Mission & history
Mission statement
United by a common language, Fuerza Latina, a student run organization, has been on the University at Albany campus since 1971. Through leadership development and community service, Fuerza Latina has effectively served as a bridge of communication between Latino collegians and their community. For over thirty years, Fuerza Latina has provided an array of cultural events and political forums that explore, inform, and educate the campus community on the pressing social, political, and economic issues that affect the Latino community. The National Latino Collegiate Conference serves as one of many channels used by Fuerza Latina, to communicate to the Latino student population and our neighboring communities.
History
In 1991, a group of young Latino men and women decided to take progressive steps toward change. As a result, under the direction of Jose Maymi, Fuerza Latina's 1st Annual Statewide Latino Collegiate Conference was created. The conference was the first of its kind and caliber. Eleven years and over 4,000 participants later, the young men and women of Fuerza Latina have extended the original goals of the conference in an attempt to reach out to collegians nationwide. Formerly known as the Northeastern Latino Collegiate Conference we take pride in the expansion of participants in our mission of united, educated, and empowered leaders. Fuerza Latina has created an inspiring event for young Latino/a leaders with common goals to unite, and through the steady success of previous conferences it has evolved into the National Latino Collegiate Conference (NLCC).
Each year, the NLCC is Fuerza Latina's most ambitious undertaking-serving as a nexus for Latino collegians from across the country to collectively address the issues challenging their community. During the weekend of the conference, influential Latino/a leaders and activists facilitate forums and workshops, encouraging participants to actively debate these issues; the cultural presentation showcases traditional Latino culture, allowing students and guests to be both educated and entertained. The banquet includes a keynote address from a prominent Latino/a, an elegant dinner and a night of festivities, highlighted by a live performance from a renowned Latino band. The weekend's final event, a Leadership Summit, brings together dedicated student leaders for a reflective discussion on continuing the goals of the conference in their community as life long activists.
With all the pieces in place, Fuerza Latina's National Latino Collegiate Conference is a complete experience-an occasion for Latino students to reflect upon their past, assess their present and improve their future. Our goals are to continue the successful history of the National Latino Collegiate Conference, while expanding upon the conference's philosophy of Latino involvement, enlightenment, and empowerment.