This opening session kicks off the 2026 LULAC National Women’s Conference with a clear understanding of what has carried this movement forward. From the beginning, Latinas have been at its center, organizing in their communities, speaking up when it carried risk, and leading with a strength rooted in culture, family, and lived experience. That work is not behind us. It is still happening, and it is shaping what comes next. This session recognizes that truth and sets a direction, focused on leadership that is learned, practiced, and passed on, with the tools Latinas need to lead in their communities, in institutions, and in the decisions that define our future.
Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:30am CDT Room: 203 B
This session looks at a reality that is no longer distant. Climate-driven disasters are accelerating migration across the Americas, and Latino communities, especially farmworkers, are living the consequences as hurricanes, drought, and extreme heat displace families and worsen already dangerous working conditions. Migrants arriving in the U.S. face added pressures, from unstable housing to limited protections and increased enforcement. The session connects climate, migration, and labor directly, and focuses on how to speak about these issues clearly and responsibly. Through discussion and real-world scenarios, participants will build skills to advocate, communicate effectively, and elevate the voices of those most affected. Participants who complete the session will receive the ecoAmerica x LULAC Climate Change Ambassador Certificate, recognizing their readiness to lead in this space.
This session is built for youth and young adults who want to understand how decisions actually get made inside LULAC and how to take part in that process with confidence. Participants will learn the basics of parliamentary procedure under the LULAC Constitution, including how to run a meeting, introduce motions, and move ideas forward. The goal is simple: you walk out knowing how to lead, how to speak up, and how to turn your voice into action in any room.
Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT Room: 203 A
Latinas are one of the fastest-growing groups of entrepreneurs, starting businesses at higher rates than any other group of women across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. This session looks at the barriers they still face in 2026, from limited access to capital and SBA loans to rising costs and the instability caused by immigration raids. And still, Latinas are building across industries and leading with purpose. This is not just resilience. It is economic power, and Latinas are defining it on their own terms.
Thursday June 18, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am CDT Room: 203 B
This session is built for young adults who want to take control of their financial future in 2026, at a time when rising costs, student debt, and economic uncertainty are real and immediate. Instead of trying to cover everything, we zero in on the essentials: how to manage credit, build a basic budget, and make smarter day-to-day financial decisions in a high-cost environment. We will also touch briefly on digital tools like online payments and crypto, and name the added financial pressures facing young people in mixed-status families. The goal is simple: leave with a clear understanding of a few core concepts and practical steps you can actually use right away.
This session brings together LULAC youth and young adult leaders who have grown within the organization and are now stepping into larger roles. They will share what that transition actually looks like, how they stayed involved, took on leadership, and built something that lasts. The focus is simple: showing that LULAC is not a moment, it is a pathway. Participants will leave with a clear sense of how to continue their leadership journey and build the next generation of councils and impact.
Thursday June 18, 2026 10:20am - 11:45am CDT Room: 203 A
This session takes a clear look at the role women have played in LULAC from the beginning to now. Latinas have shaped this organization in ways that were not always visible, but always central to its work. It also confronts the harder truth that this history includes moments of exclusion and machismo that limited women’s roles and recognition. That history matters because it explains where we are and what has been built. The focus then turns forward, on how that leadership continues and how the next generation is prepared to step in and carry it on.
Thursday June 18, 2026 10:20am - 11:45am CDT Room: 203 B
This networking luncheon brings together youth and young adults to connect, share experiences, and build relationships that last beyond the convention. The session will include dedicated college and career stations where participants can engage directly with mentors, explore opportunities, and get practical guidance for their next steps in.
The Women’s Hall of Fame Luncheon honors Latinas whose leadership, service, and impact have shaped LULAC and strengthened communities across the country. This is a moment to recognize not just achievement, but the work, sacrifice, and commitment behind it. It is also a reminder of what leadership looks like in practice and what the next generation is called to carry forward.
Thursday June 18, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm CDT Room: 203 B
This session is a flagship training institute that equips young leaders with the knowledge and skills to serve as trusted messengers in their communities. In partnership with the American Cancer Society, participants will receive structured training on cancer prevention, early detection, and culturally responsive communication, with the opportunity to complete key components toward Health Equity Ambassador certification. The session combines hands-on learning, real-world discussion, and applied skill-building focused on addressing barriers to care and improving outreach in Latino communities, including a core training workshop, an applied lunch-and-learn with clinicians, advocates, and survivors, and recognition of the ambassador cohort. Tentative speakers include an ACS lead trainer, an oncology clinician, a community outreach leader, a patient advocate or survivor, and a LULAC leadership representative.
This session is designed for LULAC youth who are starting to think seriously about what comes next after high school. It breaks down the pathways into college and careers in clear, practical terms, from choosing a school and navigating applications to understanding different career options and how to get started early. Participants will hear from mentors and leaders who have taken different paths and can speak honestly about what it takes. The goal is simple: leave with a clearer direction, real options, and the confidence to take your next step.
Thursday June 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT Room: 203 A
This session formally calls the 2026 LULAC National Convention to order and begins the official business of the organization. It is a time-honored moment for delegates and members. The National President and Parliamentarian will walk through the resolutions, procedures, and the order of business for Saturday, June 20. It is direct and focused, setting the direction for LULAC with clarity.
The most effective way to get Latinos to vote is still the simplest one: another Latino telling them to vote. That is not theory. It is how trust works. This session starts there and looks at the role Latinas play in a moment shaped by disinformation and voter intimidation in 2026. In many families and communities, women are the ones people listen to when something feels unclear or uncertain. That makes them targets, but it also makes them central to the response. The work is direct: cut through false information, steady people in the face of intimidation, and keep communities informed and participating.
Thursday June 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT Room: 203 B
Civic engagement is a core part of LULAC’s work, and this session shows youth and young adults how to actually get involved. It breaks down how to step into advocacy, voter engagement, and public service in ways that are real and doable, whether you’re in your community or on campus. In 2026, with Texas as a major battleground in midterm elections, that work carries real weight and urgency. You’ll leave with a clear sense of how to take action now and how this kind of involvement can open doors for college, leadership, and your future.
The LGBTQIA+ Reception is a space to come together in community, celebrate identity, and build connections across LULAC. It highlights the importance of Rainbow Councils in strengthening the organization, ensuring that LGBTQIA+ members are not only included but represented and leading within LULAC. Inclusion is not optional. It is central to who LULAC is and how it shows up for all of its members. This reception is about visibility, belonging, and building a movement that reflects the full community it serves.
The LULAC Youth Awards Reception celebrates the leadership, energy, and impact of teens across the organization. It recognizes young people who are stepping up, building councils, and making a real difference in their schools and communities. The evening continues with the baile, bringing everyone together to celebrate culture, connection, and the future of LULAC.
Thursday June 18, 2026 6:30pm - 8:00pm CDT Ballroom A&B
This session is a fun, no-pressure space for young adults to learn the basics of salsa, bachata, and cumbia and actually feel confident on the dance floor. Whether you’ve never danced before or just want to level up your moves, you’ll get the steps, the rhythm, and the vibe. Come through and leave ready to move with confidence and connect through music and culture.
Thursday June 18, 2026 8:00pm - 10:00pm CDT Ballroom C
