Washington - Senate Democrats today highlighted the importance of civic engagement among young Hispanics as part of the First Senate Democratic Latino Youth Summit. The event gave close to 150 young Latinos from across the country the opportunity to interact with senators and discuss issues of importance, such as: immigration, civil rights, and education. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ken Salazar (D-CO), and Robert Menéndez (D-NJ), addressed the young Hispanic leaders and commended their involvement and impact on public policy and society.
Senator Menéndez, Co-chair of the Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force, said: "It is an honor to celebrate the first Latino Youth Summit in Senate history during a time when a great deal is at stake for our Latino youth and for our families. It gives me great hope and inspiration to see our bright minds debating issues that directly impact our communities, like civil rights, civic engagement, immigration and juvenile justice reform. Not only are they young Latinos that are going to be successful leaders in a competitive global economy, but they are also young people who are engaged politically. They will be ready to fight for what is right for our Latino community and our nation. My Democratic colleagues in the Senate and I are guided by the belief that we must invest in the new generation of leaders that will follow where we leave off."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) emphasized the importance of education for the attendees. "What leveled the field for me and allowed me to reach my goals in life was my education. Education is not always accessible to all members of American society. But you are here today because you are the fruit of generations of hard work and sacrifice. It is your duty to continue the fight to give Latinos their rightful place in our nation's fabric. It is your duty to empower yourselves through education and, in turn, make wiser use of the political and civic process. As Latino student leaders, the future of this country is in your hands. Each one of you can be a catalyst for social change."
Senator Stabenow, Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee Chairwoman, added: "Today's first ever Hispanic Youth Summit provides a valuable opportunity to address the important issues facing Hispanic youth and students throughout the nation. We're proud to be joined by 150 student leaders from over 20 states and look forward to the opportunity to work together in the future."
Said Senator Ken Salazar, Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force Co-chair: "It is a privilege to have so many young, aspiring Latino leaders attend the first Senate Democratic Latino Youth Summit. Today, we are recognizing the important contributions of Latino youth to our community and our Nation. The future of the Latino community resides with our young people. Over half of Latinos in the United States are under the age of 26 and will continue to be the fastest growing sector in our Nation's population. As this important summit begins, we must remember that investing in our young people will pay off in the future as we enable them to reach their potential and become catalysts of change in their communities."
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