Latino Leadership Initiative (LLI) Program
Latino Leadership Initiative program is a cohort style program support Latino/a/x students. In partnership with a local partner, Latino Education and Training Institute (LETI), UW Bothell students get the chance to explore how they can be leaders in their community while gaining valuable networking and civic engagement experience.
Goals of the program
- Empower Latino/a/x College and University students to be civically engaged
- Expose Latino Leadership Initiative participants to a variety of educational and career options
- Instill theory & application of multicultural leadership skills
- Increase Latino/a/x identity consciousness & cultural competencies
“This program is an effort to allow students to gain leadership skills and get access to resources and communal support so that they are then able to identify their needs, the needs of their communities and, most importantly, the capability to address those needs.”
Dr. Victoria Breckwich Vasquez, former faculty member in School of Nursing and Health Studies, and founder of LLI at UW Bothell in partnership with LETI
Benefits
- Receive 40+ hours of Leadership Training
- Students will work on a group service project focused on your community
- Meet and network with prominent Latino dignitaries and professionals
- Learn how to prepare a professional portfolio
- Opportunities to receive letters of recommendation from Latino professionals
- Opportunities to receive recommendations for internships at various businesses upon completion
- Opportunity to receive assistance from Connected Learning advisor to apply for scholarships
Requirements
- Commitment to attend bi-weekly meetings with UW Bothell cohort throughout winter and spring quarters
- Commitment to attend seven group sessions, Saturday, 9am – 12pm, hosted by LETI.
- Dates for 2024-2025 School Year:
- Orientation – Saturday, December 7th 2024 or January 4th 2025 (Zoom)
- Kick Off – Saturday, January 11th 2025 (Zoom)
- 1st Immersion Seminar – February 8th , 2025 (Zoom)
- 2nd Immersion Seminar – March 1st, 2025 (In-Person, UW Bothell)*
- 3rd Immersion Seminar – April 12th, 2025 (In-Person, Skagit Valley College)*
- Final Project Presentations – May 17th, 2025 10:00am-1:00pm (In-Person, Edmonds College)*
- Graduation Ceremony – May 31st, 2025 (In-Person, UW Bothell)*
- *For in person events, we’ll have a student leader drive the community transit van leaving UW Bothell at 8:15am to the scheduled event site.
- Work on a community project in spring. Last year’s project connected with high school students from the Bothell High School Latinx Student Organization
- Open to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students in all majors
- All students committed to serving the Latino/a/x community are welcome to apply regardless of their race, sex, immigration status, or other identity.
- The LLI’s purpose is to increase awareness about issues and ideas that are specific to the Latinx community. Anyone who wants to learn more about the dynamic cultures that represent a variety of Latin American countries, cultures, and traditions is welcome to engage in this affinity group.
How to apply
Applications for the 2025 LLI cohort are now closed. Email Niveah Martinez (niveah4@uw.edu), in the Office of Connected Learning with any questions or if you want to volunteer for any of the service project events this Spring 2025.
Service projects
If staff or students would like to support our events by volunteering, please reach out to Niveah Martinez (niveah4@uw.edu).
Youth mentoring
Continuing our partnership with Bothell High School for the past 5 years and expanding with Inglemoor High School, LLI members will be mentoring high school students on first generation college experience and post high school graduation pathways for success. This is a closed event, volunteer/mentee registration required. Accepting Volunteers
- Bothell High School Friday April 18th, 2025 3:30-4:30pm
- Inglemoor High School AVID Classes, Friday April 25th, 1:00pm-3:15pm
- Inglemoor High School Friday April 25th , 2025 3:30-4:30pm
- UW Bothell Campus Visit for High Schoolers Friday May 2nd, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Civic Conversations Series
A group of LLI members, connect their Next Gen Civic Leader Corps goals with their partnership with LETI and create a series of events focused on civic engagement in the Latinx Community. These events are open for all, including community members. Registration coming soon!
- Equity in Education, Thursday, April 24th 11:00am -1:00pm, Plaza
- Latinos in Local Government, Thursday, April 24th 6:00pm -8:00pm, UW2 Commons
- Know Your Rights Info Session, Monday, May 5th, 6:00pm-8:00pm, DISC 252
Latino Cultural Event – May 6
A group of LLI members are creating an event honoring the breadth and diversity of Latino culture in this campus and community wide event open to all. Learn more about this event, Tuesday May 6th 3:00pm-6:00pm, North Creek Events Center.
Service project partners
Bothell High School
- Juan Price, Principal
- Angela Menon, Assistant Principal
- Lindsay Eckle, Counselor
- Patricia Herrera, Northshore School District Family Engagement Specialist
Inglemoor High School
- Adam Desautels, Principal
- AVID Class Teachers
Recent News
Latino Program in Washington Encourages Young Latinos to Pursue Higher Education
UW Bothell undergraduates mentored Bothell High School students to prepare them for higher education.
Learn more about LLI 2024's cohort work
Meet the 2024 Latino Leadership Initiative Cohort
Introducing the 2024 Latino Leadership Initiative (LLI) cohort!
learn more about their contribution
The mark of a mentor
UW Bothell students in the Latino Leadership Initiative don’t just change their own lives. They also inspire local Latino high school students.
Read about students mentoring high school Latino students