Hispanic Leadership Institute

The Hispanic Leadership Institute promotes the individual development of Hispanics for increased participation in leadership roles and serves as a principal education and networking resource for expertise and advocacy on leadership issues affecting Latino communities. 

HLI was started in 1986 by Valle del Sol to pay homage to our Chicano activist founders and to create more representation in places of power in Arizona. What began as a board training program has evolved into the state’s premier Latino leadership development program. HLI has expanded to Tucson, Yuma, the Copper Corridor (eastern AZ), Pinal County, and the East and West Valleys.

Every week, cohort members are informed about a different issue affecting the Latino community – we bring in field experts and leaders to discuss and empower our participants to make a difference. We also incorporate many interpersonal activities to allow members to reflect on their journeys while connecting (or reconnecting) to their culture and heritage. At the end of the program, we ask participants to make a pledge to serve their community within 120 days of graduation. The results of these pledges have included the founding of nonprofit organizations, alumni running for elected office, and service projects that have created a positive impact across the state.