Wyoming Latina Youth Center Mission Statement:
‘To enrich and empower young Latinas through mentors, education and awareness’
The Wyoming Latina Youth Center (WLYC) is a non-profit organization focused on empowering
young Latinas through mentorship and awareness. WLYCenter empowers young Latinas to
achieve a successful transition to University of Wyoming by providing leadership opportunities
to participate in innovative programs that address Wyoming’s Latina youths’ social,
academic, and educational needs. WLYCenter believes in a future of Latinas where they
are able to pursue their dreams, reach their goals, and acquire the skills and self-confidence
to live a life of purpose, connection, contribution, and joy.
WLYCenter strives to provide faculty and student support in the areas of Research,
Academics, Leadership, Community Engagement, Outdoor Education, Wellness and Spirituality.
WLYCenter fosters a deeper understanding of Latina/o communities to empower faculty,
students, and society to make better strategic decisions and contribute to Wyoming’s
social, cultural, economic, and political development. Investing in the Latina/o children
and youth that support and ensure equal opportunity to education and economic security
will be foundational for shaping Wyoming’s future economic growth and health.
Our annual conference is held every October and features a welcome dinner banquet,
cultural performances, educational workshops, and informational presentations. Workshops
focus on Financial Literacy, STEM, Entrepreneurship, Mental Wellness, Cultural Arts,
and Career Opportunities. The Wyoming Latina Youth Conference is open to all 5th-12th
grade students of Latinx, Hispanic, Indigenous, Afro-Latinx, and mixed-blooded female
identifying youth throughout the state of Wyoming.
We would like to take this moment to personally thank our staff, board members, sponsors, school coordinators, chaperones, volunteers, workshop leaders, and college mentors. We couldn’t have done it without your support! Your contribution to the 2023 Wyoming Latina Youth Conference helped us provide wonderful and empowering experiences for Latinas and Latinx gender-expansive youth at the University of Wyoming.
This year we celebrated the WLYC 23nd anniversary and the launch of our new center. We are excited to report that the conference was a great success, with over 250 participants from 22 different schools throughout the State of Wyoming, our largest event to date. Your support helped us create a welcoming and safe atmosphere at UW so that young Latina women and Latinx gender-expanive youth in 5th through 12th grades could network and build relationships.
This year’s conference theme was “Inspiring young women to embrace the art of valuing your best self through excellence, progress, transformation and empowerment.”
Our keynote speaker, Lucy Beato, a distinguished life and business coach, author, entrepreneur, and mother of two was uplifting and inspiring. For over a decade, she has devoted her time to educating and guiding young and adult women from minority backgrounds. Her mission revolves around aiding women in self-discovery, fostering self-worth, uncovering their potential, and achieving personal and professional objectives, thereby leading purposeful lives.
In addition, this year’s featured guest artist was Anna Burr, aka DJ TacoBella, describes herself as a DJ, who always had an instinct of deep intensity of sounds that reflect the culture, her emotive musical selections are her own de-stress therapy. Having grown up listening to all genres of music from Miles Davis to Dolly Parton, Anna devoted her time to learning the craft of DJing. She is completely self taught and is an up and coming DJ in the Phoenix Arizona music scene. Also, she us a proud grudate from the University of Wyoming!
We are already busy planning for next year's conference. We hope to see you in 2024!
The Wyoming Latina Youth Conference is held at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming. It hosted by the Wyoming Latina Youth Center which is under the umbrella of the University of Wyoming and headed by Dr. Cecilia Aragón, Professor of Latino/Latina Studies.
College Leadership & Mentorship
Wyoming Latina Youth Conference
Community Engagement & Service-Learning Program
Campiones Para La Naturaleza
DR. Cecilia J. Aragón, Executive Director
Email: ccaragon@uwyo.edu
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University of Wyoming
Ross Hall 105, Dept. 4297
1000 East University Avenue
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-4124
Fax: (307) 766-2555