The Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PR/HYLI), founded in 1983, is a transformative program that has been instrumental in empowering young Puerto Rican and Hispanic students across the United States. This annual initiative was designed to provide high school students of Puerto Rican and Hispanic descent with the tools, resources, and opportunities to foster leadership skills, community engagement, and a deeper understanding of their cultural heritage. The annual SOMOS conference, the New York State Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages of the New York State Education Department, and other pertinent organizations collaborate to create the Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PR/HYLI). By building leadership abilities, giving us the chance to engage with good role models including elected officials, educators, and business executives, and cultivating a thorough awareness of the state legislative process, its main goal is to empower Hispanic kids.
There are three primary phases of this institute, the first being training in regional delegations where chosen student delegates concentrate on recognizing and investigating local issues, as well as examining parliamentary procedures, selected bills, and the New York State legislative process. The second phase is participating in the yearly institute at Albany, where student delegates debate bills in the New York State Assembly Chambers, pretend to be state lawmakers, and communicate with legislators. Post-institute activities are the last and final stage, during which students continue to build their leadership and civic engagement skills by applying their newly gained knowledge and skills to community projects.
The Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PR/HYLI) initially made Jayron and I uneasy. We were frightened of public speaking, and the thought of discussing laws in the New York State Assembly seemed unattainable. But we both had a gut feeling that this was a chance we couldn’t pass up. We wanted to change issues in our Hispanic community, but we were not confident enough to do it. That was changed by PR/HYLI. It transformed us from timid, unsure students into leaders with a distinct voice and mission.
The training of the regional delegation marked the start of our journey, “I remembered not knowing what to anticipate as I walked into the first session. Students from various backgrounds were gathered around me, all eager to contribute. I wasn’t sure if I belonged with them at first. They discussed legislative topics and ideas with ease and talked with confidence. Fearing that I would say something wrong if I talked, I sat silently and listened. However, I was not allowed to go unnoticed by my mentor, Mrs. Dini, and fellow student delegates. They urged me to voice my opinions, ask questions, and speak up. I started to get involved gradually, and before I realized it, I was thoroughly involved in studying proposed legislation and discussing pressing problems that affected my community,” said Mariana Miguel Mendez.
Studying the legislative process was one of the most enlightening experiences. Prior to PR/HYLI, our knowledge of government processes was limited to what we were taught in school. However, we began to understand how laws were processed and how they affected people like us as we examined bills and rehearsed legislative procedures. More importantly, we both became aware of our ability to encourage change.
“I was anxious and excited at the same time when it came time to drive to Albany for the PR/HYLI conference. It seemed unreal to be debating in the Assembly Chamber itself. I was struck by the moment’s importance as soon as I entered the vast hall. Here I was standing, where actual legislators and assembly members discussed and enacted legislation and debated bills, where we would be taking the floor shortly,” said Mariana Miguel Mendez.
“My heart raced when I got up to speak during the debate. My hands were shaking, and I had a moment of self-doubt. Then I recalled all of the instruction, the support from my mentors, and the enthusiasm that we had been developing during the course of the program. I inhaled deeply before making my point. My colleague delegates gave me gestures of approval along with some applause when I was done. I had completed the task. I found my voice,” said Jayron Sandoval Sola.
Beyond the debate, Albany offered an incredible opportunity to connect with professionals and government figures who had previously been in our positions. We witnessed firsthand the importance of representation in government and heard from leaders who shared their experiences overcoming hardship. Their remarks motivated us and strengthened our conviction that our upbringing and experiences were assets rather than liabilities.
After PR/HYLI, we were different people when we got home. With the knowledge that we could change things, we carried ourselves with assurance. Our increased leadership abilities encouraged us to assume greater responsibility within our community. More significantly, PR/HYLI made us realize how essential it is to give back. We started guiding younger kids and urging them to take advantage of PR/HYLI opportunities. We want children to understand that, like ours, their voices are important. We realized that anyone with passion and devotion could be a leader, and we no longer thought that leadership was something that only a few people could possess.
Looking back, PR/HYLI marked an enormous turning point in our lives and was more than just a leadership institute. It gave us the confidence to stand up, the leadership abilities, and the conviction that we could bring about change. Because of this program, things that previously seemed unthinkable—standing in the Assembly Chamber, discussing legislation, and connecting with powerful leaders—became attainable.
Jayron and I still apply the principles PR/HYLI taught us today. We take on obstacles with assurance since we know we can overcome them. We now welcome leadership opportunities rather than avoiding them. Above all, we know how powerful it is to speak up for our community as well as for ourselves. Not only did PR/HYLI transform our lives, but it also influenced our future. It demonstrated to us that leadership is about where you’re willing to go and how you choose to encourage people along the route, not about where you’re from; and we will always be thankful for that.