Huntington High School junior Erlyn Flores Reyes and senior Ilsi Martinez Euceda recently spent three days studying the intricacies of state government in Albany and the role and responsibilities of members of the Assembly and Senate in New York’s representative democracy.
The Huntington dynamic duo was among 200 students selected statewide to participate in the Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute, which is now in its 29th year. “The Institute affords Hispanic youth greater insight into the dynamic nature of state government, provides a forum for students to share ideas and concerns impacting the Hispanic community and offers participants the opportunity to develop leadership skills,” according to a program profile.
“The triumph of this year’s Huntington delegates, coupled with their commitment to political awareness, assures me that they will continue to be advocates for the Latino community and may one day find themselves in the state legislature,” said Judy Goris Moroff, Huntington UFSD’s director of world languages, English as a new language and bilingual programs. “Huntington is indeed fortunate to have such talented youth amongst us.”
Mr. Flores Reyes and Ms. Martinez Euceda represented Assemblyman Steven Stern in the mock Assembly. “They met with him to discuss his point of view on the bills that would be presented during the mock assembly,” Mrs. Moroff said.
In advance of the three day session in Albany, Mr. Flores Reyes and Ms. Martinez Euceda participated in training activities on Long Island that were designed to empower Latino leadership, advocacy and public speaking.
“I had such an amazing experience in Albany, meeting so many great people,” Ms. Martinez Euceda said. “I wasn’t afraid to talk in front of so many kids because I knew we all had a similar story, being Latinos, with English as our second language. It really was such an amazing experience to be sitting in an assemblyman’s chair in the chamber at the state capitol where bills are passed and laws are made. I felt like my voice and the voice of so many others was being heard.”
“The overall purpose of the initiative is student empowerment,” according to a program overview. The Institute’s goals for the student delegates included:
- The development of leadership skills in Latino/Hispanic youth;
- The creation of opportunities for Latino/Hispanic students to interact with positive role models such as Puerto Rican/Latino elected officials, educators, and business leaders;
- The creation of partnerships and conversations among educators, business leaders and students;
- The development of an in depth knowledge of the state legislative process.
“It was a really helpful,” said Mr. Flores Reyes his experience in Albany at the Institute. “I learned many things and it motivated me to keep fighting to get what I want. I met a lot of people that wanted to make a change; a change where everyone is equal and brave. Now that I know that I want a change in my life, I will not be afraid to be who I am, helping the people that love me and that I love. I'm really grateful that I was chosen to go to Albany.”
The Huntington pair and their fellow participants were organized into regional delegations before identifying and researching local issues, studying the legislative process and parliamentary procedure and debating and voting on the following actual bills on the floor of the State Assembly:
- A00643A: Requires notice of risk of deportation of non-citizens, prior to accepting plea to a misdemeanor or violation.
- A04899A: Requires insurers providing coverage of prescription drugs for opioid, to provide coverage of such prescription drugs prescribed for the treatment of substance abuse disorder
- A01936A: Requires the office of court administration to collect and maintain data on limited English proficient litigants in the state.
- A11013A: Exempts certain interested parties or people from civil arrest while going to, remaining at, or returning from place of such court proceeding.
- A11173A: Expands the definition of hate crime to include immigration status as a category a person can be targeted for.
The Huntington duo attended a dinner and dance with the other participants following the debate. The three day experience also included a private tour of the state capitol, leadership workshops focusing on Latino community concerns and networking opportunities.
“I learned about so much history about how this country was put together to make it what it is today; something I’ve-never learned before because back in my country of Honduras, we don’t learn such things about the history United States. It was really awesome. If it wasn’t for the hard work and Mrs. Moroff, Erlyn and I wouldn’t have been there. I’ve always had many teachers that motivated me to keep going. ‘Si se puede’ (Yes, it is possible/Yes, we can) always motivate me.”
Prospective participants in the 2019 Institute were required to complete an application packet and submit a typed resume along with two letters of recommendation and a “meaningful and responsive essay” of at least 250 words that described their interest in “leadership, government policy making, the issues facing youth and the Hispanic community and the qualities/experiences that make them an outstanding candidate.”
