By Tom Allon
In a world dominated by skyrocketing tuitions and onerous student loans, the Latino Leadership Institute stands out in being able to provide a superlative education to young people who would otherwise not be able to afford it — for free.
That’s right, free.
The organization, which pays the City University of New York for the space it occupies, does not charge for the excellent instruction it provides in that space. Everyone there, including the instructors—featuring noted experts like election lawyer Jerry Goldfeder — donates his or her considerable skills and expertise.
In this day, age, and city, this is nothing short of a small miracle.
Led by New York politico and visionary Jaime Estades, the institute was started in 1999 and has continued building its influence through the years, turning out graduates that have gone on to successful careers in politics and community organizing in New York and throughout the country.
Although its mission statement says the organization exists “to empower Latinos and other minorities by increasing their participation in the democratic process,” Estades is quick to point out that it is no longer an Latino-only academy.
“More than half of the students each year are white, African-American, and Asian combined,” he said.
Much has been made lately by politicians and pundits alike of the growing political importance of Latino voters in elections. According to the Pew Research Center, the Latino demographic in America has grown six-fold since 1970 and, in fact, Asians and Latinos are now the fastest rising demographic groups in the country.
In an important development for U.S. cities, nationally Latinos are displacing African-Americans as the dominant urban minority. Recently, a pollster for presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio said that the GOP must top 40 percent with Latinos to win the White House in 2016.
In short, there has never been a better time for the Latino Leadership Institute and others like it to be educating young minds and preparing them for the political and social justice battles of the future.
One shining example is recent graduate Sandra Hughes O’Brien, who garnered 2.1 million votes statewide to become the first Latino elected to the Wayne State University Board of Governors.
“Currently, I am in the third year of my eight-year term,” she said. “The Latino Leadership Institute played a huge part in my winning.”
So it was no surprise to me when, in Lower Manhattan a couple of weeks ago, an event took place heralding the institute that has also produced such notable New York movers as Shaun D. Francois, President Local 372; Marvin Holland, Political Action Director TWU Local 100; Anthony Perez, Executive Director, Bronx County Democratic Party; and CUNY Dreamers Monica Sibri, Jazmin Cruz and Ana Guillcatanda.
One by one, local political luminaries took the stage and spoke passionately of the positive impact that this remarkable organization and its leader have had on politics and leadership in New York.
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Congressman Charles Rangel, Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright, Assemblyman Keith Wright, Anthony Wells, President Local 371, John Samuelsen, President TWU Local 100 and many others, all spoke of the commitment to the education of budding young leaders in the areas of public policy, electoral politics, ethics, Latino history and more.
The Institute has had many success stories like this one and they all lead to one inevitable conclusion: While it may be Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Ted Cruz, and others who are the political influencers in this generation, it will almost certainly be Jaime Estades’ Latino Leadership Institute and others like them who will be developing the young leaders who will shape America in the next generation.
Moments to savor are rare in politics and, indeed, even when contemplating the future of our country sometimes, but when I think about the Latino Leadership Institute and other organizations like it, I get the feeling that America’s future just might be in good hands after all.
Tom Allon, president of City & State NY, was a Republican and Liberal Party-backed mayoral candidate in 2013 before he left to return to the private sector. Reach him at tallo
