HENRIETTA — The group of 29 area residents who graduated from this year’s Latino Leadership Development Program join the more than 550 graduates who have undergone the training course over the past 31 years.
The success of the United Way of Greater Rochester program also depends on the support of volunteer faculty members and presenters as well as employers who provide staffers with the leadership opportunity, noted Peter Carpino, the United Way’s president, during the Oct. 11 commencement luncheon.
"Our class brought new perspective to what leadership is," said Rosa Luciano-Julbe, an assistant administrator with Arc of Monroe County. "No leader can have all the answers on how to best meet the needs of our community. We are all responsible for change … sharing resources and holding each other accountable."
In addition to recognizing the new class, the United Way’s Circulo Latino honored Augustin Meléndez with the community leadership award during the luncheon. Meléndez is president of Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection.
"I am passing the torch on to you," he told the graduates. "This is your community."
