latin american youth center LAYC youth development latino

Veronica Vasquez and Natalia Diaz sit on the dais behind President Obama as he talks about the importance of mentoring.

The Latin American Youth Center was honored to be invited to the White House to help President Barack Obama and First Lady Michele Obama celebrate National Mentoring Month. LAYC youth Veronica Vasquez and LAYC staff Natalia Diaz joined Executive Director Lori Kaplan as the President welcomed the first class of mentors and proteges to the East Room.

After the program, Veronica, Natalia and Lori had the opportunity to roam around the White House a little bit, which included a visit to the White House movie theater!

The White House mentoring program is a year-long program that pairs young men and women from area high schools with White House staffer mentors. During his remarks, President Obama spoke about the role that mentors played in the lives of poet Maya Angelou, musician Stevie Wonder and the founder of Apple, Steve Jobs.

"It was wonderful to see Natalia and Veronica on the White House dais, listening to the First Lady and the President talk about the special mentors they have had in their lives while celebrating the magic of special mentoring relationships," Lori said. "The LAYC Promotor Pathway was prominently featured by the White House as a 'model that works' and I am very proud to receive this very special recognition of our work."

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