Chicanx Youth Conference welcomes over 500 students to Fresno State 

students holding a sign that reads "chicanx youth conference"
photo by Ricardo Andrade

On January 27, students from across the Valley in grades 6-12 participated in the fifty-first annual Chicanx Youth Conference at Fresno State. Hosted by Outreach and Special Programs (OSP), the conference is designed to empower young Chicanx students while educating them about options in higher education. 

OSP is a part of Strategic Enrollment Management. The department is dedicated to early outreach and special initiatives tailored to underrepresented student populations. 

Ricardo Andrade, an early outreach counselor and two-time Fresno State alum, said, “Key takeaways [of the conference] vary from grade level. For our younger students, we hope to make an introduction to our campus and provide an opportunity for career exploration. For our older students, we hope that they envision themselves here on campus as future Fresno State students.”

A full-day event, the conference featured cultural dance performances by the Fresno State Aztec Dance Club and Los Danzantes de Aztlán as well as a keynote address by Dr. Yammilette Rodriguez. 

Rodriguez, a Fresno State alumna, was recently appointed to the CSU Board of Trustees by Governor Newsom. She is also the senior director of the Central Valley’s Youth Leadership Institute, where she advocates for the inclusion of youth in community issues like policy-making and sustainable social change. 

Rodriguez spoke to the conference participants about her own educational and professional journey, urging students to find mentors and causes they are passionate about. 

“When you come to an incredible university like Fresno State, it’s going to help you think even more about how you can make a change…I can’t wait to see what you do in this world and in this community, “ she said. 

Following the keynote address, students chose from 16 workshops to attend. All workshops are centered around the four pillars at the heart of the conference: access to higher education, cultural awareness, social justice, and careers and leadership. 

Additionally, students had access to a resource fair, where they could connect with departments and programs across campus as well as community resources. 

“For some students, this is the first time at Fresno State or any other college campus. It’s the first time they get out of their own communities,” said Martina Granados, senior director of OSP. “The earlier they know about Fresno State, the better they can visualize themselves here in the future.”
 
Visit https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/outreach/index.html for more information about OSP and the educational opportunities available for K-12 students across the Valley.

by MARISA MATA

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