November 8, 2007

UNITED WAY'S LATINO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

Program Founders and Graduates Honored For Their Commitment To Bettering Our Community

Rochester, NY -– The United Way of Greater Rochester celebrated 25 years of its Latino Leadership Development Program (LLDP) tonight and honored its founders along with 2007 program graduates during a special celebration at the Rochester Club Ballroom.

The LLDP is a professional development program that identifies, trains and promotes the placement of Latino leaders on boards and committees and gets them involved in community projects and policy-making positions. The program is designed to improve leadership skills and provide an enhanced understanding of current community events and how on-the-job performance and decision-making relates to business and community initiatives. More than 500 individuals have graduated from LLDP since the program’s inception in1982.

“The dedication that everyone involved with this program has shown is incredibly impressive,” said Peter Carpino, President of United Way of Greater Rochester. “We’re honored by the time that everyone has put into making the LLDP what it is today, and by the passion that each of our graduates has when it comes to ensuring an even brighter future for our community.”

The celebration featured a keynote address delivered by Louis Prieto, Managing Attorney of the Monroe County Legal Assistance Center, a not-for-profit law firm that represents over 2,000 low-income clients each year, without charge. There were also special performances by Trio Los Arpegios and the Borinquen Dance Theatre, Inc.

Members of the Latino Leadership Development Program 2007 graduating class and their sponsoring employers include: Arnel Alverio (ITT Space Systems Division), Berlin Bermudez (University of Rochester), Yvette Ciurca (Rochester Housing Authority), Celmira Cubillos (Catholic Family Center), Felicia Garcia (University of Rochester), Marcelo Guimaraes (Eastman Kodak Company), Jessica Guzman (University of Rochester), Maricela Guzman (University of Rochester), Miriam Jurado (ITT Space Systems Division), Gloria Matos (City of Rochester), Ana Medina (Charles Settlement House), Maritza Mejias (City of Rochester) Mildred Melendez (Hillside Children's Center), Kelly Mullaney (Working Art Media), Sonia Nunez (Isla Housing & Development), Nelida Quinones (Rochester Primary Care Network), Jesus Rivera (Time Warner Cable), Alvin Ruiz (University of Rochester), Johanna Santiago (City Of Rochester), Elaine Sepulveda (Alternatives for Battered Women), Jennifer Simmons (Excellus Health Plan), Gloria Torres (PRYD) Tabita Torres-Rodriguez (Coordinated Care Services), Jeannette Valle (Rochester Primary Care Network), Nelida Vega (Time Warner Cable).

For further information about the LLDP and being part of the 2008 class, please contact Yamalis Hernandez at (585) 242-6433.

 

 

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United Way’s mission is to magnify and focus the power of community resources to address our most pressing social needs.