Hispanic students prepare for 25th anniversary of the statewide leadership program
Students from throughout the state of New York are currently preparing for the 25th Annual Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PR/HYLI) to be held March 21-23, 2015 at the New York State Capitol Assembly Chamber in Albany.
Students are currently participating in training sessions across the state coordinated through the statewide RBERN (Regional Bilingual Education – Resource Network) and the New York City Department of Education. They use a training manual aligned with Critical Thinking Elements and Standards enhancing the training manual to a higher level thinking processes by skillfully analyzing, assessing and reconstructing the activities.
PHRYLI Delegates will receive a copy of Wes Moore’s book, “The Work”
Students must attend five trainings before they can be eligible to attend the state-wide conference. Selected student delegates focus on identification and research of local issues, study of the New York State legislative process, parliamentary procedure and selected bills.
The March event features a mock assembly in which students will debate actual bills that reflect issues in their communities. They will participate in team-building exercises to develop inter-regional relationships at Siena College.
The students will be joined by various legislators. Last year’s attendees included: Assembly members Chad A. Lupinacci, Marcos A. Crespo, Patricia Fahy, Felix Ortiz, Phil Ramos; and Congressman Paul Tonko.
Students are also currently finalizing their essays for the Angelo Del Toro scholarship. This year’s essay focuses on education equality. As part of the Institute, they will attend a student recognition dinner at Franklin Plaza in Troy where winners of the PR/HYLI scholarships and other awards are announced.
The Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute is an innovative collaboration with the NYS Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force in conjunction with the annual SOMOS El Futuro conference, Office of Bilingual Education and Foreign Language Studies, the New York State City Board of Education, and other agencies as appropriate.
Questar III coordinates the leadership institute as part of a five-year contract awarded by the New York State Education Department. PR/HYLI is co-sponsored by the State Education Department Office of Bilingual Education and Foreign Studies, New York City Department of Education and RBERNs. For more information, visit prhyli.org.
