by Yulissa Gomez | April 9, 2021 | PRHYLI

Students from the Capital District were phenomenal during the virtual Angelo del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute conference! Despite all unpredictable circumstances and PR/HYLI going virtual for the first time ever, students did an extravagant job.

PRHYLI 2021 Keynote Speaker Dolores Huerta

This year’s PR/HYLI topic was Civic Readiness. Students spent some of their Saturdays mornings and Wednesdays afternoons for about three months learning about “the ability to make a positive difference in the public life of our communities through the combination of civic knowledge, skills and actions, mindsets, and experiences” (NYSED, 2020). They also studied and prepared for the debate of fours Bills:

• Warm-up Bill – A10433 Relates to providing eligibility for state or local public benefits regardless of immigration status
• Bill #1 – A9586 Prohibits and regulates the discovery and disclosure of immigration status
• Bill #2 – A10319 Relates to establishing the office of racial equity and social justice
• Bill # 3 – A4615 Prohibits police officers from using racial and ethnic profiling

The institute weekend included students from 15 districts whom five of the Seniors won scholarships.Congratulations Capital District Delegates! You did it!Districts/Schools represented in our local delegation and at the 2021 PR/HYLI Leadership Institute Weekend event 2021:

• Amsterdam
• Cohoes
• Gloversville
• Guilderland
• Hudson
• Ichabod/ Crane/Kinderhook
• Lansingburgh
• Niskayuna
• Ravena-Coeymans- Selkirk
• Schenectady
• Stillwater
• Taconic Hills
• Tech Valley
• Troy
• Waterford-Halfmoon

Capital District Scholarship Winners 2021:

• Amanda A. Thrasher – Angelo Del Toro Scholarship
• Mayra G. Morales – Angelo Del Toro Scholarship
• Melissa A. Ochoa – Angelo Del Toro Scholarship
• Jenifer C. Martinez Peraza – Angelo Del Toro Scholarship
• Cruz C. Rios – Yesenia Valle Scholarship
• Sara E. Nava – Yesenia Valle Scholarship