Tulane University

Puentes/LatiNola is a community development organization whose mission is ‘€œto build assets and create access for the Latino community of the Greater New Orleans area.‘€ This year the organization held its first youth essay contest entitled, ‘€œLatiNola Youth Leadership Essay Contest‘€. The purpose of the essay contest was to encourage middle school and high school students to reflect on the impact the Latino community has had on New Orleans as well as the United States.

This year‘€™s high school topic related to how Latinos/as have shaped the great ‘€œmelting pot‘€ of the United States in ways that have enriched the country. The top three essays, chosen from nearly thirty entries from four area high schools, were recognized at an awards ceremony in the Greenleaf Conference Room of Tulane University’s Stone Center for Latin American Studies on January 22, 2010. The prizes for the top essays included a certificate, a LatiNola t-shirt and a cash prize. Award winners and their families were then invited to attend the Pachanga which followed the ceremony, at which members of the graduate and undergraduate Latin American organizations also raised over $1000 to donate to Partners in Health to assist in relief efforts in Haiti. The essay contest was sponsored by LatiNola, The Stone Center for Latin American Studies, and TULASO, the Tulane Undergraduate Latin American Student Organization.

• 1st Place: James Gordey, Archbishop Rummel High School
• 2nd Place: Sarah Bienes, Cabrini High School
• 3rd Place: Kylum Favorite, West St. John High School

Photo: 1st and 3rd place winners, James Gordey and Kylum Favorite with members of TULASO and LatiNola Program Manager Anna Frachou

See the LatiNola website for more information on the organization.