By Pablo Dollero

of Early Academic Outreach Program

On March 2, 2024, school buses gathered in front of UC San Diego’s (UCSD) Price Center to drop off over 170 high school students from the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) to attend the 26th annual Adelante Latino Conference. Being the first in-person Adelante Latino Conference since the COVID-19 pandemic, the event gathered Chicanx/Latinx students to connect directly with Latino peers and education leaders to promote education beyond high school and provide resources for a brighter future.

“Having an event like this gets Latino students thinking about potential career options that they have after high school, sparking that mindset or idea of asking ‘What do I want to do?’” says Manuel Eddie Ortega, Assistant Principal of Montgomery High and Co-Chair of Adelante Latino Conference. 

Students made their way to Price Center’s West Ballroom, filled with dozens of tables for students to connect, eat and converse together, the event kicked off with a performance by Montgomery High’s Mariachi Azteca led by Guadalupe Gonzalez, performing traditional Mexican music and a rendition of the American National Anthem. Ortega and Adelante Latino Co-Chair Juan Neria Jr. provided a welcome and introduced keynote speaker Superintendent of SUHSD Dr. Moises Aguirre to speak about his experience as a Latino in education. 

“He gave an awesome presentation about some of the things he had overcome and achieved and also shared a lot of key statistics with Latinos in relation to education and careers,” says Ortega. “It was nice to have our superintendent be present and also talk and share his journey to where he’s at now. That was a great way to kick off the event.” 

Students were then led to UCSD’s Center Hall where they were split into groups to visit up to 11 different guest speakers to talk about Chicanx/Latinx-centered education opportunities. Attendees had the chance to ask questions and talk directly with Latino speakers. Ortega described that guest speakers ranged from artists like Paul Jimenez’s Ground Floor Murals, real estate agents, doctors, engineers, military personnel and more. Students also enjoyed food with guest speakers and entered free opportunity drawings to receive fun prizes.   

“Seeing Latinos talking to experts in person I think goes a long way and makes things more attainable for students,” Ortega says. “A student might want to be a doctor but doesn't personally know a doctor within their family or their circle. Being able to talk to an expert in person and ask questions and ask them how they got there I think means a lot for them. Students can say ‘Hey, they look like me and I could also become that person.’”

Visit the event website for addtional information: https://adelantelatinoconference.art.blog/