3rd Annual
Cumbre de Empoderamiento Estudiantil
(Student EmPowerment Summit)
A half-day gathering to connect and uplift members of Latinos Unidos Student Unions & Associations, Advisors, School administrators, and allies who support them. This event fosters collaboration, leadership, and advocacy to create more inclusive educational experiences for all students. Open to all races and ethnicities, attendees will engage in meaningful discussions and share strategies to drive positive change within their schools and communities.
Saturday | October 18, 2025
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Polytech High School - 823 Walnut Shade Rd, Woodside, DE 19980
SPONSORED BY
Amplifying Latino Student Voices in Delaware.
What is the “Cumbre de Empoderamiento Estudiantil?”
The Cumbre de Empoderamiento Estudiantil (Student EmPowerment Summit) is by and for students who want to turn up the volume and activism of Latinos Unidos Student Unions/Associations. Whether your school’s Latinos Unidos Student Union/Association is in development, active, or re-emerging, the Cumbre de Empoderamiento Estudiantil is for you.
The Summit is meant to prepare, train, re-fuel and uplift students and the adults that support them. During the Summit, you will learn why it’s important to use your voice and how to do it in a way that powers up change for the better where you learn.
This year’s Keynote Speaker is José Ignacio Castañeda Perez, an investigative reporter with Spotlight Delaware!
Enter the
Cumbre de Empoderamiento Estudiantil Challenge
The Top school with the most students at the Summit will win a cash prize!
Help your school win a cash prize for having the most students in attendance at the Summit! Show support by sharing Summit information and encouraging your friends to register and attend our September 16th event.
How Your School Can Win $500!
Register for the Summit
Complete the registration form on this page to secure your spot at this year’s summit.
Spread the Word
Send a text or DM to encourage your friends to attend the summit. Be creative and share why amplifying Latinx student voices in our state is important. Share it on TikTok, Instagram, and/or Facebook. Don’t forget to tag @unitedwayde & use #AmplifyLatinoVoicesDE.
Attend the Summit
Your school must have a minimum of 10 attendees at the event to qualify. The top school with the most students in attendance will win a cash prize.
Learn More About the Challenge
Prize:
- First Place (Most attendees) : $500
Contest Rules and Details:
- All event attendees must register to attend. Only one registration per person.
- Registration closes October 3rd, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.
- To qualify for prize entry – each school must have a minimum of 10 students registered and in attendance the day of the event (October 18, 2025).
- A cash prize will be awarded to the school with the most students in attendance; first prize $500.
- The cash prize will be distributed by the United Way of Delaware to the school’s Administrator or staff member for appropriate tracking. Cash prize will not be distributed directly to students.
- Participation is open to any student, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, nationality, origin, or membership in any other protected category.
Event Details
Summit Schedule
Saturday | October 18, 2025
10:00 am - 3:00 pm (Doors open at 9 am)
Polytech High School
Volunteer Opportunities
We need trusted adults to help us out on the day of the summit. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering to help out during the event, please sign up here to be part of the Summit.
Be a Friend of the Summit
The Cumbre de Empoderamiento Estudiantil isn’t just an event; it’s a call for unity and a platform to amplify the voices of Latino youth in the First State. The summit is only possible because of generous support from donors and community partners. The investments go well beyond food, transportation, and t-shirts. They’re a commitment to helping our students thrive for years to come. For $100 or more, be a “Friend of the Summit” donor, and your contribution will help create a better future for Latino youth in Delaware.
Doors Open
Doors open at 9:00 am with vendors, music, entertainment, and student performances.
Welcome
The official program begins! Welcome to students, student presentations, and a Folk Dance by Aurora and Students
Keynote Speaker
Investigative Reporter
Spotlight Delaware
Workshop #1
- Stop the Bleed – Detén el sangrado Room 1 – Nemours Trauma team)
- Stop the Bleed – Detén el sangrado Room 2 – Nemours Trauma team
- Know Your Rights/Conoce tus derechos – ACLU & La Esperanza
- What to eat with Melissa – Qué comemos con Melissa Lopez
- Launching into your future – Despegando hacia tu future – Edwin Santos
Lunch & Fellowship
Enjoy a catered lunch and fellowship with friends.
Workshop #2
- Latino Artistry/Artesania Latina – TBD
- Speaking Aloud/Hablando en voz alta – Journalist Jazmin Buke of DETV
- International Club from Polytech High School (PHS) – Club Internacional de Polytech High School – Club Leadership
- Life Map – Tu Jornada– Dr. Amber Battle-Winston of United Way of Delaware
- Small Business/La Plaza – Neyda Albarrán
Closing Remarks & Prizes - and Fiesta!
We’ll close out the Summit with a few remarks from our student leaders, announce some prizes, and enjoy music and fellowship!
Bus Dismissal
2025 Keynote Speaker
José Ignacio Castañeda Perez
José Ignacio Castañeda Perez is an award-winning trilingual investigative reporter at Spotlight Delaware, where he leads the newsroom’s Spanish-language initiatives through Spotlight Delaware en Español. His work centers around immigrant and Latino communities in Delaware, including investigative reporting on healthcare and federal enforcement. He currently serves as one of three fellows with the 2025 Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Fellowship with Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE).
Castañeda returned to Delaware after covering nearly 400 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border for the Arizona Republic newspaper and previously worked for DelawareOnline/The News Journal, where he published the newspaper’s first Spanish-language story. Castañeda’s work has appeared in The Washington Post, USA TODAY, and CNN.
José Ignacio Castañeda Pérez es un galardonado periodista de investigación trilingüe en Spotlight Delaware, donde lidera las iniciativas en español de la sala de redacción a través de Spotlight Delaware en Español. Su trabajo se centra en las comunidades inmigrantes y latinas de Delaware, incluyendo reportajes de investigación sobre atención médica y cumplimiento de la ley federal. Actualmente es uno de los tres becarios de la Beca Chauncey Bailey para Periodistas de Color 2025 con Reporteros y Editores de Investigación.
Castañeda regresó a Delaware tras cubrir casi 400 millas de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México para el periódico Arizona Republic y anteriormente trabajó para DelawareOnline/The News Journal, donde publicó la primera historia en español del periódico. El trabajo de Castañeda ha aparecido en The Washington Post, USA TODAY y CNN.
Need a Ride?
We Got You!
We don’t want transportation to keep you from attending the summit. That’s why we organized buses to get you to the Summit!
New Castle County
Hodgson Vocational Tech School
2575 Glasgow Ave, Newark, DE 19702
Departure: 7:30 am
Return: 4:30 pm
New Castle County
ASPIRA High School
750 Otts Chapel Rd., Newark DE 19713
Departure: 7:30 am
Return: 4:30 pm
Kent
County
Milford High School
1019 N. Walnut St., Milford DE 19963
Departure: 8:15 am
Return: 3:30 pm
Sussex
County
Buses will pick up students from:
La Esperanza, Inc.
216 N. Race St., Georgetown, DE 19947
Departure: 8:15 am
Return: 3:30 pm
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is invited?
The Summit is open to students and advisors leading Latinos Unidos Student Unions/ Associations within their schools, along with their allies. We cover some challenging topics, making the Summit more suitable for high school students; however, mature 7th and 8th-graders are also welcome to attend.
Will this be fun?
Yes! We are going to have a lot of fun sprinkled throughout the Summit. There will be music, performances, and entertainment throughout the day.
What will the advisors be doing during the conference?
Advisors are welcome to attend. They will be able to attend most workshops with the students, and learn and grow from other advisors attending. Our intent is to equip advisors with the skills they need to amplify their Latino Student Association at their school.
Who is the keynote speaker?
The keynote speaker is José Ignacio Castañeda, a journalist at Spotlight Delaware. In his work, he focuses on covering public policy and its impact on the daily lives of Delawareans throughout the state, with a particular emphasis on communities that have traditionally lacked access to local news and information.
How much does it cost to attend?
The event is absolutely free. There is no cost for students or their advisors thanks to the generous donations from our sponsors.
Will there be food?
Yes, we will have snacks in the morning and lunch for everyone in attendance at 12 pm (noon). Be sure to select your food needs when you complete the registration form.
Can I invite friends?
Yes—the Summit is open to all students. You don’t have to identify as Latino, and you don’t have to have a Latinos Unidos Student Union/Association at your school. You do have to be interested in racial equity, attend a Delaware high school, and be ready to learn.
I may need a ride to attend the Summit. Is there transportation?
Yes, we will have bus transportation to and from New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties. Sign up for bus transportation when you register.
I have questions about transportation. Who do I call?
Contact Wanda Barrett at wbarrett@uwde.org or call 302-573-3757 if you have questions.
I’m not a part of a Latinos Unidos Student Union/ Association. Can I still come?
Yes, the Summit is open to all students! We will even have a session on how to start a student club at your school.
I’m interested in sponsoring the event. What do I do?
Contact Wanda Barrett at wbarrett@uwde.org or call 302-573-3757 if you have questions.
Are there any volunteer opportunities?
We are actively looking for trusted adults (21 and over) to help us out the day of the summit. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering to help out during the event, please click here to learn more and sign up.