Latino leadership program graduates first cohort

Last month, the first cohort of the Quad Cities Regional Lideramos Leadership Program graduated. Coordinated by LULAC Council 10 and supported by the Quad Cities Community Foundation, the program guided 23 local Latino leaders through six months of culturally specific leadership training.

“These are today’s leaders,” said program coordinator Alfred Ramirez. “This program created a space and a network where these leaders could grow. We combined traditional leadership training with a culturally aware curriculum. The results have been powerful to see.”  

The program began in September 2023, with cohort members meeting monthly for sessions on a variety of topics, including civic engagement, identity and leadership, public communication, and more. Lideramos is a national network that shares a curriculum that can be tailored to suit local needs. In the United States, Latinos constitute the youngest and largest minority—leadership programs like Lideramos exist to actualize the potential of this group.

“We’re proud to partner with LULAC Council 10 and support this program,” said Sue Hafkemeyer, the Community Foundation’s president and CEO. “Our mission begins with listening. LULAC identified a need and desire for this program, and they have made it a success. They’ve also created a model that can be repeated.”

The Community Foundation provided $50,000 for LULAC Council 10 to plan and pilot the program and has recently committed additional funds to support a second cohort, which will begin meeting in spring. The program has also been supported by the Moline Regional Community Foundation and the Regional Development Authority.

At the graduation ceremony, each cohort member was given an opportunity to speak about their experience. The themes of their remarks included the importance of a network for personal and professional support and the central role that identity plays in being an effective leader. “It stood out to me when one student said, ‘I didn’t think this program was for me—I didn’t see myself as a leader,’” said Ramirez. “The fact that this program changed that student’s mind and gave them confidence is remarkable.” Incredibly, every student who began the six-month intensive program completed the course and walked the stage at graduation.

“This graduation was a celebration,” said Joe Moralez, LULAC Council 10 education chair. “Hearing the cohort member talk about their experience was so moving. We are excited to see where they go next and how their leadership impacts the organizations and communities they represent.”