In 2007, I visited Las Vegas at the invitation of a college student, Edgar Flores.
He was a volunteer for the Latino Youth Leadership Conference, an annual weeklong retreat at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he was an English major.
About 100 high school students gathered to learn leadership skills and build a sense of identity in a state where Latinos were, at the time, largely powerless.
Seven days. Seven states. Nearly 3,000 miles. Gustavo Arellano talks to Latinos across the Southwest about their hopes, fears and dreams in this election year.
In a small auditorium, I told the youngsters to know their history, to take pride in being Latino and to never forget to mentor others. My speech must have resonated, because I got invited back every couple of years.
Each time I returned, Flores had moved on up: Grad student. Law school. Passing the bar exam. His own practice….
