52nd annual Chicanx Youth Conference welcomes nearly 1,000 participants to Fresno State

Fresno State’s office of Recruitment and Special Programs hosted its Chicanx Youth Conference on Saturday, Jan. 25, in the university’s Satellite Student Union. Elementary, middle school and high school students travelled from across the Valley and as far as Salinas to attend. 

The theme of this year’s conference was “Educación y Liberación: Building a Prosperous Future.”

Planned and facilitated by Ricardo Andrade, an early outreach coordinator, the conference creates a space for students to envision themselves at Fresno State and learn about the transformative power of a college degree. 

Andrade is a three-time Fresno State alum with a background similar to many Valley students — born in Guanajuato, Mexico and later raised in Dinuba, where he was part of the MESA club and the migrant program in high school. 

Andrade said, “It was through the migrant program that I came to a high school migrant day that the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) was hosting. I completed my application during one of the workshops, completed the CAMP application, and when I was admitted to Fresno State, I elected to be part of CAMP.” 

“I didn’t always know I would be going to college, but after getting accepted and finding out the financial aid package I would be receiving, it was an easy decision for me to pick Fresno State.”

At Fresno State, Andrade was very active on campus — volunteering at events and joining Mu Chi Omega, a fraternity made up mostly of first-generation students. 

Andrade said of his current position on campus, “[What I enjoy most about hosting the conference is] the ability to empower students with information that will shape their future. I see myself as an agent of change and I operate through those lenses. I enjoy building community and a space where like minded individuals can meet one another.” 

During the conference, remarks were delivered by University President Saul Jimenez-Sandoval, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Phong Yang and Dr. Luis Fernando Macías, chair of the university’s department of Chicano and Latin American studies. All three spoke of higher education as an opportunity to earn a degree as well as learn who you are and become a leader in the community. 

Los Danzantes de Aztlán

In his keynote address, Macías, spoke to the strength and resilience of Chicanx people and the belief that he has in students to achieve their dreams, saying, “The biggest lies you will be told over the next few years is that you’re not smart enough, strong enough or meant to go to college.

“You are smart enough. You are strong enough. You can pursue your dreams.”

Following the keynote, students chose from an assortment of workshops to attend focused on the four foundational pillars of the conference: Access to Higher Education, Social Justice, Careers and Leadership, and Cultural Awareness. .

Conference participants also had access to a resource fair that showcased over 30 on- and off-campus programs and services, and a performance by Los Danzantes de Aztlán, the university’s folklórico program. 

Andrade said, “The message of the conference is that there’s a place for you here, regardless of your background.”

To learn more about the Chicanx Youth Conference, services, and other programs offered by Recruitment and Special Programs, visit: https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/outreach/index.html. 

by MARISA MATA

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