Latino Leadership. What does it look like?

 

LLA is excited that its Latino Leadership Alliance alumni have the passion for their communities and the ganas to use the leadership skills they developed through LLA’s Leadership Academy to put themselves before the voters for the opportunity to work serving their communities through elected office.
Learn more about these leaders, what they’re running for and why they’re doing it.

NAME: JESUS SALAZAR

LLA COHORT: 10

RACE: Luther Burbank School District, Board of Trustees

WHAT DOES LATINO LEADERSHIP LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

Being a Latino leader means being connected to the community, means placing community and relationships at the center of your work. It means voicing the needs of our community at a table that so often we don’t have a seat at. It means being able to be resilient, being able to persevere and work harder than anyone else. Latino leadership is about using your story and experiences to uplift others, to transfer our skills of navigating these treacherous waters and applying them to restructure the system. Latino leadership is also about being visible and lending a hand to younger Latinos and Latinas, so that together we can make this a safer and more prosperous place to live for our community. Latino leadership is inclusive, innovative and the future of our country.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

The pandemic has exacerbated disparities among black and brown communities and put the systemic inequities into stark relief. Our communities have been hit the hardest and have the least access to resources. Our workers are considered essential but have not been given adequate wages, protections or benefits. Our families don’t have the privilege of working from home or having separate rooms for their children, and yet are being expected to perform the same as always. 

This is why I also have decided to run for the Luther Burbank School Board in San Jose — which oversees the elementary school I attended. Having grown up as an immigrant, I know first hand what it feels like to feel hungry, to not know how to do my homework and have no help, to have to worry about paying rent. Currently our families are hurting and struggling financially, emotionally and physically. We are constantly being attacked by the current administration and many live in fear of being separated from their loved ones. On top of all of that pressure our families also have to stress about creating a quiet space for their students to learn, while moms have been forced to turn into teachers. Many of our students suffer from the great digital divide, without access to computers or the internet.

We should meet families where they are and provide the services they need. We could train parents in teaching techniques and help them become confident in helping their children. We can partner with local companies, businesses and nonprofits to help us acquire resources, so that our students have the tools they need to be successful. I believe our students have resiliency in their DNA and given the proper tools they can break ceilings.

Soon I will become the first in my family to earn a master’s degree and I hope to give every student at the Luther Burbank School that same opportunity.  I envision a Luther Burbank that not only produces prepared students but fosters an environment of acceptance, growth and innovation. Where all students feel proud of belonging to our community, who know their history and feel confident to take on the challenges of tomorrow.  

HOW HAS YOUR LLA EXPERIENCE HELPED YOU IN YOUR CAMPAIGN RACE?

The Latino Leader Alliance experience provided me with a constant bank of inspiration of which I have drawn numerous times during my campaign. It’s truly a robust leadership program that challenges you to become an effective leader! During our program I was able to enhance my leadership skills through workshops, self-reflections and exposure to various leadership strategies.

As a candidate running for elected office, it’s imperative to be able to build relationships and engage with a wide range of stakeholders. At LLA working across sectors was a major component of the program, and this really prepared me to connect with leaders in the private sector, elected offices, nonprofits and education. A lesson that will continue to practice in my career. It’s critical to the success of our community that we begin to work across sectors and build intentional relationships.

Lastly, my cohort members are some of the most incredible individuals I have ever met. They are a true representation of Latino Leadership, leaders who are filled with grit and resilience. My cohort members not only inspired me to run for office but also pursue a master’s degree at UC Berkeley all during a pandemic. Latino Leadership Alliance is the kind of experience that every young Latino leader thinking of running for office should have access to. Thank you Latino Leadership Alliance for enhancing my leadership skills and giving me the confidence to run for public office.   

WEBSITE: https://www.jesussalazar.org