nearly 850 eighth-grade middle school students. Managed for the first time by the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan in partnership with Grand Rapids Community College, the event would not be possible without the generosity of partners that support an enhanced quality of life for underserved communities.

Thank you in advance for your participation and collaboration.

-Evelyn Esparza 

WHERE

Grand Rapids Community College (111 Lyon St NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503).

WHEN

Thursday, February 29, 2024.
From 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Partnership Opportunities

DE COLORES

Latino inclusiveness and Diversity
$10,000
• Sponsor logo/link included on LYC page on the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan website.
• Inclusion with tags on the Hispanic Center’s Facebook (8K followers) and Instagram (1,900 followers)
•Verbal mentions from the stage the day of the event
•Premier placement of logo on printed signage and materials
• Logo inclusion with organization info shown digitally on screens at the event
•Space for networking with students and educators • Sponsor logo included on the LYC t-shirts worn by staff, presenters, and volunteers (100+)
•Opportunity for sponsor representative to welcome students to the event and provide some brief information on their organization
• Opportunity for sponsor to provide an item for student swag bags (850)

CULTURA

Culturally based leadership
$7,500
• Sponsor logo/link included on Latinx Youth Conference page on the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan website
•Inclusion with tags on the Hispanic Center’s Facebook (8K followers) and Instagram (1,900 followers)
• Verbal mentions from the stage the day of the event • Sponsor logo inclusion shown digitally on screens at the event
• Sponsor logo on printed signage and materials
• Space for sponsor display/ representatives for networking with students and educators
• Opportunity for sponsor to provide an item for student swag bags (850)

ADELANTE

Global vision and immigrant spirit
$4,500
• Sponsor logo/link included on Latinx Youth Conference page on the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan website
• Inclusions with tags on the Hispanic Center’s Facebook (8K followers) and Instagram (1,900 followers)
• Placement of logo on printed signage and materials
• Space for sponsor display/ representatives for networking with students and educators
• Opportunity for sponsor to provide item for student swag bags (850)

JUNTOS

Collective Community Stewardship
$2,500
• Sponsor logo/link included on Latinx Youth Conference page on the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan website
***Space for sponsor display/ representatives for networking with students and educators with an additional $250 fee.

OUR KEY SPEAKER

Margaret Dominguez Ph.D. Optical Engineer

Dr. Margaret Dominguez was born and raised in Mexico. She holds a B.S. in Physics from the Universidad de las Americas Puebla, Mexico. She also holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona. Since 2009 she has been working as an Optical Engineer at NASA Goddard Space flight Center; where she is currently the test lead for the Grism component of the Roman Space Telescope, which will be launched in the mid-20s.

Unleash your potential challenge

The 2024 Latinx Youth Conference will award four laptops scholarships to eighth-grade students who meet the following criteria:

-Enrolled as an eighth-grade student at a West Michigan school

-Identify as Latinx or Hispanic

-Participate of the Latinx Youth Conference

-Submit the requested information on or before the scholarship deadline

Interested students may submit for as many of the scholarship opportunities as they wish. Winners will receive a new laptop!

Make sure to upload your application before January 12, 2024. 

Contact

Evelyn Esparza

1204 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. SW, Grand Rapids MI 49503

2022 Breakout Sessions

Take a look at

Our great 2024 sponsors

Photos from the event