"Planting Leadership"

By Evelyn Camero

On February 22, 2012

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Have you ever wanted to be a leader or a role model for the younger generations in your community? Well at Texas A&M International University the possibilities are endless. Did you know that there are some students from the university were selected to assist the Latino Leadership Initiative that took place in the Harvard Kennedy School last summer? Now have partner up with the Youth Leadership Laredo to create a program that not only would benefit the younger generations of the community, but also your leadership skills and the environment.

Undergraduate Biology senior and Donations Associate for the Latino Leadership Initiative Joel Alexis Jurado, commented that the purpose of the unification of LLI members with the YLL was to, "expose those talents that the youth of Laredo has, as potential leaders who will not only change the community of Laredo, but hopefully one day also the world." Jurado along with 5 other TAMIU students have been active with the YLL by going around and showing different presentation of their experiences in college and at the LLI.

Jurado also added that as a last attempt they will launch a program that will concentrate on students on the fifth grade and hopefully later it could be passed down to other grade levels. The program will consist of planting trees at different school from both Laredo districts.

Jurado explained that the program took such an approach because LLI and YLL wanted for students, "to see themselves as trees that little by little under the years they will manifest and harness those talents and grow big to help those under the shadow to be as successful as they can be regardless of ethnicity, income, and social position." The program, he states, will not only teach students about their environment but also about nutrition, health, leadership, and appreciation for the gifts of life.

The name of the program will be "Planting Leadership," explained Special Assistant to the President of the University and Laredo Leadership Chairman Mrs. Juanita M. Soliz. She also pointed out that the YLL and the Planting Leadership were joining forces to approach the school districts with their ideas. Soliz added that the program had been very welcomed by both school districts and as well as by YLL. Soliz explicated that one of the key elements of the program was that students were going to be able to enhance their environment by beatifying their schools.

Undergraduate Biology senior and Assistant to the Latino Leadership Initiative of 2011 Connie Lerma, stated that there is no "little thing". She explained that it took her by surprise how welcoming and how willing the community is to want to do something for their environment. Lerma added that, "there is no such little thing that even by planting trees you are showing that you are helping out in the community in a greater way". Lerma also pointed out that trees are only the beginning and that hopefully in the future the following LLI cohorts take a "green" initiative.

Jurado stated that their organization is non exclusive and that everyone is welcomed to join the organization. He explained that he wanted people to keep in mind that the organization runs with the, "spirit of giving to others," and it's because of their,"variation of members and common goal that their organization is been so successful and it has allowed them to go beyond."

For more information on Planting Leadership you may contact Joel Jurado at (956) 489-091 or via email at jjurado@dusty.tamiu.edu, and Connie Lerma at (956) 489-7399 or via email at conniele@dusty.tamiu.edu. For more information on Youth Leadership Laredo you may contact Juanita M. Soliz at (956) 220-5057 and yll@laredochamber.com.

(Evelyn Camero may be contacted at evelyn_camero@dusty.tamiu.edu.)