Seventeen CNY students participate in Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Conference

Seventeen students from school districts across Central New York have returned to school on April 3 after spending the weekend in Albany as part of a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience. Through OCM BOCES’ Mid-State Regional Bilingual Education Network (RBERN), the students came together to make up the Syracuse Delegation for the annual Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PRHYLI).
 
The Syracuse Delegation is among 8 regional groups from across the state that have been training locally early this year, to identify and research political and community issues and study the state’s legislative process, parliamentary procedure and selected bills. The culmination of their hard work was their participation in the PRHYLI and the “Somos Uno” Conference the first weekend of April, 2017.

Throughout the weekend, approximately 200 students from the eight delegations had the opportunity to take part in a Mock Assembly session at the NYS Assembly chamber, where they debated four bills. The students also participated in team-building exercises to develop inter-regional relationships and celebrated their accomplishments with a student recognition dinner, at which several PR/HYLI scholarships and other awards were announced.

As the director of the Mid-State RBERN, Tanya Rosado-Barringer has been working with the students since the delegation came together in the fall.
 
“It is exciting to bring together stakeholders from participating districts and the community to support and guide Central New York's next generation of Hispanic leaders through the Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute,” Rosado-Barringer said. “The transformation of our delegates as they journey through the program is awe-inspiring.”

Extension and refinement of leadership skills: back in their local communities, student delegates continue to develop leadership skills and put their skills “to practice”.

Pictured above on the steps on the Capitol Building in Albany are the 17 Central New York students in making up the Syracuse Delegation of the 2017 PRHYLI.
Left to right bottom row: Omarys delmar Rodriguez (Utica City School District), Edward Marte Rosario (Binghamton), Naysha Rios (Utica Central School District), Charles Thomson (Ithaca Central School District), Ashmir Zephyr Sanchez (Ithaca Central School District) and Greichalyz Rivera (Syracuse City School District).
Left to right middle row: Karla Garcia (Utica City School District), Alisandra Torres (Ithaca Central School District), Milton Estevez (Solvay Union Free School District), Ruth Rodriguez (Solvay Union Free School District) and Aruasy Barrios (Solvay Union Free School District).
Left to Right top row: Ilan Mizrachi (Ithaca Central School District), Namirely Pizarro (Syracuse City School District), Itamar Almanzar Perez (Utica City School District) Henrique Harmath DeLemos (Ithaca Central School District), Gerson Casimiro-Elías (Whitney Point Central School District) and Geriane Irizarry (Ithaca Central School District).
 

Congratulations also to #PRHYLI Syracuse Delegate of the Year Edward Marte of Binghamton.