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. 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.

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

students smiling to the camera in the Collaboratory

“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.

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 – 2:00pm

Empowerment Through Civic Engagement Event 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. RSVP HERE: https://forms.gle/PjGcB6XgoGYfcCMq7

Equity in Education, Thursday, April 24th 11:00am -1:00pm, Plaza
Latinos in Local Government, Thursday, April 24th 6:00pm -8:00pm, DISC 061
Know Your Rights Info Session, Monday, May 5th, 6:00pm-8:00pm, DISC 252

Latino Culture Night

Tuesday, May 6th, 3:00pm-6:00pm, North Creek Events Center
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 and RSVP Here: https://forms.gle/atmkr7nHT7zSmpag9

Service Project 2025 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

UW Bothell

School of Educational Studies (co-sponsoring Equity in Education event)
Professor Vilma Illanes, Spring 2025 BSPAN 216 Spanish Heritage Class
Latine Student Union

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