‘A living legacy:’ QC Latino leadership program launches this fall

Latino leaders throughout the Quad Cities area soon will have a new resource for their professional growth: The Quad Cities Regional LIDERAMOS Leadership Development Program.  Hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 10, Davenport, the first LIDERAMOS QC program is part of the LIDERAMOS National Latino Leadership Alliance (NLLA) framework. It […]

Latino leaders throughout the Quad Cities area soon will have a new resource for their professional growth: The Quad Cities Regional LIDERAMOS Leadership Development Program.  Hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 10, Davenport, the first LIDERAMOS QC program is part of the LIDERAMOS National Latino Leadership Alliance (NLLA) framework. It aims to provide a culturally centered curriculum and resources specifically tailored to the needs of QC Latino leaders, organizers said.   “Our ultimate goal is to support emerging and current leaders so that they can better impact their organizations, their networks and their communities,” said Alfred Ramirez, of East Moline, a diversity and leadership consultant, facilitator and coach involved with the national LIDERAMOS program. He will facilitate the QC program. 

The first cohort of LIDERAMOS will be limited to 25 participants. They will meet once a month  beginning in September through February 2024 for instruction, a retreat, panel discussions, guest speakers and more. Applications to participate are open now through May 31 or until the cohort is full.  The program is made possible, in part, by the Quad Cities Community Foundation, which provided $50,000 in grants for LULAC to plan and pilot the program, and the Regional Development Authority (RDA), which has also granted $10,000 in scholarships for participants.  Mr. Ramirez told the QCBJ that organizers, leaders and members of the bi-state Latino Leadership Planning Committee have met over the past 18 months to determine the need for the program, and ultimately, LULAC “stepped up to say they would be glad to host it.”  “When LULAC first heard about the opportunity to host this program, right away we knew it was needed,” said Mike Reyes, LULAC administrator, in a news release.  Echoing that sentiment, LULAC Council 10 parliamentarian and one of the lead planners Joe Moralez said that diversity is too often lacking at the leadership level — especially when it comes to Latino representation.  “If we can provide our emerging and current leaders with instruction, tools and resources to facilitate their success, we can add to the diversity of the Quad Cities area,” he said in the release. Mr. Ramirez said both Mr. Reyes and Mr. Moralez “have played an invaluable role in moving this program forward.” The Quad Cities Community Foundation also was involved in program discussions early on, so once LULAC stepped forward to host, the Community Foundation became a natural funding partner, according to the release.  “This is one way the Community Foundation is pursuing our imperative to advance equity in the Quad Cities,” said Sue Hafkemeyer, the foundation’s president and CEO. “As we look at strategic growth opportunities for our organization’s mission and our region’s future, cultivating a diverse community of leaders is a priority.”  In an interview with the QCBJ, the foundation’s Vice President of Grantmaking & Community Initiatives Kelly Thompson said that the QC “already benefits from many wonderful Latino, Latina and Latinx people, organizations and leaders. When we build on that strength, offering opportunities for growth, we all win.” 

Mr. Ramirez said the program model features five components, including self-development and awareness; mainstream leadership; Latino history, culture and leadership practices; public policy, civic engagement and social change; and skill development, which covers networking, team building and influence strategies.  Everything about the program is “action-oriented” and presented through a culturally sensitive lens, he said. “I think it will increase each participants' awareness of their culture and their history, or if they're already very well-versed, give them tools and resources to share that with the broader community.”  While the QC program will draw on the national program’s framework and curriculum, Mr. Ramirez said its content also will develop organically through group discussions and such to fit the region’s specific needs.   LIDERAMOS applications are open to adults ages 25 and older (as of September 2023) from all sectors in the QC and surrounding areas who identify as Latino, Latina or Latinx. The program fee is based on a sliding scale, Mr. Ramirez said. Sponsorship and scholarship dollars may be available to participants, he added. LIDERAMOS also welcomes sponsors and donors for this and future cohorts.  “This is a living legacy” within our community, Mr. Ramirez said. “It’s extremely rewarding and a dream come true for me and for everyone involved.”  For more information, visit here.