OAK BROOK, IL – September 15, 2014 – (HISPANICIZE WIRE) – For many Hispanic students in the U.S., finding inspiration is just as important as financing an education. To help students stay focused on the next step in their lives, McDonald’s has partnered with the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) and CoolSpeak for the second consecutive year to present the USHLI Student Leadership Summit. The 10-city summit is part of USHLI’s 2014 Student Leadership Series, designed to create a culture of education.
“As a leading supporter of higher education for Hispanics since 1985, we’re always exploring new ways to motivate youth, and through this partnership, we’re able to connect with students in a fun, relevant way”
“At McDonald’s, we understand the importance of education in creating opportunities for Hispanic students,” said Patricia Diaz, director of U.S. Hispanic Marketing for McDonald’s USA. “As a leading supporter of higher education for Hispanics since 1985, we’re always exploring new ways to motivate youth, and through this partnership, we’re able to connect with students in a fun, relevant way.”
To resonate with students, the summit will feature motivational speakers from CoolSpeak, a youth engagement organization that improves education and inspires students to learn by infusing a “cool” factor into programs and events.
“We share our personal life experiences and insights with students to challenge them to achieve their full potential,” said CoolSpeak Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ojeda Jr. “We know these students have dreams, and we want to give them that extra encouragement to get them there.”
The 2014 USHLI Student Leadership Summit presented by McDonald’s is part of a combined national effort to motivate and provide resources to Hispanic students. Through the partnership, McDonald’s and USHLI – a nationally recognized Latino nonprofit organization – work jointly toward fulfilling USHLI’s mission of promoting education, research and leadership development to empower Latinos.
“With today’s increasingly crowded and competitive job market, pursuing a higher education is critical,” said Dr. Juan Andrade, president of USHLI. “We must continue to prioritize higher education among Hispanic youth, as it will contribute not only to individual success but to the betterment of our community.”
Between workshops, students will be able to stop by the McDonald’s Study Lounge, a hub to connect with other students complete with tablet kiosks and a fun photo booth. Students will also have the opportunity to learn more about existing scholarship programs to help finance their college education.
This year’s educational initiative also includes support from LULAC National Education Service Centers (LNESC), a McDonald’s education partner. LNESC provides innovative educational programming to high-need students through a network of 14 education and technology centers and will be a resource for students seeking scholarship information.
The USHLI Student Leadership Summit presented by McDonald’s will take place from September through October 2014 in the following cities: Chicago, Ill.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.; Miami, Fla.; Houston, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; San Jose, Calif.; Los Angeles, Calif. and Phoenix, Ariz. For details on dates and venues, visit www.ushli.org.
About McDonald’s
McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 26 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald’s U.S. restaurants. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates on our business, promotions and products.
About USHLI
USHLI is a Chicago-based national, non-profit, non-partisan, tax-exempt organization, and a member of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) and the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA). The mission of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) is to fulfill the promises and principles of democracy by promoting education, research, leadership development, and empowering Latinos and similarly disenfranchised groups by maximizing their civic awareness, engagement, and participation. For more information, please visit www.ushli.org.
About CoolSpeak
CoolSpeak was founded in 2009 and is the leading full service youth engagement organization delivering unique speakers, programs and events to keep students inspired, parents involved and teachers engaged. The CoolSpeak engagement platform offers specifically tailored experiences that allow educational institutions, non-profit organizations and Fortune 1000 businesses to foster educational agendas and support proactive youth outreach. CoolSpeak allows for the cultivation of stronger and more meaningful connections that empowers our audiences to become catalysts’ for positive change, intrinsic motivation, personal growth and self-sustaining inspiration. More information can be found at www.coolspeak.net, on Facebook at Facebook.com/CoolSpeak.page and at Twitter @CoolSpeak.
About LNESC
LULAC National Educational Service Centers, Inc. (LNESC) was established in 1973 by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) to provide educational programming to high-need students throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. LNESC has served over 500,000 students, sent 150,000 students on to college, and awarded nearly $20 million in scholarships. LNESC’s results are made possible by a network of dedicated field staff, top-notch teachers, over 90 school partners, and the support of LULAC – the nation’s largest membership-based Latino organization. LNESC works to change lives and build Latino communities, one student at a time. More information about LNESC and its programs can be found at www.LNESC.org.