Click here to join HHF’s award-winning LOFT leadership and workforce development program. LOFT is divided into 10 “Tracks,” or industries, which are priorities for America including Innovation & Technology, Science & Healthcare, Engineering, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Education, Public Service, Law, Media & Entertainment, and Latinas. Tens of thousands of students and young professionals are connected to each other and to mentors and resources; over 50 trainings, workshops, and informal Charlas are hosted across the country; creative initiatives are executed; and hundreds of minorities are placed into internships, mentorships, fellowships and full-time positions with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Visit www.loftinnovation.org, and join http://loftnetwork.org to get on the fast track to leadership. Follow LOFTinstitute on Twitter.
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s (HHF) Latinos On Fast Track (LOFT) program and Google hosted the LOFT Awards on May 3 from 6-9 p.m. at Google Headquarters (1200 Crittenden Lane, Mountain View, CA). The reception honored five members of the LOFT Network as well as Google with the Corporate Award for the company’s innovative spirit and belief that youth can lead today.
The following individuals were awarded for differing areas of excellence:
- Julián Alcazar: Public Service, Financial Literacy
- Eutiquio Chapa: Information & Technology
- Diana Marquez: Social Media, Outreach
- Jonathan Padilla: Leadership, Grassroots Mobilization
- Ana Sheila Victorino: Latinas, Public Service
- Google: Corporate Innovation
“As a dynamic network of tens of thousands, we wanted to highlight LOFTies who stood out for their actionable leadership and innovative spirit,” said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of HHF. “And Google shares those attributes from a corporate side. We believe in our community and believe in our youth. The LOFT Awards recognize these outstanding individuals and the company for sharing those beliefs.”
The day before the LOFT Awards, Google and HHF teamed up for the Google LOFT Coding Jam Session at Silver Creek High School where students were taught how to code using HTML and CSS with hip-hop, jazz and salsa music playing in the background. A Google Chromebook laptop was provided to students with best innovative social ideas. The Google LOFT Coding Jam Sessions were held across the country in an effort to engage minority youth on their terms to innovate and enter technology careers to bolster America’s workforce going forward to better compete globally in the innovation space.
“Google is proud to host the LOFT Awards at our corporate headquarters,” said Hector Mujica, Social Responsibility Strategist and US Hispanic Policy Outreach Lead at Google. “We believe in the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s mission of inclusivity and advancement of Hispanics, and support the work they are doing as an organization to help drive forward the Hispanic community.”
Earlier on the day of the LOFT Awards, HHF hosted the LOFT Retreat at Stanford University (450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305) from 10-5 p.m. as LOFTIes shared experiences, insights, and their vision as well lay out a path for LOFT to move forward with greater impact on the Latino community and America. Southwest Airlines is the Official Airline of LOFT.
