About this event

Session Block D, 2:10-3:10

Room 301, Graduate Student Lounge

Title: Advancing Latino Leadership through Research, Public Policy, and Community Development

Description: The Latino Leadership Opportunity Program (LLOP), founded in 1987 by the Inter-University Program on Latino Research, was designed to build a pipeline of Latino scholars, policymakers, and leaders through mentoring, research, community service, and leadership training. Once hosted at multiple universities nationwide, only the UMass Boston chapter at the Gastón Institute remains active today. This session shares findings from an evaluation study, led by recent LLOP students, based on interviews with 40 alumni from 1994–2020. Alumni highlighted the program’s role in expanding networks, providing mentorship, fostering culturally affirming “counter stories,” and connecting policy research to community activism. Presenters will discuss how LLOP supported leadership development and continues to shape future Latino leaders and advocates for social change.

Presenters: Lorna Rivera, Norma Fuentes, Joel Mora, & Ester Shapiro

Format: Research Paper

Complexity: Introductory

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Room 356, Rita Laden Senate Chambers

Title: Exploring the Influence of Latino Community-based Organizations on Designing Participatory Governance in the United States

Description: The pedagogical outcome of the research is to design public policy courses that can empower future and current public service professionals with the theoretical, empirical, and praxis competencies needed to formulate, implement, and assess innovative and transformative approaches to sustainable participatory governance. Consequently, there is expected to be of interest to stakeholders engaged in participatory action research, such as institutions of higher education promoting CEL projects and programs, public policy practitioners and researchers, and members of community-based organizations interested in building capacity to influence decision-making in policy areas that affect their well-being.

Presenters: María Luisa Picard-Ami & Manuel Morales

Format: Research Paper

Complexity: Intermediate

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Room 402

Title: Tradition Is Failing Us: Why Latino Survival in the U.S. Demands Education Over Celebration

Description: Latinos make up nearly 20% of the U.S. population, yet their political, economic, and social influence lags behind. A key factor is the cultural tension between preserving traditions like quinceañeras, property acquisition, and remittances versus investing in higher education—the most effective path to empowerment. Despite progress, only 28% of Latinos aged 25–29 hold a bachelor’s degree, and Latinos remain underrepresented in elected office and medicine, with just 6% of U.S. doctors identifying as Latino. These patterns contribute to disparities such as higher diabetes rates and limited political power. This presentation calls for a cultural shift that values education and intellectual achievement as essential to securing long-term influence, equity, and respect, while still honoring heritage.

Presenters: Angeline Rios

Format: Panel Session

Complexity: Intermediate

Additional information

• Attendance type: In person