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The is an innovative collaboration with the NYS Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force in conjunction with the annual SOMOS El Futuro conference, Office of Bilingual ¶«¾©ÈÈ and World Languages, the New York CityÌýDepartment of ¶«¾©ÈÈ, and other agencies as appropriate.

The overall purpose of the PR/HYLI is student empowerment. To this end the Institute has the following goals for its student delegates:

• 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, and
• The development of an in depth knowledge of the state legislative process.

The Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute consists of 3 main phases:

1. Training in regional delegations: selected student delegates focus on identification and research of local issues, study of the NYS legislative process, parliamentary procedure and selected bills.
2. Participation in the 3-day Institute: Approximately 200 students from 8 delegations statewide take part in key activities which include team-building exercises to develop inter-regional relationships, a Mock Assembly sessionÌý which is conducted in the NYS Assembly chamber, a student recognition dinner where winners of the PR/HYLI scholarships and other awards are announced and career development workshops.
3. Extension and refinement of leadership skills: back in their local communities, student delegates continue to develop leadership skills and put their skills “to practice."

The above information has been taken from the PR/HYLI website. For full information and application materials visit the .