A group of ambitious and motivated students at Antioch Community High School came together to make a difference for Latinos everywhere. The group, with Assistant Principal of Student Services Omar Rodriguez’s leadership, began ACHS’s first ever Latino Leadership group.

This new group offers students with Latino descent a place to vent and express their feelings, as well as provides them new opportunities to take control and offer any active leadership roles around the school and community.

This group formed in the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year with a handful of juniors and seniors who have identified themselves as being Hispanic.

“The [national organization] contacted Kristina Wilson, department chair of the world language department, to hold activities for Hispanic students. We gathered everyone to the auditorium, but before the speaker arrived or even before I had said anything, a student asked to start a club,” said Rodriguez. “I was taken aback by the request and decided to organize this group.”

The group hopes to organize activities that share the traditions and heritage of Hispanic culture with the rest of the school’s population.

“The more people are aware and knowledgeable of the differences and similarities bridges conversations and opens opportunities to understand each other better,” said Rodriguez.

For more information about the Latino Leadership Program contact Rodriguez and President Yasmin Lara.