Westminster Public Schools hosted its 2nd LatinaCon on Friday, May 10th at the Daniel C. Vallez Family Education Center. The event, designed to support the empowerment of Latina students and parents in Westminster, was well-attended.

 

180 students and adults participated in learning sessions ranging from financial aid for college to Latina empowerment to creating a vision for self. The students were greeted with tote bags and they were able to choose a book that reflected their interests as being a young Latina. Incoming Superintendent Dr. Jeni Gotto greeted the attendees with a warm welcome. Industry leaders and role models were on hand to talk about the importance of connection and identity.

 

LatinaCon was a way to bring Latina students together to explore the opportunities and challenges that life presents. For the middle schoolers in attendance, it was a chance to learn about all they can do once they get to high school. For high schoolers and their parents, the prospect of life after graduation was front and center, providing ideas for navigating those pathways to college and/or career while balancing the importance of family.

 

Hodgkins Principal Amber Swieckowski and incoming CSA Principal Karina Costas hosted a powerful workshop, ‘Latina Enough’ on how to react to stereotypes that the world has for female Latina leaders. Swieckowski stated, “It is really up to you to use all of that noise (for lack of a better word) to shift your paradigm and become your superhero.”

 

Costas emphasized, “The goal is that our students are happy with who they are and able to recognize the incredible beauty and power that lies in their similarities as well as their differences.”

 

The topic of leadership was prominent. Speakers from private and public industry fielded questions from the community. Panelists included political leader and former Northglenn City Council Person Jordan Sauers, the University of Colorado Denver Professor of Economics Dr. Andrea Velasquez, the United States Air Force graduate and Drone Soccer and Aviation Expert Lina Pineros, and Gabby Chavez, a student at the University of Denver majoring in Sociology and Italian.

 

Danna, a Level 8 student at Orchard Park Academy, enjoyed the experience. “I thought it was a very nice event. I enjoyed getting to know other Latina students, everything was nice.”

 

Thank you to all the Westminster Public Schools administrators, teachers, and staff who helped plan the event including our outside sponsors which included Rocky Mountain Partnerships and Front Range Community College.