Program Application & Selection Process

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LEAD.Latinoamérica selects students from five city regions located throughout the United States. These include Miami, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Antonio. Two students from each region will be selected to participate in the program through a three-stage application and selection process.

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PHASE I - REGIONAL SELECTION

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LEAD.Latinoamérica seeks applicants who possess leadership potential and a commitment to community advocacy. The program embraces a holistic approach in assessing a student's qualifications, which an application, though helpful, cannot fully reflect. As such, LEAD.Latinoamérica designates one regional ambassador to serve as a liaison between LEAD.Latinoamérica and these regional communities. Regional Ambassadors are accomplished leaders and advocates deeply involved in these communities, who maintain strong relationships with local educators, local leaders, organizations, and community members. 

 

Regional Ambassadors work in conjunction with these extensive networks to identify students who would benefit from this program.  First, Regional Ambassadors invite student referrals from these networks, seeking students who have inspired and impacted their communities through their leadership and advocacy. Upon receiving these referrals, Regional Ambassadors contact these prospective applicants, inviting them to apply to LEAD.Latinamérica. 

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PHASE II - APPLICATION

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Referred students will be required to submit two applications to be deemed eligible for consideration. First, students must complete and submit a LEAD.Latinoamérica application, which will be reviewed by the Regional Ambassador & Selection Committee. Second, students must submit an application to Amigos de las Américas, the program affiliate of LEAD.Latinoamérica. These applications will be reviewed by the Amigos de las Américas staff. 

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LEAD.Latinoamérica Application

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The LEAD.Latinoamérica application is intended to gain a stronger sense of a student's leadership experience and potential, as well as their potential to embody the values and promote the vision of LEAD.Latinoamérica.

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The Selection Committee takes a holistic approach to application review, and therefore strongly encourages applicants to address and/or highlight the following:

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• Interest in community advocacy, more particularly an interest in serving the Latino community within a local and/or global context

• Strong academic performance and/or potential

• Socioeconomic background 

• Previous travel experience

• Experience and/or willingness to assume leadership roles 

 

This application is comprised of the following:

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• Long Essay Question (1,000 words) – Prompt: What is your motivation for applying to the Latino Young Leaders in Advocacy Program - Latin America? What do you hope to gain from the experience?

• Short Essay Question #1 (500 words) – Prompt: What are your educational and career aspirations at the moment? 

• Short Essay Question #2 (500 words) – Prompt: What does the term “Latino” mean to you? 

• Additional Materials

  • Resume

  • Letter of Recommendation – Teacher

  • Letter of Recommendation – Community Member

 

Amigos Application

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[Amigos insert]

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PHASE III - SELECTION

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Student applications will be reviewed over a six-week period, their LEAD.Latinoamérica applications and Amigos de Las Américas applications reviewed independently by their respective organizations. Applicants selected by both committees will be admitted to LEAD.Latinoamérica. They will be notified of their acceptance through an initial telephone call from the LEAD.Latinoamérica Executive Director, followed by an email including important dates and next steps in the preparation process. 

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Applicants not selected for LEAD.Latinoamérica will be strongly encouraged to apply for alternative volunteer opportunities abroad through Amigos de las Américas. 

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