Are you a leader? Want to get involved in your community?

Lider- Leadership Involvement & Development Through Empowerment & Representation

Program Mission:
The LIDER program was established to increase the political and civic participation and provide leadership opportunities for Central Americans and other Latinos in California. The LIDER program brings together talented young Central Americans and other Latinos from throughout California and trains them to be new leaders so that they may have an effective role in expanding the civic and political participation of the Latino community. Participants attend an educational and leadership development workshop to gain knowledge about issues pertinent to the Latino community. Participants also partake in a legislative tour of Sacramento to discuss in part water issues, including water conservation water reliability issues. Each year, ten LIDER participants are chosen to participate as Interns in government, non-profit sector, business, and media. Finally, all participants undertake a community service project to assist Pico-Union residents.

A program designed to build the leadership skills and capacity of high school and college students might be the program for you.

This summer program offers the following:

• Training Workshops- Educational and leadership development workshops developed to increase knowledge about issues pertinent to the Latina/o community. The topics discussed range from "The Role and Function of Government" to "Public Speaking" to "Leadership and Organizing Skills.
• Preparation Seminars: These weekly meetings provide supplementary activities that promote increased reading and writing skills, SAT/ACT and CAHSEE examination preparation, and special activities such as discussion groups, photography and computer technology training.
• Internship Opportunities- Selected students from the group are invited to complete paid internships with governmental agencies, elected officials, and nonprofit organizations.  These students will gain hands on opportunities to apply leadership and organizing skills and gain valuable experience that will be useful for future job searches.
• Community Organizing Project- Participants organize and implement a community service project that addresses community needs. This is the opportunity to put into practice what has been learned through the workshops.

LIDER program dates are: May 1 through October 30
LIDER applications are due: June 1st 2008

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION

For more information please contact
Fermin Vasquez
Youth Organizer & Advocacy Programs Coordinator
fvasquez@salef.org