Lake County Liderazgo Application

What: Designed and hosted by Mano a Mano Family Resource Center the Lake County Liderazgo Initiative is the first leadership development of its kind, focused on cultivating the talent, minds, and networks of emerging leaders of Latino communities in Lake County. The mission of Liderazgo is to provide a forum where these leaders will build their capacity and understanding of policy and community issues, define and develop their leadership styles, and connect with other civic leaders. Our vision is that over the long term, our community will benefit from the increased participation of Latinos and their allies in leadership roles in Lake County.

The three-day seminar will include presentations from leaders from across the state, who will speak on topics such as leadership development, social, economic, and political issues. The seminars will all focus on leadership development and capacity building from a Latino/a and people of color perspective and how to elevate Latino voices in policy and community forums.

Who: The seminar participants of Liderazgo will be emerging leaders who are early to mid-career professionals, community members and/or who work in Lake County, who have a proven track record of service in Latino communities. While the participants need not be Latino/a, participants will be deeply connected to and rooted in our community. The seminar speakers will be experts in their fields and leaders in local, state, and national conversations.

When/Where: The Liderazgo Initiative is a three-day, all-day seminar to be held on Wednesday, November 11, Thursday, November 12, and Friday, November 13, 2026, in Lake County. The seminar will take place at the College of Lake County Lakeshore Campus, located at 34 N. Sheridan Rd., Waukegan, IL 60085. The activities will start at 9:00 am each day and conclude at 5:00 pm. Mano a Mano will also host a VIP networking event on Thursday, November 12, that will offer 2026 Liderazgo fellows a chance to network with other Liderazgo fellows, community leaders, and local elected officials.

How: This sixth annual Liderazgo Initiative will have the capacity for 25 emerging leader participants, who will be selected by a committee. In order to be considered for participation in Liderazgo, interested persons should fill out this short application, by Monday, October 12th, 2026, at 5:00 pm. Participation in Liderazgo is free of charge, and meals will be provided to all participants.

We are excited to learn more about you, your leadership journey, your connection to the community, and what you hope to bring to and gain from the Liderazgo Initiative.

Please respond to each of the questions below using a question-and-answer format. Your complete response should be no more than 1,000 words total. There is no minimum word count for individual questions, so feel free to spend more time on the questions that are most meaningful to you.

There are no right or wrong answers. We encourage you to be thoughtful, honest, and most importantly, be yourself and respond in your own voice. Your experiences, perspectives, and connection to community are what we want to learn about.

1. How did you hear about Liderazgo Initiative?
2. Why do you want to be a part of the Liderazgo Initiative?
3. What are three values or elements that define your leadership style?
4. What is your philosophy toward community engagement and empowerment?
5. What’s something you’ve worked on that you are proud of?
6. Why is Lake County the place you call home and/or where you work?
7. How do you envision yourself being a force for change in Lake County?

Participants will be notified by October 26th, 2026 of selection and final event details.

We ask that upon submission of an application, applicants hold the event dates on their calendars pending acceptance into the program.

For more information, contact Joanna Jaimes at jjaimes@mamfrc.org