Cultural & Identity Programs

Youth Programs

César E. Chávez

Leadership Conference

Honoring and Commemorating
The César E. Chávez Leadership Conference is an annual gathering that brings together Latinx high school students and leaders from various regional schools. Hosted on the Southern Oregon University campus, this one-day event aims to enhance students’ readiness to take on leadership roles and deepen their understanding of current issues in the Latinx community.

Furthermore, the conference actively motivates Latino youth to pursue educational opportunities beyond high school. Attendees can participate in workshops that cover leadership skills, cultural arts, and college readiness.

Additionally, SOU’s Latinx student ambassadors are on hand throughout the day to assist and guide participants.

Conference Date
CECLC will be held on March 6, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration will be available in February. Check back soon for more information!

Conference Agenda
8:30 – 9:20 am Registration – Stevenson Union (SU)
9:25 – 10:30 am Welcome – SU Arena
10:45 – 11:30 am Session 1
11:45 – 12:25 pm Lunch 1 – The Hawk
11:45 – 12:25 pm College and University Fair 1 – Lithia Pavilion (small gym)
12:30 – 1:15 pm Lunch 2 – The Hawk
12:30 – 1:15 pm College and University Fair 2 – Lithia Pavilion (small gym)
1:30 – 2:15 pm Session 2
2:30 – 3:15 pm Session 3
3:30 – 4:30 pm Closing Ceremony and Dance – SU Diversions

Presenter Proposal Application

Conference Goals

Through this conference, students should:

Feel empowered to become more involved in their schools/community.
Deepen their understanding of Latino/a/x culture and contemporary issues.
Be exposed to various educational and career opportunities.

Pre-Conference Logistics for Schools

Pre-Conference Logistics

Location
The Cesar Chavez Leadership Conference will take place on the Southern Oregon University campus.

Arriving to Campus
Conference check-in location to be determined. All conference parking (including Buses, Van and Cars) must park in Lot 36 on Mountain Avenue after dropping off students. Conference volunteers will be stationed at the drop off site and will direct students into the welcoming session.

If buses are not staying for the conference, they can then depart after students and staffs have unloaded. If buses are staying, they are directed to park in the back of Lot 36. To depart, at the end of the conference, students should walk with their chaperone to their bus parked in lot 36.

Conference Logistics for Schools

Conference Logistics

Check-In
Each student will check-In (by last name) at the registration tables. Chaperones will also check in at this location. Students will be required to wear their t-shirt and a name badge throughout the day of the conference that they will receive at check-in. Chaperones also will be required to wear their conference name badge.

Group Assignments
All students will be assigned a group number. Chaperones are required to attend the conference sessions with the students and will be also assigned to a group. These groups will be led by SOU Ambassadors at the end of the welcome session. They will lead their student groups throughout the day and to each of the assigned sessions.

Luncheon
All conference participants will be provided lunch. Chaperones will eat with their assigned group at The Hawk. Please help monitor during the luncheon.

College & Career Fair
The College & Career Fair will take place at the Lithia Pavilion Small Gym before and after lunch. This is located next to Raider Village and the The Hawk.

Evaluations
The students will be filling out conference evaluations at the end of their last session. Group leaders will distribute and collect the evaluations as students depart their last session. Groups will proceed to the Stevenson Union Arena (downstairs) for the closing dance.

Closing Dance
The conference will end with a dance held in the Stevenson Union.

Departure
Each school will need to have a prearranged time and place to meet their students in the Stevenson Union for departure. School groups will need to walk together to their bus/vans (see School Bus Arrival/Departures section). Please ensure that all students are on the bus/van, and that they have all their belongings.

Presenter Information & Calls for Proposals

Presenter Information
The César E. Chávez Leadership Conference is held on the campus of Southern Oregon University campus each winter. This annual event will provide a forum for Latino youth (grades 9 – 12) from high schools in southern Oregon to meet community leaders, take part in leadership and cultural workshops and learn about college access.

We are hoping that our presenters will offer practical experience to help attendees increase their understanding, knowledge and skills in one of the particular strands of interest listed:

Leadership (The Legacy of César E. Chávez, Community Leadership, etc.)
College and Careers (Financial Aid, Scholarships, College preparation, Admissions, etc.)
Culture, Identity and Arts (Poetry, Music, Art, theater, etc.)
Life Skills (financial planning, job skills, work/school/family life balance)

The goals of our sessions are to:

Enhance the skills of participants and/or provide participants with useful tools.
Actively engage the audience in the session.
Reflect diverse perspectives by offering different viewpoints or including presenter(s) from different organizations (if more than one presenter).

What you need to know about presenting at the conference:

There are three sessions available – two in the morning, one in the afternoon. Each are 45 minutes in length.
Presenters are encouraged to bring their own computers with PowerPoint viewer software. LCD projectors and screens will be available upon request.
Presenters will be provided with a complimentary lunch.

Please note that per SOU policy, accepted presenters will need to submit a Consent to Criminal History Check form and a Volunteer Assumption of Risk form after notification of acceptance.

College and Career Fair Information

College and Career Fair Information
A goal of the program is to encourage Latino/a/x youth to pursue educational opportunities beyond high school. To showcase the variety of opportunities available, the conference invites higher education institutions and non-traditional educational organizations to table during our College and Career Fair portion of the event.

Two and four year institutions, trade vocational program, and professional career organization are encouraged to table and meet with the 300+ student leaders from Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath county high schools. This fair will take place from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

There is a $100 exhibitor registration fee; however, the fee is waived for local institutions or organizations and any trades or career and technical education programs in Oregon. All exhibitor’s will have to pass a background check to participate in the event.

For questions regarding tabling, contact our Youth Programs team at 541.552.6691 or latinoprograms@sou.edu.

This event is proudly supported by the Oregon Department of Education Latinx Student Success Plan, Oregon Community Foundation Latino Partnership Program, and the Southern Oregon Education Service District.

Cultural & Identity Programs

César E. Chávez

SOU Youth Programs