2023 Latino Role Models Conference

Latino Role Models is a free conference for Santa Cruz County students from grade 6 to college and their families.

This exciting FREE annual conference features Latino/a college students and professionals and performances inspiring students to achieve their dreams for college and career. This year, we are excited to welcome Olga Talamante as the keynote speaker! The conference is conducted in Spanish with English translation at the Crocker Theater, Cabrillo College. Please complete the registration below to ensure your spot at this year’s conference on March 25th, 2023 from 9:00-1:00 PM.

Esta emocionante conferencia anual GRATUITA presenta a estudiantes y profesionales latinos / a universitarios y representaciones que inspiran a los estudiantes a alcanzar sus sueños universitarios y profesionales. Este año, esperamos dar la bienvenida a Olga Talamante como oradora principal! La conferencia se lleva a cabo en español con traducción al inglés al teatro Crocker, Cabrillo College. Complete el registro a continuación para asegurar su lugar en la conferencia de este año el 25 de marzo 9:00-1:00 PM.

Location: Cabrillo College, Crocker Theater

Keynote Speaker

Olga Talamante is Executive Director Emerita of the Chicana Latina Foundation (CLF). She became the first Executive Director of CLF in January 2003 serving in that position until she retired in March of 2018.

Ms. Talamante’s family migrated from Mexico to Gilroy, California in the early 1960’s where they worked in the farm fields for several years. Those formative years formed the basis for her activism as an organizer and supporter of the nascent United Farm Workers labor union. She is widely respected for her long-standing community activism and leadership. During the mid-seventies, she became well known for her experience as a political prisoner in Argentina. As a result of a successful grass-roots campaign, she was released after spending 16 months in an Argentine prison. After returning to the United States, she remained active in the Chicana/o, Latin American solidarity, LGBTQ and progressive political movements. She serves on several boards and currently co-chairs the Caravan for the Children, which advocates for the release, reunification and healing of the children separated at the southern border. She holds a B.A. in Latina American History from UC Santa Cruz and an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the School of Education at the University of San Francisco. During the month of October 2022, she received the following awards: The Visionary Award from Horizons Foundation, The Rosario Anaya Community Service Award from The San Francisco Latino Heritage Committee, The History Maker Award from the GLBT Historical Society and the Distinguished Citizen award from the Commonwealth Club.

Mistress of Ceremonies

Erandi García, originally from Morelia, Mexico, has worked in various media outlets in Mexico and the United States, such as: TV Azteca Michoacán, Univision 67 and Telemundo 48 in the Bay Area. She has won the Emmy Award for excellence in news, among other distinctions. Erandi is the founder of a non-profit organization called Juntos Podemos whose mission is to inform and educate the Spanish-speaking population about public health and safety. She currently works for the Hospice Giving Foundation in Monterey, California. When she’s not working, Erandi likes to walk on the beach, hike, and plan the next adventure with her family.