In collaboration with OLA of Eastern Long Island, three local Latino youths have begun building a professional network and affinity group for their peers. The ambitious project will kick off on Saturday night at LTV Studios in Wainscott.
Jonathan Lopez, a graduate of Pierson High School, along with Nicole Velez and Daniela Chavez, East Hampton High graduates, are setting up a network aimed at young professionals and students. Mr. Lopez, who is the intervention advocate at OLA and affiliated with their youth connect program, took the idea to the two women.
“There are so many professional networking groups for young people, mostly in large metropolitan areas,” he said. “That’s something that I really haven’t seen out here.”
Ms. Velez and Ms. Chavez took the idea and ran with it. “What Daniela and I brought to the table was, tapping into high schoolers,” Ms. Velez said, “specifically juniors and seniors, and also college students.” Together they decided to form an affinity group as well, bringing together young and seasoned Latino professionals with college and high school students.
Ms. Velez laid out a scenario from personal experience: “I want to go to college, but my parents didn’t really go to college or didn’t finish college, so how am I going to get there?”
“I was fortunate enough to have teachers, and mentors,” she continued, “and all these people that were really trying to help me succeed, and I know not everyone has that.”
All three are now matriculating at big-name universities: Mr. Lopez at Georgetown, Ms. Velez at Yale, and Ms. Chavez at Johns Hopkins.
When she began the college application process, Ms. Chavez recalled, it was hard to know how, or where to turn. “I struggled with finding all those resources and having a network like what we’re trying to create,” she said, “having a group that I could have reached out to, I would have really loved that.”
The three see the network as a bridge from generation to generation, “a way to connect the Latino community,” said Ms. Velez, “because there are a lot of people who have accomplished so many great things — it’s a way to put those people in conversation with these young generations.” They are reaching from Montauk to Riverhead for members, and hope to include non-Latinos as well. “We won’t turn away anyone,” Mr. Lopez said, “especially if they have an idea to help this group and let it keep growing.”
On Saturday at LTV, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., there will be food, mocktails, and networking, along with music from J-Til and visuals from Esly Escobar, as artist. People interested in attending can sign up by clicking here. And, if Ms. Velez, Ms. Chavez, and Mr. Lopez have anything to say about it, this event is just the beginning. They are planning monthly virtual meetings, on varying topics — “depending on what members want to discuss.”
More information can be found on the OLA Instagram page, @olaofeasternli, including a link to an RSVP form.
