By Joaquin Ramirez, Hola Iowa
Latinos In Action (LIA) is an innovative organization that aims to empower Latino youth to lead and strengthen their communities through culturally responsive social-emotional learning, college and career readiness, and leadership. Established in 2001, LIA aims to create a platform for young Latinos to excel academically and socially while also promoting a strong sense of pride in their cultural heritage.
Over the years, LIA has achieved significant milestones:
2001: Held its first Annual Youth Leadership Conference with 1,000 students.
2010: Became an official non-profit organization, expanding to 37 schools.
2015: Recognized by the White House Initiative on Excellence in Hispanic Education as White House Bright Spot for Hispanic Education.
2023: Expanded to 14 states, reaching over 360 schools nationwide with nearly 10,000 student members boasting a collective graduation rate of 98%.
LIA’s impact is far-reaching, with programs in more than 360 schools across the United States, from coast to coast. In Iowa, LIA has been adopted by three Des Moines schools: East High School, North High School, and Roosevelt High School, with Carroll High School set to join next fall.
Dr. José Enriquez, the CEO of Latinos In Action, is the powerhouse behind the organization’s success. Born in El Salvador and raised in Los Angeles, Dr. Enriquez’s journey is one of resilience, cultural pride, and an unwavering commitment to empowering Latino youth. His early life in El Salvador and subsequent upbringing in LA played a pivotal role in shaping his worldview. “Everything is about our own history and living experiences.” He explains. “A lot of what helped me along the way is what I infused into Latinos In Action.”
One of the critical turning points in Dr. Enriquez’s life was his involvement in wrestling. “Wrestling taught me discipline, amongst many other things,” he recalls. More than just a sport, wrestling became the vehicle that opened doors for him, earning him a full-ride scholarship to college in Utah. That experience not only provided him with an education but also exposed him to the cultural differences between LA and Utah, highlighting the need for greater involvement of Latino youth in their communities.
Upon completing his education, Dr. Enriquez noticed a significant gap in the involvement of Latino youth in Utah compared to what he had witnessed in LA. Determined to address this, he began with a class of 35 students, teaching them their native language. “What I want people to understand is that it came out of a need,” he says. This small beginning was the seed from which Latinos In Action grew, driven by the belief that young Latinos need to see and become heroes within their communities.
Dr. Enriquez’s philosophy is rooted in the idea that true empowerment comes from within. “It’s great to teach them about the history of Latino heroes, but what we really need is for these young people to become heroes of their own community,” he asserts. By incorporating stories of Latino heroes into the curriculum, Dr. Enriquez aims to inspire students to recognize their potential and take pride in their cultural heritage. “We need to empower them,” he emphasizes. “Our schools already have heroes, and we are providing the platform for them to be seen.”
LIA is built on four pillars: leveraging personal and cultural assets, excelling in education, serving the community, and developing leadership skills. These pillars reflect Dr. Enriquez’s personal journey and the values instilled in him by his mother, who navigated immense challenges to raise her children in LA as a single parent. “My mother did a lot for us; she came first, the hard way, through the desert, swam, and left us back in El Salvador for some time, and then sent for us,” he recounts. Her resilience and determination deeply influenced Dr. Enriquez, shaping his understanding of leadership and service. His migration from El Salvador to national CEO of Latinos In Action is a powerful example of how personal history and experiences can fuel a movement. His commitment to empowering Latino youth through education, cultural pride, and leadership is transforming communities and creating new generations of heroes.
The need for Latinos In Action in Iowa is particularly evident due to the significant growth of the Latino population in the state. As of the 2021-2022 school year, Iowa’s elementary and high schools enrolled 64,567 Latino students, marking a 289.7% increase since the 1999-2000 school year. This surge accentuates the importance of culturally responsive education programs like LIA in promoting academic and personal success among Latino youth. “The expansion cannot happen any sooner; we just need communication. This is an investment,” he notes. LIA aims not only to impact individual students but also to create a broader cultural shift within communities. “We don’t want to just make a single change or impact one thing; we want to change everything,” he says, emphasizing the need for the program to be integrated into the school curriculum rather than being an after-school activity or club.
Photo by Tar Macias / Hola Iowa
Aside from students getting credit towards graduation by enrolling in LIA, one of the highlights of LIA is their annual spring conference. This year, Drake University hosted Iowa’s conference for the second year in a row and is scheduled to host again in 2025. The conference features keynote speakers made up of successful Latinos who share their experiences. In 2023 students heard from José M. Hernández, an engineer and astronaut son of migrant farmers from Mexico. His story was made into a movie titled “A Million Miles Away.” In 2024 they brought Richard Montañez, a former janitor who is credited with creating the seasoning mix used in Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. The movie about his life was produced by Eva Longoria and shown at the White House. The conferences also provide a platform for students to connect, learn, and be inspired. Additionally, LIA offers scholarships to senior students, and several colleges have LIA chapters to support ongoing engagement and development.
As Dr. Enriquez continues to lead LIA, his vision remains clear: to empower young Latinos to become leaders and heroes within their communities. “Our young people are hungry, brilliant, and ready to give back; they just need a platform,” he asserts. Through his dedication and the foundational principles of LIA, Dr. Enriquez is not only building leadership but also creating a legacy that will inspire generations to come. As LIA continues to flourish, it serves as a glimmer of hope for Latino students in Iowa and across the nation.
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