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Young Latino Network celebrates 10 years of fostering leadership opportunities for young professionals
Luis Cabrera once thought that groups of young positive and professional Latinos only existed in major cities like L.A., Chicago, and New York. He wanted to move to those cities to be surrounded by that energy, until he was introduced to the Young Latino Network (YLN), an organization of young professionals helping to encourage civic engagement and foster leadership among Latinos here in Cleveland.
Through the YLN, Cabrera learned about The Hispanic Roundtable which gave him the opportunity to meet with top executives from all the major companies in the Greater Cleveland area. He has also become a mentor at Esperanza, Inc. offering guidance and support to younger Latinos.
“Latinos like everyone else, need to be accountable for the improvement of our own communities and it starts with us,” says Cabrera.
Cabrera is 2nd Vice President of the Young Latino Network, and co-chair of the Media/Public Relations committee responsible for event planning, marketing, and is happy to announce, he has recently been accepted into the Cleveland Bridge Builders Class of 2013.
In celebration of its 10th year, the YLN will be hosting its annual fundraiser, Noche de Guayabera on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at 6:00pm to 10:00pm at the Ariel International Center located at 1163 E. 40th Street, 4th floor in Cleveland. The guayabera is a traditional Latin American garment commonly worn by countrymen or campesinos, because of its coolness and its ability to fight off the heat of the tropics.
The YLN has placed a strong emphasis on supporting their initiatives through the creation of a scholarship fund. The YLN Fund will provide scholarships for members looking for leadership development opportunities through organizations such as the Cleveland Bridge Builders, Lead Diversity, Neighborhood Leadership Development Program, and the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. They also provide scholarships to help cover fees associated with higher learning exams such as the GMAT, LSAT, GRE, or certification program applications.
According to José Feliciano, Jr., president of the YLN, “we are proud to be doing our part helping to foster leadership for the future of our community in Greater Cleveland.”
Noche De Guayabera is an opportunity to bring together the community and celebrate the rich cultural heritage through food, music, and fun, and to show appreciation to those who have given their time to help the organization grow. Noche De Guayabera will also be a reunion of current and past board members, and to welcome future leaders.
As their venue, the YLN group selected the new Ariel International Center, an historic (68,000 sq. ft.) building located in the Mid-town opportunity corridor on 3 acres, overseeing Lake Erie and the Cleveland skyline. The center is expected to serve as a catalytic one-stop center for International business development and International events in Northeast Ohio, celebrating the regions global diversity and contributing to the economic development of the region.
To purchase tickets for the fundraiser, or for more information about the Young Latino Network, including sponsorship opportunities, visit their website at www.younglatinonetwork.org
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