Countywide : 62 to Graduate From Leadership Program

Sixty-two Latinos will complete an unusual seven-month program this week designed to provide them with leadership skills and an overview of how government works.

Organizers hope that the business professionals, lawyers, doctors and others who make up this class of ’93 will move on to various civic commissions, city councils, school boards and perhaps even into state and national office.

A graduation ceremony for the participants of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s Leadership Development program will be held tonight at the Club Center in Costa Mesa from 6 to 9 p.m.

County Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez will be the guest speaker.

“This provides them with a network to successfully take advantage of civic opportunities,” said program director John Palacio, noting that previous graduates have gone on to serve on city commissions in Dana Point and Murrieta.

During the seven months of night and weekend meetings, participants learned about many aspects of government, from running a campaign to serving the public in an ethical manner.

As part of a class project, the students created their own reapportionment maps for legislative and congressional districts. They also discussed how to market products and services to the Latino community.

Palacio said the information taught in the program is useful not just to aspiring politicians but also to business professionals seeking to join corporate boards or expand their businesses.