350 Gather for LEAD Conference at University of La Verne

About 350 middle, high school, and college students, as well as their families, came to the University of La Verne on Oct. 29 for the 5th annual Latino Education Access and Development (LEAD) conference.

They attended workshops that helped them learn about the college application process, financial aid, cultural identity, and career paths. They also heard inspiring stories from first-generation University of La Verne students and saw magnificent Aztec dancers.

Actor and writer Rafael Agustin, who served as keynote speaker, shared the struggles he faced on his path to success.

The actor and writer came to the United States from Ecuador with his parents at age 7.

His parents were both doctors in South America, but in the US, his father took a job at a car wash and his mother worked at a discount store to make ends meet.

Agustin struggled to fit in at first, but by high school he had made the honor roll, was voted class president, and named prom king. Things were good until he applied to college. Despite growing up and identifying as American, he discovered he was undocumented, and his life came crashing down.

“I can’t be illegal!” he recalled thinking. “I’m the freakin’ prom king.”

He enrolled at community college, taking classes until he maxed out on credits. He eventually applied for and received legal status, transferred to a university, and earned a college degree.

He has since produced an award-winning play, founded a theater company, and served as CEO of the Latino Film Institute Youth Cinema Project. He also works with at-risk public school students to help them improve their reading and writing proficiency, and he regularly speaks to young people who may be facing challenges similar to those he overcame.

“I was like most of you today,” he told the crowd. “At first, I was just interested in my work. But my career didn’t take off until I started to give back.”

The University of La Verne is a federally-designated Hispanic Serving Institution, having a student population that is more than 40 percent Latino. More than 40 percent of students are the first in their families to go to college.