Ismael Garcia
Age 21, senior at IUPUI Leader at La Plaza
As an immigrant to the United States and the first person in his family to attend college, Ismael Garcia knows first-hand the impact of the guidance and financial assistance he received from La Plaza when applying to and enrolling in college. To give back to the organization and community that had helped him, he volunteered this summer at La Plaza’s Leadership Institute for Latino Youth (LILY).
Through his work this summer, Garcia, a senior at IUPUI, learned that his experience and perspective can help others. “This was my first experience working in a summer program with youth. In the beginning, I was not sure if I would be able to provide them with enough strength,” he said. But since many of the youth in the program could relate to the barriers he had faced, Garcia was able to provide authentic examples of success. “I found out that I can be a good leader, and that my personal experiences can inspire others.”
Suzanne Rothenberg, Program Coordinator at La Plaza, agrees, “Ismael exemplifies compassion and academic excellence for Latino youth in Indianapolis. He has been a powerful example for our students, demonstrating exactly how he has overcome the obstacles in his education to become a successful engineering student at IUPUI.”
The mission of La Plaza is to serve, empower and integrate the central Indiana Latino community. La Plaza provides families with access to essential, health and social services and educational programs and builds understanding and appreciation of the Latino community through participation in a wide variety of cultural activities.
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