We recently returned from San Diego attending the NCLR Conference where we took ten Latino youth leaders.  It was exciting to be around these dynamic, young people eager to learn and full of enthusiasm..     Being around them reminded me about the promise of youth but also got me thinking about the sense of fulfillment of later stages.

Like people, agencies, too, seem to have stages.  I remember the sense of fear and enthusiasm when we started the LCDA seventeen years ago.  Much growth and struggle has brought us to where we are today.  We have a great sense of accomplishment for what we have done, but also a sense of great promise for things yet to come.

Opportunities are what I see in our future.  For our children who have their lives ahead of them.  For our youth who can reach and touch the stars through attaining an education.  For our adults and seniors who will, some day, harvest the fruit of their sacrifices.  Walking in the paths of hard work, integrity, family life, faith and spirituality, we will make the best of opportunities in our way.

Patricia B. Fennell

President/CEO