Congratulations LPLI's Class of 2010

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulation the Latino Partnership Leadership Institute's Class of 2010 Unidos Sin Fronteras on their commencement ceremony which took place, Friday, March 19, 2010 at Concilio Ballroom.


I write commencement rather than graduation, the word commencement means a beginning; a start. This is the beginning of your journey into leadership... this is not the end of a program or a destination. You are now standing on the road to self-empowerment and hopefully on the road to creating a better Latino community.

They say that to those who much has been given, much is expected. My expectation of this year's class is that same as I have expected from every class that has ever participated in this leadership development experience... and that is for you to know take these rudimentary tools that you have been given, and continue to develop them and yourself and manifest positive change and progress in the Greater Philadelphia Latino community. Thereby, strengthening the community at-large.

I challenge you to be the class that has the next City councilperson, the next school principle, the next college Dean, the next Executive Director, the next entrepreneur, the next State representative, the next Mayor, the next Governor, the next block captain, the next child advocate, the next volunteer...

I urge you to clarify your priorities, to not get so caught up in the minutia of insignificant daily acts that you forget to the important things that need to be done in this community. To figure out that absolutely, positively must get done, what's most important and imperative - and do that first, regardless of how difficult or if it's the only thing you do. Because at the end of the day, that is what will move this community forward from mediocrity to greatness - that is what inspires people, that is what creates positive social change. And you have better believe that from this moment forward, your every accomplishment and failure will be kept in a scorecard... what do you want yours to say when all is said and done?